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Busch Gardens Virginia….or as I like to call it, Hell.

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I think we’ve established we are not theme park people.

So spending 6 hours at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg while on Christmas vacation?

 

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It’s billed as the prettiest theme park in the country.

 

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And while I doubt that’s a very high bar…..

 

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It’s plastic fantastic fake European villages failed to impress….. seeing they were less village and more overpriced stores filled with gimmicky tourist merchandise.

It was enough to make me drink.

 

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Warm Apple Pie Cocktail in hand… we continued.

(You knew it was coming, don’t look so surprised.  If ever I was in dire need of alcohol? It was then.)

 

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So we paid a fortune, had drinks in hand and a 7 year old who wanted to go on some rides. Problem was… most of them weren’t operational for Christmas.

This did not go over well with the little person in our midst.

 

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She couldn’t drink, and she didn’t care about fake Europe… she just wanted some rides!

 

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We found a few animals to distract her.

 

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But it was cold and she was growing more bored with each step. Every ride we passed? Locked up tight.

And then viola!

 

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I spotted a gondola.

 

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3 adults and a midget. We’re in!

So we get on line.

A long line.

A very long line that took us almost 40 minutes to reach the end.

We boarded, anticipating a leisurely ride over the park.

 

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And I kid you not, after taking this picture….

And this video….

 

 

Which lasted 40 seconds, we were done.

One second of ride for each minute we waited on line. Totally worth it!

Not.

 

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We landed in “France”.

And you know what? I’ve been to France…. this wasn’t even close.

Still not finding a working ride, I spotted Hogwarts and the child’s eyes lit up.

Yay me!

 

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Boo Busch Gardens…. it was blocked off and locked up tight.

I was beginning to hate this place.

 

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Psychedelic camera toting bear aside.

Did I mention it was cold?

 

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I mean down right freezing for southerners and even quite brisk for us Yankees after a few hours of walking.

 

 

At least this made her laugh.

If we had known all the fun kid stuff would be closed? We wouldn’t have gone in the afternoon but just waited until after dark for the lights.

 

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Even the scooter brigade looked disappointed.

 

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We did mange to find an old time carousel.

 

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Where we waited on line for another 30 minutes to ride for 30 seconds. You could seriously get whiplash from how quickly these things end.

 

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Magic dragons were climbed on….

 

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Towers were explored….

 

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More alcohol was needed….

Okay, maybe that was just me.

 

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Rope bridges were crossed….

 

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Even by the husband if you can believe it.

 

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Another warm up station later, it was starting to get dark enough to see some lights.

And yes, as cold and miserable as I was….. I was going to wait until dark for the lights we paid almost $300 to see.

A preview…

 

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40 thoughts on “Busch Gardens Virginia….or as I like to call it, Hell.”

  2. I like the scooter brigade. LOL. We went to Busch Gardens last year on a weekday in April. It was terribly disappointing. We waited in lines so long that over the course of the entire day we only ended up going on 6 rides–including the carousel which had the shortest line. The lines for food were almost as bad as the lines for rides. The only part I liked was the German dance show. I don’t think I will ever (willingly) go back.

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    1. The lines were horrible. Thankfully we ate before we went because there was no way we were getting in any of the restaurants… people were waiting 30 deep outside for a table. I’m with you…. never going back!

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      1. Yes, I know some people feel that way. We’ve been a few times and while I enjoyed it, you have to be able to go with the flow there and overlook the focus on rodents. It’s not for everyone. And damn, it is expensive.

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  7. In my opinion and I’ve never been to bush gardens Virginia) Disney World isn’t all that great either (ive been three times). Like you, I try to put on a smiley face when I’m there. *** I do want to go to Epcot though *** My wife has gone to Disney the past three or four years – I’ve stayed home.
    However, I thoroughly enjoy Cape Canaveral – – -hint hint- – – and it even has rock(ets)!

    I’m not a people person, so for me going when there are crowds… that’s out of the question. Unfortunately, that’s when all the rides are open, that’s just the way it is. The tourist attractions are keyed for tourists, and in the offseason, they don’t work well.

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    1. I don’t mind crowds at all….. it’s the whole theme park experience I dislike. Why people line up to empty their wallets for something so fake is just beyond me.
      But yes, we loved the Kennedy Space Center when we visited Florida. Now that was worth the money!

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  10. Ah – Busch Gardens. We live about 30 minutes from there and never go. Years ago, our company bought season passes and you could get them whenever. So when we got the urge, I’d see if anyone was using it and if not, I’d get it and we’d go there just for dinner. I’m not big into rides. I do enjoy the arcades, skee ball, and bumper cars so we probably did that, but it’s been SO many years ago. I think before my son was even born and now he’s in his 20’s.

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