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

[GoHokies87]

Stop normalizing this terrible anti-consumer behavior. I know I'm taking a hard line here but as a consumer stick up for yourselves. The food at these parks has been on the decline for years. Used to be you'd get mid tier food for mid-high prices now it's low-mid food for high prices. I doubt you even want to eat what they have anymore. I miss when the smokehouse had good food but that's been gone for years now. Spend $30 for any comparable plate anywhere outside the park and you'll get better food, shoot spend $15.

I'll welcome differing opinions but:

SEAS food is bad, SEAS merch is entirely not needed, and SEAS does not deserve your money.

 

[warfelg]

That’s great and all @Fur Dozy but a lot of people don’t have the time and energy to seek out places that don’t do anti-consumer behavior. In general people seem to not care about certain places charging way too much, and I wonder if it has to do with the expectations that theme/amusement parks should cost more.

Basically (and this is my opinion):
Getting upset about it on an internet forum isn’t going to change anything. Getting them to change this would take a months long campaign to across the chain get a majority of people to show up and not spend a dime in park while using their passes to not pay for parking.

Like, I’m sorry, I’m still going to go to the park when I can. I’ll spend money on things I deem is worth the cost. Especially now as someone who lives out of town, I’m more likely to just stay in the park for food than leave and return. That’s just the way it is.

That doesn’t mean I’m “normalizing anti-consumer behavior”.

 

[Zachary]

If regional parks were actually subject to a real, competitive markeplace, I would agree with @Fur Dozy, but unfortunately, in many cases, I think @warfelg is actually correct. Much like cable or internet providers, many people are locked into a regional monopoly or, if they're lucky, duopoly—but with one of the choices almost always offering a significant and unchangeable geographic advantage. Given the fairly low population density of the vast majority of the United States, there's just no feasible way for competition to effectively keep these businesses in check across the majority of the country.

So what's the solution? Well, we could theoretically, forcibly restructure the regional amusement park industry, socializing them as we do our nature parks and the like—but that's definitely not gonna happen. Maybe there could be some sort of targeted regulations to deal spesifically with abuses that are especially likely or harmful to consumers within this industry—but I'd say the likelihood of something like that is incredibly low as well.

In lieu of dramatic actions like those (which won't occur), I'm pretty doomer about this industry. In market after market across the United States, when a particularly greedy, disinterested, or sloppy park operator gains a regional monopoly, that's that. Due to the incredible costs and risks associated with new park construction—particularly in an already contested market—as a general rule, new parks don't happen—meaning that these shitty parks that everyone hates continue to hold their regional monopoly with general immunity for decades. They have no reason to ever change or improve, because they have a captive audience with no reasonable alternative.

One day, long into the future, population density will start increasing enough to justify additional regional parks for an increasing number of urban areas. Hopefully that future also involves significant transportation speed and cost improvements to allow people to easily travel to neighboring population centers to enable competition in this industry that way as well.

Anyway, in closing, look for my campaign flyers advocating for the socialisation of the amusement industry in your mailboxes soon.

 

[warfelg]

Much like cable or internet providers, many people are locked into a regional monopoly or, if they're lucky, duopoly—but with one of the choices almost always offering a significant and unchangeable geographic advantage. Given the fairly low population density of the vast majority of the United States, there's just no feasible way for competition to effectively keep these businesses in check across the majority of the country.

This to me is so key in this discussion. Even if in SEVA you want to say BGW/KD is a duopoly….I don’t (personally) really see a difference in how much I spend at the end of the day (now I’m talking more than they pass, include food, snacks, drinks, merch, and any add ons).

But even duopolies are losing their advantage as companies seem to be “racing to the bottom”, not in how much they can charge, but rather how they can trick you into signing on. I’ll give my Verizon/Comcast one from moving to Md. I picked Verizon because of the bad experiences with Comcast. Pricing it out Comcast would have been $115/month with router and 1 gig internet. Verizon said $72/month for the same thing. Oh but there’s a Verizon service fee of 15%, then there’s a fee on my bill called “transmission stability” that doesn’t slow down internet when I go over a certain amount of data a month. All the sudden Verizon was $145 a month.

It’s like I said earlier, if you want these things to go away it’s going to take a mass movement, massive amounts of money, and legislation to get it to change. I don’t think it’s defeatism to realize the reality of how hard it is to reverse courses of a government that has set up laws that favor corporations over consumers in many ways.

