Busch Gardens Williamsburg Adds 5% Surcharge to In-Park Sales

[Alf33]

To me the surcharge is just a profit grab. What aggravates me is that the prices they charge for almost everything are so high now adding the surcharge is adding insult to injury. Some places say it's to cover the Interchange Fee that the credit card companies charge per transaction if you use a CC. But those fees are like half of BG's 5%. Some places now give you a discount for paying in cash. I just had lunch at a local Mexican restaurant and the bill had an amount to pay if using a CC and one (less $) for paying in cash. I've noticed more places doing this. I paid in cash and left a good tip in cash,

 

[Zachary]

Some places say it's to cover the Interchange Fee that the credit card companies charge per transaction if you use a CC. But those fees are like half of BG's 5%.

And this argument is ultra non-applicable at BGW as BGW decided to go cashless specifically because it was NOTABLY cheaper for BGW to pay credit card fees on all transactions than it was to pay to employ and maintain the staff and infrastructure required to handle cash. The cheapest possible cost of transacting the money for payment should always be included in the transaction itself—it always has been and it is perfectly reasonable to always expect it to be. BGW concluded plastic was the cheapest way for them to facilitate transactions so they should have no problem paying the cost of doing business on their own terms.

 

[Nicole]

To provide some added context, my day spa recently added a surcharge for all credit card payments. They do not apply it if you use a debit card and it is only 3%. If even they aren’t charging a flat 5% fee, I’m having trouble justifying BGW’s to myself.

 

[Alf33]

@Zachary, BGW going cashless is a separate issue they implemented to save money, I get that. The implementing of the surcharge is another issue. I said SOME places have implemented the surcharge to cover the Interchange Fee. If BGW did this to cover the fee so it wouldn't cost them anything and make a little profit on excess percentage difference is unknown if that is their thinking for the fee. If it was then they didn't want to have to pay for the cost of doing business for using credit cards. If not then it had to be for pure profit and probably used the high inflation rate from a couple of years ago for their justification.

 

[Great Adventurer]

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Let's hope this wretched experiment can come to an end eventually. It's bad enough having to deal with that extra surcharge *Inside* the parks - but having another tacked on before you even reach the gates? My goodness.

 

[Mushroom]

Interesting that the fine print calls it a "service fee" there instead of the normal "surcharge" language that we've been seeing.

 

[Flavatog]

The thing is, you're getting better quality at BGW than KD. Better rides, actually good shows, better food, and a much nicer park. The increase in cost is because you are going to be getting a full experience, rather than just some rides.

Out of curiosity which restaurants at BGW do you think are better than the ones at KD? I would happy eat basically anywhere at KD before I'd rank anything at BGW. Les Frites used to be solid, but even that has gotten worse. Rides can go either way depending on what you're looking for. If you've got young kids there's no contest that FD is the better park these days. If you want roller coasters they each bring solid options. For shows absolutely BGW blows away KD and the empty theaters throughout the park are a glaring example of what KD is currently missing. KD is working on theming but still is playing catch up to BGW. That all said at basically half the price of BGW, easier parking, closer access to DC (helpful for me, perhaps not for others), and a downright cheap season meal plan I've tabled my season passes at BGW for the forseeable future.

 

[DrMoneyReturns]

…a strong case can be made that BGW is not "nicer" across the board anymore.

The characterization of KD as a park with "just some rides" ceased being valid years ago…

When I popped back in last week I asked Zachary what was up over the past few years. He seemed to indicate it was sort of same old-same old.

Now he’s telling me KD might be nicer than BGW and you’re writing this and I’m a little taken aback. I haven’t set foot in KD in like 15 years. Maybe more than that honestly.

Have things really changed that much?

 

[Flavatog]

When I popped back in last week I asked Zachary what was up over the past few years. He seemed to indicate it was sort of same old-same old.

Now he’s telling me KD might be nicer than BGW and you’re writing this and I’m a little taken aback. I haven’t set foot in KD in like 15 years. Maybe more than that honestly.

Have things really changed that much?

In all honesty just pick a time to go yourself and make your own decision. Growing up in the 1990s Busch Gardens felt like a definite step up from Kings Dominion. The overall aesthetic of walking around the park is always going to feel more cohesive than Kings Dominion. That said, I never didn't like Kings Dominion as it certainly blew away Six Flags, which is the closest option from DC. I moved away for awhile and then came back to the area in 2015, where still Busch Gardens seemed like the gem regional park that just beat out every non Universal / Disney park to me. Unfortunately since then food got worse, prices more expensive, shows stagnated or disappeared, and some rides went away. They built Pantheon which is easily my favorite coaster in the park but I certainly couldn't say that it's been nothing but steady improvement in that 10 year period.

By comparison Kings Dominion revamped their food options to the point that you are actually happy to eat in the park (and with a food pass you go to the park twice essentially and all future visits you're eating 2 'free' meals a day), Jungle XPedition has been a huge leap towards thematic immersion and there seems to be an emphasis on adding more to that land and including theming into the new rides and areas of the park. Planet Snoopy is overwhelmingly better than Sesame Street Forest of Fun if you have young children. Candy Apple Grove is a pretty lame theme (1920s carnival is my best guess?), but then again Festa Italia is not really winning in the theme department either for such a popular area of the park.

