Busch Gardens, been there?

[turning40withMickey]

We did Universal (and Disney) last year
and are thinking of doing Busch Gardens and Disney this year.

Who has been to the Gardens? What did you think?
How about the water park, Adventure Island? We are big waterpark folks!

How is the drive to Orlando (really only an hour?)

Fill me in!

 

[KB1179]

We did Universal (and Disney) last year
and are thinking of doing Busch Gardens and Disney this year.

Who has been to the Gardens? What did you think?
How about the water park, Adventure Island? We are big waterpark folks!

How is the drive to Orlando (really only an hour?)

Fill me in!

Busch Gardens is pretty fun. If you go, Sheikra and Montu are must rides. Kumba is pretty good, too.

As far as water park, and Adventure Island - we are going to Islands of Adventure, but it's not a water park.

For water park, we are doing Wet n Wild.

I'm not sure about the drive between Tampa and Orlando.

 

[NashvilleTrio]

We spent last weekend (Fri-Mon) at Busch Gardens and SeaWorld. It had been about 7 years since we'd been to Busch Gardens and we had a great time. SheiKra is out of this world fun and the new Jungala kid's area is outstanding.

Our drive on Sunday from Busch to SeaWorld was no more than 70 minutes.


My wife started a trip report, the link is below.

 

[turning40withMickey]

THanks for linking me to your trip report
(which is awesome BTW)

Looks like a great time! Nice waterproof camera shots, Greg!
So, it really is a reasonable drive.

WE did universal and sea world last year
and I see they link BG and sea world passes......hmmm.....

 

[Metro West]

We spent last weekend (Fri-Mon) at Busch Gardens and SeaWorld. It had been about 7 years since we'd been to Busch Gardens and we had a great time. SheiKra is out of this world fun and the new Jungala kid's area is outstanding.

Our drive on Sunday from Busch to SeaWorld was no more than 70 minutes.


My wife started a trip report, the link is below.

Greg...you and Melissa were here and you didn't let me know?

Shame on you.

 

[DOOM1001]

If you're coaster people then BG is a must do.They have some great coasters there.The park is surprisingly beautiful considering it's location right in the middle of the city.Adventure Island is their waterpark right next door to BG.Before I visited Adventure Island from the outside and from the coasters it doesn't look that nice,but on my first visit I was surprised as how nice it was,it has a lot of trees and the rides are pretty decent.It however is no Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon but is a pretty good local waterpark.I don't see tourists leaving Orlando to just visit Adventure Island in Tampa with all the good waterparks in Orlando but if you're visiting Busch and you can get Adventure Island for a good combo deal with Busch then go for it.If you haven't done Aquatica by Sea World then I would suggest that one over Adventure Island,but would still prefer the Disney waterparks.Wet n Wild has a lot of great rides but lacks trees and theming,but still a very good waterpark.As far as the drive,yes it's just over an hour from the Universal area to Busch.Head west on I-4,take I-75 north to exit 265 Fowler avenue west and you'll see the signs to turn left as you're by the front of the University of South Florida campus.

 

[donaldduck352]

I love BG Tampa!!!Some of the best coasters in FLA are there.But the way they include the animals with thrill rides are great!
Now Adventure Islands,we havent been ther since '99 Im sure alot have changed since..
Got a few pics of BG to share:

 

[turning40withMickey]

If you're coaster people then BG is a must do.They have some great coasters there.The park is surprisingly beautiful considering it's location right in the middle of the city.Adventure Island is their waterpark right next door to BG.Before I visited Adventure Island from the outside and from the coasters it doesn't look that nice,but on my first visit I was surprised as how nice it was,it has a lot of trees and the rides are pretty decent.It however is no Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon but is a pretty good local waterpark.I don't see tourists leaving Orlando to just visit Adventure Island in Tampa with all the good waterparks in Orlando but if you're visiting Busch and you can get Adventure Island for a good combo deal with Busch then go for it.If you haven't done Aquatica by Sea World then I would suggest that one over Adventure Island,but would still prefer the Disney waterparks.Wet n Wild has a lot of great rides but lacks trees and theming,but still a very good waterpark.As far as the drive,yes it's just over an hour from the Universal area to Busch.Head west on I-4,take I-75 north to exit 265 Fowler avenue west and you'll see the signs to turn left as you're by the front of the University of South Florida campus.

Thanks! We are definitely coaster folk, we loved Universal's coasters last year, so I am sure BG will be a hit with my three thrill seekers!

We weren't all that impressed with Aquatica, actually, being spoiled by Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, but there are pretty good packages for BG and AI. You are right about Wet N Wild lacking shade!

Thanks for the review!

 

[turning40withMickey]

THanks for the pictures DonaldDuck352!
Very nice! That coaster looks awesome!

 

[Darcy03231]

We spent 2 days at Busch Gardens on our last trip and I think we could have used another day there. My kids are coaster junkies and had a ball. In fact, they've asked if we can go back on our upcoming trip.

Parks were very clean and well tended. I didn't think the food prices were too bad either.

We were staying in Clermont and I found it took us about an hour from there. From Orlando, depending on traffic. I would say and hour and quarter to an hour and a half.

 

[NashvilleTrio]

Greg...you and Melissa were here and you didn't let me know?

Shame on you.

PLEASE FORGIVE ME. We'll give you a heads up next time we're coming to town. Do you ever go to Busch Gardens?

We're planning to be in Orlando in June and again in August with Melissa's parents. I'm trying to talk Melissa into a passholder preview 1 day trip for Manta or HRRR, but I'm not sure it's going to happen.

 

[drenalin'junkie]

Some things to consider

Cons
BG crowds are a little wilder at times than Disney,there are fewer TS options,fastpass type head of the line costs money

Pros
Best coaster park in Fla,cheaper food and souveineers,smaller crowds,best BBQ in a Fla park,lots of up close animal interactions,awesome show in Katonga

Still my favorite park in Fla just for the adrenalin factor.

 

[OhMari]

We went as a family last Nov. on a Saturday.
No one was there.
We finally saw a crowd of people, when we figured out
Jack Hanna was there that weekend.
His show was great.
When we left the theater, we still hardly saw anyone.
We still got free Budweiser Beer, but since the buyout, they stopped giving it away, what a shame. I actually remember my dad and great uncle getting free beer in 1969.

We enjoyed the park. We got there at 9:30 a.m. and were done by 3:30.
My oldest kids did 2 coasters.
We didn't do any shows,
but I think we saw the whole park, including feeding the giraffes.
That was extra money.

I'm not a barbecue person, but my family talked me into it,
and it was the best barbecue chicken I ever had, it fell off the bone.
Others in my family had the beef and ribs and they said it was excellent.
5 people and our bill was $75.
I would compare the place to a very expensive Table Service meal at WDW, but it had the feel of a counter service. You can pick and choose what you want in a cafeteria style.