Busch Gardens Amusement Park

[Sleepyskull]

I am going on a 2-day trip with the other seniors at my high school.  We are going to Williamsburg, Virginia The 1st day will be fine, but the 2nd day we are spending all day at Busch Gardens (an amusement park).  The problem is I'm not into amusement park rides. I would play games, but if their website is any indication there are none to be found.  Don't get me wrong, I am really looking forward to this, but I still have a few questions for those who are familiar with Busch Gardens:

What can you do at Busch Gardens besides going on rides, shopping, seeing shows, and dining? 

What are the shows like? 

What are the shops like?

Any information/suggestions is greatly appreciated! (Even if you don't know the park)

[Paquita]

They have a petting zoo don't they?  It looks like they have a CAT CIRCUS!!  I would be very excited if I were you.  You can always get a funnel cake.

[Sleepyskull]

They have a petting zoo don't they?  It looks like they have a CAT CIRCUS!!  I would be very excited if I were you.  You can always get a funnel cake.

They do have a zoo area, but I'm not sure if they have a petting zoo. I will definitely be checking out the zoo.  They do have an animal/pet show (CAT CIRCUS!!) which I will definitely attend. The downside is it's only about 15 minutes long. 

Part of the problem is I'm not a big amusement park fan in general. I've been to Hershey Park twice in the last 4 years and each time my ,main source of enjoyment has been hanging out with friends. I'm sure I'll have a good time though. Besides, it looks they have some nifty shops. I'm always in the mood for a fun hat or gizmo. 

I probably won't get funnel cake, but one restaurant has fried pickles and I'm dying to try one. 

[Paquita]

I've been to Hershey Park and was not impressed... Although I was expecting to ride chocolate waves in a canoe carved out of a Hershey bar while it rained chocolate chips..  I think Busche Gardens will have a lot of things to do!  I was there when I was about 4 and I remember it being the most awesome place on earth and I've never been big on rides. 

I've been to Dollywood a couple times and had a lot of fun without going on any rides and just going to the shops and watching the bearded blacksmith.

[Sleepyskull]

I've been to Hershey Park and was not impressed... Although I was expecting to ride chocolate waves in a canoe carved out of a Hershey bar while it rained chocolate chips..  I think Busche Gardens will have a lot of things to do!  I was there when I was about 4 and I remember it being the most awesome place on earth and I've never been big on rides. 

I've been to Dollywood a couple times and had a lot of fun without going on any rides and just going to the shops and watching the bearded blacksmith.

I have no idea if you have changed since then, but keep in mind you were 4 years old. I'm 18 so there is a slight difference. 

I much more excited about the first day of the trip. We're going to take a tour of colonial Williamsburg and take a ghost tour! 

I'm probably the only soon-to-be-graduating high school student on Earth who is more excited (and very thrilled!) by the idea of a historical tour rather than the idea of a roller coaster. 

On a side note: The bus ride to Williamsburg will take about 3 and a half hours. The bus has a DVD player so they are asking kids to bring in school appropriate movies for everybody to watch.  I am definitely going to bring in some DVDs! The only problem is nobody else will want to watch something like: Big Trouble in Little China  (I'll still try) or House On Haunted Hill (1959). I'll bring in some more mainstream stuff, maybe Without a Paddle or  Hellboy.  I am going to bring personal books and music anyway, so I will be fine.

[Jack]

My folks took me to the one in Florida when I was a little kid.  It was like a gigantic forest - the whole thing was a zoo.  It kind of looks like the one in Williamsburg is set up the same way.  I'm sure you could kill the better part of a day wandering around there.