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Chap7 · 12-26-2009, 06:18 PM

You can probably rule out Williamsburg Plantation. I stayed there last summer and found the outdoor pool to be too small and too dirty. Also the fitness room was small and the restaurants are a 5-10 minute car ride away. I would go with the Marriott.

Busch Gardens and Water Country USA were very nice.

timeos2 · 12-26-2009, 06:19 PM

One that isn't on your list, Wyndham Kingsgate, meets all your requirements and is a beautiful resort. The Marriott is one of the nicest timeshares we've ever stayed at, BUT it is remotely located. The location of Kingsgate is in the middle of the Colonial area/commercial (shopping) district and is the best we've found. Patriots Place is also near there but the units aren't as nice nor does it have the many amenities of Kingsgate/Manor House.

Westgate is also in the Colonial area but as a converted motel isn't close to the others in unit size/resort features. If you are stuck with II then Kingsgate may not be an option.

RESORT2ME · 12-26-2009, 06:32 PM

I agree with that, Wyndham Kingsgate.
It is close to everything and has the kids in mind.

tonyg · 12-26-2009, 08:22 PM

Kingsgate is about the only one I've stayed at that fits the bill, but it's not my favorite. Other than Patriot's Place, I think it's the closest to the Colonial Williamsburg entry building.

mdurette · 12-26-2009, 10:38 PM

Thanks for the Kingsgate recommendation - unfortunately the week that I need apparently doesn't have any availablity as it is not showing up in an II search. What I put out there is what comes up.

So - if close by restaurants were not in the mix - nice fitness and pools were the only requirements what would you recommend?

Heck, I don't mind driving to eat - or I guess I could cook a couple of nights!

timeos2 · 12-26-2009, 10:43 PM

Big difference in accessability but great original resort, sequel not as much

Originally posted by mdurette View Post

Thanks for the Kingsgate recommendation - unfortunately the week that I need apparently doesn't have any availablity as it is not showing up in an II search. What I put out there is what comes up.

So - if close by restaurants were not in the mix - nice fitness and pools were the only requirements what would you recommend?

Heck, I don't mind driving to eat - or I guess I could cook a couple of nights!

Manor House would be the choice if Kingsgate isn't available. Preferably the original section, but sequel is OK if thats all you can get.

damamabearx3 · 02-20-2010, 04:13 PM

I own at Greensprings and Powhatan and would recommend Powhatan for a great vacation with children, especially young ones. The deluxe units at Powhatan are wonderful and the ground floor 2Br units have hot tobs to unwind in after the kids go to bed. Some of the non-deluxe units have been completely refurbished and are fine but the older units that haven't been refurbished look worn and we have booked deluxe ever since we ended up with a sagging bed in an older unit.

As for the grounds, there is plenty of land with two lakes to walk around with resident ducks and geese. There is a kid-friendly restaurant onsite (Powhatan Grill) and a general store onsite which sells basic grocieries, souveniers, and rents movies. I know the Grill currently closes on Saturday night for dinner but this could be a seasonal change since it is low season right now. They have four outdoor swimming pools (a baby pool, a lower pool with a waterfall, another pool above the waterfall, and an adult only pool) and a poolside cabana that serves drinks and some food (snack food, ice cream, and hot dogs, I think). They run activities for kids, especially in the summer, but not as many offerings as we have seen at some Florida resorts.

The indoor pool and fitness center are small but they do have indoor racketball/handball courts as well as outdoor tennis courts, playground, mini-golf (for a fee), gardens, a historic building that is free to tour and has fife and drum players and historic colonial characters to talk with during scheduled hours.

DRIVING NEARBY: There is a fantastic public playground 1/4 mile down the road and a full-size grocery store another 1/4 mile further plus a shopping centers with Belks, Petsmart (souvenir shopping for those pets you left behind), etc. Colonial Williamsburg is about 20 minutes away and Busch Gardens 30-35 minutes but Powhatan offers so much to do on property that we don't leave that much.

