Busch Gardens Williamsburg is one of my favorite parks to visit, with or without my kids. It’s where my husband and I went on one of our first dates, where I won season passes during COVID, and where I discovered my love of cheese fries smothered in bacon, green onions, and sour cream (Hello, Les Frites).

PRICE OUT THE COST OF DAILY TICKETS VS. MEMBERSHIP FOR YOUR GROUP…AND PURCHASE ONLINE.

If you’re planning a first-time visit, and/or are planning to attempt most of the big-deal attractions, this is for you. Depending on how many people are in your group, consider a season pass or membership. Definitely price out parking costs ($30-$50 per car) and daily tickets for all attendees over 3 for the day you’ll be attending, vs. having a membership where parking is included, and some tiers include free guest tickets, decent discounts (nothing fabulous, but food is expensive – every dollar counts), and some perks, like a free Quick Queue (Busch’s skip-the-line service), free sampler during a special event, or free special seating. Sometimes it ends up saving you money to have the membership, especially if your trip is a multi-day affair. For the youngest members of your group, anyone under 3 is free, and those over 3 to 5 years old may qualify for a free Preschool Pass. You can store all passes/tickets/memberships in the Busch Gardens app – this makes scanning into the park, and getting discounts (for members) at shops and restaurants much easier. Also, I know it sounds stupid, but make sure you are buying tickets or passes for BUSCH GARDENS WILLIAMSBURG, not BUSCH GARDENS TAMPA BAY. I have seen it happen. Don’t be that person.

GET THERE EARLY. 

I know. It’s not Disneyland. It’s not Black Friday. But if you’re planning to do Busch in the summer and/or on a weekend, getting to the park a half hour to an hour early to get through the park gate can make a big difference. Once in the park, head to the Oktoberfest section of the park to ride Verbolten and DarKoaster, if roller coasters are your thing – these two rides easily get two of the longest, if not THE longest, lines in the park. Park hours and showtimes can be found here: https://buschgardens.com/williamsburg/park-info/theme-park-hours/

BRING A FANNY PACK.

I’m a basic Lululemon belt bag (read: fanny pack) mom. I throw my keys, phone, cash (tip: BGW IS cashless), and any other incidentals in my pack and loop it around either my waist or across my body for the day. Most rides allow this as long as it is around your waist, tight, when you board the rides. This is helpful to keep your phone and card handy for quick snack purchases, scanning at gift shops (because your kid wants an Elmo shirt), and taking pictures of your kids climbing on the carousel horse photo-op. The link to the bag I use is here: Lululemon Belt Bag.

KID-FRIENDLY AND MOM-FRIENDLY HACKS.

Make use of the breastfeeding area in the Festhaus (located inside the women’s restroom), and family bathroom in Sesame Street: Forest of Fun, if needed. On a hot day, the SS:FoF area has a splash pad for young kids. Most food and beverage stations will give you a free cup of water if you need a quick drink or to splash your child with something cool to prevent a literal meltdown.

TAG (YOU’RE IT)…YOUR STROLLER.

People sometime stink, and while I haven’t heard of it being a common thing, stroller theft can happen. I’d recommend Air Tags for or Tiles for your stroller, placed inn an inconspicuous spot like a zippered compartment, and NEVER leave anything valuable in your stroller (like a wallet, phone, keys, cash, medication, etc.). Take a low-maintenance looking diaper bag (like an old backpack) and if possible, attach it to your stroller, leave it with a non-rider when riding a ride, or take it with you on rides. If your children are more mobile, I tend to err on the side of caution and would consider AirTagging them in case of separation and having them wear a bright, easily spotted colored shirt. For safety, I’d go over a meeting place where your family can re-group if someone gets separated and discuss finding a park employee or other safe person in case of separation or emergency.

PLAN…AND PLAN AGAIN.

Make sure to check the park hours, event schedule, and weather, and bring appropriate gear (i.e., a blanket, umbrella, jacket, poncho, sunscreen, spare clothes for your kiddo, extra wipes, headphones (fireworks can be noisy for little ears or if there is a concert…), etc.). During the summer, it’s common for concerts or other special events to be taking place. If you want a lower crowd day, avoid concert days or Saturdays in the summer. Thursdays and Fridays in my experience are generally lower attended, with the exception of some school groups in May/June and camps in June-August.

THE RIDES

Like I said earlier, Verbolten and DarKoaster tend to get longer lines, so I would knock them out first, especially if your kids are big roller coaster fans. Then, I would head to Pantheon, which also can get longer lines, as it is one of the newer rides at the park. Most other rides’ lines aren’t too terrible. InvadR, Loch Ness Monster, Alpengeist, Griffon, Apollo’s Chariot, Finnegan’s Flyer, Escape from Pompeii, and Tempesto vary in terms of intensity, but the lines haven’t been nearly as bad as Verbolten, DarKoaster, and Pantheon, in my experience. Use your best judgment to determine what intensity is appropriate for your fam. As a warning, DarKoaster is dark (I know, surprising) and may be a little frightening for younger children. Same with Verbolten – parts of the ride can be very intense (even for adults) and in the dark.

