Busch gardens for n00bs

[Josh Hendy]

Hi all, we want to try BG Tampa for the first time on our next trip, and I was wondering if anyone has a touring plan or strategy they could share. The kids are age 11 and up and they are ready for any ride or attraction. But they did get a horrified look when I told them how the birds would land on you and eat the fruit you give them. They asked if I would be feeding the birds so that they could take pictures.

So ... what's the game plan - would you try to hit all the coasters first, and if so is there a favorite order? Does the train come often enough to be faster than walking, e.g. is it a practical way to get from Sheikra over to Rhino Rally or vice versa? Is there a better or worse time to fit in Montu? It seems a wee bit isolated and hard to fit into any kind plan.

From the map and good ol' google earth it looks like you have to do some major walking in this park. Somehow I think that making the fambly backtrack a lot (in mid August) would not go over well. Is it better to just do the whole park methodically one bit at a time rather than racing around trying to beat the crowds to the coasters?

I'm thinking that unless we hate the park on the first day, we'll probably come back on a return visit. On the second day I was thinking we could give the coasters a rest and use the quieter early morning and late evening hours to see the animals when they're most active.

So how'm I doin'? Likely to succeed, or likely to die of overplanning?

 

[Josh Hendy]

This is based on theotherorlando.com one-day stay touring plan, plus my own updates based on studying maps, etc.

Feel free to use, copy, criticize, amend, ignore, etc. in whatever way you see fit.

Keep in mind that this is an untested, newbie plan.

1. Arrive before opening bell. When park opens grab a map
inside the turnstiles.
2. If Rhino Rally is on your list, try to get there first thing in
the morning, before you ride anything else.
3. Proceed to SheiKra in Stanleyville (bear left), bypassing
Gwazi.
4. Store bags, cameras, etc. in lockers at Tidal Wave or
Stanley Falls (just past Sheikra).
5. Ride Sheikra (twice if crowds are sparse).
6. Go to the Congo and ride Kumba. If Skyride is operating,
use it to go to Egypt; otherwise walk.
7. Ride Montu.
8. Walk back to Morroco and ride Gwazi.
9. Walk or take Skyride back to Congo.
10. Ride Stanley Falls and the Tanganyika Tidal Wave, then
ride Congo River Rapids.
11. Retrieve bags etc. from locker.
12. Have lunch.
13. Visit animal exhibits and shows, smaller rides, train, etc.
14. Eat dinner.
15. Repeat your favorite rides or watch shows until closing.

 

[Pax]

Not a bad day plan.

I noticed you dropped off Katonga from the list you based off. Any reason? I ask because I'd avoided it for years as a pass holder, but really liked it when I took my wife a few weeks ago. If you get a chance...consider seeing it. The shows are limited so you may have to schedule around it.

The train is something I also consider a must on any day I go. A relaxing (if sometimes hot) chance to sit and check out the animals as you circle the Serengeti Plains. It's very Busch Gardens. It does not come around enough (once an hour or so...its about a 40 minute round trip) to consider a real mode of transport. The skyride is a great park crosser however.

Also...during the summer, they offer an after five 30% pass holder discount on food and drink purchases if you get at least an entree. If there are enough of you it may be wise to consider at least one pass for the discounts and parking.

It ain't Disney, and the most insane lines you'll likely see in August will be for the water rides...not the coasters. If you have a couple days, then you have tons of time. You can take it easy and still see/do everything.

Hope some of this helps. If there are any other specifics I can try to answer...just ask.

Pax

 

[Josh Hendy]

Thanks for the tips!

Regarding Katonga, my kids wrinkled their noses when I said, "It's like Festival of the Lion King" (which is nevertheless a show that they enjoyed). They're maybe thinking it would cut into coaster time. But if it's a hot day they're probably going to appreciate an indoor break given the lack of air conditioned rides. And a really good show to boot, from all accounts.

I have to do the math about the possible pass discounts ...

 

[turning40withMickey]

Looks like a great touring plan to another BG newbie!
In fact, I plan on "borrowing" it!


