The State of the Park: Busch Gardens Williamsburg

[Rothbury]

A couple of visits ago I overheard this couple complaining about buying the all-day dining plan and no place to use it. We were sitting at Marco Polo Theatre at the time. They saw our lanyards and asked if we were passholders which we are. The man explained they had come down to visit Colonial Williamsburg and the historic sites and thought a day at BGW would be interesting to see. It was their first visit. He specifically asked where he could use the all-day dining plan because the F&W wouldn't accept it. I pretty much had to tell him the restaurants that would take the plan were either closed or he could go to Trappers or the Festhaus. I explained to him he could go to GS and see if they would do anything. I'm sure they wouldn't but I didn't know what else to tell him. I'm certain they won't come back. Can't help but think about how many friends and family he told when he got home.

As some other people have said about how long they have visited, we have been going to BGW since they opened in 1975. I have never seen it as bad as it is now. 2020 and 2021 I was willing to accept the pandemic as their excuse. I don't buy that excuse now.

 

[Merboy]

The only positive I can find with the current food and beverage situation is that it has caused me to explore local options. As an example, I didn't even plan on eating at Water Country yesterday, even though I knew Water Country wouldn't be busy on a weekday after the holiday weekend.

I ended up having lunch at home before heading to the park, and wound up at Precarious Beer Project for their $12 Taco Tuesday special afterward. Ordinarily (before SEAS food and beverage situation went downhill) I would have had lunch at the park and dinner at home.

The net result is that my wallet was a little happier, my stomach was much happier, and I didn't have to worry about potentially standing in an interminable line.

This totally.

When we visit Wmbrg we usually dine at a local place. It's been a lot of fun to get into the actual area and look around. Except Sal's by Victor, they've been consistently the WORST food and especially service I have ever experienced anywhere on the planet. LOVE the Whaling Company though, I'm SO happy they survived the pandemic. I know people have very strong opinions about seafood but I always seem to enjoy what they have on hand and the staff are pretty great.

All that is to say that BG is missing out on money with me and my crew as well. I remember we used to actually look forward to eating from Marco Polo or even the Festhaus once upon a time and I'm very sorry that's no longer the case. I do have hope that the park will get things back on track though. I just want to make sure that anyone in park management reading this also has my two cents on the matter. But again, I hope very much that the park is working diligently on this and other park experience issues.

 

[warfelg]

I never really ever dined in the park anyways because the food was always cold by the time I ate it. Capt Georges was a must do every time for me.

 

[bill s]

Im not sure your point….I pay to park, pay to get in the park, when they announced membership and APs were going away I upgraded right then and now seem
to be paying way more than many people I know. I’m not one of those people bringing coolers of food into the park, or sneaking in bottles of water. I take offense to the notion that i’m cheating the park in any way. If by me saying I brought snacks in the parking lot is considered cheating the system then I guess I am, however the park provides picnic tables just for that reason. Heck there’s a lot of things my pass entitles me to that I never use, free tickets, i’ve missed busch bucks, food samples, and who knows what more because the park dosent even list my pass type anymore, or at least I can’t find it and what I get. Yes I had the all season dining and all season drink plans, and I used them…..I don’t consider the fact that I used it very often cheating the system…..it’s what I paid for. I’ve been a passholder over 30 years and paid yearly never being on one of those old super cheap grandfathered plans, I pay for what I use and in 30 years i’ve paid quite a lot for me and my family.

From what you've reported here in the past, you often spend more in-park in one visit than I do in 2 years. Wouldn't blame you for finding a deal from time to time.

 

[panopticon31]

A couple of visits ago I overheard this couple complaining about buying the all-day dining plan and no place to use it. We were sitting at Marco Polo Theatre at the time. They saw our lanyards and asked if we were passholders which we are. The man explained they had come down to visit Colonial Williamsburg and the historic sites and thought a day at BGW would be interesting to see. It was their first visit. He specifically asked where he could use the all-day dining plan because the F&W wouldn't accept it. I pretty much had to tell him the restaurants that would take the plan were either closed or he could go to Trappers or the Festhaus. I explained to him he could go to GS and see if they would do anything. I'm sure they wouldn't but I didn't know what else to tell him. I'm certain they won't come back. Can't help but think about how many friends and family he told when he got home.

If this had been me I would have posted this on every public space I could think of (Google,Yelp, TripAdvisor,etc). This sort of bait and switch is pure evil. BGW should simply allow the all day dining plan to work during F&W , the people have already paid money for it. So stupid.

 

[Nicole]

What the actual fuck are you trying to say? I pay for a membership every month that includes preferred parking so how is that "gaming every edge" or "getting benifits"? Have you not ever see how many cars that obviously dont pay for parking or to get into the park are stopped along route 60 on fireworks nights? What fucking money would the park have made off me if I walked into the park and watched the firewrks? We had something else going on and couldnt arrive at the park until right at 9pm anyhow.......what would the park made by me going inside to watch them? So I pay for parking, but im screwing over BGW by using it? Even if I did go inside there was probably no where open to purchase a snack. Give me a fucking break with your bullshit.

I'm not sure why you think it is acceptable to be rude and aggressive to other members on this site. I have ignored the insults aimed at me, but as an Admin I must take issue with your tone in this post.

 

[Bring Back Questor 87]

I'm not sure why you think it is acceptable to be rude and aggressive to other members on this site. I have ignored the insults aimed at me, but as an Admin I must take issue with your tone in this post.

Agreed. Reddit exists…if need be.

 

[Celticdog]

IMO, I don't think conditions will get any better, especially with the amount of money BG is spending to bring the AGT acts for the Summer Celebration. I can't imagine those acts are cheap, even if that money does come from the entertainment department budget. BG is still manipulating and not addressing the current issues. Right now it is all smoke and mirrors. It all looks pretty on the surface but once inside its not a pleasant experience.

