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Surf's up dude! Water Country USA, the Mid-Atlantic's largest water park, is a wet and wild choice for a gnarly family vacation getaway.
Voted one of America's best water parks by the Travel Channel, it's the sister park of Busch Gardens Williamsburg, which is just down the road.
Some people like to plan a vacation combining both parks, some prefer just to get wet. Whatever your choice, you'll love Water Country USA's '50's & '60's "Kowabunga" surf theme, 35 "super-soakin'" water rides and slides, and 82 degree heated pools on cooler days.
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| © 2010-2011 Busch Entertainment Corporation. Reproduced by permission of Water Country USA. All rights reserved. |
Latest Attractions: "Rock 'n' Roll Island" features three body slides, a "lazy" river, and a slide for "Little Boppers," all set to rockin' music from the 50's and 60's.
The park is open the beginning of May through the first week in September. I've listed the full summer hours and operating schedule below.
Here's just a sample of the rides:
- Big Daddy Falls - a family ride with a tunnel, water curtain, "cannon blasters," and two splash pools
- Hubba-Hubba Highway - Fast-moving lazy river with interactive water features
- Lemon Drop - Bright yellow slides that shoot you airborne before plunging you into the pool
- Nitro Racer - a mad race to the finish on plastic mats against six other guests
- Rampage - a tobaggon slide dropping you 75 feet at a 60 degree angle
- Surfer's Bay - Virginia's largest wave-pool with four foot waves
Ready to get wet? There's more...
For the little kiddies, there's Cow-A-Bunga (heated water playland with water slides, fountains and waterfalls, H20-UFO (super slides and fountains), and Kritter Korral (a playground and mini slides for the littles tykes).
Admission Facts - Here's How to Save!
Water Country USA has admission prices comparable to most other big-name theme parks. If you're just going for the day, the admission facts are fairly simple.
Note: Daily parking is not included in ANY Water Country USA tickets, with the exception of the Platinum, Gold and Silver Passports. Parking is $13 per day (which frankly, seems like highway robbery to me, but there's nothing you can do...)
Virginia Resident? Get a Summer Sizzler Pass Buy a one day ticket now through June 30, and you'll get unlimited admission through September 6 for the same price!Here's the link to buy your Summer Sizzler Pass online.
July update: Find a 25% Off Coupon - Good for up to six single-day admissions, I've found these coupons at McDonald's and at my local library. They're good through Sept. 6.
Are you military? Anheuser Busch offers a great deal to military members at all its theme parks. Click here for details.)
How to Get Single-Day Discount Tickets
Here are two spots we've found to get single day discount tickets (note: since these deals are for single-day tickets, they're generally not available until March or April):
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| © 2010-2011 Busch Entertainment Corporation. Reproduced by permission of Water Country USA. All rights reserved. |
1) Virginia Beach Vacation Market - Here's how to get a single day Water Park USA discount ticket for about $10 less than the usual price! 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 (the strip one block in from the beachfront). Buy a one-day single admission ticket there. It'll cost you around $35 instead of $41.95...PLUS you won't have to pay tax. So you'll save almost $10 per ticket.
Virginia Beach 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.
2) Grocery chains, fast food restaurants, and even gas station chains often offer Water Country USA coupons good for $6-$10 or more off regular admission (although they sometimes don't start offering the coupons until the beginning of June). The coupons are printed on grocery bags, or are available as paper coupons near the checkout stand, and are good for up to six admissions. Coupons must be redeemed in person at the park window, and are usually good until the park closes for the season.
Places to try:
Farm Fresh, Ukrops, and GiantSubway, McDonald's, Quiznos, Chick-fil-AWawa gas stations
Planning on Going Multiple Days or to Multiple Parks?
It gets a 'wee more complicated.
Busch Gardens and Water Country USA Discovery Ticket - $69.95
This actually WENT DOWN in price for 2010 as long as you buy it online (if not, it's $10 higher). This is your best value if you want 7 days of fun and the flexibility of going back and forth between Busch Gardens Williamsburg.)
and Water Country USA. Good May 22-Sept. 6.
Williamsburg Bounce Ticket..Save 20%! - $98.80 for adults; $82.00 kids 6-17; Under 6 = free
Experience the best that Williamsburg has to offer. Start your day at Busch Gardens Europe then bounce over to Colonial Williamsburg. Visit as many times as you’d like during your a 7-day period, even in the same day. Bonus: When you visit between May 10th and September 7th you can visit Water Country USA at no additional charge.
7-For-1 Williamsburg Flex ticket - Valid up to 7 consecutive days of admission to Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Water Country USA, Jamestown Settlement, Yorktown Victory Center, Historic Jamestown & Yorktown Battlefield. Ticket includes parking at Busch Gardens and Water Country USA. It's good May 22 through September 6, 2010.
And Then There's Passes...
Good for unlimited visits, these passes are available in both 1-year and 2-year increments. Pass prices have gone up about $3-$5 each for 2010.1 Park Pass
--1 Year
Individual Passes: $99.95
--2 Years
Individual Passes: $149.95
2 Park Pass - Busch Gardens Williamsburg & Water Country USA
--1 Year
Individual Passes: $139.95
--2 Years
Individual Passes: $219.95
Platinum Passport - Busch Gardens Williamsburg & Water Country USA PLUS 9 other Anheuser-Busch parks nationwide
--2 Years (1 year pass not available)
Individual Passes: $299.95
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 Williamsburg parks (if available), and a variety of other discounts, shop savings, etc.
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!). These range from just over $7.50 per month to $12.50 per month, depending on which pass you buy.
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
- 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
Water Country USA Hours & Operating Schedule
Here's the park's hours and operating schedule (note-- on operating days, the park always opens at 10 am):
May Hours
Opening day - Saturday, May 22
During May 22, 23, and 28, park hours are 10 am - 5 pm.<
Open Monday May 29 - 31, 10 am - 6 pm.
June Hours
The park is open every day during June.
Open June 1-4, and 7-11, 10 am to 5 pm daily
Open June 5-6, 10 am to 6 pm daily
Open June 12-30, 10 am to 8 pm daily
July Hours
The park is open every day from 10 am to 8 pm during July.
August Hours
The park is open every day in August.
Open June 1-15, 10 am to 8 pm daily
Open June 16-29, 10 am to 7 pm daily
Open June 30-31, 10 am to 6 pm daily
September Hours
The park is only open six days in September.
Open September 1-6, 10 am to 6 pm daily
Closed for the season September 7th.
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