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

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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.

 

 

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.)

 

 

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.

 

 

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

 

 

We found a few animals to distract her.

 

 

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

And then viola!

 

 

I spotted a gondola.

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

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!

 

 

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

I was beginning to hate this place.

 

 

Psychedelic camera toting bear aside.

Did I mention it was cold?

 

 

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.

 

 

Even the scooter brigade looked disappointed.

 

 

We did mange to find an old time carousel.

 

 

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.

 

 

Magic dragons were climbed on….

 

 

Towers were explored….

 

 

More alcohol was needed….

Okay, maybe that was just me.

 

 

Rope bridges were crossed….

 

 

Even by the husband if you can believe it.

 

 

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…