There are also a variety of family rides, including the train, a log flume, SkyRide, swings, kiddie rides in Sesame Street: Forest of Fun, scrambler, and the classic teacups. These generally don’t get bad lines on most days, so sprinkle those in along with your high thrill rides at your discretion. The Land of the Dragons is also a kids’ play area that is great for a break for younger kids to run off some steam.

FOOD

If you’re looking for fine dining at a theme park, you won’t find it here. But there are some decent options. Les Frites is my go-to snack place…if it’s open. You can get fries with gravy, sour cream, onions, bacon, cheese, and other good stuff. If you’re in the park for a concert, have just rode Griffon, or are just walking around, Les Frites is the place to go. It’s located in the New France/Aquitane area of the park.

Near to Les Frites is Trapper’s Smokehouse. A quick service food location, it has decent BBQ and salad options to take with you, and find a spot to sit and eat nearby. This is my go-to meal location.

The Festhaus has some ok options and some entertainment. Plus, it’s air conditioned, indoors, and has indoor bathrooms. They generally have pizza, sausage, some German options, chicken fingers, beer, and the infamous Black Forest cake. On a rainy or super hot day, the Festhaus can get crowded, but can be a good bet with small children to get a break in the AC.

If you’re visiting during the Food & Wine festival, check out some of the samples. Some of them aren’t great, and some portion sizes are rip-offs. However, getting a couple of 10-item samplers for a day at the park with kids can be a little cheaper than buying meals or snacks that day, and bringing bottled water in with you.

For coffee-drinkers, don’t wait to hop into Grogan’s or the Sweet Shoppe for your daily Starbies fix. There is a Starbucks location less than a mile from the park, and I would grab my coffee there first. The lines for coffee, especially on a busy day in the park, can be awful.

SHOWS

A good part of what makes Busch Gardens Williamsburg different from its nearby competitors like Kings Dominion and Carowinds is its shows. Celtic Fyre, located in the Abbey Stone Theatre in the Ireland section of the park is a must-see. The theatre is air-conditioned, and the show is popular, so I would recommend getting in line at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled show time (which you can find on the app or via the link I posted above). There is often a family-friendly show in the Festhaus, which can be a good breather during lunchtime, and kids are often invited to dance along with performers in German garb. Along with scheduled summer concerts with well-known artists, Busch also offers a completely different, top-notch show line-up during Howl-O-Scream (may not be family-friendly) and Christmas Town.

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR TODDLERS AND INFANTS

It’s fun to bring littles to theme parks…until it’s not. Making sure you have snacks, drinks, sunscreen, and even little toys that attach to your stroller or even a little fan can make a world of difference for you and your little ones. I usually pack some fresh fruit in Toddler Snack Containers, empty drink cups to fill with water throughout the day (it’s free), fruit snacks, granola bars, and applesauce pouches to have on hand. Having quick snack options can prevent a meltdown, and having easily accessible snacks makes clean-up fairly easy. I also usually bring my re-usable BGW drink cup that I’ve had for years for $1.99 refills for myself, and can pour out some juice into my toddler’s cup as needed for a treat.

For an infant, infant care areas are located in the Festhaus, Land of the Dragons, Italy, New France, and Sesame Street: Forest of Fun. These rooms are often air conditioned, private areas to change and/or nurse your baby. They have generally been very clean in my experience. Changing tables are also available in all men’s and women’s restrooms throughout the park. For formula-fed babies, I would recommend bringing pre-measured formula in a compact container, a filled hot water bottle, a bottle of cool water, and clean bottles for bottles on the go.

For thrill-seeking parents with little ones like me, make use of Busch Gardens’ child swap program. With Child Swap, one parent and any children that are able/want to ride will wait in the regular line. Before or after riding the ride, this parent will let the ride attendant know that they have a ‘child swap’. The remaining parent will enter the ride through the Quick Queue area or ride exit, and board the next available seat. NOTE: Some rides/attendants are not well-versed in child swap protocols and this looks a little different from ride-to-ride. Make sure to ask a park employee how it works for a specific ride at the ride’s entrance.

OVERALL…

Get there early. Get your tickets or passes prior to arriving at the park. Scout out the weather and any special events. Keep track of your strollers and valuables (and your kids). Get your coffee and caffeinate. Wear comfy shoes. And have a blast with your family! – TTPM

Note: The links contained in this post are commission-earning links via the Amazon Associate/Affiliate program. Any opinions of products are my own.