Welcome to Theme Park Insider! Join the community or log in
Theme Park Insider
Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube

Busch Gardens trip help for next season!

Busch Gardens Williamsburg: I would like to know when is the best day of the week, the best month to go that would have lighter crowds?

From Christy Shuman
Posted October 23, 2006 at 9:33 PM
Hey guys, I am planning a trip to BGE next season sometime. I would like to know when is the best day of the week, the best month to go that would have lighter crowds? I would like to know what are the "not to miss attractions" there? Also if I go in the middle of summer when its terribly hot, do they have cool zones like PKD does? Hows the food there? How much was parking this season? Where can I get discount tickets? Any info is greatly appreciated!


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Christy Shuman
Posted October 24, 2006 at 5:54 PM
Anyone?

From Adrienne McDonald
Posted October 25, 2006 at 8:00 AM
Well I can tell you, we went early in the Spring, right after it opened, it was CROWDED. Now it may've been coz it just opened & everyone was anxious to go but we went to PKD the day before & it wasn't crowded. I'm sorry it's not much help to you. This was in March 2004
so I dunno, maybe April would be good? Maybe June? I'm sorry I can't be of more help coz we've only been there that one time but perhaps it'll give you some idea. Maybe you can contact the park & just ask them what their opinion is on crowds. I'd think during the week it would be a thinner crowd but can't really say for sure.

From steve lee
Posted October 25, 2006 at 8:59 AM
If Griffon opens when their season begins, I'd expect a pretty heavy spike in attendance. All I can say for sure is not to go on a weekend.

From Christy Shuman
Posted October 25, 2006 at 10:15 AM
Well I definatly want to go when Griffon opens, but it says on the website it doesnt open until late spring, so I was thinking of maybe going on a monday in June sometime. Also whats Curse of Dark castle like, I dont do spinny rides and I heard there is a part on that where it spins, how long does that last and should I ride? Hows Lochness? Alpengeist? Big Bad wolf? and Apollo Chariot? thanks

From steve lee
Posted October 25, 2006 at 1:34 PM
Um, Christy - I don't mean to sound like a punk or anything, but why are you asking about coasters you've already ridden?

From Christy Shuman
Posted October 25, 2006 at 1:45 PM
Its been a while since I have ridden them. The last time I went was back in March. Just forget it dude dang!!!!!!!!!

From Christy Shuman
Posted October 26, 2006 at 9:21 AM
Also I have a choice of visiting on friday, sunday or monday, which day would best w/ lighter crowds?

From David Kirby
Posted October 26, 2006 at 10:36 AM
A Monday in June would probably be your best bet. Any weekday would probably be fine actually. I've only been there in July and August so I can't tell you too much about June, but it's never been too crowded when I was there, and I imagine June would be less crowded. As for parking, I'm fairly certain it was $10 this year. I'm not positive about discount tickets, but I imagine you could probably get discounts from soda cans in the Williamsburg area. If you're going for more than one day and want to check out Water Country as well, BGE usually offers 3 day flex tickets for the price of 2. The spinning part on Darkastle isn't too bad either. My mom gets motion sickness fairly easily but she was fine on Darkastle.

From Adrienne McDonald
Posted October 26, 2006 at 3:22 PM
I always get tix online they're cheaper. June sounds good, it's in between holidays if ya wanna look at it that way. We plan to go next yr too, probably in the Spring when it's not so hot. My hubby doesn't do well on rides AT ALL so it's good to know the spinny part won't last long but he'll probably get sick anyway, even w/Dramamine.

From Christy Shuman
Posted October 26, 2006 at 3:50 PM
Thanks Adrienne and David for the good info, man I cant wait to go, 8 months is a long way away tho lol!!

From robert olson
Posted October 27, 2006 at 3:04 PM
Parking was $10 this year. They started selling discounted parking vouchers on their website that allows you to pay a discounted rate of $8 for parking:

"Busch Gardens Williamsburg Single Day Parking Ticket

Purchase a one day General Parking ticket online and save $2.00! The Parking ticket is valid for General parking at Busch Gardens Williamsburg for one car on any one operating day during the 2006 season."

You might want to check next year to see if they still have it.

If you buy a season passport, you get free general parking.

robert olson

From Angelica Davis
Posted October 28, 2006 at 6:15 AM
The best day of the week to go is a monday. That is the day with the lightest crowds, there is still a waiting time but not as long as usual. No Cool off zones, the only line that i know of that has anything close to it is DarKastle. While your waiting outside,they have fans that spray mist. Hope you have a great time!

From Sean McNamara
Posted October 28, 2006 at 7:47 AM
well last year we went in september on tuesday thru thursday and the longest wait was and the longest wait was 5 min and u could throw a pile of rocks and wont hit anyone IT WAS GHOST TOWN....

From Christy Shuman
Posted October 28, 2006 at 11:49 AM
Thank u everyone for your help, I am so ready and pumped. Anyone else going to give Griffon a try? Do you think this will be a mind blower of a ride? I have never ridden a coaster like this one, I have ridden hyper coasters, launch coasters, air launchers(hypersonic xlc) but nothing like this that seats 10 across.

From Sean McNamara
Posted October 28, 2006 at 1:56 PM
griffin is the same thing as sheikra pretty much

From ryan saunders
Posted October 29, 2006 at 9:06 AM
griffon looks like a kids ride compared 2 the coasters i have been on, and its super short 2, check the video out on BGE's website, total kids ride 4 me.

From Christy Shuman
Posted October 29, 2006 at 10:48 AM
Well it says Griffon is 3minutes long, I think thats a little longer than your 20 second Top Thrill Dragster ride huh Ryan? I have a question/ Are there any rides that you can say any postitives about?, other than the ones at CP, b/c I'm about tired of hearing all this bashing on theme parks from you. CP sucks a fat one!!!!!!!

From Daniel Williams
Posted October 29, 2006 at 4:39 PM
Christy... Seriously... feeding into him only makes it much, much worse.

From Adrienne McDonald
Posted October 29, 2006 at 11:09 PM
Yeah Christy, just ignore him. He only wants attention, apparantly he has nothing better to do. And Christy, BTW, don't think of it as an eight month wait, just think of it this way, it's almost Christmas then winter then it'll be Spring before ya know it. It doesn't seem as long thinking that way, at least not for me anyway. I'm sure you'll have a great time!

From Christy Shuman
Posted October 30, 2006 at 8:21 AM
lol Never thought of it that way, thanks, I believe that will help.

From ryan saunders
Posted October 30, 2006 at 2:04 PM
yea 2 minutes of the ride for griffon is goin up, slow as can be, check out the video, the ride very childish, im used 2 goin 120mph and 420ft up, can u blame me 4 bashing this thing. christy hasnt been on any high roller coasters lol, too bad 4 the kid

This discussion has been archived, and is not accepting additional responses.