Top Virginia Theme Parks

So much fun!!! You have got to go & ride all of the rides!! The food is great too & reasonably priced!

The experience is very good and price is worth what is charged. The times are wrong in the frequency of the all day dining though. It is every 90 minutes, not once an hour. While this is not a big deal, on hotter days your drinks are limited. I’m mease fix the description on the app.

The park is very beautiful in the summer especially with all the flowers and trees. The all day dining is a hundred percent worth your money because we got like six meals out of it and it was on 100 bucks for all six. The even though we don’t like roller coasters a lot we saw amazing shows and got on the train, the boat ride, sky ride, and all of the water and flat rides which were all very fun and well themed. Also my friend wanted me to go on verbolten and I was truly one of the best coasters I’ve Been on with universal level theming it reminded me a lot like Hagarids at universal overall the park was very good.

So many reviews vetching about how the Park is not as good and has no animals. They had all the animals when we went. It is a beautiful park, love the themes. Better than Epcot IMO. Fun shows. Dining plan worth it.

I went with my 8 and 10 year old grandsons. We had a great time and enjoyed the rides; luckily we went on a day that wasn't too crowded. That being said, there were a few things we found strange. We've been to many amusement parks and are used to the ride photos having a line or something in them to prevent use without purchase. However, the photos here had the faces completely darkened so that the facial expressions couldn't be seen. As a result, we bought none-poor marketing in my opinion. No paper maps-okay, I can get behind that. But there is also no directional signage (I also heard this complaint from others at our hotel). There are maps posted and sometimes staffed around the park, but they aren't all that helpful. It took us a good 15 minutes to figure out the direction to take to get out. Put some signs up-at least to the major rides! Tram service to parking lots-slim to none. We had to walk to the Germany parking lot, which is quite a walk for young children after spending the day walking around the park-improve tram service. Remove the 'flattened coin souvenir machines' if you don't have money machines to give dollar bill change, since your employees have no cash. How many do you actually sell by forcing people to use a credit card to buy all four?! Finally, be sure your items in souvenir shops are correctly priced. My grandson wanted a small snow globe, marked price $14.99; when we got to the register, the cashier told us it actually rings up at $19.99. Really? That shouldn't be difficult to correct. In my state, it illegal for a company to have an item marked as one price, then charge a higher one at the checkout. I know this sounds really negative, but in spite of all of this, we still had a great time on the rides.

We had a lovely 2 days here. Both weekend days so very busy . But the queues were not terrible. We did use the RAP system for our son with needs so this helped with queues for him. Reducing our time in real queues with the virtual queue option. Good range of rides for thrill seekers and those less keen.

Visited with my husband and there was a lot to like about it. First I get why this was voted one of the most beautiful parks in America. The setting is nice. The countries are nicely designed and I love that this park has lots of trees and shade. Keep in mind this is definitely more of a coaster park. There were some fun options for that. Teenage me would have loved it, but getting older me, was hoping for more mid level rides. Something between the kids rides and the high thrill coaster rides. There are a couple but not many.The Irish river dance style show was a highlight and a can't miss. I didn't see or catch many other show options that were free. I liked some of the animal areas. Food is one area that could use some improvement as well. The big German festhaus had the most and best options and seems to be where most people eat. Would be nice to see some more specialty food items in the various countries. I did enjoy a nice wine flight in Germany though and appreciate they do that in some of the countries.Overall I enjoyed my first visit to this park and glad I got to experience it. However, this is more of a park for younger thrill seekers. Also while the countries are nicely designed on the exterior; the interior lacks something that doesn't make it as immersive as visiting parks like Disney or Universal.

We went to Busch gardens while were in Williamsburg. We spent all day there and we all of us got the extra meal deal which easily pays for itself because food is expensive if you have to buy it. You get a bracelet that is put on around your wrist at the first place that participate. The only thing I didn't like is that there is no paper map and you need to navigate the park on your phone unless you want to keep walking around to fine these participants because there is I think about 5 or 6 places to use it. Als check the price for parking first ,I think some hotels offer shuttle services to the park. They have different areas that look like you are in Europe. I took a picture at a photo shoot that looks like I was in Ireland and sent it to my brother and he thought we were actually in Ireland.

Visited the park with my 15 year old daughter. Neither of us love roller coasters so my bad! I didn’t realize the park was primarily roller coasters. We had an all-day dining pass so kept busy eating “around the world” and riding the few non-roller coaster rides. Parking was easy, park appeared clean. Overall we enjoyed our time together at the park.

A great place to visit. All day food is a good option to add. Forget the all day lockers. Not worth the price.