Q for Pax

What are the food prices like? I see there is an all day wristband you can get
though in the heat we are not big eaters (going in August)...

sandwich prices
snacky things like nachos and soft pretzels?

any info about the food is helpful
even if you would exit and eat outside then come back after cooling off...

we plan to spend two full days at Busch Gardens

 

[inkkognito]

Our usual strategy is to get there just before or just after the parking tollbooths open at 8:30 a.m. We get preferred parking with our passes, so we are one of the first over to the rope. A band comes up and plays until rope drop. Then we either head right over to Montu because Sheikra doesn't open until 9:30. We can get one or two on Montu before we hustle over to Sheikra and get a few there, then head to Rhino Rally (or stay on Sheikra...I could ride that all day!).

 

[RabFlmom]

Referring to the day tour listed earlier... was that for a weekend day or week day. We usually only can get there on weekends and lines by noon are long. By lunch we could never do all they say.

As somebody who goes to BG every year, I have to ask what time does it plan to eat lunch-around 3 or 4? Seems pretty busy till then. We usually go to rhino Rally first, hit Kumba and Sheikra next. By then we are starving after getting up early, arriving at the park before 9AM. We head to the Crown colony House to get out of the sun and heat and it is usually already noon or after. ( Takes between 1 1/2 to 2 hours to eat there)

Are you buying the front of the line pass or do you have platinum passes? Might be able to get on the rides faster and do what you plan but lines are usually too long otherwise single rider might be faster too.

It is quite a distance between most of the rides so it does take time to get to each. The sky ride is slow and the train is slow so actually doesn't save much time getting from one end of the park to the other. Helps keep you from wearing out or gives you a break later in the day, though.
Waiting for the train to fill and take off again at the stations can be 10-15 minutes sometimes. Sometimes not all stations are open for loading.

Another good time to ride the coasters is the hour before closing-especially if they have fireworks that night.

After lunch we always walk through the serengeti to see the animals and relax from the hectic morning. Then my family usually splits and the ones who ride coasters spend the rest of the day and night on their own while I spend more time with animals and see the shows to stay indoors awhile. (Used to living close to the East coast and find BG to be very hot-especially after almost running to keep up with my tall guys going from coaster to coaster) We meet up at park closing. Lunch usually is enough to keep us full till we get home which takes about 3 hours or we snack on popcorn etc.
We rarely eat 2 meals. I guess now that they have the all day all you can eat ( $29.99 without pass-$26.99 with pass) we probably will do that once-even though I will miss the special feeling you get from Crown Colony House sitting at a window table watching the animals and getting first class service.
For the plan: There will be lines for the restaurants and you have to go through regular lines to just get sodas so plan on time for that, too.

We don't have a lot of experience with food at BG since we always eat at the Crown Colony House(third floor),
You can eat at these places on the plan : Participating Restaurants include: Zagora Cafe, Crown Colony Pizza, Bengal Bistro, Garden Gate Cafe, Zambia Smokehouse (Excludes Baby Back Ribs), Desert Grill (Excludes Baby Back Ribs) and Orang Cafe.

Plan $10-14 on entrees other than burgers. BBQ is good-all seating is outside though. Desert Grill is indoors so has air.
sometimes there are shows on the stage. Zagora cafe is the big place at the front of the park-no air conditioning just a roof over tables. Haven't eaten there in years( got sick and ruined my day after eating there Years and years ago so I avoid the place)
Haven't ever eaten at the 2nd floor of the Crown Colony House but always seems busy when we go through to go upstairs so must be OK food.

Depending on when you are there it will rain and the coasters won't be open. Rhino rally might be too muddy to run and won't reopen if you have a heavy storm. BTW listen for the CMs to call out numbers because they try to fill the cars and might add groups of 2 or 3 to a car. We seem to hit rainy days even in the dry season. LOL

It is a great park and lots of fun. Can't really see it all in a day-even during the summer when open till 10 so just enjoy what you do get to do and do the rest next time because once you have been there most people will go back.

