Buschs Gardens Tampa

[goofygal531]

Any info on this park? This will be our first trip. We'll be staying at the Adam's Mark in Clearwater Beach.

I'd love to hear comments on the park and the hotel.

Thanks

 

[WebmasterBarry]

BGT is a nice park, but not my favorite. It has some great roller coasters -- Kumba and Montu are my favorites -- but I'd rather go to IOA and ride the Hulk and Dueling Dragons. It's not as good as some of the Orlando parks, but you can have fun there.

 

[vernon]

If you're staying in Clearwater then BG is going to be at least an hour nearer than any of the other parks. For this reason I'd make sure you do at least a couple of days here, there are a lot of rides there, 4 coasters, three water flume rides, I think at least one simulator, a couple of good kids areas and a lot of animal exibits as well. I think BG is doing an annual pass for the price of one day entry at the moment ( buy before the end of April and available online)

Check out their website http://www.seaworld.com you can access the information from Seaworlds website. Actually that doesn't have the link now so go straight to http://www.4adventure.com/buschgardens/fla/index.html

 

[YenSid1222]

BGT is a great park. It actually has six coasters (Python, Scorpion, Kumba, Montu, Gwazi Tiger and Gwazy Lion). There is one simulator attraction called Akbar's Adventure Tours...however it is often closed. There is a raft ride (one of the first in the world!), a flume ride, some great shows (World Rhythms on Ice is particularly good).

Plus you will find that Montu is a far superior coaster to anything up the road in Orlando (Kraken comes close). The park also recently opened an off road safari ride called "Rhino Rally". Although not nearly as detailed as Kilimanjaro Safaris up the road at DAK..it has a very unique element to it.

Also, take the time to eat in the full service restaurant on the upper floor of the Hospitality house. It is not very expensive, has much better food than the fast food locations AND provides a fantastic view of the park, and the savanna.

Have a great time.

 

[suzysezso]

We went to Busch Gardens the Friday and Saturday before Easter. It was our first visit and I expected NOT to like it because I am not a roller coaster person. Well long story short, we all loved it. My daughter loved the coasters and we all loved the Rhino Rally, Sky Ride, Dolphin show, Ice Show, Old fashioned bumper cars, Water rides, kiddie areas, animal exhibits, and too much more to list. The train was an especially nice ride in addition to making it much easier to go from one end of the park to the other without walking your legs off.
Friday was especially crowded and we expected Saturday to be worse so we signed up for the 59 dollar escorted tour which included FOTL for all the rides and preferred seating @ 2 shows, lunch at the afore mentioned Colony House and the Serengetti Safari where the group goes in the back of an open truck to meet and feed the animals up close and personal for almost an hour. Turned out Saturday was not crowded at all but it was STILL WELL worth it considering the safri alone costs $30, lunch runs about $12-15 and the waits for rhino rally and some of the coasters were upwards of an hour!
There were some mishaps, first while we were on the safari truck someone stole my son's wheelchair, but the park security force is on the ball and recovered it within an hour. Second was that there seems to be a lot of ride breakdowns, we were on the congo river ride (a circular raft/boat that seats 8) and when it stopped we were forced to get out of the boat and walk in the "river" back to the ride's beginning. My son was afraid to get out of the boat and thank God a man in our group was a fireman and hoisted JH up on his back for the hike. I think it ended up being his favorite ride of the day!
At one point in the evening the skyride stopped with people in the cars, I don't know how long they were up there as we were leaving at the time.
Overall I liked it at least as much as IOA but not as much as Universal... (remember I am NOT a coaster kinda gal) maybe if USO/IOA had a train....

 

[Buschfan]

goofygal531,

Well, it it not my favorite Busch Gardens. The Williamsburg park is the best. The Williamsburg park has much more land and the theming is superb! The Tampa park didn't start out as a theme park and was basically a small addition to the brewery with a bird show. The brewery was torn down to create more space. If you understand it's history and know that it was not originally desgined for what is it is today, you will be ok. It is certainly worth vistiing. It reminds me very much of Hershey park and Kennywood where there is a lot of attractions within a limited amount of space. I would also suggest visiting the park in Williamsburg if you get a chance. Especially since it is closer to you in NY.

 

[Hettie]

Suz,

That sounds like a great deal for $59. What was the Serengeti Safari like? In the photos on their website they show people touching giraffes, so I was wondering if you really get to touch the animals. That would be really neat.

Hettie

 

[USA_mad02]

Hi

I would have to disagree with all of you and say I wasn't very impressed with this park and it definatly wasn't my fave. I don't like rollar-coasters so the main ride I didn't do. Rhino Rally which was the one ride I really wanted to do was and hour and a half wait so we didn't do it. I think it depends on the person and what you like in a theme park. I thought the other parks like IOA and US were much more enjoyable and had more for people who were not so dareing on rides!