April vacation trip to Busch Gardens, VA
Busch Gardens Williamsburg: Planning tips and things not to miss?
From Amy Treat
Posted January 9, 2011 at 9:11 PM
I am planning a trip with my family of 5 for April vacation (2 kids, ages 3 & 7, their parents and grammy). Does anyone have any planning tips for that week (busy?), suggestions for where to find vegetarian food, things not to miss or things to avoid?
Thanks!
From Tony Duda
Posted January 9, 2011 at 11:09 PM
What week? You didn't say.
From Tom Rigg
Posted January 10, 2011 at 3:59 AM
If you go to Busch Gardens anytime during the week in April you will find practically no lines. Make sure to bring jackets for everyone as it can still be chilly here in April.
As far as vegetarian food, there aren't a lot of options inside the park, but you won't have to subsist on french fries and funnel cakes alone if you want to stay in the park. The best places to find vegetarian options in the park is the fest house. There are two eating options in there. The main one if obvious, but a lot of people miss the second one which is farther back on the right and offers made to order salads and sanwhiches.
If you are willing to leave the park for lunch or dinner there are a ton of options on Rt 60 inside Williamsburg. They are all pretty easy to find. I Personally suggest a mexican restaurant called Azteca.
Also, if you are out and about in town, don't miss the big yankee candle store. Its huge and has several different stores inside it that are all pretty neat. Its a unique experience.
In the park, don't miss the show at Festhaus, it's been running for over 30 years with little to no changes and is a big tradition.
The only thing I would suggest skipping is the Europe in the Air IF you are prone to motion sickness. I'm almost always fine on motion simulator rides, but this one can make me a little woozy. I don't think the ride and the film are sinked up correctly.
Don't miss the Celtic Fyer show. We thought it was very good. I agree with the previous reviewer on Europe in the Air--headache-inducing at the very least. The show at Festhaus is excellent, the food plates plentiful enough to split between the kids.
The only two full weeks in april are the week of the 3rd and 17th if you're trying to go during the weekdays. For food I agree about going to Festhaus Kafe. Just go into the festhaus and go all the way to the back and right. Another option is the GIANT baked potatoes in Ireland at Grogan's Grille. Grogan's Pub in the same area is a pretty good place to pick up a beer or a black and tan if you like.
Third for avoiding Europe in the Air. Very sub par attraction in my opinion for Busch Gardens. Also definitely agree with seeing Celtic Fyre. That's a great show at a theme park.
I don't know if they'll have the new drop tower yet, but they should have the reimagined Oktoberfest open. There's going to be a new Beer Garden and a pretzel shop.
Also if you're going for multiple days, I would suggest checking out one of the insider tours. I've had a lot of good times on these tours.
I personally don't mind Europe in the Air, but your younger ones might be a little short for it, but it's no biggie. Local schools are on Spring Break mostly during the first week of April, so if you can help it, don't come during the full operating week or else face huge lines for everything. There are plenty of vegetarian options, in most restaurants there is a salad (some have chicken some not but you can always ask for no chicken). Also, in Italy there are two great vegetarian places. One is the restaurant right next to where the theater is. They have pasta and eggplant meals, the sauce might possibly have sauce but you can always ask for no sauce and get butter. Also over by Roman Rapids there is a pizza place that serves huge pizzas (two should be good for a family of five) that comes in plain cheese but trust me it's so good and never crowded. You kiddies will definitely enjoy Land of the Dragons and Forest of Fun. I, being a youngin', have ridden everything in the entire park (including Forest of Fun) and I give a thumbs up to everything. There is also Da Vinci's Garden of Inventions that has lots of kiddie rides. Also, if the kiddies meet height requirements, think about taking them over to the Loch Ness Monster. It's a lot of children first roller coaster and they all love it. As for shows definitely check out This is Oktoberfest, Celtic Fyre, the Lights, Camera, Imagination 4-D Sesame Street show in the Globe Theatre, More Pet Shenanigans and the Wild Reserve. And a great way to end the day is with a bag of their AMAZING kettle corn on a sky ride through the park during sunset, or a trip around the park on the train. But please, if you can help it, do your research and don't come during the local area schools's spring break because it will be miserable for everyone. Hope I helped =)
Troy said: "..the sauce might possibly have sauce .."
I would think so! :)
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