 

[WDWRLD]

I'm not sure why you think it is acceptable to be rude and aggressive to other members on this site. I have ignored the insults aimed at me, but as an Admin I must take issue with your tone in this post.

Others here have been just as rude to me so get over it....and I guess you also think its fine that he was accusing me of "gaming every edge" or cheating the system just because I chose to watch the fireworks from the parking lot. Yes that pisses me off.

 

[warfelg]

IMO, I don't think conditions will get any better, especially with the amount of money BG is spending to bring the AGT acts for the Summer Celebration. I can't imagine those acts are cheap, even if that money does come from the entertainment department budget. BG is still manipulating and not addressing the current issues. Right now it is all smoke and mirrors. It all looks pretty on the surface but once inside its not a pleasant experience.

I think what I may say is going to be a hot take, but SEAS should maybe worry less about all these extra cost celebrations and give attention to just day to day park operations. Especially when they are short staffed, closing regular spots for the special event spots just isn’t a great move to curry favor with guests. F&W felt like a little stretch in the best of times for staffing.

 

[b.mac]

I never really ever dined in the park anyways because the food was always cold by the time I ate it. Capt Georges was a must do every time for me.

Always loved that there were so many restaurant options near the park whenever I was down there. Rarely felt the need to buy food at the park outside of maybe lunch or a snack, especially into the later part of the 2010s because of the decline in food quality.

 

[warfelg]

Always loved that there were so many restaurant options near the park whenever I was down there. Rarely felt the need to buy food at the park outside of maybe lunch or a snack, especially into the later part of the 2010s because of the decline in food quality.

That's pretty much what I do. Salad for lunch, grab some snacks that I know are hard to mess up (popcorn, pretzels) as I go.

 

[Jonesta6]

If I ate at the park it was usually a sandwich at Das Festhaus, maybe occasionally spaghetti at Marco Polo's though definitely not preferred.

Pierce's tends to get most of my business whenever I'm down that direction.

 

[metalman]

It’s actually become a tradition for my family and friends we go with to; instead of having dinner there; leave to the park and go to Park Lane Tavern in Hampton before heading home to VB for a good choice of European dishes, drinks from there extensive beer and liquor menu, cool pub decor, and a big enough table to fit the lot of us for cheaper than we’d spend at the park.

 

[Unagi]

It’s actually become a tradition for my family and friends we go with to; instead of having dinner there; leave to the park and go to Park Lane Tavern in Hampton before heading home to VB for a good choice of European dishes, drinks from there extensive beer and liquor menu, cool pub decor, and a big enough table to fit the lot of us for cheaper than we’d spend at the park.

Funny how you mention Park Lane Tavern. After spending a day at the park I've actually gone to their VB location in Kempsville a few times since it's a few minutes away from my house. I love their Fish & Chips and Shepherd's Pie. And I always get the Guinness Brownie with ice cream for dessert.

 

[CoasterTalkBob]

That's pretty much what I do. Salad for lunch, grab some snacks that I know are hard to mess up (popcorn, pretzels) as I go.

Those snacks now cost almost as much as meals though, it seems. I left the park starving after spending between $30 and $50 on food/drink. Granted, F&W probably inflated that but I had no other real option. BGW traps you so that you can't get away with not spending large amounts of money even when given a free ticket -- which surprises me that they are so stingy about giving comp tickets to people who had a really shitty day (and is the reason why I don't know I want to go back even if they were to give me the ticket they promised me).

 

[warfelg]

Those snacks now cost almost as much as meals though, it seems. I left the park starving after spending between $30 and $50 on food/drink. Granted, F&W probably inflated that but I had no other real option. BGW traps you so that you can't get away with not spending large amounts of money even when given a free ticket -- which surprises me that they are so stingy about giving comp tickets to people who had a really shitty day (and is the reason why I don't know I want to go back even if they were to give me the ticket they promised me).

That's not bad to be honest.

Just for comparison the PGA Championship recently played in Tulsa Oklahoma was charging $18 for Mich Ultra. Burger was $14. That's on top pf a $120 ticket.

 

[CoasterTalkBob]

That's not bad to be honest.

Just for comparison the PGA Championship recently played in Tulsa Oklahoma was charging $18 for Mich Ultra. Burger was $14. That's on top pf a $120 ticket.

For snacks? My intent wasn't to eat a meal.... it was to get something to hold me over. For spending that much money I would have expected to, at least for a while, not feel hungry.....

 

[warfelg]

For snacks? My intent wasn't to eat a meal.... it was to get something to hold me over. For spending that much money I would have expected to, at least for a while, not feel hungry.....

Yea for snacks. It's partially the problem with being a captive audience. It's rare to be in a place like that and get away "cheap" when they know you have very little options. Last baseball game I was at, a pretzel and a soda was about $25; about the same at a basketball game; paid about $40 at a Steelers game for that; and about $30 at a PGA tour event.

That's not to say all of this is OK FWIW or argue that BGW was right in what they do with the price, rather it's not a BGW exclusive issue.

 

[CoasterTalkBob]

Yea for snacks. It's partially the problem with being a captive audience. It's rare to be in a place like that and get away "cheap" when they know you have very little options. Last baseball game I was at, a pretzel and a soda was about $25; about the same at a basketball game; paid about $40 at a Steelers game for that; and about $30 at a PGA tour event.

That's not to say all of this is OK FWIW or argue that BGW was right in what they do with the price, rather it's not a BGW exclusive issue.

I've never spent that much money at another park for a couple of snacks that didn't at least fill me up for a short while. Six Flags comes closest but, despite terrible quality, I still feel like I got more for my money than BGW.