Busch Gardens Shuttle Bus

[Portugal1000]

Trying to decide whether to get the shuttle to BG from SW but wondering what time it gets you there and what time it leaves. Will be around 20th to 25th August. We are staying at Tradewinds in St Petes from 7th to 14th August and originally thought we would go on one of those days but as we will have 14 day tickets I would like our tickets to be valid whole time we are in Orlando (15th to 29th) so we can make the most of them. My sons birthday on 12th and he wants to spend it at the beach and I want to have a relaxing last day which would mean going 11th which then means our tickets would run out 24th. Just want to get most value really. Our tickets will be the Discovery Cove Ultimate's.

Also wondering if BG gets quieter later on in August. Worse comes to worse will buy my son an express pass as he loves the roller coasters but my husband and I too scared! Ghazi is still the most traumatic ride of my life!!!

 

[chmurf]

We considered the shuttle once (we also had a DC ticket + SW, Aq and BG) but I got scared of the reports I got.
The shuttle can get to BG as late as 11:30am and takes off early back to Orlando, plus you had to go to Seaworld to catch the ride (or other locations far away from Disney)

we ended up booking a room in Clearwater for one night (paying double as we were already checked in at POR), taking the car, schedule a beach day on that check in day and BG on our check out day

Of course without a car that might have been a different story, but if I had to, I would seriously consider if it's worth it spending 3 hours (round trip) or more to get to a park I would get to when the crowd is at its highests, and would need to leave when the crowds begin to thin ...

long story short : no way for me.

 

[wilma-bride]

We used the shuttle once, on our first visit. Got there about 10am and left to come home at 17.30. That was September, though, and the park was dead.

Later August will be less busy but bear in mind that Busch closes all of its coasters if there is any sign of thunder in the area (which is a common occurrence in late August). On our last visit we ended up missing out on a lot of rides as everything closed down for a good couple of hours.

 

[zippy99]

We have done the bus several times - and never found the hours there insufficient and have always managed to get round everything and both our last two visits were in late August (mid week). Last year we did all the coasters, had lunch and spent 30 minutes taking cover in Jambo Junction when a major storm came over around 3pm with the most torrential rain I have ever seen!

First time we were staying at Universal so caught the bus from there - last time we were staying at Wilderness Lodge so I drove the car to Publix in Vineland Ave, parked the car for free and went from there - we had the added bonus of stocking up on wine & beer when we came back.