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Busch Gardens Virginia has admission prices comparable to most other big-name theme parks.
But if you're looking for a cheap Virginia Beach family vacation getaway, you have to work hard to get the best discounts and maximize your dollar..especially in these tough economic times. Luckily, I've found some fantastic deals for you!
If you're just going for the day, the admission facts are fairly simple.
Busch Gardens Virginia Single-Day Admission Rates
Adult admission (ages 10+): $66.99. Child admission (ages 3 to 9): $56.99. Children 2 and under are free.
The bad news? Single-day ticket prices for adults have jumped $3 this year (that's $10 total in the last four years!). The good news? We've found many ways to get you in on the cheap!
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| You'll flip for Alpengeist! |
But if you're looking to pay less on single-day tickets? Here are our discount ticket secrets!
Up until the last two years (when just about everything in the world has skyrocketed) Busch Gardens has been pretty good about trying to minimize price increases over the years. Here's where they've been making up for it: parking.
Daily parking is not included in ANY single-day Busch Gardens Virginia tickets. The real bummer is that I used to be able to give you a link to save you $2 on a daily parking pass.
Unfortunately, penny pinching at the park has eliminated even that deal, so you have to pay the full $13 per visit now.
THE Cheapest Way to Buy a Virginia Fun Card!
We've found it: The cheapest way to buy a Fun Card for Virginia residents! First, let me explain how the Fun Card works.
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| The Carousel across from Land of the Dragons. |
BUT, if you're like me, and you want to find everything the cheapest way possible, there IS a way to get the Fun Card for about $10 less! The trick is, you'll have to go to Virginia Beach to get it.
Here's what you do: Go to Virginia Beach and stop in one of the three Vacation Market locations along Atlantic Avenue. Buy a one-day single admission ticket there. It'll cost you about $60 instead of $66.99...PLUS you won't have to pay tax. So you'll save about $10 per ticket.
Then, when you go to Busch Gardens, go to the Guest Services counter and upgrade your card to a Fun Card for free! So you'll pay about $60 and be able to visit again and again all season long.
Vacation Market is open 7 days a week, and has three Atlantic Avenue locations: 16th, 25th, and 31st Streets. They also offer discounts to other local attractions and restaurants.
And remember to check our Busch Gardens Virginia Hours & Operating Schedule page to find out when the park's open.
FREE Preschool Pass & "Buy an Adult Ticket, Get a Kid's Ticket Free" Deal!
It's back! Once again, Busch Gardens Virginia is offering the free "Preschool Pass" deal to Virginia residents.
The Preschool Pass gives unlimited admission to kids 5 and younger. Plus, this year they're good through October 28th (instead of early September as in previous years).
Once you register, you bring in the registration confirmation and valid ID (like a birth certificate or a passport) to the ticket window. Here's the link to get your Preschool Pass.
Last year, they also had a "Buy an Adult Ticket, Get a Kid's Ticket Free" deal which let Virginia residents buy an adult single-day ticket online, and get a free kid's ticket absolutely free.
No word yet on whether they'll offer this great ticket deal again in 2012. But I'll post the latest info as soon as I find it, so keep checking back!
"Bring a Friend" Deal
With the "Bring a Friend" deal, Virginia residents last year were able to buy one single-day adult ticket and get a second one for a friend for free.
It was only available until the end of May. No word yet on if they'll offer the deal again in 2012. If they do, remember, parking is extra.
Planning on staying at Busch Gardens Virginia more than one day?
Keep reading to see if you can save on Parking!
Multi-Day Tickets
Busch Gardens Williamsburg Spring Discovery Ticket - $66.99
They offered this deal last year and I hope they'll do so again. If they do, the Discovery Ticket gets you unlimited admission for 7 consecutive days from when the park opens through May 17. Daily parking is NOT included.
Basically, they're cutting you a great deal if you're willing to make your visits before the summer season. It's perfect for people who don't have kids in school...and you'll definitely be able to visit the cool spring weather.
Busch Gardens and Water Country USA Discovery Ticket - $84.99
This is your best value if you want unlimited fun and the flexibility of going back and forth between BG and Water Country USA, BG's nearby waterpark. Good May 18-Sept. 3.
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| Buy funky hats like this outside "The Big Bad Wolf." |
Also, I'm hoping the Williamsburg Bounce Ticket will be back in 2012 (no word yet on their website). This lets you "bounce" between Busch Gardens Europe and Colonial Williamsburg as many times as you want within a 7-day period for one price. Plus, when you visit, you'll get into nearby Water Country USA at no additional charge.