First - I'll start with saying that I am NOT a big amusement park guy. Fishing, woods, mountains - sure. That being said - Busch Gardens has to be in my Top 3 Amusement parks, and here's why.... -- lines aren't that long - lots of shade - lots of walking, but via train, gondola and cut-off routes you can get anywhere in the park in 10 minutes. - beer. Yes - beer (and wine and cocktails) are served throughout the park. - rides for all -- for kids, for craxy teens, and for people who don't like rides - lots of staff throughout the park - food options all over (though Fest Haus isn't on my list for next time). - staff is friendly, and from all over. Student/work visas I'm sure. - parking is $$, but easy to walk or take a tram to the gates. - gate lines were long, but efficient - hours of 10 am to 8 pm are prefect.Negatives - the food prices have gone up and up - games are a bit pricey - when rides shut down, they don't update the App, and sometimes don't put the sign up to the gate --- so we walked from Germany to Italy, to catch Roma Rapids.... went through the maze of lines, only to find out that it was temp. closed for maintenance. That was a bummer. - some of the staff only knew their area, and not the park, so couldn't help with directions. - need more staff working 'customer service' - that line took longer than the line to get into the parkOf the three parks in the area - Hershey, Kings Dominion and Busch (used to have 4 with Six Flags) -- Busch is my # 1.Would recommend: Yes Would re-patronize: Already planning it

Great day at the parks, I wish all the food and rides stayed open till the actual park closed though.

Date: April 10, 2026 Guide: Tyler Party of 4The Beginning: Already Impressed Before We Even EnteredLet me start by saying this: I've been to theme parks countless times throughout my life. I thought I knew what to expect. I was wrong. Wonderfully, spectacularly wrong.Our day began at 10:15 AM when we arrived at Busch Gardens Williamsburg for our 11:30 AM Elite VIP Tour. Following the detailed parking instructions we'd received, we found the employee entrance, checked in with security, and were directed to VIP parking. Here's the first sign that this day would be different: our parking spot was less than 100 feet from the main entrance. No hiking across a massive parking lot. No tram wait. Just steps from where we'd start our adventure.Meeting Tyler: The Man, The Myth, The LegendInside the park, we found the Education & Tours office located just past the Height Check station, exactly as described. That's where we met Tyler – our VIP guide for the day. I can confidently say that Tyler alone would have made this experience worth every penny. His energy, knowledge, and genuine enthusiasm set the tone for what would become one of the most memorable days our family has ever shared.The First Hour: Three Hours Saved. Yes, You Read That Right.Within the first hour, our group of four had ridden the top four roller coasters at Busch Gardens. Let that sink in. Four coasters. Sixty minutes. For context, on a typical busy day at the park, the wait times for these attractions can easily exceed 45-90 minutes each. Based on the posted wait times we saw at each ride, Tyler saved us approximately three hours of standing in lines – just in that first hour alone. This wasn't just VIP treatment; this was time-travel.The "Snacks" Revelation: A Glorious UnderstatementBefore our tour, the confirmation email mentioned that "complimentary snacks and beverages" were included. I assumed this meant maybe a bottled water and a small bag of chips. Maybe a discount at a snack stand.I could not have been more mistaken.Tyler explained that "snacks" meant anything any of us wanted, anytime, all day long. Waters? Check. Energy drinks? Check. Icees, churros, soft pretzels? All of it. Throughout our eight-hour tour, our group sampled pretty much every food option the park had to offer. The funnel cakes with ice cream and toppings were a particular favorite. The various cakes, cupcakes, cheesecake, cookies – I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. Tyler took care of everything with a simple tap of his card, never once making us feel like we were imposing or asking for too much.The Moment Everything ChangedThe true magic of this tour hit when I finally explained to our two exchange students – Ben from Germany and Jakub from Poland – exactly what this VIP experience meant. Their eyes went wide when I told them:"This tour lets you ride any ride, without waiting, in any seat you want, as many times as you want."The look on their faces? Priceless. This wasn't just a theme park visit. This was a day where the normal rules didn't apply. A day where "I don't want to wait 90 minutes for that ride" simply wasn't in our vocabulary.Rides, Rides, and More RidesWe rode everything – with one exception. Verbolten was undergoing refurbishment during our visit, which was a minor disappointment, but honestly? With everything else we experienced, it barely registered. The coaster behind-the-scenes experience gave us an incredible up-close look at the inner workings of these engineering marvels. Seeing the maintenance bays and learning how these massive machines operate added a whole new layer of appreciation for what Busch Gardens has created.Feeding the Beast: Two Meals, Zero ComplaintsOur VIP tour included two full meals, and Tyler made sure we experienced the best the park had to offer.Lunch was at Das Festhaus, the iconic German-themed restaurant with its massive dining hall and festive atmosphere. The food was hearty, plentiful, and exactly what we needed to refuel for the afternoon ahead.Dinner at 6:30 PM took us to Trapper's Smokehouse, where the aroma of smoked meats had been tempting us all day. It did not disappoint.Celtic Fyre: A Show Worth SeeingTyler recommended the Celtic Fyre show, and I'm so glad he did. The energy, the talent, the pure entertainment value – it was the perfect way to take a break from the coasters while still