Busch Garden review

[seadd67]

So are trip Is comeing up here and we have never been to Busch gardens and we have two days planned. We are takeing the mears shuttle down there from are hotel(or near by I guess) and It looks like we get there around 11am give or take?. Is two days enough time to see BG? what should be our priorty the rides frist,Animals or the shows.The food Is It worth eating there or wait until we get back to I drive. Just to give you a time line we will be there In the SW,US BG area from the 2nd of April to the 7th of April thanks

 

[earthfaries]

So are trip Is comeing up here and we have never been to Busch gardens and we have two days planned. We are takeing the mears shuttle down there from are hotel(or near by I guess) and It looks like we get there around 11am give or take?. Is two days enough time to see BG? what should be our priorty the rides frist,Animals or the shows.The food Is It worth eating there or wait until we get back to I drive. Just to give you a time line we will be there In the SW,US BG area from the 2nd of April to the 7th of April thanks

Hello I will give you my opinion ~ we have annual passes to Busch Gardens so we visit quite often...

Two days will be good ~ there is really a lot to do there.

If you want to ride the coasters, head straight to them, just like at WDW they get busy fast.
If you don't care for the coasters it's good to take the skylift to the back of the park where they have a bunch of rides ~ people tend to take their time up front and making their way to the back of the park.
The first few times we went we kind of divided it up ~ we spent the first day riding rides and the second watching shows and riding rides and the third eating and enjoying the animals and a few rides.
The food is normal park food. They do have a great deal we usually get where you pay $30.00 and get a wristband for the day that gives you all the food you want for the day. You can order a side (fries or fruit like fresh strawberries or grapes) a drink and a meal. You can get one of these every time you go through the line, no limit throughout the day. You can also just go in from rest. to rest and get some fruit or water for free if you're not hungry. It's really neat and we enjoy it. The kids are around $15.00.
They have rest. spread out all over the park so you never go hungry or thirsty.

I hope this helped ~ if you have any more q's feel free to ask, you can just PM me if you'd like

You'll love it at BG ~ it's a great park...we're going tomorrow ~ can't wait

 

[czycropper]

earthfaries - what would you recommend for a one-day visit with 9 & 11 year olds who love thrill rides AND everything else?

I'm going on the Tuesday after Memorial Day and may or may not be taking my 90-yr. old Dad after being at Discovery Cove on Sunday.

I haven't been to BG in about 20 years (back when it was still called "The Dark Continent") and I was in my 20s so no kids came with us.

Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Darcy03231]

We were there in August 2007 and found two days there to be really good (although I think we could have used another day). My kids are coaster junkies and had a wonderful time there.

If you like coasters get in line for those first. As a PP pointed out the lines for those get long quickly. I really enjoyed all of the shows, the animals and the tamer rides.

 

[earthfaries]

earthfaries - what would you recommend for a one-day visit with 9 & 11 year olds who love thrill rides AND everything else?

I'm going on the Tuesday after Memorial Day and may or may not be taking my 90-yr. old Dad after being at Discovery Cove on Sunday.

I haven't been to BG in about 20 years (back when it was still called "The Dark Continent") and I was in my 20s so no kids came with us.

Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.

I would hit the coasters you wanted to try in order of importance. Then I'd just do whatever I could do around that area ~ I personally was not thrilled with any of the shows and as for looking at animals, if I only had one day I wouldn't worry about it ~ you can see them in your local zoo.
I do really recommend Rhino Rally though, it's great ~ I like it better than AK's safari ~ and the water flume ride, the blue one, not the one with the big drop, it's boring. The rapids aren't that great either.

 

[bunny]

Is it worth it going there with little kids then if they can't ride the coasters?

 

[earthfaries]

Is it worth it going there with little kids then if they can't ride the coasters?

They have a really, really neat little kids area called DragonLand I believe ~ it's really great. Other than that and the animals there is not too much for really little ones, but they will love the Dragon area.

