Family Fun Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens in Williamsburg has been a great family destination for decades, with something for everyone: arcades, coasters, carnival games, shows and shopping. But in recent years, the park has become even more inviting to families with younger children. Throughout the park, the “Kidsiderate” designation appears on signs and maps to indicate rides such as “The Little Gilders” and “Elephant Run” that are appropriate for children under age 10. Families planning to vacation with small children can also visit the park’s website and consult the height charts from home, so the kids know ahead of time which rides they’ll be able to enjoy.
In recent years, Busch Gardens has expanded its offerings for younger children and their parents by adding the Sesame Street: Forests of Fun, an area with family-friendly rides and movies, and plenty of space to play. The rides are kid-friendly versions of larger Busch Gardens attractions. The area is conveniently located close to the front of the park (right beside England) making it an easier trip for strollers and short legs. The section has been designed with only one entrance/exit to help parents keep track of their little ones.
The area features several family-friendly rides, designed so that very small children can ride with parents or teenage siblings, while grade-schoolers can ride solo if they wish. Some of these rides are even fun for the adults. “Bert and Ernie’s Loch Adventure” is a flume ride that parents and children can ride together. The ride is slow and gentle, appropriate for parents who want to ride with very small children and for kids who prefer not to get jostled too much. “Grover’s Alpine Express” is a sleigh-themed junior coaster. The ride is 600 feet long and 24 feet tall. It has enough dips and dives to be a fun ride even for the parents, without being way too much for the kids. “Oscar’s Whirly Worms” is a rock-and-tug ride which involves lots of spinning. “Prince Elmo’s Spire” is a family-friendly drop tower.
“Elmo’s Castle” has an interactive stage and a big wet play area with shallow splash pools and fountains. “Oscar’s Yucky Forest” is a dry play area with lots of rubberized equipment, where the kids can run free, chase and bounce around. Parents can also pre-register for a buffet-style meal attended by Elmo, Big Bird and other Sesame Street characters. The all-you-can-eat menu includes lots of kiddie favorites like chicken nuggets and hot dogs, as well as plenty of adult choices such as salads and fajitas. The characters sing and dance and interact with the diners. Lots of kids that think they are “too old” for Sesame Street will still get a kick out of seeing Big Bird or Cookie Monster up close. Kids can be photographed with their favorite Sesame characters in the “1-2-3 Smile With Me” photo studio. There is also a family-friendly film show in “4-D” starring Sesame Street characters and involving visual and sensory effects. Kids can also part with their pocket money in the area’s themed gift shop, “Abby Cadabby’s Treasure Trove”.
Sesame Street: Forests of Fun is a solid addition to the kid-friendly offerings at Busch Gardens. Add it to the various kid-friendly rides scattered across the park, and the Land of the Dragons play area, and kids are bound to find something fun to do. Some of the new family-friendly rides might make it fun for the parents too!