 

[GoHokies87]

If regional parks were actually subject to a real, competitive markeplace, I would agree with @Fur Dozy, but unfortunately, in many cases, I think @warfelg is actually correct. Much like cable or internet providers, many people are locked into a regional monopoly or, if they're lucky, duopoly—but with one of the choices almost always offering a significant and unchangeable geographic advantage. Given the fairly low population density of the vast majority of the United States, there's just no feasible way for competition to effectively keep these businesses in check across the majority of the country.

So what's the solution? Well, we could theoretically, forcibly restructure the regional amusement park industry, socializing them as we do our nature parks and the like—but that's definitely not gonna happen. Maybe there could be some sort of targeted regulations to deal spesifically with abuses that are especially likely or harmful to consumers within this industry—but I'd say the likelihood of something like that is incredibly low as well.

In lieu of dramatic actions like those (which won't occur), I'm pretty doomer about this industry. In market after market across the United States, when a particularly greedy, disinterested, or sloppy park operator gains a regional monopoly, that's that. Due to the incredible costs and risks associated with new park construction—particularly in an already contested market—as a general rule, new parks don't happen—meaning that these shitty parks that everyone hates continue to hold their regional monopoly with general immunity for decades. They have no reason to ever change or improve, because they have a captive audience with no reasonable alternative.

One day, long into the future, population density will start increasing enough to justify additional regional parks for an increasing number of urban areas. Hopefully that future also involves significant transportation speed and cost improvements to allow people to easily travel to neighboring population centers to enable competition in this industry that way as well.

Anyway, in closing, look for my campaign flyers advocating for the socialisation of the amusement industry in your mailboxes soon.

Like, I get it, but is it really that bad to just skip a year on your pass? Is it really that hard to just go to the park for ~4 hours and skip the food? Personally I normally only do a lap or so of BGT then leave, so not getting the meh food is pretty easy, or just using the Busch bucks for a snack at $0 oop.

I get that this is an internet forum for thoosies but a SEAS pass is far from a nessesity and as far as SEAS parks goes, the only park that doesn't have a better option within a reasonable drive I'd say is SWSD rn.

Y'all can live without a pass for a year, it won't kill you. I also understand that other people aren't drawing such a hard line on this as I am, and that's fair.

 

[warfelg]

Is it really that hard to just go to the park for ~4 hours and skip the food?

I'd argue for a lot of people...yes. Families where kids can have meltdowns can struggle with having to plan to leave the part to eat. People that don't want to leave the park because it's their only day there. Some (like myself) need to do certain things with food (diabetic) where going in and out of the park just isn't realistic.

Like, I get it, but is it really that bad to just skip a year on your pass?

If the pattern of raising prices while grandfathering EZPay rates stay....it could be extremely costly to do so. If I have a rate grandfathered at $17/mnth, what's the motivation to give it up when coming back would mean $25/mnth?

Are these situations applicable to everyone? Of course not. But there's plenty of reasons people won't just drop a pass or only be at the park for a short window and leave to eat.

 

[GoHokies87]

I'd argue for a lot of people...yes. Families where kids can have meltdowns can struggle with having to plan to leave the part to eat. People that don't want to leave the park because it's their only day there. Some (like myself) need to do certain things with food (diabetic) where going in and out of the park just isn't realistic.

If the pattern of raising prices while grandfathering EZPay rates stay....it could be extremely costly to do so. If I have a rate grandfathered at $17/mnth, what's the motivation to give it up when coming back would mean $25/mnth?

Are these situations applicable to everyone? Of course not. But there's plenty of reasons people won't just drop a pass or only be at the park for a short window and leave to eat.

Ironically as a family, growing up we often didn't eat in the park due to the prices, and would either picnic or do fast food instead. I definitely understand the convenience, but it never really seemed like that big of an issues esp for pass holders who generally didn't feel a need to stay at the park through multiple meal times.

To an extent I understand not wanting to lose that grandfathered rate and I'd wager that's exactly why SEAS is being lenient. There's a huge risk of losing out on pass sales with canceling those old passes and I think they know that.

If blackfish could cause issues with this chain, wanton disregard for good consumer practices can too.

 

[warfelg]

I honestly don't even get what you are saying with that point.

 

[mtpelepele]

It pretty much comes down to your personal opinion on it. I think they're doing scummy things, which is why I dropped my pass and spend my money elsewhere. I can affect exactly one thing, which is how much money SEAS gets from me, and that amount is 0.

