Busch Gardens vs. IOA and US

[turning40withMickey]

We were at IOA and US last year, and loved the coasters, and the parks in general, though seven day passes were way too much.

We are coming back this year, and I told the kids we would go to Busch Gardens for a change of pace, but now I am rethinking that decision.

BG adds travel time, we are staying in Kissimmee.
I "won" a free seven day ticket to US/IOA during the superbowl...

Anyone have any arguments about why we should definitely do BG?
My kids are all about the coasters, NOT shows....
They loved IOA, but they have now "done that"
and Harry Potter won't be open yet this summer (as in NEW thing to do)

 

[MIB999999]

if you have never done BG, and your kids love coasters then IMO it becomes a must do if you have the money to pull it off.

 

[turning40withMickey]

if you have never done BG, and your kids love coasters then IMO it becomes a must do if you have the money to pull it off.

pricewise, it is about the same
as a one day ticket at BG is really the second day free
and I can get them for about $60 online....
it would just be the travel time

I think two days/trips to Tampa would be plenty...
we did IOA and US two days each and that was enough

 

[Laurabearz]

My husband and I just did BG for the first time in February. Great coasters!!!

Overall the park is not as nicely themed as IOA (imo) but the coasters and other attractions are awesome.

We grabbed breakfast on the trip down and arrived before the parked opened. I think two days would be perfect for BG.

 

[Niki Andiokno]

Busch Gardens has one of the best coasters ever. MONTU!!!! This inverted coaster is my favorite, and has hit several of the Discovery Channel Top 10 coaster line-ups. The theming is great, and the coasters are awesome. Even if you only have one day to spare, it is worth the extra travel time.

 

[DOOM1001]

If your kids are all about coasters I don't see how you can skip Busch Gardens,it's the best coaster park in Florida.As far as travel time from the Disney/Kissimmee area it's an easy hour to hour and 15 minute drive on I-4,real easy trip.

 

[Darcy03231]

My kids are huge coaster fanatics and they think BG is the best theme park in Florida for coasters. While they also have a great time at US/IOA if you gave them their choice it would be BG.

 

[jagfanjosh3252]

Yeah, BG is pretty awesome. Sheirka, and Montu are great coasters. If you have the money, I think you should go.

 

[turning40withMickey]

My husband and I just did BG for the first time in February. Great coasters!!!

Overall the park is not as nicely themed as IOA (imo) but the coasters and other attractions are awesome.

We grabbed breakfast on the trip down and arrived before the parked opened. I think two days would be perfect for BG.

Busch Gardens has one of the best coasters ever. MONTU!!!! This inverted coaster is my favorite, and has hit several of the Discovery Channel Top 10 coaster line-ups. The theming is great, and the coasters are awesome. Even if you only have one day to spare, it is worth the extra travel time.

If your kids are all about coasters I don't see how you can skip Busch Gardens,it's the best coaster park in Florida.As far as travel time from the Disney/Kissimmee area it's an easy hour to hour and 15 minute drive on I-4,real easy trip.

My kids are huge coaster fanatics and they think BG is the best theme park in Florida for coasters. While they also have a great time at US/IOA if you gave them their choice it would be BG.

Yeah, BG is pretty awesome. Sheirka, and Montu are great coasters. If you have the money, I think you should go.

Well, thanks all!
I had just about talked myself out of it (drive, one free US/IOA ticket)
and now reading all the raves
it is back on!
A little drive never hurt us...well, much, three kids fussing for an hour is a double dose of Aleve, but...

To BG we go!!
Thanks for the reviews!

 

[jshopper2]

BG is the best!! It is totally worth the drive time!! I hope you have a great time!!

Jennifer

 

[Laurabearz]

Oh... one tip... before you go on the skyway thing... go to the bathroom and buy some snacks


(it breaks down a lot)

 

[noice]

BG's special is if you pay for one day, you come back all year (if you are a Florida resident, which you are). So for 60-70$ you get a year pass.

Also, this park is usually much less crowded that IoA. I have been there many times where you just walk on any ride you want. During its crowded days lines are about 30 minutes - 50 minutes. If it's a hot day, the lines for water rides can be about an hour +.

 

[turning40withMickey]

Oh... one tip... before you go on the skyway thing... go to the bathroom and buy some snacks


(it breaks down a lot)

Good to know!

BG's special is if you pay for one day, you come back all year (if you are a Florida resident, which you are). So for 60-70$ you get a year pass.

Also, this park is usually much less crowded that IoA. I have been there many times where you just walk on any ride you want. During its crowded days lines are about 30 minutes - 50 minutes. If it's a hot day, the lines for water rides can be about an hour +.

I'm not a Florida resident, but two days for around $60 isn't bad...
we are staying in Kissimmee and will do the drive twice.

 

[noice]

Oh, I thought you lived in Kissimmee. I see now that you live in PA, and isn't there a Busch Gardens up there in Williamsburg? This one done here is pretty similar except African themed. Still fun though if you have never been.

 

[turning40withMickey]

Oh, I thought you lived in Kissimmee. I see now that you live in PA, and isn't there a Busch Gardens up there in Williamsburg? This one done here is pretty similar except African themed. Still fun though if you have never been.

BG Williamsburg
also Water Country USA which is right by it.

How about the BG waterpark in Tampa?


we will be driving from Kissimmee
but flying into Florida!

 

[noice]

Adventure Island is pretty fun too. I haven't been in a few years, but I remember it being a lot of fun. One of the coolest rides is Wahoo Run, where a group gets into a raft, and they send you down a dark tube, very fun. If thrills are your thing, they have a ridiculously high water slide about 80 or 100 feet high. Very scary when you are up there looking down.

But yeah, if you have been to the one in Pensylvania, you aren't missing a whole lot. There are 4 main coasters at the park.

Shiekra is the newest and the most popular, but you have Griffon in PA, which is the same as Shiekra but 5 feet higher.

Gwazi is like a wooden version of Dueling Dragons (no loops of course).

The other 2 are Montu and Kumba which are steel rollercoasters and are pretty fun. I'm not sure if they have replicas of these in PA.

 

[squirrel]

Does anyone know what the height restrictions are at BG?

 

[johde]

we will be driving from Kissimmee
but flying into Florida!

If you are flying into florda and don't have air fare yet, I would consider flying into or out of Tampa instead of Orlando and spend 1 night in Tampa. I've done this the past 2 trips so I only need to drive between Tampa and Orlando Once. I fly into Tampa and goto Busch Gardens for the evening. After spending the night, I goto Busch Gardens the next day. I leave in the middle of the afternoon to go to Orlando for the rest of my trip.

 

[DOOM1001]

But yeah, if you have been to the one in Pensylvania, you aren't missing a whole lot. There are 4 main coasters at the park.

Shiekra is the newest and the most popular, but you have Griffon in PA, which is the same as Shiekra but 5 feet higher.

Gwazi is like a wooden version of Dueling Dragons (no loops of course).

The other 2 are Montu and Kumba which are steel rollercoasters and are pretty fun. I'm not sure if they have replicas of these in PA.

You mean Virginia,not Pennsylvania.I actually do prefer the Virginia park to the Tampa park,mostly due to the European them of the VA park compared to the African theme at Tampa.As well as the beautiful location in Virginia in a wooded hilly area versus right in the middle of the city in Tampa.The Tampa park is beautiful inside and has great coasters but those two things give the VA park a slight edge for me.

 

[donaldduck352]

Oh SHIEKRA,I wont forget that ride anytime soon!!!

Its deffinatly worth the drive!!!