At the end of the day it's pretty cheap to get a single day ticket to Kings Dominion and make your own opinions. If it's been 15 years since you have last been then you're absolutely going to find something to enjoy while you're there.

 

[horsesboy]

When I popped back in last week I asked Zachary what was up over the past few years. He seemed to indicate it was sort of same old-same old.

Now he’s telling me KD might be nicer than BGW and you’re writing this and I’m a little taken aback. I haven’t set foot in KD in like 15 years. Maybe more than that honestly.

Have things really changed that much?

Short answer YES.

KD has done an incredible job improving food quality throughout the park. They have consistently had more friendly and caring staff in recent year with significant lesser waits everywhere around the park. The themeing that you see around the Jungle X area is some of the best that you will see at any regional park. Honestly the two parks are pretty much tied at this point on coaster line ups. About the only two areas I rate BGW as higher are adult flat lineups and shows. All that with KD being a significantly cheaper option. I would highly suggest giving KD another look.

 

[halfabee]

Have things really changed that much?

Yep.

I'm not ready to say KD is a better experience than BGW overall. But for the money it is.

I hadn't gone for 15 years or so, and then finally returned late last year. It was substantially better than I remembered. So much so that I brought 6 friends back there with me this year. All had a good time, even the "Disney adult" whose typical speed is Seven Dwarfs and scheduled meals. By the end of the day he was gleefully maxing out his dine-all-day privileges and queuing up for a spin on the Skycoaster.

Food was genuinely good. Rides were up and running. Place was clean. Garden areas were surprisingly nice. Entry fountains were possibly looking the best I have ever seen them. Also, best Scrambler ever in a corporate theme park IMO. Clientele wasn't bad at all. No more kids peeing in queue lines, no more constant line jumping. Payment processing systems remain a disaster given the cashless setup, but everything is super affordable once the park figures out how to take your money. What happened to the Paramount mess? I don't know. It's better now. Cedar Fair did it somehow.

And of course, no crappy perpetual surcharges. A real contrast to a certain other park...

 

[Nicole]

When I popped back in last week I asked Zachary what was up over the past few years. He seemed to indicate it was sort of same old-same old.

Now he’s telling me KD might be nicer than BGW and you’re writing this and I’m a little taken aback. I haven’t set foot in KD in like 15 years. Maybe more than that honestly.

Have things really changed that much?

Everyone has pretty much covered it. One thing I would add, however, is that BGW very recently seems to be theming its new attractions again. So, maybe they have turned a corner. At this point, however, I just enjoy KD more. The food is better; Jungle-X is immersive; the staff are friendly; the special events are charming; and I love the Prestige Lounge. I imagine that if I liked theme park shows, I might feel differently.

 

[horsesboy]

Generally reliable sources are stating that the surcharge will be disappearing company wide in the coming weeks. The same sources say to expect tipping to be rolled out in conjunction with the removal or the surcharge.

 

[Seaworld History]

Generally reliable sources are stating that the surcharge will be disappearing company wide in the coming weeks. The same sources say to expect tipping to be rolled out in conjunction with the removal or the surcharge.

And you can avoid the tipping!
Now let’s lower the Nanocoasters from 55$ to 35$

 

[Zachary]

Generally reliable sources are stating that the surcharge will be disappearing

I can echo this!

 

[bwick29]

Also, best Scrambler ever in a corporate theme park IMO.

100% accurate. That thing is the gold standard of Scramblers.

 

[bgw enthusiasts]

I can echo this

Same but the tipping is planned to begin the same time surcharge goes away

 

[warfelg]

I saw a new low last night at an ice cream shop near me:

On all the Toast pay devices they put a sticker over where "No Tip" option was and only had options for 20%, 30%, 40% available. When I asked why, the manager said "we pay the staff with tips first, then cover the rest for their hourly pay."

How the fuck is shit like that legal?!?

 

[deacfan31]

It's sketchy but they can do it. In short, with $12 hour minimum wage, if the employee makes tips, the employer can make up the difference to equal $12.

Title 40.1. Labor and Employment

law.lis.virginia.gov

 

[warfelg]

It's sketchy but they can do it. In short, with $12 hour minimum wage, if the employee makes tips, the employer can make up the difference to equal $12.

Title 40.1. Labor and Employment

law.lis.virginia.gov

The part the frustrated me was I couldn’t select “No Tip”. I grabbed 2 prepackaged pints out of a freezer. The pints are $6.99 each, the tip is calculated post tax. I was forced to tip, at minimum, $3.02. So in the end it was almost $20 for me to walk in and out with 2 pints.

I’m fine with tipping, as shady as it may be at times, if it’s optional for these types of transactions.

This gets into my belief, but employers should have to guarantee a certain rate, say the tips make up the difference, and have to pay out if it doesn’t. The new law for salary white collar employees works that way if you get commissions (source: me because the law effected my pay) where the base is $40,000; commissions are expected to cover the remaining $3,338 for the minimum threshold; and if it doesn’t (somehow) the employer pays the remaining amount.

To be able to do the inverse and say that you will get $12-15 an hour, but what I pay you hourly is ever changing (and sometimes could be $0/hour if there’s enough tips) that, again IMO, crosses a line.