Questions regarding going to Busch Gardens from WDW

[Kidgoingon40]

Hi, I am thinking about going to Busch Gardens for the day on my trip to WDW in Oct. I haven't been to Busch Gardens since I was 5 (1990), and my hubby has never been. I LOVE animals and unique animal experiences, so I think I would really enjoy it. We are thinking about driving up there from WDW on a Friday. I think when I mapquested it, the drive was about an hour and a half. Is it an easy drive? does it go by quick or seem long? Have other people had good experiences doing this kind of visit?

I am also really curious about the Jambo Junction. I read the description on the Busch Gardens web site, and it sounded really neat. If you have seen my posts on this board before, you have problem seen my numerous posts about sloths. I want to see a sloth up close so bad, and I read on Busch Gardens that a sloth is one of their animal ambassadors and there is a chance the sloth could be at the Jambo Junction. Has anyone seen the sloth there before? Do you get to see the animals there up close, not behind glass in an exhibit? Is there any chance of possibly getting lucky and getting gnome animal interaction? What other animals are there?

BTW, my love of sloths is so great my husband called the zoo here (they recently got a sloth but the poor thing is in one of the worst exhibits I have seen in a zoo...but anyway) to ask them if there was any way possible he could arrange for me to have an animal interaction with it for birthday!!! Sadly, they said no...:lol: I couldn't believe he did that - but it was so sweet of him!

If there is any advice you can give me, it would be great appreciated!!

 

[DOOM1001]

The drive is super easy,1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes with light to normal traffic from the Disney area.Just take I-4 west to I-75,then take I-75 north to Fowler Ave,go west on Fowler and you'll see the signs to turn left right as you see the University of South Florida.From I-4 at World Drive (exit 62) you'll get off I-4 at exit 9 to get I-75,then you will drive 4 miles to Fowler Ave(exit 265),so from World Drive to the Tampa exit for Busch Gardens would be 57 miles plus another 4-5 more to reach the park.

 

[Kidgoingon40]

The drive is super easy,1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes with light to normal traffic from the Disney area.Just take I-4 west to I-75,then take I-75 north to Fowler Ave,go west on Fowler and you'll see the signs to turn left right as you see the University of South Florida.From I-4 at World Drive (exit 62) you'll get off I-4 at exit 9 to get I-75,then you will drive 4 miles to Fowler Ave(exit 265),so from World Drive to the Tampa exit for Busch Gardens would be 57 miles plus another 4-5 more to reach the park.

Thank you so much! That sounds better than I thought!!

 

[2girlsmom]

OP, you have peaked my interest, I haven't ever noticed the sloth at BG thus far, now I am going to have to make a trip and see if I can find him.
We love BG, we definitely would agree that the drive in is easy, I haven't taken the 75 sweep in, you could also take 4 in to 275N, then up to Busch Blvd, go right and it is maybe a mile from there on the left. Depending on traffic patterns, it is hard to say which would be easier drive, but neither should be bad. Going to 275 adds about 8 or 9 miles to the I4 portion, then it is 5 miles to the Busch Blvd exit.

 

[Kidgoingon40]

OP, you have peaked my interest, I haven't ever noticed the sloth at BG thus far, now I am going to have to make a trip and see if I can find him.
We love BG, we definitely would agree that the drive in is easy, I haven't taken the 75 sweep in, you could also take 4 in to 275N, then up to Busch Blvd, go right and it is maybe a mile from there on the left. Depending on traffic patterns, it is hard to say which would be easier drive, but neither should be bad. Going to 275 adds about 8 or 9 miles to the I4 portion, then it is 5 miles to the Busch Blvd exit.

Please let me know if you find him!

Thank you for the tips!