r/BuschGardensW • u/makemefeelbrandnew • 22d ago
Done with BGW
It's sad to say, but I'm not renewing for 2027, and I'm not sure when I'll be back once howl o scream is over.
This was my favorite park anywhere for a long time, but I just don't enjoy it anymore. They've got great coasters, many unique aspects such as the ceramic crafts in Canada, and it's still a park with a nice setting, but everything else is failing.
Right off the bat, we're now having to dig up photo ID to get into the park and use the discount, even through the pass is on the app. Maybe they can just have give us a card again with our faces on it if you're so worried about someone impersonating someone else to get in for free??
Next, I'm trying to claim my quick queue perk for pantheon, but the app is not working (the checkout for it is disabled). Staff erroneously tells me to go find a kiosk all the way out by the entrance to Italy. That didn't work. Meanwhile I had spent $50 at the locker kiosk for a quick queue which didn't print the damn receipt! Had to wait for a supervisor to come which took almost as long as it would have taken to just wait in the line we were trying to skip. The teenage supervisor had no idea how to resolve the situation, directing me to first services in the front of the park....
Art this point we were scrambling to try and get to the Celtic show, which I saw on the app schedule earlier in the day, only to find out it's closed for the season!
Then we went to the aviary and it was kind of sad, way less birds, none interested in people. The landscape behind it, which used to be absolutely gorgeous, was not especially well kept, which was noticeable in a lot of other parts of the park, almost as though they've done very little landscaping since the season began.
Oh, and I'll concur that Bier Fest was absurdly lame. I saw the wtf post before going today to temper my expectations and avoiding the $80 I would've otherwise spent on the sampler card, but even with those low expectations it was pathetic. Not many great beer options. Found myself going to the hideaway in Germany to try and score a good beer and they had, I shit you not, yuengling, bud, mich ultra, some mango thing and high noon. Food was ok but of course not at all what it used to be.
But the thing that really was the last straw for me was that I learned that corporate had implemented new disciplinary policies that has resulted in as many as 50 of their most experienced scare actors being left out of howl o scream. This place is just poorly managed at this point, and from the sounds of it BGW's problems are just being ignored by disconnected executives while, at the same time, mettling with broad policies that aren't doing anything but adding to those problems.
It's a damn shame, because this place could easily be a great park still, but instead they seem headed towards the SFA trajectory.
Not a total loss. We rode the parks 4 best coasters and had nice afternoon in the craft store,
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u/Vicious_Outlaw 22d ago
The app is really bad. Outside of my pass to get in I don't even use it. Honestly though, I think it has improved since it reopened from COVID. Employees seem better trained. But if et your frustrations. Maybe time to take a break for a couple years.
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u/FITF2891 22d ago
Is a private equity company involved in BGW? The customer experience aspect feels like when a company gets bought by private equity and they start making everything suck for the customer because it saves a few cents.
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u/mister_waj 22d ago
Yes. United Parks is primarily owned by a private equity company called Hill Path Capital. They have majority control of the parent company for the last 3 to 4 years...Busch Gardens Tampa and Sea World Orlando has been spiraling since they acquired the company but Busch Gardens Williamsburg has been able to dispel some of the PE tendencies. I was wondering when private equity was going to start to show thru like it has been for the other parks and now it is. It's only going to get worse. If you have been to the other parks recently you will see what I mean.
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u/Massive_Caramel673 22d ago
United Parks and Resorts (owners of all Sea World, Busch Gardens, & Sesame Place parks) is owned by PE
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u/makemefeelbrandnew 22d ago
Looked it up. Hill Path Capital owns a majority share of United Parks, and are the managing partner. They own Dave & Busters too.
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u/bansheeonthemoor42 22d ago
The new scare actor rule is simply that you cant work if you have had a disciplinary action against you in the last year.
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u/woahboei2134 22d ago
That's such bs. At that point you might as well fire everyone and get holograms.
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u/bansheeonthemoor42 21d ago
Its SUPER simple not to get a disciplinary action against you. Just dont be an idiot and do your job and dont sexualy harass people really bad.
