|
GOOD NEWS. FREE ADMISSION TO
BUSCH GARDENS FOR ACTIVE DUTY
MILITARY, ACTIVE RESERVISTS,
NATIONAL GUARDSMEN AND UP TO 3
DIRECT DEPENDENTS. STOP AT THE
SPECIAL BOOTH OUTSIDE TO
COMPLETE AN APPLICATION AND
PRESENT YOUR MILITARY/SERVICE ID
FOR COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS.
Just opened.
Click for a preview
Much of the tourist action
outside of Colonial Williamsburg
is centered around Busch Gardens
Williamsburg. This 360-acre
theme park features quaint
European hamlets: Banbury Cross
and Hastings, England;
Heatherdowns, Scotland; New
France and Aquitaine, France;
Rhineland and Oktoberfest,
Germany; plus San Marco and
Festa Italia. There are rides,
a wide variety of shops,
restaurants and shows.
The quality of the shows
has improved greatly in recent
years. The popular Irish Thunder
program from last season has
been replaced by "Emerald Beat"
at the Abbey Stone Theatre. New
scenic elements have been added
to the Celtic choreography. A
European circus has come to the
Royal Palace Theatre. Some of the more
popular shows and rides have
long lines. If possible, try to
visit them early in the day.
Most of the crowd moves in a
clockwise direction when touring
the park. Try moving left
through the park in a counter
clockwise direction as
soon as you enter..
A great crowd- pleaser from last
season, the Curse of DarKastle.
This thrill ride has all manner
of frightening images jump out
at you and the golden sleigh you
are riding does some jumping and
plunging of its own. One
caution: If you are carrying a
cell phone or camera, keep it
under wraps. A sudden unexpected
spray of water could damage
exposed electronic equipment.
Same water alert applies to the
Haunted Lighthouse show at the
Globe Theatre.
The Immelman 106-foot vertical
loop of the Alpengeist roller
coaster turns you upside down.
Not widely noted is that the
Immelman turn was named after a
German World War One aviator who
perfected a unique turn to come
up behind allied planes. The Big
Bad Wolf (pictured above) zips
through forest terrain and skims
above the Rhine River. The Loch
Ness Monster is the world's only
"interlocking, double-looping
roller coaster" - perfect for
everyone who enjoys being turned
into a human pretzel at 60 mph.
Nor surprisingly, this is often
kids' favorite, judging by the
lines.
The Octoberfest features many
oomphah dancers and German
songs. In our opinion you'll
find the best food (and
largest restrooms) here.
Some of the biggest nights of
the year are attracted to the
Howl-O-Scream, a
Halloween-themed parkwide scare
show from September 15 to
October 26. The Halloween train
ride takes you past all manner
of ghouls and goblins, popping
out from behind trees and
headstones, screaming and
charging the hapless,
scared-happy passengers. And
yes, watch out for the water
squirts (put that digital camera
away!), But the scariest thing
is trying to ride the train on
Halloween night. The line for
this ride corkscrews endlessly
through the park and you knee
joints can become painful
pancakes by the time you
finally board the train.
Don't get us wrong. The ride
itself is great fun. But don't
go on Halloween night. Go on an
earlier night.:
Our informal kid poll showed
that many liked being splashed
by water on a hot summer day by
the vehicle plunging down a
waterfall from the Escape from
Pompeii attraction. Another
favorite: the
Aviary where tiny tropical birds
sit on the children's hands to nibble
from seeds from paper cups. Wash
your hands afterwards, kids!
You can leave for lunch and
return for the afternoon or
evening simply by having your
hand stamped as you leave the
park.
Busch
Gardens is open daily from from mid-May through Labor Day. It is open weekends-only
from late March l
until mid-May and again after
Labor Day until the end of
October. Admission varies
according to age and length of
stay. The park opens at
10:00 A.M., but closing time varies by season. Call (540) 253-3350 to check. They
also operate the largest
waterpark in Virginia, Water
County USA just outside
Williamsburg - about a ten
minute drive from Busch Gardens.
Travelers' notes:
Watch your budget. It's easy for
a family to spend too much on
games of chance and souvenirs.
Set a budget for the day and
stick to it. Rehearse with your
kids that new word, "no".
Set up a
schedule for the day and
prioritize your list - which
rides you most want to take and
shows and attractions you really
want to see.
---------------
|
(Information provided by
Busch Gardens)
Curse of DarKastle: The Ride
The Williamsburg park is packed
with awesome adventure as
Curse of DarKastle: The Ride
debuts. A cutting-edge addition
to the park’s stellar lineup of
thrill rides, Curse of
DarKastle sends guests
aboard gravity-defying sleighs
careening through the dark and
mysterious corridors of a
Bavarian castle. Passengers
brave enough to ride are
bombarded by heart-stopping
thrills as the sleigh hurtles
through the darkness of an
ice-bound world. Technological
advancements in ride
engineering, special effects,
theming, visual projection and
audio systems create Curse of
DarKastle’s unique experience.
Curse of DarKastle:
LeMans Bistro
Enjoy full-service dining at
Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s
newest restaurant located in
France. Open on select days,
guests may relax in the cool
breeze as this new outdoor
bistro offers signature entrées
such as “Chicken Cannelloni
Crepe” and “Das Alpine Panini.”
Oktoberfest Marktplatz
An open-air emporium and
culinary marketplace located in
Oktoberfest, Germany. Guests may
shop for unique gifts while
grabbing a quick snack.
European Journey
Six countries offer unparalleled
fun and excitement for the
entire family.
England
-
Banbury Cross:
Guests receive royal treatment
in the majestic hamlet of
England's Banbury Cross.
