Busch Gardens (Tampa) Best Ticket Prices

[Bearvet]

Looking for the best Busch Gardens (Tampa) ticket prices - for 1 day adult tickets. I've seen older threads about buying them at Publix or using Southwest Rapid Rewards card for 20% off at the gate. Does anyone know if either of these still work or if there is another discount that's better/current? We do not want any kind of pkg deal since we're staying Ft Myers Beach and only going to Tampa for 1 day. TIA

 

[4kids4karen]

Buying the tickets online from BG website is cheaper than paying at the gate. I have never looked at Publix prices, but they may have a discount. If you are military, they allow military and three dependents in for free once a year.

http://www.herosalute.com/cavatx/index.html

 

[formill]

Right now they have the all day dining free with paid ticket- ticket is $85 on website.

 

[Lewisc]

The one day ticket with free dining is going for $80.24 if you buy in advance from AAA. The Southwest discount is 20% but only applicable at the gate. I don't know if the free dining deal applies to tickets bought at the gate with the 20% rapid rewards discount. I'm not saying the meal deal is a fantastic deal but it's certainly worth $8.

 

[katyjeka]

I'm ready to be slammed but while on vacation in Dec. we bought tickets on craiglist. We paid $19.00 a ticket(we needed 8) I know it was a risk but they worked just fine. I must admit we were a little worried but it thankfully worked out. I would never recommend it to anyone but it sure saved us a ton of money.

 

[travelalot]

Looking for the best Busch Gardens (Tampa) ticket prices - for 1 day adult tickets. I've seen older threads about buying them at Publix or using Southwest Rapid Rewards card for 20% off at the gate. Does anyone know if either of these still work or if there is another discount that's better/current? We do not want any kind of pkg deal staying Ft Myers Beach and only going to Tampa for 1 day. TIA

The Publix discount is actually the best of those. The gate prices are so inflated, so while 20% off Southwest discount sounds like a lot, your actually still paying about the same as what you'd pay if you bought your tickets online in advance from the website. The Publix discount is $5 or so below both of those. Apparently it is back for 2013 since there is info about it here.

 

[spiceycat]

guess seaworld no longer has the senior discount on annual passes?

 

[Bearvet]

Thanks for your help everyone! There are 2 adults going to BG - DH and DS17 and we've found 4 options (all are before tax to make comparison fair):
1. Order on BG site $85 and get free all-day dining plan ($32.99 value)
You get a wristband and can get 1 entree, 1 side or dessert and 1 drink at 6
of the restaurants as many times as you want.
2. Use SW RR card to get 20% off GATE price $85 - $17 = $68
3. Purchase at Publix $64.99
4. AAA $74.99 and receive 1 free meal voucher (not unlimited)

The guys decided to go with option #1 and feel they will get their monies worth easily by eating at least 2 meals in the park (lunch & dinner) - they both have big appetites. And since they have limited time in Tampa (also doing college visit at USF) they wanted to have tickets pre-purchased.

I realize that may not be the best choice for everyone, but it's what the guys chose.
Thanks again for the help and hopefully this info will help someone else!