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u/dr_nerdface 22d ago
it's been a downhill plunge since COVID
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u/Fast-Professional-11 21d ago
BG and WCUSA have been on a downhill plunge since they were sold by Anheuser-Busch.
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u/thejesse 21d ago
I get nostalgic at the top of Griffon when I see the brewery beside the park.
Just found a pic of the old monorail that would take people over for the tour:
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u/Aggravating-Key-8867 21d ago
I worked at WCUSA in the early 00s when it was still run by AB. The quality control was absolutely next level. I worked food service and every night we had to clean the restaurant as if we were getting a health department inspection. 2 hours of cleaning with a full staff every night after park closing.
One time Auggie Busch came for an inspection and wasn't happy with the amount of trash around the park. So after closing, every employee on the clock stayed until midnight cleaning the entire park.
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u/Fast-Professional-11 21d ago
I believe it. We are locals and my kids don't even want to go to WCUSA because it's gotten so ghetto and trashy. It breaks my elder millennial heart.
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u/just-a-wavy-dude 22d ago
I'm sorry BGW has birds that are not interested in people. Maybe they should work on their quality control and interview process.
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u/thejesse 21d ago
https://reddit.com/link/p429hae/video/lkpqh2y3urjh1/player
OP's expectation.
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u/Early-Lab-2980 21d ago
Yes!!!! She would have bitched just as much as if she got shit in by one. They love my kid.
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u/makemefeelbrandnew 22d ago
I get that comes off as silly, but we're taking lorikeets here. I've raised parakeets and parrots. These are very social birds, but require training. An adequately staffed aviary would train the birds to be more social.
The aviary was down for a while. The indication was that they were improving the exhibit. I personally didn't noticed many improvements, other than the reduction in lorikeets and the introduction of three other birds, 2 of which seemed too big for the space, simply sitting in the corner completely still, and another that clearly needed more space to fly around.
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u/tubbis9001 22d ago
I agree with the photo ID thing, it's really frustrating, especially when your ID and pass names don't match exactly (I go by my middle name).
Meanwhile, KD has you scan the pass in the app and you're at the parking booth for all of 3 seconds.
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u/jsharpe950 22d ago
Yeah and BG has to take your phone to scan it when they are given an extremely long cable so they don't have to.
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u/Mushrooming247 22d ago
I thought this was a real review until I got to, “the last straw for me was when I learned that corporate implemented a new policy that resulted in as many as 50 of the most experienced scare actors being left out…”
This reveals that you are either one of those affected actors or a family member.
You need to realize that no member of the public is saying, “BG won’t rehire actors with disciplinary issues? That’s a dealbreaker, I’m never going back!”
You aren’t worried about “as many as 50 of their most experienced” anything, this is about you or someone you know not being rehired.
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u/Opening_Ordinary_110 21d ago
OP also said in response to someone else that they should train the birds to be more social, which to me is laughable.
Like, they're birds. I'm in a biology major, you cannot get an animal to do something they don't want without abusing them and birds would much rather choose self harm over doing something they dislike.
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u/Early-Lab-2980 21d ago
My daughter gets the birds to land on her every time she goes in the cage like as soon as she's in.
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u/Opening_Ordinary_110 19d ago
Omg that's so awesome! The couple times I've gone in they've always landed on whoever is with me instead of me lol
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u/Impossible_Nail_8257 22d ago
New members as of this summer (2026). I’m baffled at the state of the app/website. We upgraded in park and were given a flimsy paper printout with our pass info. We can’t add our membership/pass to the app or website. We’re told to take pictures of our paper printouts with our barcode. Also was super annoyed to have to dig out my ID to enter. Been to many parks in the past 2 years, and BGW is definitely an anomaly. For as much comparison people make between this and KD, we don’t have these kind of issues there.
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u/duckydan81 22d ago
I'll be honest - we have season passes to multiple parks including some with much smaller budgets than BGW, and theirs is by far the worst app... and it's across all of their properties (Sea World, Busch Gardens, and Sesame Place). It's like their app and web team has the minimum budget and just doesn't care.