 

[Zachary]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Direct Link to Embedded Media Source

 

[Icer]

FTC been based as hell lately between this and recently discussing banning noncompete forms

 

[Thriller]

This is a sleazy way to do business. Advertise real prices. Not fake lower prices before a surcharge.

Or are they just too lazy to change prices. Either way it’s bad business. Another black eye for SEAS.

 

[qdeathstar]

They should just make you buy “dining credits” and charge you in those credits like how gaming micro transactions are done

 

[ManitobaMoose]

They should just make you buy “dining credits” and charge you in those credits like how gaming micro transactions are done

what's the exchange rate of Stanley Nickels into Busch Bucks?

 

[Zachary]

They should just make you buy “dining credits” and charge you in those credits like how gaming micro transactions are done

You have to purchase digital buckets of Gardens Gems and then exchange them in the app for Busch Bucks—the only currency usable at first-party park locations. The more Gardens Gems and Busch Bucks you buy in a single transaction, the better the exchange rate is. All exchange rates and in-park prices are intentionally designed to leave customers with leftover sums of currency at the end of every transaction. All Busch Bucks expire at the end of each day. All Gardens Gems expire on the 27th of each month.

All Busch Bucks codes must be redeemed for paper vouchers at the kiosks outside the park and then exchanged for nearly identical vouchers at Pegasus Gifts in Festa Italia. This is also the only gift shop that will be open for the foreseeable future. Squire's Grill is the only remaining in-park restaurant. Food trucks do not accept Busch Bucks. To dine at a food truck you must first purchase and redeem a Truck Ticket via the Gardens Gems Bazaar. You will then exchange that Truck Ticket to gain entry into the Food Truck Plaza.

Gardens Gems can also be redeemed for Old Country Passports. These are digital experience vouchers which will allow your avatar to visit one of 20 different, random European-themed destinations. Depending on the random destination and itinerary you open, you may even earn merchandise discounts, time-limited, single-ride QuickQueues, All-Day Dining discounts, or fun digital outfits for your personalizable Old Country Traveler character. Outfits will remain available on your account for as long as your Old Country Traveler Journeyman subscription remains active (extra $10 per month subscription).

- Excerpt from a BGWFans article recapping recent guest experience updates circa 2026

 

[Alf33]

You have to purchase digital buckets of Gardens Gems and then exchange them in the app for Busch Bucks—the only currency usable at first-party park locations. The more Gardens Gems and Busch Bucks you buy in a single transaction, the better the exchange rate is. All exchange rates and in-park prices are intentionally designed to leave customers with leftover sums of currency at the end of every transaction. All Busch Bucks expire at the end of each day. All Gardens Gems expire on the 27th of each month.

All Busch Bucks codes must be redeemed for paper vouchers at the kiosks outside the park and then exchanged for nearly identical vouchers at Pegasus Gifts in Festa Italia. This is also the only gift shop that will be open for the foreseeable future. Squire's Grill is the only remaining in-park restaurant. Food trucks do not accept Busch Bucks. To dine at a food truck you must first purchase and redeem a Truck Ticket via the Gardens Gems Bazaar. You will then exchange that Truck Ticket to gain entry into the Food Truck Plaza.

Gardens Gems can also be redeemed for Old Country Passports. These are digital experience vouchers which will allow your avatar to visit one of 20 different, random European-themed destinations. Depending on the random destination and itinerary you open, you may even earn merchandise discounts, time-limited, single-ride QuickQueues, All-Day Dining discounts, or fun digital outfits for your personalizable Old Country Traveler character. Outfits will remain available on your account for as long as your Old Country Traveler Journeyman subscription remains active (extra $10 per month subscription).

- Excerpt from a BGWFans article recapping recent guest experience updates circa 2026

 

[rvadude85]

Seeing various pictures of Mardi Gras food menu signs from posts here and on Facebook and I’m
not seeing the 5% surcharge listed anymore.
Did they finally get a clue and drop the 5% surcharge?

 

[Click]

Seeing various pictures of Mardi Gras food menu signs from posts here and on Facebook and I’m
not seeing the 5% surcharge listed anymore.
Did they finally get a clue and drop the 5% surcharge?

You're possibly being too optimistic. I'm thinking maybe they've found some sort of disappearing ink in font size 3 that they are now using.

 

[Nicole]

They are charging 5% at the register. The sign is there, as well.

 

[warfelg]

Random thought on the surcharge as I learned yesterday.

Our processing system charges a 5% fee for card transactions.

BGW is basically passing on credit card fees to the consumer.