Busch Gardens Williamsburg Tips

One of the great American summer traditions is visiting a theme park, and this year, we decided to visit Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA.

It was the first time for all of us so there were some things we needed to learn on our own. We’re sharing with you what we felt could make your visit more enjoyable and less stressful.

Tip #1: Get there before opening time

Take note of where you parked which is marked according to countries.

We aimed to get there as soon as the park opened, but we soon found out that that didn’t guarantee entry at that same time. The queue of cars for the parking was so long that we ended up waiting nearly 30 minutes just to park our cars. Based on our wait time, aim to go there at least half an hour earlier so you can get to your parking spot as close to the park’s opening time.

Tip #2: Bottled water

The website says they allow you to bring in one bottled water per ticket holder. When we passed through the scanners, they didn’t even check our bags. With theme park food and drink prices the way they are, we wished we brought in a few more extra bottles.

Tip #3: Locker rentals

Certain rides will NOT allow you to bring any small bags or purses or hats. Since we didn’t bring a stroller this time, we had to rent a locker to store our valuables. Since lines can get long, wait till you are at the point in the line where you can still get out and come right back in to get the locker rentals. These cost like $2 for two hours (not bad!) but if you time it wisely, you can make the locker rental last for two rides before you have to move to a different locker when you move to a different area.

Combine INVADR and LE SCOOT as these rides are right next to each other. And ESCAPE FROM POMPEII is another ride that doesn’t allow personal belongings on the ride.

Tip #4: Meals

Based on the many reviews I’ve read online, it would seem that the best place to get grub is the Trapper’s Smokehouse in Germany. We got two of the samplers which was enough food for two adults and two children. Our bill was high because we added fruits, apple cobbler (we got tempted by how good they smelled), and two drinks. Otherwise, on hindsight, we would have been perfectly fine with the meats and drinks. So if you are budget-conscious, resist the temptation to get sides.

For snack, we got churros from one of the snack places in England across from the Globe Theatre and it was stale (not to mention expensive!)!

Tip #5: Shows

This summer, the a capella group Duwende (as seen in America’s Got Talent) did a 30-minute concert at the Globe Theatre. With various show times, it’s a great way to hide from the sun, let your legs take a break, and enjoy some Michael Jackson classics and sing-along songs. They are at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg till August 14, so catch them while you still can, and check the website for other featured performers.

Tip #6: Rides

What are the top rides in Busch Gardens Williamsburg? The boys loved all the rides that got them wet! That’s Le Scoot and Escape From Pompeii. We also loved the old-school roller coaster, Invadr, and the boys had a blast on the Loch Ness Monster (they got to ride this twice because there was hardly a line when we got there). For gravity-defying swings, they were able to get on the Battering Ram and Finnegan’s Flyer. They weren’t tall enough for The Griffon but the hubby had his thrills riding this by himself.

Armed with whatever tips and tricks you may have gleaned off the various websites, it is important to just be flexible to whatever may happen in any family vacation. Each experience may be different and your vacation is how you make it. Have fun at the theme parks!