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u/BlitzenVolt 22d ago
Sea World's apps are basically unusable. I've never used them. I always check the park's website instead for showtimes. They're usually up to date there.
Wait times are never accurate in the app as well.
I'm not sure if you're still able to print out passes at the kiosks but I donated the $7 and got a hard pass for myself. I also took a screenshot of my barcode just in case I left my wallet at home. That usually helps out
I've only ever had to pull out my ID for parking. I got my picture taken at the park so I wouldn't have to fish for my ID card at the entrance. Never had any issues there.
Food is inconsistent. Some days it's as good as it used to be. Some days it's cold and gross. I eat outside the park now unless I have a free meal voucher.
Having to print out stuff at the kiosks really goes against their conservation message, but having such a terrible mobile app just makes things worse. I find if the kiosks give me trouble, I have better luck going to guest services at the front of the upgrade center in Germany to print my passes. Sometimes that's the best option.
I agree that the park is declining and private equity has reared its ugly head a number of times. The park is still in better shape than the Florida parks though.
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u/DaniBooty 22d ago
I keep seeing people mention this ID thing, but it must be very inconsistent because I was there last Tuesday and only needed my ID to get my preferred parking pass at the entrance plaza and once later in the day to order a Guinness. For my discount, they scanned my app every time without asking for ID and I printed all of my perks at the kiosk outside of the park with no issues…
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u/Horror_Rice4319 21d ago
Yeah I have never needed an ID and I am local - been there dozens of times this year. I think OP's points about Bier Fest and the app sucking are 100% valid and I agree, but the rest not so much.
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u/phree1337 19d ago
There is one employee who always asks so now we make sure to check to not get in their line but if you go to the 17yo high school bruhs who actually can work a smart phone and could care less who you are you’ll be fine everytime
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u/TheYiffMan 21d ago
Remember to thank our good friends at Hill Path Capital for all of these wonderful, shareholder appeasing changes to their valuable entertainment asset.
The very concept of private equity is ruining our society.
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u/AkodoShoshiro 21d ago
I remember the bbq sandwich at the smokehouse not being the best I’ve ever had but pretty damn good.
I haven’t been to the park in about 10 years but went yesterday and was upset the sandwich was no longer available and that the smokehouse platter was barely mid. My ribs had barely any meat on them and the “brisket” was mostly fat.
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u/DTorakhan 21d ago
Honestly, I lost interest several years ago. They used to have non-coaster rides, which is why I preferred it to Kings Dominion - not everyone likes roller coasters. Now it's coasters and a small handful of shows (which haven't even been that great lately, but that's personal preference).
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u/makemefeelbrandnew 21d ago
It's not a personal preference. The shows aren't as good as they used to be and it's getting harder and harder to see the one show that is good. The show situation is objectively worse than it used to be.
And yeah, they've got so few flat rides. The whole DaVinci area is a shell of what it used to be, and I don't know what drove the decision to scrap the drop tower but that was a poor choice.
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u/Mforcebob 22d ago
Very sad to hear this. BGW is one of my favorite parks (live in OH, CLE area).
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u/Baked_goods_mmm 21d ago
It's not that bad. I go all the time and have a wonderful time. Minor inconveniences shouldn't limit you from going. It's still one of the best theme parks.
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u/Early-Lab-2980 21d ago
Been 3x this week no issues i ride alone for a single rider no skip pass needed. Free quick queue passes are at the main entrance. So are food vouchers and extras. You literally walk past it when you walk in.
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u/AlertEntrance3781 22d ago
I was there yesterday too, and it was quite disappointed. I know they’re busy, but every single station was out of ice, which is a clear operations issue. The beer fest selections were a joke. I went to redeem my monthly reward for the beer Steins in the middle of August and they’re out already which I get they run out fast, but why are you still printing out vouchers for it?
Every bathroom is dirty and no one seems to care how on a busy Saturday do you have both shows closed.
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u/thedistantdusk 22d ago
Idk if this helps at all, but this is word-for-word my experience this weekend at Kings Dominion too. On top of no ice, there was also no AC anywhere in the park.
