Busch Gardens Tampa - Is it worth the trip?

[SharonS]

It has been a few years since I have been. I am considering going to Busch on my upcoming trip. My purpose would be for the animal attractions and shows. I'm not much of a rider. Is it worth the trip? How are the animal attractions compared to AK? I am also a wildlife photographer and was interested in photographing the animals there.

Planned on doing the Seregenti tour and also the Jungle Backstage tour.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I LOVE BG.
I enjoy the animal interactions more so there than AK. Smaller scale stuff, fewer crowds. If you go in the morning a lot of animals are out and about waiting for breakfast or just coming out for the day.

Can I make one recommendation? If you are in the Tampa area and you want to see animals but don't care for the rides, check out Lowry Park Zoo. It's one of the better ranked zoos in the country and they offer a lot of interactions for less $$$ than the bigger theme parks.

 

[Sehsun]

It's definitely worth the trip. One time DBF and I visited last year, but I could only manage one ride (Sand Serpent) due to a pre-existing injury. We still had a wonderful day just walking around and seeing the animal exhibits. One can certainly have a great, full day there even not doing the rides.

The animal exhibits are better than the exhibits at AK, IMO. You can get closer to the animals at BG, which will give you good photos. I love that you can see the elephant exhibit (rather than just seeing them on the Kiliminjaro Safari at AK) - they're one of my favorite terrestrial animals.

I've done the Serengeti Safari and had a great experience. I'm sure the Jungala tour will be great, too.

 

[momof2n2]

oh my - YES! We spent two days there last May. While we are big riders, we loved the animal exhibits. We really enjoyed watching the veterinarians at work. AK doesn't even rank compared to the animals at BGT IMO.

I second Lowry Park Zoo. It's a fantastic place.

 

[Nia20]

I was there last april (second visit) and personally, I wont be going back. i felt like bg was the forgotten/neglected park. i think its starting to look a bit rundown and just doesnt have the same feel as the orlando parks.

 

[momof2n2]

I was there last april (second visit) and personally, I wont be going back. i felt like bg was the forgotten/neglected park. i think its starting to look a bit rundown and just doesnt have the same feel as the orlando parks.

It looked fabulous in May. Sorry to hear it was shabby when you were there.

 

[Woodview]

If you have the time ...... Go for it.

Then you will know if it was worth it OR a waste of time.

It is Your Vacation.

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

It's one of very fav parks, so beautiful.

 

[Woodview]

Do the Gondola ariel transport ride & have your Camera ready as you travel overhead around

Busch Gardens .

 

[StirlingSilver83]

We liked Busch Gardens, but I was a little disappointed in it. We thought the Busch Gardens in Williamsburg was much nicer. But it was a nice park. We really liked the safari type ride that they had there

 

[DOOM1001]

We liked Busch Gardens, but I was a little disappointed in it. We thought the Busch Gardens in Williamsburg was much nicer. But it was a nice park. We really liked the safari type ride that they had there

The Busch Gardens in Virginia is one of the nicest parks in the country,great theming,full of trees in a hilly environment with great rides and attractions.The Tampa one however is still an amazing park with many more animal exhibits than the Virginia park,the coasters are a tad better in Tampa and there's many additions that have recently been added or are coming soon.The whole Timbuktu area has gotten a makeover,the Falcon's Fury drop ride,a new pets show,the Pantopia Grill is now being refurbished and a new coaster/dark ride is starting construction by Egypt.

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

Wow, I'm really surprised about the comments on the Busch Gardens in Virginia. We haven't been for a few years but we found that one pretty ordinary and honestly not even worth going back to. Don't get me wrong, it was nice, but the one in Tampa was just blow your mind nice, not even comparable. Maybe there have been changes since we've been last.

 

[DOOM1001]

Wow, I'm really surprised about the comments on the Busch Gardens in Virginia. We haven't been for a few years but we found that one pretty ordinary and honestly not even worth going back to. Don't get me wrong, it was nice, but the one in Tampa was just blow your mind nice, not even comparable. Maybe there have been changes since we've been last.

I haven't been to the Virginia park anywhere near the hundreds of times I've been to the Tampa park but there are slow days in the Tampa park where the park feels empty and dead,whereas if you go on a nice busy day with a special event or something going on and the park feels amazing,maybe the same thing happens at Virginia.I've only been during busy days in the summer and the unique qualities I mentioned are so different from Florida parks that the Busch in Virginia shot up to one of my favorite parks.But then again maybe its all based on personal preferences,my brother didn't like the Virginia park as much as I did.One thing that can't be denied is that the Virginia park has won the most beautiful theme park award pretty much year after year.

 

[mshanson3121]

Not to steal from the OP - but if you had an animal fanatic child, would you do AK or Busch?

 

[DOOM1001]

Not to steal from the OP - but if you had an animal fanatic child, would you do AK or Busch?

Busch Gardens tops AK in animal experiences in my opinion.The only negative is they closed the Rhino Rally ride which was the comparable ride to the safari at AK which I rarely see the animals close to the vehicle.Busch Gardens has the Myombe reserve which is the Gorilla and Ape habitat,the Cheetahs,the Edge of Africa with Lions and hyenas,Walkabout Way where you van Hand Feed kangaroos,Jungala has orangutans and Tigers,take the train or skyride to see the Serengeti Plain to see Giraffes and other African animals,Lory Landing has Birds and then you have the animal care Center,jambo junction and the new pets Show.AK is done more for the masses with fewer animal viewing opportunities where you never get as close to them.

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

It's been a few yrs since we were in VA but when we went there were broken cracked roadways and walkways, hilly, same boring trees we have in NY, rides nothing special. I'm sure for others it's nice. I think it's bc we come from a hilly woodsy area ourselves, so we long for tropical. Busch Gardens Tampa was stunningly pretty, tropical flowers everywhere, felt like a paradise, and the animals were INCREDIBLE. I'm a big animal lover so that's probably another reason I prefer it. If you're into animals, Busch Gardens is a must do. I actually get teary there.