Busch Gardens vs Animal Kingdom

[dammitlady]

My DH, DS8, DS5 and DS5 and I will be visiting WDW in April. We fly into Tampa and are planning on spending the rest of the week in Orlando.

We are going to go to EP, MK and HS as well as Sea World. We're considering going to BG instead of AK. Does anyone have any feedback? Whick park do you like better?

Thanks

 

[pattibehan]

The animal exhibits are more people friendly..the animals on the trails are closer..but that is because their habitats are smaller than AK. I really like the trails at Busch better and there are more of them. The food is MUCH better and less expensive at Busch. You have to pay for Fast Pass at Busch ( called Quick Que) but we have gone at non peak times and almost walk right onto rides, so you may not need QQ.

Their coasters are AWESOME !!! BUT, if you are Pooh sized you won't fit, and they are super crazy, so if you don't LOVE coasters, there are just not enough other rides. They have a children's area based on Sesame Street, but we have never gone into it because our youngest kids are teens. They have another area with less scary rides..a couple of small coasters , a merry go round and some arcade games.

We love Busch and we love AK !! It would depend on your family, but if they love roller coasters that make you scream, I would go !!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I would choose BG for teens & those who love thrill rides. If thrill rides aren't your thing, I'd got to AK. IMO, the rides are better at BG, especially the thrill rides. The shows at AK are better. We're not that into animals, so I can't offer an informed opinion on which park is better for animal lovers.

 

[momto2js]

I think economics play a role in this decision more than I'd like. Adding a 4th day to your disney park ticket is going to be less expensive than adding BG to your Seaworld ticket. If there are 3 or 4 in your party the difference between 8 and 25 dollars adds up fast.

If it were not for the disney marketing, I believe BG would be my kids (3 and 5) favorite park. We go off season and they usually get the run of the park and it feels like you have it completly to yourself after a few days at the world with (what sometimes feels like) the rest of the world. I agree that the animal exhibits at BG are top notch and there is something for everyone.

BG for younger kids is more about "rides" than "attractions" but after a few days of major attractions they really are happy to just do some rides. Again, money factors in. We have platium passes so BG doesn't really cost us anything. AK is a place you must really look for the details which are stunning. The tree of life is fantastic. The Lion King show is great. There are some good character places. We have also found it over whelmingly hot and crowded on several trips.

They are different experience and both worthy of your time. For my family, the money would decide.

 

[greenclan67]

YOu can buy a Seaworld/Busch combo ticket on their website! Instead of getting the 2nd day free at eithier park you can get 1 day at each park for about $80 bucks, I believe. I am not a fan of AK, (personal preference) the crowding drives me nuts! I have never been to BG but are going in March. So I can compare then!

 

[isla bonita]

BG is my favorite park.

The animal exhibits are better JMPO then AK by far.

The 2 park ticket is great for SW & BG.

 

[PrincessRhi]

YOu can buy a Seaworld/Busch combo ticket on their website! Instead of getting the 2nd day free at eithier park you can get 1 day at each park for about $80 bucks, I believe. I am not a fan of AK, (personal preference) the crowding drives me nuts! I have never been to BG but are going in March. So I can compare then!

YES. The crowd is what drives me NUTS about AK and kind of ruins the experience for me. It doesn't matter what time of year or day you go but it's always so busy in certain parts and people are so pushy. Usually we go in to ride Everest, maybe stop in the dino park, and head somewhere else unless there's a minimal crowd. It almost feels as if they didn't really plan for normal foot traffic walking into and out of the park.

I honestly don't pay attention to the animals at either park. As a thrill ride enthusiast, I give the edge to BG. But I think there's more for the younger crowd to enjoy at AK.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

I saw more pathological animal behavior (rocking elephants, pacing hyenas, overcrowded 'gator pit, ect.) at BG than at any other "zoo" I've been to in years.

I will not go there again until they make their animal areas more spacious, and more habitat like to the specific species.

 

[kkendle]

We were at Busch Gardens for the first time last summer...have been to AK several times.

We really enjoyed BG...I have older teens 14 and up....and they liked the coasters a lot. There are several there and we all really thought they were great. If rides are a big thing...then definitely BG is way better than AK as AK doesn't have that many thrill rides in my opinion.

We did do the express pass at BG since we were only going to be there 1 day. The crowds weren't really bad anyway and we could have done without them but we didn't know and had purchased them ahead of time.

I LOVE AK though because my favorite show in all of Disney is there...the Lion King Show. I must go to AK every time we are there to see this fabulous show.

At BG there is a bird sanctuary that my girls were very interested in. You go in and these birds are everywhere. You can buy a very small cup of bird juice stuff for like $5...expensive...and the birds flock to you to get it. I have pics of my girls with 5 and 6 birds all over them. I asked one of the workers if people get ***ed on and she said yes...frequently..about that time, my older daughter got that special little treat from one of the birds. She was a sport about it and washed off in a fountain but I wasn't interested in having that happen! We still tease her about it!

 

[englishteacha]

I like BG better, personally. We love roller coasters, and the train and skyride are nice and you get get great views of the animals. Their "fine" dining restaurant is affordable with gorgeous views of the Savannah. My favorite meal ever was sitting in Crown Colony at sunset watching the giraffes and gazelles. When we went in Feb. 2010 we got the all-you-can eat bracelets...food was great, but I think I gained 5 pounds that one day! SeaWorld has been offering some specials with the dining plan free, and I think I saw one option that was SW and BG combined with the dining plan free as well. We got our tickets for 2010 through AAA.