At some point in our lives, we all want to visit some place that we have never been. We either want to go because place has beauty, culture, great food, or just to say “I’ve been there.” One of those places for me is Europe. But a trip like that is so expensive, right? Well there are a couple options you could consider. Option 1 would be to save up for that big trip to Europe (which could take somewhere between 1 and 3 years if done consistently). Option 2, which is far less expensive, would be going to an amusement park and get the sensation of actually being in Europe. Which amusement park, you say? None other than Busch Gardens Williamsburg!
Historically rated as one of the cleanest and friendliest parks by Amusement Today, Busch Gardens Williamsburg is one of the greatest amusement parks with outstanding theming to make any European homesick. The park is divided into multiple sections each representing a European country. These countries include England, Italy, Germany, France, Ireland, and Scotland. There’s even a section themed after Sesame Street for the children.
With the exclusion of this year, due to the pandemic, I’ve been going to this park every year since I was a baby. I can easily tell you the greatest attractions in each section of the park, but to honest, It would take way too long for me to do so. Instead, I’m going to tell you guys about some of my favorite attractions in Busch Gardens Williamsburg. There are plenty to choose from, but the ones I’ll talk about, you don’t wanna miss!
Roller Coasters You Need To Ride!
Take your pick of the 9 roller coasters that Busch Gardens Williamsburg has to offer. 8 of them are for all the thrill-seekers, while 1 is designed just for the kids (and parents). After visiting the park for well over 25 years (almost every year of my life), I’ve easily ridden every single roller coaster that is open in the park. The only exclusion is the brand new launch coaster Pantheon (still under construction and testing).
All of the coasters each offer a great experience. Some better than others. Nonetheless, they’re all worth at least one ride! But there are a few that are definite stand-outs to me and definitely should be ridden on every visit to the park.
Griffon
Standing as the tallest roller coaster in the park at 205 feet, Griffon is a coaster not to be passed up! Located in the France section of the park, there’s so much to love about this ride. One of them is the very first thing you’ll notice: the 205-foot 90 degree drop! That’s right. Vertical! Absolutely breath-taking! Another thing I love about the ride: the trains. How many rides do you know seat ten people in one row? With some riders sitting in seats OFF the track? You read that right. And to make things a little freakier, there’s no floor beneath you! Insane, right?
Once you take a ride on this beast of a coaster, you’ll be coming back for more! From the anticipation of that first drop to the two Incredible Immelmann loops, there’s no denying why this is one of the most popular rides in the park. Not to mention the cool splash feature to cool spectators off. All in all, the coaster is Absolutely Amazing! Excited? Ride it! Scared? Ride it anyway! Just ride it once and you’re 99.9% guaranteed to like it. Trust me!
WANNA READ ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE ON GRIFFON? ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CLICK HERE!!
Apollo’s Chariot
Coaster fanatics: If you love B&M Hypercoasters, this one is for you! For those that don’t know what I just said: this is a tall and fast ride you’re going to love!
Created by the coaster company Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M; same one that created Griffon), Apollo’s Chariot is a chariot like no other. Prepare to go on a journey that starts with an 180-foot ascent and eventually followed by a 210-foot plunge into a ravine. You’ll then be take over a series of camel-back hills and turns at speeds up to 73 mph. Don’t forget to smile for the camera at the end!
Sounds pretty awesome, right? That’s because it is! And for those of you that are terrified, don’t worry. I was in the same boat as you. I was shaking when I first went on the ride. Going up the lift hill was the scariest part (as it is for any big roller coaster). When I got to the top, I briefly enjoyed the view of the park and prepared for the plunge (all in about three seconds). After the drop, which was AMAZING, I knew I was going to be fine the rest of the ride.
POV OF APOLLO’S CHARIOT RIGHT HERE!!!
I’m telling you guys, this is a ride you don’t want to miss. One of the biggest and most popular in Busch Gardens Williamsburg. For your first (or next) visit, put this on your list and thank me later!
