Is Busch Gardens (Local) Trip Worth It for Spring Break? ($4,626) or Universal Trip for ($7,874/$6,074 w/ Points)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are these prices for real??

For Universal, yes.

For Busch Gardens, no. They are massively overpaying for add ons most people would never consider.

Op here the tickets for bush gardens for 2 days with unlimited express. Some people claim you won't need it but spring break will be busy.

Busch Gardens & Water Country USA Two-Day Ticket
$671.96 4 × Ticket + All-Day Dining (ages 3+) 167.99

Busch Gardens Williamsburg Quick Queue Unlimited Plus
$1,439.92 8 × Guest 179.99

Total before taxes without addon or hotel : $2,111.88

You don’t need to spend $1500 to skip the line at Busch Gardens in April.

Are you sure , it's spring break for the entire area?

If you want to do express passes, fine, but you still only need one day.

Is there a benefit to buying express passes ahead of time? Why not wait and see the crowd levels and then upgrade if you find the waits to be intolerable?

Unlimited express pass is geared toward fitting everything into one park day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you really need 3 days at B&G? That seems like a lot. Also, the dining plan sounds excessive. Who is tanking up every 90 minutes? People want less food since they are riding. What type of animal encounters and is that needed?

Also why get an Airbnb if you're not going to cook and you'll be at the theme park all day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are these prices for real??

For Universal, yes.

For Busch Gardens, no. They are massively overpaying for add ons most people would never consider.

Op here the tickets for bush gardens for 2 days with unlimited express. Some people claim you won't need it but spring break will be busy.

Busch Gardens & Water Country USA Two-Day Ticket
$671.96 4 × Ticket + All-Day Dining (ages 3+) 167.99

Busch Gardens Williamsburg Quick Queue Unlimited Plus
$1,439.92 8 × Guest 179.99

Total before taxes without addon or hotel : $2,111.88

You don’t need to spend $1500 to skip the line at Busch Gardens in April.

Are you sure , it's spring break for the entire area?

It's not a bucket list location attracting people from all over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One day limit at an amusement park. Go early and stay late. Done.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These prices are all outrageous. I would rent an apartment on the beach in Miami Beach somewhere and enjoy the beach and pool.

We spent about $5500 for a family of four to go to Miami for 4 nights last spring break. And we actually stayed in Ft. Lauderdale. Spring break travel is crazy expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think these are both terrible deals. It’s so much money to ride rides for 3 days. But I guess I’d do universal. The idea of $5k at Busch Gardens is shocking.

can you suggest something else? I priced these out and they are also more expensive:

Atlantis Bahamas (Total: $8,805.50 – $10,405.50 for 4 People, 3 Nights)
Flights for 4 People: $3,500.00 – $4,500.00
Accommodation:
1-Bedroom Suite: $1,842.75 each
Minimum Required Suites: 2
Total for 2 Suites: $3,685.50
Food Costs:
Estimated at $100 – $150 per person per day (varies based on dining choices).
For 4 people over 3 days: $1,200.00 – $1,800.00
Resort Fees:
Estimated at $70 per room per night plus VAT.
Total for 2 Suites, 3 Nights: $420.00

Turks & Caicos Beaches Resort (Total: $12,000.00 for 4 People, All-Inclusive)
Flights for 4 People: $1,000.00
All-Inclusive Resort Stay (2-Bedroom Suite, 3 Nights): $11,000.00
Includes all meals, drinks, water sports, and resort activities

Jamaica Beaches Resort (Total: $8,000.00 for 4 People, All-Inclusive)
Flights for 4 People: $1,000.00
All-Inclusive Resort Stay (1-Bedroom Suite, 3 Nights): $7,000.00
Includes all meals, drinks, water sports, and resort activities

At the risk of getting shamed by the anti-Carnival crowd . . . are you open to a cruise out of Baltimore to the Bahamas? For $5K to $6K you could reserve two cabins for the four of you and sail for a week, all expenses covered.

[Anonymous]

Have you looked into Auto Train to Orlando?