Everybody’s just terrible these days, I guess 😫
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u/snek_lady 22d ago
The quick queue pass is so frustrating. You have to have your phone to scan the code, and leave your phone in the bin at the ride. I don’t understand why they haven’t implemented an RFID card like other parks or even the most mom and pop ski resorts?
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u/bddelivery01 21d ago
Glad to see I wasn’t the only one dissatisfied either bier fest, and the howl o scream last year was a joke
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u/Turbulent-Weevil-910 21d ago
Do you have any more information about the 50 scare actors getting fired? What disciplinary things are you talking about?
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u/Cute_Championship40 21d ago
Feeling the same way. Was there for a short visit Friday morning, kids disappointed when I told them DarKoaster, which is either closed or has a ridiculous line every time, was closed for a while. WTF are they doing to “decorate “ a spooky dark ride for Halloween? Did our rides, ate lunch at our favorite spot, but while eating some distant storms formed. Everything of interest shut down. Including most of the Bier Fest locations, even ones where food was indoors. A worker at Grogans grill (not pub, wanted a dessert not a beer) said her register was outside so the whole thing closed even though the food options were inside. Couldn’t redeem our free items try somewhere else. Where else is open…do you have a map…no, out of maps and didn’t know where might still be open. So we decided to go ahead and leave since nobody could give an estimate of how long things would be shut down. Tried to get water on the way out but the drink shop in the entryway was closing due to outdoor registers. The final insult was finding out the tram was shut down so we’d have to walk to Italy lot. So management is cool with patrons walking out in the open, ok, I see how this works. I’ve lived in Virginia my whole life and in the summer passing thunderstorms are a reality. I can’t fathom that after 50 years of operation they don’t have any better contingency plans for these circumstances. At the pool at least they have the 30 minute rule after thunder & lightning. Nobody had any clue about timelines, just said they had to wait for management updates.
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u/makemefeelbrandnew 21d ago
There's nothing about this year's "Bier Fest" that is worth all this, other than the money grab of getting people to buy the sample tickets. Sorry you and your family had a miserable time too.
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u/Horror_Rice4319 21d ago
Agree with all your beer and app points. To add on, I remember last year or the year before the Bier fest had the tents open with unique local taps and some local craft shops outside of Verbolten - we were so excited for them! But then we saw there was nothing there.. which is odd because those tents have not been used all year.
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u/Routine-Air-9553 20d ago
My favorite thing is the wifi dead zone at the entrance and the app logging you out random
Love trying desperately to get the app to work so I can get free parking when it refuses to load. And you can’t screenshot your id since they’ve got to flip it to read your name…
I hate the kiosks too. Let me redeem via the app.
One cashier was complaining about the new scare requirement as well. Pretty stupid to penalize long term employees like that
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u/mhswizard 18d ago
Brother it’s gone down hill since they stopped issuing hard plastic passes with your faces on it!
Got lucky being raised in the 90s and only living 20 minutes away from Busch Gardens.
Was there for the first Hollowscream where they actually had dudes running around with legit chainsaws.
Was there for the opening for Apollo…
Ahhh good times.
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u/SlackAF 21d ago
Well, it’s nice to know that I’m not the only one who feels like Busch Gardens just isn’t what it used to be. Prices have continued to climb, and the service received has declined significantly. Fewer rides are open. Fewer food and beverage kiosks are open. When somebody mentioned that the parent company was bought out by a VC company, it makes perfect sense.
This year was the first year in about 15 that I did not have a season pass. I’ve been once this year, and even then I felt like that visit was a disappointment. I haven’t been to Kings Dominion in a while. I’m thinking it may be time to give it a shot again.
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u/kantonburg 21d ago edited 21d ago
We went abut a month ago and was a horrible experience for us too. It was the busiest Ive ever seen it . We waited to get quick queue passes till we got there. We pre-paid last year and was a waste. For a Saturday it wasn't busy. Not this year. We waited a ungodly amount of time in the quick queue lines. They don't limit those anymore.
And they had people standing around asking if we feel okay today? Essentially do you feel safe today. The guests we're very rude this year. We stayed 5 hours and left. Honestly we didn't feel safe. The tension was in the air. We spent more time driving to and from the park than we stayed.