 

[Darcy03231]

We took DN (she was 3.5 at the time) and she had a great time. Loved the shows, especially Katunga (sp) and the chinese acrobats. She also enjoyed the Land of Dragons (kiddie rides), the animals, the sky ride, the Serengeti train. There's another area toward the back that has carnival games that has a Merry-Go-Round that she really liked too. We found there was plenty to keep her busy.

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

OMG please don't miss the animals or think you can see them at any zoo as another suggested, to us they're one of the best parts of Busch Gardens. We went a few years back and the gorilla was there with her baby (tho the baby was pretty big by then) and they were right on the other side of the glass, I mean just a couple of feet away. There was a mother with her baby next to us, and the mother gorilla seemed fascinated with them, looking at the baby. It was just amazing! OMG, just amazing. We love Busch Gardens, its truly a beautiful park. Has something for everyone.

 

[caribear]

Wow, my opinion differs greatly from those posted. I just went to Busch Gardens this weekend with my family and have no desire to return. As a Florida resident I was able to buy the Fun Pass to go all year, but I still regret my purchase. My kids are 20 months and 6 years old. We went to Land of the Dragons and while my kids had fun the atmosphere of the park leaves much to be desired. We were never once greeted by ANYONE in the park.....by this I mean no "hello" of any sort....including any nonverbal greeting such as a smile. When I paid for an item I purchased at the bakery the cashier never said hello or told me my total....even when I said thank you as I left she was silent. We did have a great commentator on the Serengeti Railway which my DS loved, but other than that I can honestly say I have nothing positive to say about the park. Grown women walking around in string bikini tops that barely covered their chests was the norm. An obviously drunk couple "making out" in the kiddie area drew lots of attention from both young children and employees....yet no one did anything to stop them. I was disgusted. We were only at the park for 4 hours, but that was enough for me. In defense of those who love the park I will say that we only went to Land of the Dragons....went to Sultan's Sweets....walked through the gorilla area...and then took the railway around the entire loop. We did not go over to the new section, Jungala, or any other areas. My 6 year old DD is asking to go back as this was her first time at the park and she did have a lot of fun in the dragon section.......but I am dreading returning to the park. I know my opinion differs from those who have posted.....maybe my expectations of the park were too high.

 

[RabFlmom]

Caribear, sorry you didn't have a great time in the park.

We love it and have been going there for years. You really need to visit the rest of the park, to experience it. Walk the trails through the animals, go through the nursery area to see the new births, eat a great lunch in the Colony House restaurant and watch the animals from your table. Spend time watching the chimps. Who knows, they might come see your kids at the window. What a treat that always was for my sons when the chimps interacted with them.

For us we have never seen a difference in the workers there than the ones in Disney, but then I probably speak first, ask questions, and just show so much interest that people talk to me all the time. LOL Last year when we were there we got stuck in a thunderstorm while on the train. We spent an hour in a train station and all the employees were friendly and informative the whole time.

Since you have the fun cards, give it another chance. You said your daughter had a great time, so I am sure she will love sitting in the truck with the lion laying in the truck bed, seeing the hippos being fed, the pets a hoy type show with all the different animals. For us the 3 hour drive to and from limits the times we get to go. We wish it was located in Orlando because we would be there every weekend or at least once a month.

 

[jmpellet]

My kids 8,7, and 4 can't wait to go back next month - went spent 2 days there last July. We have 2 year passes (really for using SeaWorld and Aquatica) so BG is a bonus. They loved the Land of Dragons, my semi-chicken 7yo daughter loved the smaller loop coaster, and feeding the birds at Lorrie Landing was a hoot. We're excited to go to Adventure Island next door too.

 

[turning40withMickey]

Thanks for the BG reviews!
Anyone visit the water park affiliated with BG? We are big waterpark people!

 

[jmpellet]

We did go to Adventure Island last July and will return in April. We enjoyed it very much. It wasn't too big or too small and had some great rides. Like someone else said the environment is very relaxing you are there - you don't even know you are in the city. It's certainly not to the level size or themeing wise of Aquatica, BB, ot TL but still fun the same.