being thoroughly entertained. VIP reserved seating meant we had the best view in the house. No scrambling for seats, no arriving 30 minutes early to stake out a spot. We walked in, sat down in prime location, and enjoyed the show.Clydes & Collies: Getting Up Close and PersonalOur special animal encounter took us behind the scenes with some of Busch Gardens' most beloved residents. The Clydes & Collies tour gave us an up-close experience with these magnificent animals that regular park guests simply don't get. For our exchange students, who had never experienced anything like this before, it was a moment of pure wonder.The Verdict: Eight Hours of PerfectionOver the course of our eight-hour tour, Tyler ensured we missed absolutely nothing. Every coaster (except the one under refurbishment). Every must-see attraction. Two incredible meals. More snacks than I can remember. A world-class show. Exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences. VIP parking. Front-of-line access. Reserved seating.But here's what truly made this experience exceptional: Tyler. Yes, the VIP perks are incredible. Yes, skipping lines changes everything. Yes, the all-inclusive food and drinks feel almost too good to be true. But a VIP tour is only as good as the guide who leads it, and Tyler was nothing short of outstanding. His knowledge of the park, his ability to read our group and adjust on the fly, his genuine care that we were having the best possible time – that's what transformed this from a great day into an unforgettable one.For Our Exchange Students: A Farewell They'll Never ForgetThis tour was planned as part of a grand send-off for Ben and Jakub, who will be returning to Europe in June after their time with us. They came to America expecting a typical theme park experience. Instead, they got a day where magic was real, lines didn't exist, and every wish was granted before they even knew they had it.Ben, being from Germany, had a special connection to the German-themed sections of Busch Gardens. Watching him experience Oktoberfest and Das Festhaus with the added context of his heritage – while being treated like royalty – was a moment I'll cherish.Would I Do It Again?In a heartbeat. Without hesitation. This wasn't just a theme park visit. This was an experience that redefined what a family day out can be. For anyone considering the Elite VIP Tour at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, here's my advice:Do it.Not "think about it." Not "maybe someday." Just do it.The time saved alone makes it worthwhile. The front-of-line access to every attraction transforms a day that could be spent waiting into a day spent living. The all-inclusive food and drinks remove every friction point from the experience. And a guide like Tyler? That's the difference between a good day and an absolutely legendary one.The Numbers Don't Lie- Time saved in lines: Likely 6+ hours over the course of the day - Rides experienced: Every operational coaster and major attraction - Meals enjoyed: 2 full sit-down meals plus unlimited snacks and drinks - Special experiences: 2 (Coaster behind-the-scenes + Animal Encounter) - Professional photos: 33 captured memories included - Memories made: PricelessFinal ThoughtsBusch Gardens Williamsburg's Elite VIP Tour is, quite simply, the gold standard for theme park experiences. From the moment we parked 100 feet from the entrance to the moment we left after eight hours of pure joy, everything was handled. Every need anticipated. Every wish granted.To Kate and the VIP Tours team who handled our booking and answered our questions with patience and professionalism – thank you.To Tyler – you're the real MVP. You took what could have been a fun day and turned it into something our family will talk about for years. Your passion for what you do shows, and we're grateful we got to experience it.And to anyone reading this review, wondering if the Elite VIP Tour is worth it:It's worth it. Every single penny.The Photos: Memories Captured ForeverAs part of the VIP experience, we received a photo key capturing all our unforgettable moments from the day. 33 professional photos documenting every thrill, every smile, every memory. From the boys' excitement on the coasters to candid moments throughout the park, these weren't just snapshots – they were professionally captured memories that we'll cherish forever. When Ben and Jakub look back on their American adventure years from now, these photos will transport them right back to that magical Friday in April.Review submitted by Don Sawyer Party of 4: Ages 57, 52, 17, 17 April 10, 2026⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars – Would Give 6 If I Could

Many & exciting well run rollercoasters!! Carnival games of chance pricey. Well laid out with nice gift shops. Interesting “Lands,” e.g., Scotland, France, Germany, etc. Plenty of & variety of eateries. Well organized parking & transportation within park.Overpriced “demand” based parking! Don’t be surprised it is not included in entrance ticket. German food we tried was very expensive but good, but service was needlessly slow. For example, folks ordering pizza held up entire line waiting for pizzas to be cooked! Recommend taking whatever cold drinks you can get in, I.e., technically one per person.It can make for a fun, but expensive & exhausting day for the adults. Kids loved it.

My wife, daughter and I went to Christmas Towne on Christmas Eve. We arrived about 2:00, earlier than we had arrived for previous Christmas Eve visits. Attendance was very light. We went to 4 shows, finishing the night with the 8 PM ice show. All were very well done with excellent lighting, music and with very talented entertainers. The lights everywhere were beautiful. We went on several rides and the only lengthy wait was at the sky tram.

Went back for Christmas town and it was just as magical as the last time the decorations were absolutely beautiful and the rides were amazing.Big bad wolf the wolfs revenge did not disappoint.