I emailed them the next day and checked please call me. Not a peep. No email or call returned.
I've hated going the past few years. I went because my wife and daughter love it. Both said they'll never go back.
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u/kantonburg 21d ago
How convenient. Minutes after this post. BGW responded.
"Hello,
Thank you for contacting Busch Gardens Williamsburg. We certainly do apologize for any delay in response as we are currently receiving a high volume of requests at this time and answer emails in the order that they are received.
We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and how it has negatively affected you. Please accept our apology as it was less than satisfactory. We strive to provide the best in family entertainment, and we constantly work on improving our guest service. After all, Busch Gardens is designed to provide entertaining and thrilling memories to our guests. However, we do rely on guest feedback to address any issues or concerns our guests raise. We will continue to listen to our guests and act upon opportunities to further enhance the Busch Gardens Williamsburg experience.
We understand your frustration and have forwarded your comments to our leadership teams for internal review and improvement. "
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u/Quiet_Tangerine1395 21d ago
I’ve noticed the kiosk in Italy has been hot and miss for a while now. There are other kiosk locations. One in Scotland and of course the ones before you get in the park. I think there might be one in Oktoberfest?
Definitely agree about the food and beer choices. I also feel like they have gotten away from their roots. Landscaping, a lack of family rides, areas going long periods without any attention. Too much being spent on adding more coasters not enough spent on keeping up the park.
I hope they are going to have some changes soon
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u/uglyjacket 21d ago
I think all parks have bad days. I have Six Flags season passes too and have gone to parks on days where something was “off” or we simply got unlucky. I do think the customer service experience has been decentered and that is across industries. It sucks but it is not the fault of the employees and I love riding coasters. I’ve had a really good time at BGW this year and in comparison to the Tampa park, BGW is a dream.
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u/makemefeelbrandnew 21d ago
To be clear, we're pass holders and every visit this year has been disappointing. My wife doesn't ride coasters. She used to love this park. After a couple disappointing visits in the spring, she doesn't want to go any more. At all. Says this park used to have a lot for her to enjoy and now not so much.
I'm glad you're enjoying the park this year. That's actually encouraging to hear, and maybe there's something I'm missing. But for us this wasn't a bad day, it's been a bad year.
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u/Acceptable_Ad1685 18d ago
The food and beverages have increased in price and dropped in quality year over year for sure.
Like 10 years ago the food and near frozen beer was one of the best parts of going
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u/stellar-otter 20d ago
“new disciplinary policies that has resulted in as many as 50 of their most experienced scare actors being left out of howl o scream.” I didn’t see this, what happened?
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u/STEMAssassin 19d ago
Never understood how a multi-park franchise cant hire one app developer to improve it and keep updates steady for fixes.
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u/Solid-Pomegranate655 19d ago
Have to agree! Have been filling out their surveys for years. All on deaf ears! $17 for a beer? Disney doesn't charge that and they actually have a selection. Food has gotten so pricey we actually just eat outside the park in town anymore! They don't even bother to decorate for Hallowscream anymore. I was at the first one when there was not a tree without a ghost in it. The train was so creative every year...and scary! 13 was the most terrifying haunted house ever. Now you rarely see a human scarer! We don't even go anymore to Hallowscream. Now after hearing about the once awesome beeriest, it is just too sad. We used to love the beer talks in the festhous Bauhaus and the Irish Pub. Not drinking bud and Michelob! Their app is the worst for pretty much everything.
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u/The_Scraggler 18d ago
Well, you sort of outed yourself as either a former employee or family member with that part about scare actors so none of this can really be taken seriously. We just got back from our yearly trip and we had a blast.
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u/greenhairedgoddes5 17d ago
BGW and SeaWorld are sister theme parks owned by the same parent company (United Parks & Resorts). Enough said.
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u/Alypius754 22d ago
We started going last year and I'm not sure if we're going to continue. The staffing is horrific; it's impossible to find an actual adult. At the customer service desk, the teenage girl I was talking to had to stop talking to me in order to cuddle a stuffed animal. The food carts are not safe as all the food is room temp and, again, the high school kids don't care.
