Simpsons returned - Busch Gardens Day 13

[Lizzy Lemon]

Wednesday 29th July 2009

Caught a taxi to Seaworld to meet the coach to Busch Gardens which would be departing at 9am. I have this obsession with being early whereever we go, we arrived by 8.15am then had to wait until a couple of minutes before 9 before the flipping things turned up. Coaches were coming and going bringing people into Seaworld, everytime one pulled in I thought 'here we go, this is it' and it never was! Then because we had been waiting at the wrong part of the car park - waiting where we should be according to Seaworlds Busch Gardens coach waiting area sign (tip to others, as you enter the car park its on the extreme left hand side) had to walk over to where the coaches (4 of them) had parked to join the END OF THE QUEUE - not happy, if we couldn't get on I would be a little bit cross. We were then kept waiting for about 15 minutes (goodness knows why) standing in increasing hot sun by smelly, running coaches before being let on. We were in the 3rd coach and eventually got started AT LAST!!!!! However, don't let it spoil the day, calm down, our lady driver asked who wanted Bolt and who wanted Bedtime Stories on the DVD, Bolt got the majority vote. We arrived about 1 1/4 hours later, were given vouchers for the ride back and were told to do the outside stuff first as it always rained in BG in the afternoon (as it turned out not on this day). First thing was to go and check in for our Serengeti Tour, we were too early so went to have a look around.



We stowed our things in a locker to ride Montu and used the only quarter we had to then find we had picked a locker which didn't work - couldn't use another so in a fit of temper shouted at John (sorry John) to clear off with the kids and ride the damn thing while I stayed with the bags. I'd got mad as I could see people going to join the queue and he was saying 'I'll stay you go' over and over again and I could just imagine how long the queue was getting. Plonked myself down on the floor to calm down and before I knew it they were back - OK what's up now? Nothing, they had ridden it!!!! Glen asked me to go on with him while the others waited - it was a walk on - whoops!!!!
Time for our Serengeti Tour now.







I don't know about feed the giraffes, it was more a case of feed a giraffe in the singular!

Jaffali was his name and we were told he was a teenager and therefore only interested in eating!!!







After feeding him 2 lettuce leaves each (not kidding, I realise there are a number of tours and a number of people on each vehicle but its a lot of money to feed a giraffe a couple of leaves) we carried on driving around the rest of the animals





Time for lunch by now so we ate at Crown Colony counter service place, yet another burger and fries, dessert and drinks. Went over to the log flume ride (Ashley's request) John went over to the drop to get a photo, little did we know what the queue would be like. 40 minutes later we finally emerged. You'll have to take my word about the rides as he's got it all on video and not photographs. We were ready for a sit down after this as it was a very hot, crowded queuing area with just some fans for comfort, we took a ride on the train around part of the Serengeti Plain and then caught the skyride over the top. Made our way to Sheikra (crikey was I getting the roller coaster bug, didn't hesitate going on with Glen - the others waited for us) this was also a walk on but I drew the line at waiting for the front row, I was quite happy further back, don't push it too much son I'm getting on a bit now you know. Headed straight over to Gwazi (big mistake) Ashley came on with us two, we all hated it, talk about being shook to bits, awful feeling!

Found we were near the Bird Gardens and saw this fella being silly.





Walking past a shop we had noticed these colourful name designs being made (at Disney also), I said 'oh look they've got Simpson', I was too busy looking at that it took Glen to notice they also had Ashley.



OK that's it, time to catch the bus back, it was leaving at 7pm it was now 6.40pm and we were ready for a rest. We weren't expecting to be able to keep going that long in the Florida heat of July but we surprised ourselves, all holiday we had been going back for a swim in the afternoon but we had been OK. Got to 7.15pm waiting for the usual last couple of people to turn up but they didn't so the driver obtained permission to leave so goodness knows what happened to the 'lost 2'! About halfway back we met a terrific thunderstorm which was just drizzle by the time we got back to Seaworld, caught a taxi back which we asked to drop us at DTD for a quick look around and also to see how much we would save if we used the Disney busses from there. Big mistake, we should have stayed in it, we only saved $11 and didn't really look around much as it had started to rain a little heavier again. Eventually arrived back at the Poly, got a snack from Capt. Cooks and in bed by just gone 11pm.

[suzycute]

Sounds like you had an interesting day at Busch Gardens - we haven't been there since 1993 so maybe it's time for another visit (although I'm not a huge fan of scary rollercoasters!)

[Ware Bears]

Ooh, I love Busch Gardens, did you like the Jungala area?

[jamjar84]

What a shame that your day didn't get off to the best start, but sounds as though you had a great day in the end. I liked BG, it seemed to have a gentler pace than other places.

How strange that you saw Simpson and Ashley on those pictures.

[cap'njack.]

Sounds like a very stressful start to the day! Glad it got better after that.

[Cyrano]

I did smile at your melt-down Could see you stamping your feet.

Busch Gardens sounds great but think you are right to feel somewhat cheated with the giraffe feeding

[wideeyes]

Bush gardens looks fab(I know my sister loved it ) however don't think I will ever get there as its to far.

I guess they need to be carefull about over feeding the giffaffes though it would be probably better not to offer it in the first place as does sound like they are ripping of guests with it.