[Anonymous]

I'm assuming you are talking about this spring break. I agree with what everyone else has said about how you are adding on crazy expenses for busch gardens. We did the busch gardens trip last spring break. The weather was not great, spring break was earlier, and the Williamsburg area schools had spring break the next week, but certainly we never felt the need for the front of the line passes. Especially earlier in the week, it was not at all crowded. Friday was starting to get crowded (and was also the best weather day.) We did bounce passes that let us in to both colonial williamsburg and busch gardens- and we went back and forth between the two (also hit Jamestown and Yorktown- I'm not sure how old your kids are in terms of whether or not these are worth it.) I think the Spring bounce passes are cheaper than the ticket price you are quoting. Also, the food add on is a LOT of unnecessary food. Unless you are planning to be there from open to close and you eat a ton I don't see how it is worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you really need 3 days at B&G? That seems like a lot. Also, the dining plan sounds excessive. Who is tanking up every 90 minutes? People want less food since they are riding. What type of animal encounters and is that needed?

Also why get an Airbnb if you're not going to cook and you'll be at the theme park all day?

We would use a hotel for busch gardens as its the cheapest option however for the universal orlando trip an airbnb was cheaper than the hotels by like 1k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you really need 3 days at B&G? That seems like a lot. Also, the dining plan sounds excessive. Who is tanking up every 90 minutes? People want less food since they are riding. What type of animal encounters and is that needed?

Also why get an Airbnb if you're not going to cook and you'll be at the theme park all day?

We would use a hotel for busch gardens as its the cheapest option however for the universal orlando trip an airbnb was cheaper than the hotels by like 1k.

I’m assuming you looked at the Universal hotels that offer the Express Pass? In addition to not having to pay for the pass, you save the time and money for having to travel from the AirBnB to the park, and you get early perk admission. If you have an AMEX you can also book them through Fine Hotels and get a credit plus free breakfast. Might shift the math a little.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are these prices for real??

For Universal, yes.

For Busch Gardens, no. They are massively overpaying for add ons most people would never consider.

Op here the tickets for bush gardens for 2 days with unlimited express. Some people claim you won't need it but spring break will be busy.

Busch Gardens & Water Country USA Two-Day Ticket
$671.96 4 × Ticket + All-Day Dining (ages 3+) 167.99

Busch Gardens Williamsburg Quick Queue Unlimited Plus
$1,439.92 8 × Guest 179.99

Total before taxes without addon or hotel : $2,111.88

You don’t need to spend $1500 to skip the line at Busch Gardens in April.

Are you sure , it's spring break for the entire area?

The southern districts have an earlier spring break than the NOVA districts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are these prices for real??

For Universal, yes.

For Busch Gardens, no. They are massively overpaying for add ons most people would never consider.

Op here the tickets for bush gardens for 2 days with unlimited express. Some people claim you won't need it but spring break will be busy.

Busch Gardens & Water Country USA Two-Day Ticket
$671.96 4 × Ticket + All-Day Dining (ages 3+) 167.99

Busch Gardens Williamsburg Quick Queue Unlimited Plus
$1,439.92 8 × Guest 179.99

Total before taxes without addon or hotel : $2,111.88

You don’t need to spend $1500 to skip the line at Busch Gardens in April.

Are you sure , it's spring break for the entire area?

It's not a bucket list location attracting people from all over.

You’d be surprised. Thoosies travel and BGW has a great roller coaster portfolio.

[Anonymous]

I would not get the BG meal plan. Most of the things your kids want (from food trucks etc) are not included, and the sit down restaurants often have long waits at mealtimes.

You can buy express passes when you are there if you decide you need them. The animal experiences are not worth it, just walk around and look at the animals. When we go, it’s usually for 6-7 hours and that’s plenty for my 8&10 year olds. It was fun but not multiple days-worth of fun.

[Anonymous]

Use Certifikid (like Groupon but for kid’s activities) to get tickets-$219 for 3 day Busch Gardens/water country W/ all day meal plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Use Certifikid (like Groupon but for kid’s activities) to get tickets-$219 for 3 day Busch Gardens/water country W/ all day meal plan.

That’s per ticket and a terrible deal! It’s cheaper directly from Busch Gardens ($208.75)

If you have AAA you can save more.