Verbolten
If it’ll be your first time visiting the park, a lot of people will probably talk about this coaster; ’cause it’s THAT Awesome! You also might hear them talk about a coaster called Big Bad Wolf; the world’s very first suspended roller coaster. Ever since it’s debut in 1984, it served as one of the park’s most popular and memorable attractions. Especially due to it’s near 100′ plunge toward the Rhine River. It served its purpose all the way until its last days in 2009, before it was torn down due to technical issues.
So why did I bring up this awesome ride to talk about another awesome ride? What does Big Bad Wolf have to do with Verbolten? Easy answer: Right after Big Bad Wolf was taken down, Verbotlen took it’s place nearly three years later. There’s also another reason why I brought up “The Wolf,” but I’ll get to that later. Right now, I wanna tell you just what is so awesome about this coaster.
First off, the theme of the ride is one of the best I’ve seen from Busch Gardens. The ride is themed after the Autobahn in Germany and takes place in a dark forbidden forest. Riders are invited to climb aboard trains themed after a classic German car. Preparing to brave the black forest as they are launched into a dark tunnel filled with effects that gives off the vibe of actually being in a dark forest.
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As you twist and turn in the darkness, glimpses of lightning and scary-looking trees surround you. You’ll be hopelessly trying to figure out where you are, up until that moment the ride stops. BUT, if you think your trip through the forest is over, you better think again! You’ll look in front of you and stare at your pending doom. The powerful storm. The lurking spirits. The glowing red eyes of…YES! THE Big Bad Wolf himself! What happens next will surely catch you off guard! How do I know? Because it caught ME of guard!
GET TICKETS TODAY AND YOU TOO CAN RIDE THIS AMAZING RIDE!
Just as you’re staring danger in the face, the track mysteriously drops down. I’m not talking about the cars moving down the track. The actual track drops you! Crazy, right? But that’s not all.
You finally make it out of the forest as you’re launched out the tunnel. Now you must survive one more thing. A 90 foot plunge toward the Rhine River below. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? After a few more turns through the trees, the ride is over and you survived the dark forest!
Remember when I brought up Big Bad Wolf and its importance? It has a huge connection to Verbolten. Not only did Verbolten pay homage by including the Big Bad Wolf in the storyline, but it also did so through the ever-so-memorable drop toward the Rhine River. Call me a big softie, but I can’t help but tear up at the thought of the legacy of one of my favorite coasters living on through another. It’s such a comforting feeling just thinking about it.
All in all, definitely a must-ride! Rode it several times and would never grow tired of it. Next time you go for a visit, don’t miss out on this amazing experience!
Thrill Rides That’ll Keep You Coming Back For More!
Most parks tend to have rides a lot of rides that can be found at any county fair. For example, at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, don’t be too surprised if you see rides such as a “scrambler” or a “giant pirate ship.” Not exactly something out of the ordinary. But there are a a few rides that I do believe are worth checking out!
Escape From Pompeii
My visits to the park are usually on days where it’s hot outside. It’s always somewhere between 80 and 90 degrees. And almost always, every visit includes a ride on this awesome water ride!
If you want the thrill of an old Italian-style action-packed adventure, plus cool off from the sun, this ride is definitely for you! Riders start out by boarding the ride, preparing to take a tour of Pompeii that begins with a 50 foot climb to the top. The entire time, suspenseful music is playing in the background and the intensity grows as the ride progresses.
Once the ride reaches the top, riders undergo a small fake-out drop that leads them into a room where horror strikes. Be warned! If you are sitting in the front row, your feel WILL get wet! There’s no way around it!
As you go through the room, you’ll encounter near misses of flames being thrown and statues falling on you. I kid you not when I tell you that I duck almost every time the final statue falls. As if it were actually going to hit us.
After you’ve survived all that was thrown at you, you’ve finally made it to the doors on the other side of the room. Your only escape is a 50 foot plunge into a splash pool on the outside. Don’t forget to smile for the camera!
NOT SURE IF IT’S FOR YOU? TAKE A VIRTUAL RIDE RIGHT HERE!!