If they do offer this ticket, prices will be something like this:
Adult admission (ages 18 and up): @$104. Child admission (ages 6-17): @$85.00. Children 6 and under are free
And if you really want to take advantage of the Historic Triangle area, try the 7-For-1 Williamsburg Flex Ticket.
This all-inclusive ticket is valid up to 7 consecutive days for admission to (get this): Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Water Country USA, Jamestown Settlement, Yorktown Victory Center, Historic Jamestown & Yorktown Battlefield. PLUS, it includes parking at Busch Gardens and Water Country USA.
This ticket is good May 18 through September 3 and must be purchased online. 2012 prices haven't been posted yet, but here are what prices may be like:
Adult admission (ages 18 and up): @$175. Child admission (ages 6-17): @$135. Children 6 and under are free
If this season is anything like last year's, they'll start introducing new package deals and discounts around June, so check back with me often for the latest deals!
Busch Gardens Williamsburg Passes
Unfortunately, prices are up significant in 2011-- 1 Year pass prices have gone up about $10 each, while 2 Year pass prices have gone up 20 bucks in 2011!
1 Park Pass - Busch Gardens Virginia
--1 Year
Individual Passes: $119.99
--2 Years
Individual Passes: $189.99
2 Park Pass - Busch Gardens Virginia & Water Country USA
--1 Year
Individual Passes: $159.99
--2 Years
Individual Passes: $259.99
Platinum Passport - Busch Gardens Virginia & Water Country USA PLUS 9 other Anheuser-Busch parks nationwide
--2 Years (1 year pass not available)
Individual Passes: $329.99
Why go Platinum? If you're a truly serious park-lover who really gets around, this is your best bet. You'll also get free general parking, preferred parking at the Busch Gardens Virginia parks (if available), and a variety of other discounts, shop savings, etc.
Plus, this is the ONLY pass price which has NOT gone up for 2012!
To help ease the budget pain, they offer an EZ pay option, which allows you to be billed in monthly "EZ" installments (you can even spread the payments out over 2 years!). You'll pay about $13 per month.
1-Pass, 2-Pass, & Platinum Benefits:
Here are the EXTRAS your passports provide--
- Free General Parking for 1 and 2 Pass, as well as discounted preferred parking; Platinum holders get free preferred parking at the Virginia parks, and free general parking at all other Anheuser-Busch parks
- 50% discount on Christmas Town tickets
- 10% discount at Busch Gardens merchandise shops and restaurants (discount applies to all Anheuser-Busch parks for Platinum holders)
- Discounts on single-day tickets for friends and relatives at Busch Gardens Virginia and Water Country USA
- 10% savings on golf, dining, merchandise, tennis & the spa at the Kingsmill Resort
- Member Appreciation nights on Sunday nights during the Summer Concert Series
- Savings on stroller, wheelchair, motorized cart rentals, and Pet Kennel
- Pass Member "Advantage Pricing" on select products in restaurants and merchandise shops
TIP! If you buy a pass...Since you'll need to keep pulling out your passport to get discounts everytime you buy or eat something at Busch Gardens Virginia, I recommend that you get a plastic card holder. Ask for a free card holder at the Passport Sales window in the Guest Relations building just to the right after you enter the park. You won't lose it, and won't have to keep fumbling for your wallet! (It even helps keep your pass dry on wet rides like Roman Rapids...yep, I've tested it!)
Get a New Quick Queue Fast Pass!
Want to maximize your visit by hitting ALL the major rides? Hate to wait in line? It may be worth your while to spring for the new
To find out how Quick Queue works here, click here.
Parking
Yes, you have to pay for Busch Gardens Virginia parking (unless you have a 1 Park, 2 Park, or Platinum Passport ticket, in which case parking is free). |
| The gardens in Italy. |
Parking is $13 per day, which really adds up over time--so much so that I thought of upgrading my Fun Card to a 1 Park Pass just to get free parking. (Since my kids don't drive and will be coming with me, it wouldn't have made sense to upgrade them too). Basically, it would make sense for me to upgrade only if I planned on visiting the park more than 4 times during the season.
As I noted above, they've eliminated the parking pass discount this year. Bummer!
Campers & Preferred Parking (which is located in the New France parking lot, closer to the entrance) is $15. If you're in reasonably good shape, the preferred parking lot is just a short walk to the park entrance, so you won't have to wait for the tram.
Personally, my kids look forward to riding on the tram and would disappointed if we had preferred parking. But on really crowded days, the tram lines for the regular lots can get long. So you'll have to decide if it's worth it for you to spring for preferred parking.
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