On-Site Resort Hotel for Busch Gardens Williamsburg?

[Unagi]

I wonder how the Legoland Hotel is doing. I wonder if it would be a good indicator for how a Busch Gardens Tampa resort would go.

As far as BGT goes, I don't see a resort going in that area.  The park is landlocked with other businesses and residential areas immediately surrounding it so they wouldn't be able to build one adjacent to them.  Plus, the majority of visitors are locals that can easily drive and the tourists from Orlando either use their rental cars or use the available daily transport bus service provided by Mears that has tons of pickup/drop-off points throughout the area.  There are also no other major tourists attractions around BGT so a resort really isn't needed.

 I do agree with the author's thinking that 2,500 rooms is too much for just Orlando and is enough for several SeaWorld parks.  

Considering the fact that the amount of tourists visiting Orlando is increasing annually, 2,500 rooms isn't far fetched when thinking long-term. The Universal Orlando resort recently sold out all the rooms at their properties for the week of Christmas and New Years and will be expanding Cabana Bay.  And if they buy that huge piece of land near the convention center for future resorts and a 3rd gate, the I-Drive corridor will be really booming with with business.  SeaWorld has to act on that to draw visitors, so planning a future resort is something that they should really look into, considering how well the resort model is working for both Disney and Universal.

So if SeaWorld Parks wants to try the resort model, they need to do one first in Orlando before even considering one for Williamsburg.

Just a side note:  The entire Orlando area has over 150,000 hotel rooms.  2,500 isn't much when you look at the big picture.

 

[Gavin]

If they really want a resort in Williamsburg, they should just buy back Kingsmill. Verbolten costed twice as much as Xanterra paid for KM.

 

[Jrbgwfan06]

Kingsmill is still practically BGW's resort. They have bus load after bus load of people come and go everyday to the park. One of the reasons BGW doesn't really need a resort of its own.

 

[Shane]

Over the years people keep bringing up Kingsmill, Kingsmill, Kingsmill. While technically it's a "resort" it's not a resort in the sense of what Dianey and Universal offer. It's really in essence a high end community, country club, and golf course. While yes it offers resort amenities like a spa and meeting/convention space it's not a resort hotel. They offer rentable condos and detached cottages more in line with a timeshare or beach house rentals on the Outer Banks.

There is no hotel. Kingsmill doesn't align at all with what SEAS hopes to gain with its hotel initiative or what its competitors are doing. It's not The Grand Floridian, it's not the Cabana Bay Beach Resort. It's not a "resort."

 

[Luke]

Looks like a resort to me.

 

[The Hessian]

Looks like a resort to me.

Well its now seems that the nay sayers have been silenced.

 

[Shane]

I still stand by what I posted. It would make no sense for SEAS to buy Kingsmill.

 

[Luke]

Q&A with the new president:

 

[GoHokies87]

Basically:

 

[tursiops]

I just saw Carowinds is building it's first resort hotel, which really makes me believe more than ever that BGW needs this. It isn't something crazy ornate or themed, but convenient and I'm sure will be a massive success. I really hope this pans out in the future. If the Carowinds Springhill Suites is a winner maybe it will encourage parks like BGW to take the leap.

 

[phareous]

If they built one I would definitely stay there. BG Tampa needs one worse though since it is a sketchy part of town

 

[tursiops]

These would be two of my favorite choices for location. One is the Future Expansion spot from the Sesame slides that Zachary has mentioned before. But my favorite is across the water from the Apollo's Chariot turn. Plenty of space and you could put in a gondola and or boat entry to BG at the dock. I tried to get the scale reasonably accurate. The hotel pasted in is the Hard Rock at USO.

 

[Jonesta6]

Not to naysay those locations, but wouldn't they be dealing with RPA buffers, any preservation stipulations for the land not already cleared for use, and potentially unfriendly elevations (ravines, etc) in those locations?

I like the boat idea though.

However, wouldn't KM Resort be essentially the BGW resort partner even if the companies have separated after the InBev buyout?

 

[WDWRLD]

I dont see BGW ever building a hotel. But if they did I would bet on it being not at the BG location, but possible near WCUSA. The biggest issue they would have is keeping it filled in the Jan-Spring Break timeframe. If they go by their park model the place will be expensive and most williamsburg hotels struggle after Christmas.

 

[ControlsEE]

… Or maybe buy a hotel nearby and renovate it into a resort.

 

[WDWRLD]

Idealy if they wanted to do this project IMO the best place they could have out it was across rt60 and the train tracks where the Parkside Resort is. It would have been close enough to boast views of the park and fireworks, with a pedestrian bridge walking access to the park. The bonus I see ti this is that while its close enough to the park its far enough that in the off season they can lock the bridge and not get guests walking on the park property being nosey. It would also make keeping locals out as they could easily controll access over that bridge.

 

[Icer]

So basically just build a bridge from kingsmill, badaboombadabing

 

[thopping]

I don't see it happening either, at least until, if ever, they maintain a large year-round attendance. Way too seasonal to sustain it otherwise, plus there's a large number of local hotel properties due to colonial triangle, etc. attractions. BGW has a lot of community goodwill to include JCC, Williamsburg & Kingsmill resort, a few vocal KCSA residents notwithstanding, but building a competing property is probably not a good way to maintain it unless, justifiably, demand greatly outstrips supply.

And I don't see the year-round attendance dramatically increasing, even with a possible SP, given things like labor, weather, etc., and I don't see mitigating those without e.g. adding lots more dark rides and entertainment, which probably requires more investment and altering of the park concept than SEAS would entertain.

$0.02

 

[tursiops]

In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel, freshly minted CEO Marc Swanson talked about how he plans to continue the aggressive growth now that they feel they are clearing Covid. (Florida and Texas parks are at or near normal capacity) This includes new attractions at every park, every year. More new events. And very serious desire to add hotels on or adjacent to properties.
I know this has come up for at least a decade, but finally the time seems right. He specifically called out Orlando and Tampa, which come as no shock, but said in addition to other locations. With the switch to year round ops, a tease of more Sesame Place additions possibly reviving SPW and the addition of several new thrill rides in quick succession it feels to me like BGW is primed to recieve one of these hotels if it happens. I hope that if it does happen they really hit it out of the park, with a unique experience that fits the overall theme.

On another note I'm digging him as the new big boss. Grew up rising up the BEC then SEAS ladder. Loyal company man. He's got my respect. I'm hoping we are looking at some really good years!

 

[Jonesta6]

Curious if they'd build on WC land and then shuttle guests over since it seems the old Camp Wallace land is under conservation easement/poses issues with potential undetonated ordnance.