A great ride for kids and adults of almost any age! Great storyline, great theming, and most likely one of the greatest water rides I’ve ever ridden. It’s very possible that you will agree with me!
Finnegan’s Flyer
Ever take a ride on a swing on a playground? Imagine one of those with about 31 more seats and takes you about 80 feet in the air. New riders will wanna ride this over and over again. And not just because the ride only lasts about a minute and a half. But also because it brings on the feeling of soaring through the air. Adults will feel like kids again taking a ride on one of the biggest swings they’ll ever ride.
SOAR VIRTUALLY RIGHT HERE AT BUSCH GARDENS WILLIAMSBURG!!
My first time on this ride was last year. It was only a few months old, so there was quite a lengthy line. But since the ride was so short (yet still awesome), the wait time was only about 20 minutes. My heart was about to burst with excitement and anxiety.
When it was my turn, I chose my seat, strapped myself in, and prepared myself for a ride on one of the biggest swings. Just like your average pirate ship ride, the ride started moving back and forth low to the ground. That pretty much only lasted about 5 seconds. Before I knew it, the speed increased and I was about 80 feet in the air. I could’ve sworn I was almost upside down at one point. How many swings do you know that do that?
Next time you visit the park, put this one on your list to ride. Soar the air on this giant swing for kids and adults. Will you be the next rider?
Entertainment: European Style!
Is riding all of the rides not your thing. Not to worry! Busch Gardens has some things that’ll keep you entertained. From 4-D movies to live musical and dancing performances, Busch Gardens takes the European culture to a whole new level!
I still remember to this day my first ever 4D movie that I viewed in the theater by the park entrance. It was an exciting movie about pirates. For those that don’t know what 4D is, it’s basically 3D, but taken a step further. In a 3D movie, while wearing special glasses, you’ll get the illusion that things are coming right at you. In a 4D movie, the same thing happens, with added affects such as air blowing on your feet and water spraying in your face. It. Is. Awesome!
Another show that I absolutely enjoyed was the interactive “Das Festhaus” show in the Oktoberfest section of the park. At the top of the hour, singers and dancers would come out from surrounding buildings singing to an accompanying German-style band. I watched the show with my mom, sisters, and grandmother when I was younger and we all had an amazing time dancing and clapping along. My grandmother even pretended to be the leader of the band, which made me and the rest of the family laugh non-stop! Hands down one of the best memories of my time at the park!
Check these two shows out! I promise you, you will love them! For more on Busch Gardens’ entertainment, you can CLICK HERE for their schedule!
Get Your Grub On!
If you’re like me, you love food and won’t be afraid to try new food! After my many years of going to this park, I can easily find something good to eat in just about any section of the park. Italy is where I get some delicious stuffed breadsticks. In Germany/Oktoberfest, I love sharing a juicy turkey leg with my sisters. And on my way out, I love to stop by the creamery for some amazing soft serve in England.
One place that I absolutely love to go to every time is Trapper’s Smokehouse located in New France. My family and I made it a tradition to always go there for lunch…sometimes, right before getting on Griffon (don’t ask me why my family decides to do that…).
Ribs, chicken, brisket, fries, mac & cheese, beans, and much more. And I didn’t even mention wide array of deserts. So many choices. And it seems like I never make a wrong one! On a scale of 1 to 10, the food is a solid 8….on a bad day! That’s right. It’s that good! Barbecue lovers: definitely hit this restaurant up and thank me later!
MORE OF BUSCH GARDENS DINING OPTIONS RIGHT HERE!
What are you waiting for? Plan your visit today!!
Busch Gardens Williamsburg is a place you wanna be! If it’s your first time, make it a time you’ll never forget. Amazing rides, fantastic entertainment, and delicious food. If that doesn’t spell out a magnificent time, I don’t know what does!
It’s your perfect trip to Europe without even going out of the country. And I know deep down that you’ve probably always wanted to go to Europe. Who wouldn’t want to? Now’s your chance. One of the greatest parks you’ll ever go to. Book your trip today!
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