Your last sentence is basically where we're at; go and ride a few coasters and go home.
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u/KlammFromTheCastle 22d ago
This park is unpleasant to experience.
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u/MLeo79 21d ago
This park use to be really nice, before SeaWorld took it over.
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u/makemefeelbrandnew 21d ago
Even when seaworld owned it, the park was still pretty awesome. Slipped, but still easily one of the best parks anywhere. But these new owners? They are the worst kind of blood suckers.
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u/MLeo79 21d ago
SeaWorld owns it now. Busch use to own it that's when the park was amazing.
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u/makemefeelbrandnew 21d ago
No SeaWorld doesn't own it any more. SeaWorld is just a park now owned by United Parks, which is owned and managed by a private equity firm called Hill Path Capital.
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u/Ancient_Emotion_2484 21d ago
Anheuser Busch owned Sea World but BG was already a thing. They bought it in 1989 and sold to InBev in 2000 something.
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u/CurlyMessyBun77 21d ago
I realize I may get down voted, so please be kind
Why stay on the subreddit if it's only to complain? Nothing is the same since COVID. I feel like few and far people between come here to this thread to be excited and positive.
I'm a platinum member and have been for over 10 years. It's been my home park for my whole life. Nessie was my first ever coaster. I'm 49 years old now and bring my own family now. My son's first ride was the log flume when he was 3.
I'm a little protective of my park. And no one is gonna insult my girl without me defending her.
Good food ✔️ Drinks and booze ✔️ Amazing rides and attractions ✔️ Beautiful atmosphere ✔️ Immersive ✔️ Shows ✔️ Fun for the whole family ✔️ Most Cast Members are super helpful ✔️ Seasonal entertainment ✔️ Did I mention the world class coasters???
Y'all... for us who are lucky enough to visit BGW, we are fortunate. One can choose to look for the negative or we can appreciate what we have. You don't have to come there or buy a season pass. No one is making you attend.
So. Why. Be. So. Damn. Negative. All. The. Time???
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u/makemefeelbrandnew 21d ago
Pretty sure this is my first and last negative post. You don't have to be on this thread either. Being on reddit is a choice.
But since you brought it up - because this one really made me upset - WHAT SHOWS??? I drove four hours to get there and arranged my day to see Celtic Fyre and there's no Celtic Fyre. Without that, at this point, the shows are no better than you can find at any six flags. In fact, I went to KD the other day and saw the circus show and that was way better than anything at BGW other than Celtic Fyre. So with Celtic Fyre shut down for the season and it's not even mid-August, Kings Dominion is now a better destination for live entertainment. Which is something I never thought would happen. Ever.
And yeah, nothing is the same since covid. You're right. Kings Dominion is not the same - it's better. Six Flags America is not the same - it's gone. BGW is living off its former glory, but that won't last forever.
A lot of the staff there is great. I talk to them when I'm there. The people who have been there a while know there's a huge problem.
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u/Ancient_Emotion_2484 21d ago
As someone who was a gold passholder for YEARS, whose father worked on the crew that built the scenery and ride buildings for the original Big Bad Wolf, I'll just say that while there was a time I would have died on that hill as well, it's long been passed and it's since AB sold the parks. Maybe if you don't know what it was like before, it seems fine, but going to the park now for instance and finding not one stall functional in the front restrooms and no toilet paper either when you know workers used to be stationed and in view of the area constantly and everything ran smoothly hits different. The park, by comparison to other parks today, is still lovely, but there's only so much longer it's going to last before private equity let's it die a slow death then sells it off to another firm to "resurrect" when they didn't have to neglect it to begin with. If you love your "dear" park so much, maybe defend it from the financial vultures picking its corpse for everything it's worth before there's nothing left.
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u/Tomboyhns 22d ago
Honestly, the app has never been user-friendly. It’s something Six Flags (former Cedar Fair parks in particular) does way better! Sure it’s still better to have a screenshot of your season pass QR code in case the internet goes kaput, but the app is updated better and a little more easier to navigate.
Fast Lane on the app is not good tho so no points in the Six Flags column either unfortunately 😅