Busch Gardens Question

[Figment22]

I'm posting this here on the Universal Boards because I know several people have posted things on Busch Gardens Tampa.

We may take a day out of our upcoming vacation and head over to BGT. All four of us like coasters and DH and I haven't been to BGT in almost 20 years! Can anyone give us a touring plan?

Thanks for any help you can give.

 

[Slacking]

The only thing you really need to do is get there before opening and hit Sheikra first. Kumba, Cheetah Chase, Montu, and Rhino Rally also have to be done very early in the day. After these 5 rides, it doesn't matter too much what you do, as wait times usually don't get too excessive, but BGT does require lots of walking. Also, its a good idea to catch a viewing of Katonga, its a nice escape from the heat!

 

[rangebob]

Don't try to do SheiKra first thing in the morning during the month of June. It will be opening to regular guests at 10 am. The first hour of park operating it will be for passport members only.

 

[Figment22]

Thanks for the guidelines and for the tip on Sheikra only being for passport members first thing in the morning. We would have headed there first. BTW,
what is Katonga? Is it a show?

 

[Slacking]

Yeah, Katonga is a show.

I'm wondering if there is going to be a line of non-passholders that develops in front of Sheikra that will mob the entrance when it opens.

Either way, it would probably be best to do Montu, Rhino Rally, Cheetah Chase, and Kumba (in that order) and then hit Sheikra, by then it'll be past 10am, and you would have hit the rides that would have the longest lines, but be prepared to wait 45-90 minutes for Sheikra.

 

[damo]

Has anyone here ridden Sheikra yet?

 

[Slacking]

I've ridden sheiKra 5 times now.

Lots of fun, I like it. The coaster is all about the 2 drops, and the two drops are fantastic. The water effect is fun too. The rest of the ride isn't as good as the drops, but overall, Busch has a great ride on their hands.

 

[Bill Lumbergh]

If you really want to do Rhino Rally, I would really hit that first. Rhino Rally has long waits for a short ride. I don't think it's worth a long wait. Then I would hit Gwazi and Montu. Gwazi loads particuarly slow and Montu loads much faster. Take the skyride to the Congo and do Kumba, Python, Scorpion, and Cheetah Chase. You might run into a long line at Scorpion. SheiKra is a toss-up. If you head to it first thing, so will everyone else. Since it is so new, everyone wants to ride it and everyone tends to ride it first. I heard that the lines are shortest around 4 or 5 pm, but they seem to decrease by noon. I would also avoid Busch Gardens on a Saturday since the park tends to be packed then. A weekday would be a better choice.

 

[Slacking]

Even though it is a slow loader, Gwazi doesn't seem to get huge waits, so Gwazi could and should be done in the afternoon.

 

[swilshire]

Don't try to do SheiKra first thing in the morning during the month of June. It will be opening to regular guests at 10 am. The first hour of park operating it will be for passport members only.

We just bought Platinum passes for the first time, but our "home" resort is Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Would we be eligible for early access?

I hadn't heard anything about this. Guess I need to go do some research on the benefits.

Thanks.

Sheila

 

[robvia]

If you can, rent the car and drive over early. It's 75 miles, and takes about an hour and a half. In case you didn't see it, my Sheikra page is here.
http://www.nogodforme.com/Sheikra2005.htm

Try to go during the week if you can, because the locals will be at work. I don't know if this will be the case during the summer, but the line for Sheikra actually decreased in the afternoon to 30 minutes when I was there on a Monday. It's like everyone went there first, got their rides, and then moved on to the other coasters. The good news, is they had short waits.

 

[rangebob]

I don't think that your home park would matter. From what the flyer says is Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum passport members ride one hour before. I would presume that since a platinum is good for all the parks it would allow you access.

 

[N2DSNY]

It doesn't matter where your home park is for the first hour of Sheikra. We are platinum passholders at Williamsburg as well and I gave a call to BGT and they said any passholders were allowed to ride that first hour. I don't know if it is true for the ride again part for the other coasters, though. Can't wait! Going Friday!

 

[riu girl]

Sorry a little off topic, we are planning on buying BG fun passes late this year and go 3 or 4 times over a two week period. Would we also be able to get into the park an hour early? If so, are all the rides open then or just selected ones?

Also, would you recommend Sheikra for a VERY adventurous 8 year old (54 inches)? For comparison, she loved Space Mountain but calls Splash and Thunder Moutain way too tame.

Any info. would be appreciated since this will be our first visit to BG.

Thanks,
Suzy V.

 

[rangebob]

The park doesn't open an hour early. They are restricting SheiKra to passholders only during the first hour of park operating hours for the month of June ONLY. Has your DD been on any coasters that does inversions? If she is able to handle those types then I would say give it a try then.

 

[riu girl]

Thanks for the info. DD8 just did Sky Screamer at Marineland, Ontario this weekend. It is by far their biggest "thrill" ride. First, you walk 200 ft. up a hill. Then on the ride, you are pulled straight up (fast) 250 ft. and then dropped. You then spring up (like a bungee jump cord) and down a few times. It was the most terrifying ride I have been on. DD8 did it three times in a row and laughed the whole time. She called it "lame". In total you are 450 ft. about the ground.

 

[HappyLawyer]

i would like ot know about the drive is it difficult to get to BG from the disney area

 

[Slacking]

Disney-BGT Drive isn't to difficult. I-4 to I-75 to Fowler Ave (first exit after getting on I-75) to the rode the park is located on. I would estimate about 65-75 minutes.

 

[johnvree]

We are doing BGT for the first time this August. Here are a couple questions for BGT experts:

1. Does the park open earlier than posted? On the day we are going, it opens at 9:30.

2. How promptly does the park close? We would like to grab dinner at the Crown Colony House around 5:30. Will they seat us if the park closes at 6:00?

Thanks.

 

[rangebob]

They may open the turnstiles a little earlier, but they will corral you into the front area until the National Anthem is played. They normally don't allow you into the park early.