Banbury Cross is a quaint
village comprised of unique
shops, a delightful bakery and
replicas of Big Ben and
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. "R.L.
Stine's Haunted Lighthouse,"
anchored at the Globe Theatre,
offers guests immersive
adventure from the twisted
mind of R.L. Stine, renowned
author of "Goosebumps"
children's books.
Scotland
-
Heatherdowns: The fearsome Loch Ness Monster roller coaster resides in this
Scottish countryside hamlet.
Heatherdowns also is home to
the world-famous Budweiser
Clydesdales and features
activities for the entire
family.
Ireland
-
Killarney:
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
captures the essence of
Ireland -- from warm-hearted
people and lush landscapes to
ancient castles and fine
Waterford Crystal. Guests
visiting the Irish hamlet of
Killarney get a taste of true
Irish spirit. Corkscrew Hill,
a white-knuckle, 4-D adventure
ride, propels guests on a
mythical Celtic journey.
"Irish Thunder," in the Abbey
Stone Theatre is a 30-minute,
Irish step dancing
spectacular. Strolling
balladeers throughout the
marketplace add to the unique
theming of this area.
France
-
Aquitaine:
The picturesque
village of Aquitaine
evokes the ambiance of
Europe's most storied region
with strolling entertainers,
street artists and sidewalk
cafes. Summer nights see
Aquitaine come to life with
colorful bands and street
entertainers as they set the
stage for the unparalleled
artistry of international
performers in "Imaginique," a
French-circus style production
at The Royal Palace Theatre.
-
New France:
Within the rustic trader's
village of New France lie the
finest leather, candle and
wood craftsmanship, folk
music, dancing and barbecue.
Le Scoot log flume ride
provides cool relief on a hot
summer's day with its 50-foot
vertical plunge. Or, guests
can enjoy "Jukebox 2005"
headlining at the Canadian
Palladium with a combination
of favorite dances and musical
hits from the 1950s through
today. Trappers Smokehouse, a
650-seat restaurant features a
mesquite-fired show grill,
three rustic dining areas and
an unprecedented theme park
menu selection.
Germany.
-
Rhinefeld: European charm highlights this German village filled with fine
gift shops featuring M.I.
Hummel collectibles. From
delectable dessert shops and a
cruise down the
Rhine River to an antique
Herschell Carousel, the hamlet
of Rhinefeld is home to many
rides and attractions.
Alpengeist, an
awarding-winning inverted
steel roller coaster, and Land
of the Dragons, a magical play
area designed for children,
are just a few of the
adventures awaiting passersby
in this bustling village.
-
Oktoberfest:
This Bavarian-influenced
hamlet heralds an authentic
Festhaus, traditional German
fare and all the makings of a
festival complete with rides
and games. Oktoberfest
features a host of attractions
for guests of all ages. The
Big Bad Wolf, a suspended
roller coaster, resides in
this charming hamlet.
Italy
-
San Marco: A trip back in time showcases romantic song and dance, rides
reminiscent of inventors of
the era, master craftsmanship
and authentic cuisine. Tour
the ruins of
Mt. Vesuvius on Escape from
Pompeii, a thrilling water
ride with special effects. Da
Vinci's
Garden of Inventions
features rides for children
and works of wonder while
"Holiday In Roma" fills the
air with the wonderful music
of Italy. Summer nights,
however, belong to the
"Starlight Orchestra." The
sounds of Big Band music take
center stage under the evening
stars at Il Teatro di San
Marco to salute the sounds of
swing.
-
Festa Italia:
Guests are invited to step
into this festive village
teeming with celebration and
bustling activity. Vibrant
colors and light-hearted
attitudes encourage guests to
share in the carefree fun of
this Italian hamlet. Festa
Italia's towering landmark is
Apollo's Chariot, Busch
Gardens Williamsburg's
high-speed hypercoaster.
Themed activities abound in
this exuberant village.
Animal Fun
-
Jack Hanna's
Wild Reserve:
Busch Gardens Williamsburg is
dedicated to the conservation
and preservation of wildlife
through numerous educational
programs. Discover how
adventurous learning can be at
Jack Hanna's Wild Reserve.
This interactive wildlife
reserve area offers a
fascinating and up-close look
at some amazing species,
including gray wolves,
reptiles, lorikeets, rare
raptors and exotic birds, as
well as a sanctuary for
American Bald Eagles.
-
"Pet
Shenanigans," a hilarious
live-action animal show
features the zany antics of
dogs, cats, birds and other
animals. The four-legged
celebrities will amaze guests
with their high-speed hijinks
and high-wire acts. Veteran
animal trainer Joel Slaven,
whose training credits include
"Ace Ventura, Pet Detective"
and "That Darn Cat," brings
more than 20 years of
experience to the production.
This high-energy show is set
in the Irish countryside and
will be performed in the
Shenanigans Theatre, directly
across from Lorikeet Glen.
|
Directions:
From I-95 in the Richmond area,
take I-64 east to the new exit
for Busch (it's well-marked).
Follow signs to Busch Gardens. Take the new "flyover"
from 64 right into Busch
Gardens. If possible, try to
return to 64 the same way. The
access lane to 64 in both
directions is much longer than
if you returned via 199 - which
has a much shorter (and more
dangerous - in our opinion)
access lane.
|
TRAVELERS TALKBACK
"We love Busch Gardens but the
tickets have gotten pricey! We look
for discount coupons on the web and
in stores around Williamsburg. We
recently stopped at a Subway
sandwich place on 60 - about a mile
from Busch. They had coupons on the
counter that gave up to 5 people $3
off. Since there were four of us, we
saved $12."
M.L. Snyder, St. Louis, Mo.
Have a comment that will help
fellow travelers to Busch Gardens.
Email
Traveler Talkback. |