If I have a museum pass and want to see the gardens do I have to stand in a long line or is there another place to just buy a garden pass after I see the palace?

when we were there (May '03), there was a very long line for the palace. We bypassed that with our museum pass. There is a different gate to enter the gardens, and you must pay there, the museum pass doesn't get you in. however we never noticed a long line at the garden gate. And this was a Sunday when the fountains were on.

China_Cat is correct. While your carte musee will gain you quick enty to the chateau, there are seperate entrances to the gardens at which you must pay. But there are an abundance of entry gates and I have never seen any lines either of the times I have been there.
Also, I would recommend taking an additional paid tour of the apartments, as I thought they were the highlight of Versailles.

When are you going? We were at Versailles in November and you just walked in the front gate. No tickets, no pass, no charge, no wait. The gardens are seasonal. They were nice in November, but many statues were covered and very little was blooming. There were autumn leaves! . . . and it was very peaceful at that time.

You can check their web site to see when they charge for the gardens.

topping for Marilayne

Thanks to everyone. We will be there mid week to avoid the weekend crush. I don't think the flowers will be blooming yet.

When we went in May 2002, we bought our tickets to Versailles from the RER clerk when we bought the train tickets. Those admissions included the gardens.