I'm showing your posts to DH, Cindy B. Hopefully, they will persuade him!
Ok, other touring tips:
LOL, I'm sure you guys would already be prepared for this, but parking costs 8 dollars and they make you pay before you park. DH and I were unprepared for that and promptly and completely humiliated.
So, carry cash, definitely!
As for the park, make sure to pick up a show schedule because the shows at Busch Gardens are very good. We didn't catch any (although I wanted to see the Pet tricks one) because we were too busy riding Apollo's CHariot over and over. The schedule will be right inside the park maps.
Personally, DH and I thought the Haunted Lighthouse 4-D show (which has many of the same tricks as Tough to Be a Bug and Honey, I Shrunk the Audience) was pretty bad. It wasn't scary at all, but it was a nice 20 minutes in an air-conditioned theatre. It was really hard not to compare it (unfavorably) to Disney though.
If you are coaster enthusiasts, ride them all. Back row for Apollo's Chariot, front row for Alpengeist, front row for Loch Ness Monster and back row for Big Bad Wolf. Those are my recommendations.
I would definitely wait until around 1:30 or 2 to have lunch...the lunch rush is insane, and it is much calmer (and you'll actually get a seat) later on. This is especially important because there isn't really any indoor air-conditioned dining except that place in Germany...name escapes me at the moment.
But there are plenty of quaint little shops to get snacks, ice cream or muffins...so many, that we never felt like we were wandering around aimlessly in search of sustenance. We liked the ones in France...the ince cream one is called Le Glacier and the sweet shop right next door (Can't remember the name, but it was Le something) has awesome European desserts.
I can't make any dinner recommendations because we went into historic Williamsburg for dinner....but we would have eaten at the place in Italy. It looked pretty good. The only trouble is, as I mentioned before, the lack of air conditioning and the fact that everything is pretty much counter service.
Oh, and you will get SOAKED if you sit in the front row of the boat on Escape from Pompeii. SOAKED. The nose of the boat dips at the entrance and the water gushes all over your feet and in your lap. DH and I were horrified...this was right at the beginning of the ride...we were wondering why we got the front all to ourselves. You will also get plenty wet on the Roman Rapids...so make sure to take that into consideration. If I could have done anything different...I would have worn sandals and not socks and sneakers. They at least let you take off the sandals on the floorless rollercoasters so they don't fly off and take people's eyes out.
Oh, I also would have had my photo taken with the Clydesdale horse