 

[turning40withMickey]

Thanks for that informative reply! I am not the OP but eagerly reading along! Doesn't seem like the all day eating pass is such a great deal, except for bottomless pit teenagers!

thanks!

 

[RabFlmom]

We used it at Sea World and loved it though. It surprised me how many times I actually went in and got a dink or something small to eat like fruit or cookies to eat on the way to somewhere or watching a show.

I would probably go for it at BG, too. Last time the 4 of us ate at Crown colony it was just over $100 for lunch including the tip. Eating 1 meal and getting the drinks all day at at SW would have been about the price of the plan for me. Water is $2.50 or $2.75 at most stands and I probably had a bottle in my hand every minute of the day while there. It was still 85 and muggy at 10 PM.

My husband rarely eats a lot at parks so we didn't get one for him. He just got his usual and saved a few bucks.

 

[inkkognito]

Are you buying the front of the line pass or do you have platinum passes? Might be able to get on the rides faster and do what you plan but lines are usually too long otherwise single rider might be faster too.

Platinum doesn't help with the lines. It just allows you to stay on and ride the same ride a second time. You still have to wait in the initial line. It's still a cool benefit though.

 

[erinch]

When are you going? We are WDW, Universal and SW veterans, but we made the trip to Busch Gardens one August day. You couldn't pay me enough to go back in the summer. There is so much reflective white concrete; no express pass system, and the heat was horrific.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

When are you going? We are WDW, Universal and SW veterans, but we made the trip to Busch Gardens one August day. You couldn't pay me enough to go back in the summer. There is so much reflective white concrete; no express pass system, and the heat was horrific.

I am going to BG/SW this week.

 

[RabFlmom]

I am going to BG/SW this week.

The heat is bad at all the parks right now-even the ones in Orlando. We were still using our battery operated fans and misters at 10PM the end of June in Orlando. Just get lots of drinks and take time in the afternoon for a long lunch in air conditioning.

You can get free glasses of water at all the stands if you ask. ( they don't want you to get heat exhaustion) They also have the refill mugs which saves money if you aren't getting the meal plan.

After using the misters in the parks, I am a believer. Definitely helped us in June.

Take advantage of the late hours. Gives more time to ride the coasters. Watch show times to make sure you get to do them because they may not have night time shows. Mozambique area is a cool shaded area to walk through.

Have fun!

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

The heat is bad at all the parks right now-even the ones in Orlando. We were still using our battery operated fans and misters at 10PM the end of June in Orlando. Just get lots of drinks and take time in the afternoon for a long lunch in air conditioning.

You can get free glasses of water at all the stands if you ask. ( they don't want you to get heat exhaustion) They also have the refill mugs which saves money if you aren't getting the meal plan.

After using the misters in the parks, I am a believer. Definitely helped us in June.

Take advantage of the late hours. Gives more time to ride the coasters. Watch show times to make sure you get to do them because they may not have night time shows. Mozambique area is a cool shaded area to walk through.

Have fun!

Thanks for all the info. We will be sure to take it easy & drink lots of fluids. Good know about the water at stands. Still tying to decide whether to get food plan or not.

 

[inkkognito]

We do the opposite of the staying late thing, although I'm sure that is a good option too with the later hours. We come right at opening and stay till midafternoon. You can get a lot done before the lines build by doing the major rides first and then doing the less popular ones as it gets later. Then we just bail when we get too hot/exhausted. You could just take a break for a nice meal, but since we're local and can easily go back another day, we leave entirely and have lunch at Sonny's BBQ on the way home.

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

I don't have a specific strategy but just a statement to enjoy the beauty of the park. Busch Gardens is one of the most beautiful of all the parks I have ever seen including Disney and Universal.

 

[Pax]

Q for Pax

What are the food prices like? I see there is an all day wristband you can get
though in the heat we are not big eaters (going in August)...

sandwich prices
snacky things like nachos and soft pretzels?

any info about the food is helpful
even if you would exit and eat outside then come back after cooling off...

I totally did not ignore this I swear. I just knew I'd be able to provide a better answer in a few days. Sorry for the delay.

Take a look here.

Hope this helps a couple people here.

Pax