Hope this helps and it's not too late! Powhatan's quality/upkeep deteriorated over the years but has been improving and is still a great place to take the kids.

longtimer · 02-22-2010, 10:30 AM

If you plan on spending any signficant amount of time at Busch Gardens and Water Country, check out their websites. The last I looked (two weeks ago) they were offering a two-park, seven day adult ticket for $60.00, which inludes general parking. This would more than cover the cost of two separate days of admission plus parking ($10.00/day when we were there two years ago). There used to be a combined ticket that included admissiont to Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown, but I couldn't find any info on this. Perhaps it isn't being offered since Busch Gardens was sold.

bnoble · 02-22-2010, 11:35 AM

they were offering a two-park, seven day adult ticket for $60.00, which inludes general parking.

There's another one that for a little bit more includes Colonial Williamsburg too. That's the one I'm getting for my trip this summer.

Riperoo · 02-22-2010, 12:55 PM

We own at Greensprings and it fits all your Criteria, I just bought my Tickets yesterday for busch gardens, water country and Williamsburg, it is called the 7 day park bounce ticket, adults are $97 and kids are $82 I believe, if you want more info, PM me and I will send you the link off of my home PC, don't have it at work. And they are great, they are good at all 3 parks all week. We usually did busch during the day, and then ran home changed into swimsuits and hit up water country USA around dinner time when the crowds were real light, since you can use them all week and parking is included, not a big deal just going for an hour or two. When we did Williams burg we generally go all day, but on occasion we did hit water country just to cool off in the evening.

We love Greensprings, but I have never stayed at another down there so I can't compare, they have a great outdoor pool, a nice indoor pool and spa (that is usually empty) a full card of activities for the kids, as well as tennis, shuffleboard, mini golf, basketball, small playgrounds scattered through out the complex, an arcade at pay per use, DVD rental, movies shown a few nights a week at the pool, you can swim and watch a movie, really cool, the kids loved that one!! Ice cream socials. The only advice I would suggest is to make sure you get a building close to the activity center, the complex is huge and if you are in one of the buildings on the outskirts the walk to the pool can be long. Also keep in mind that most of the buildings are 3 floors with no elavators, so if that is an issue shoot for a lower floor, we have a thirds floor lockoff and love it, for the view and the fack that no one is above you.

It is located right in the heart of everything, (although I would not say walking distance, more like a mile or so to the heart of town) restaruants from McDonalds to PF changs, and everything in between, there is a Ukrops supermarket right around the corner, they have a huge supply of premade food, the kids loved going there being able to pick out whatever they wanted and then heat it up at the unit. They had great heat and serve pizza, fried chicken, salad bar, you name it they had it. Along with a huge grocery store.

mdurette · 02-22-2010, 10:42 PM

Originally posted by longtimer View Post

If you plan on spending any signficant amount of time at Busch Gardens and Water Country, check out their websites. The last I looked (two weeks ago) they were offering a two-park, seven day adult ticket for $60.00, which inludes general parking. This would more than cover the cost of two separate days of admission plus parking ($10.00/day when we were there two years ago). There used to be a combined ticket that included admissiont to Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown, but I couldn't find any info on this. Perhaps it isn't being offered since Busch Gardens was sold.

I have been watching the online tickets for about a month now. I have seen the one you mention - but it is $69.95. I am not sure yet if we will do water country since our dd is only 4 and she is happy with the resort pool. (BTW - I ended up with Manor Club).

I really wonder if they run like SeaWorld does. Fun card only offered for state residents - but when you get there you can get one even without being a resident.

longtimer · 02-23-2010, 11:56 AM

Doesn't BG offer a sampler package? If so, this would be a great way for a newbie to experience the BG system without a committment.

longtimer · 02-23-2010, 11:59 AM

[QUOTE=Riperoo;373135] I just bought my Tickets yesterday for busch gardens, water country and Williamsburg, it is called the 7 day park bounce ticket, adults are $97 and kids are $82

Can you post the link? The only one I found was the Busch Gardens/Water Country two-park option. I think this was $60.00 for seven consecutive days and included parking. Thanks!

tonyg · 02-23-2010, 01:39 PM

Busch Gardens Williamsburg - Multi-Park Tickets

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