Busch Gardens

[Mrs Doubtfire]

I haven't been here for well over 10 years (yikes!!)

Plan to go in December, after Christmas and have a few questions if anyone can help.

Will it be as busy as WDW with really long queues?

Has anyone been on the Safari ride thats about $40

Has anyone been on any of the other tours they offer - they do a 'big ride' tour with front of the line access to the big rides. This would be ok for DH * DD - but not myself or MIL

Any information appreciated

 

[Pinky166]

Do you mean the Serengeti tour, costs $34? This is the one where you go in a flat bed safari truck out into the safari exhibit and hand feed Giraffes. If so I have done this and it is great, it is only 30 mins so it doesn't eat into too much of your day. It is worth it, we loved it and plan to do it again in December when we go.

We really like Busch Gardens and spend a day there everytime we go to Orlando. They have a good mix of rides & animals. They have a new section just opened called Jungala....it looks great and I can't wait to go in December.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

yes that's the one I would like to do.

Do you think the tour for DH & DD would be worthit - or will the crowds be manageable at Christmas?

 

[Dollyrar]

Ooh! We're going to be giving this one a go as well. Does anybody not recommend it? Never done it before and really keen

 

[wayneg]

Can't comment on Xmas, although this Xmas will be our 5th Xmas there we have never been down to Busch at that time of year, maybe this year.

Last August we did the Guided adventure tour http://www.buschgardens.com/BGT/sp_guided_adventure.aspx probably the highlight of the 25 nights. It includes the Serengeti tour and lunch for $95 each. You get a guide for 5 hours, we were very lucky being the only ones doing the tour so got the guide (David) to ourselves, he asked us what we would like to do rather than the set route, we told him more animals than front of line rides. He showed us Harry their semi retired Sloth(Karen held him) he took us into the Flamingos, totally amazing they just want petting and to put their head over your shoulder. Saw behind the scenes reptiles, reserved seat in show, etc We also overran the 5 hours.
David was very knowlegable I would highly recommend the tour but only if you have a free day, it is very expensive if you pay for entrance then the tour on top. We have AP's it only costs us £25/year to add to a Seaworld AP.
Also keep checking Seaworld/busch sales on Ebay.com, don't know if they will list anymore as prices were not good http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160201655323 $51 for 4 others sold for more but I think they would have expected more.
Heres a few pics from last year.

 

[Pinky166]

yes that's the one I would like to do.

Do you think the tour for DH & DD would be worthit - or will the crowds be manageable at Christmas?

I think the Safari tour is great value for money - not everday you get to hand feed a giraffe!

I have not done the front of the line tour but I would think it's worth it if your DH & DD want to get on all the rides as this will then allow you more time to do the other things.

As for the crowds I have not been to WDW in December, but will be there in December this year.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Thanks - the front of the line tour seems really good - but possibly not for me & mil as we don't do the rides. Ideally I would only book the Serangati ride for us - it would be good if we could time it so we all went on together - if I managed to get them on the tour (Maybe a Xmas pressie?)

This year we got DC tickets with SW & Busch so that is why we are going up there.

thanks for the links

 

[Debs Hill]

WOw! The Grand Adventure Tour sounds amazing! What rides did you get front of line access to? How far in advance can you book?
Debsx

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

I think it's about 6 months in advance after looking at the website.

 

[wayneg]

WOw! The Grand Adventure Tour sounds amazing! What rides did you get front of line access to? How far in advance can you book?
Debsx

We did not book, we went on Wednesday August 22nd last year, It started at 10:30 am and we rushed in and just managed to get there for 10:20am half expecting to be booked up, like I said we were the only ones on it. So don't think you need to panic booking. David told us many days he waits there until 10:30 then goes back to his usual job when nobody turns up.

 

[Debs Hill]

That sounds great and we are going in August too so hopefully it will be nice and quiet for us too! We would probably skip the show and want lots of animal stuff as well as some of the rides! That Sloth is just so adorable!!!!! Amazing!!!
Where did you eat lunch?
Which rides did you get access to?
We'll be asking for Dave!!
Debsxx

 

[wayneg]

That sounds great and we are going in August too so hopefully it will be nice and quiet for us too! We would probably skip the show and want lots of animal stuff as well as some of the rides! That Sloth is just so adorable!!!!! Amazing!!!
Where did you eat lunch?
Which rides did you get access to?
We'll be asking for Dave!!
Debsxx

Ate at Zambia Smokehouse, he gave us voucher for anything on menu, except full rack of ribs(a bit tight of them as other things on menu were only about $1 less) plus desert and drink.
He gave us option of different places but we like here not tried anywhere else.

Because we were the only ones on the tour we chose which rides, if there are others I think the guide may have to stick to a route. We did Sheikra, Gwazi, Congo River Rapids, Stanley Falls and Kumba.

 

[vicki12a]

we were there in dec although nearer to the beginning and we found it very quiet and were able to just walk onto the rides in fact the kids stayed on the river rapids for about 10 goes had to drag them off in the end it was a really great relaxing day and they had the best santa that we saw at any of the parks dd aged 7 was convinced he was the real one.
I would def recomend visiting at his time of year

Vicki

 

[Babyboo]

I haven't done the adventure tour myself but DH & DS did it on xmas day last year - DD & I went to the GF SPA

They had a great time and loved being able to walk up the exit ramps to get on the rides choosing where they sat on the rides and even getting to stay on if they wanted.

This was the first time they had been to Busch Gardens and now I don't think DS can imaging going back any other way.

I am looking at the Elite tour for this August, but DD and I would also like to go. I know it would be a total waste for me as I don't do rides and I imaging there is alot DD wouldn't be able to go on, we don't really want to split up for the day so not sure what to do or how much me and DD would get out of it without the rides.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

Thanks - think I will go for the tour for DH & DD

 

[Debs Hill]

Can anyone tell me what time the Busch Gardens bus leaves Orlando and comes back from Busch Gardens? Where are the pick up points and is there more than one return time? We will be travelling in August and staying in WDW.
Thanks!
Debsx

 

[Camac]

We went to BG on 28th December 2006. Arrived about 9.30am, parked easily near the front of the car park and managed to get on all rides with no more than a 5 min wait for each. Then spent the rest of the day animal watching -especially enjoyed the two white tiger cubs.

The park did fill up quickly and the lines did increase with long waits for Sheikra especially but the crowd levels were managable and we did not feel too jostled although I remember having a long wait for lunch.

Left about 4.30ish having had a really good day.

Just like the Disney parks, the earlier you get there the shorter the queues at that time of year.

 

[Old Swan]

Just got back in from Florida this morning . Was at Busch Gardens on Friday. We were amazed at how quiet it was. Everything was either a walk on or a maximum of 5 minutes to wait.

Jungala was superb. The pens that they have built for the Tigers are excellent. We were very impressed with the whole park. It was a pleasent surprise.

Enjoy!

 

[Debs Hill]

So glad that you had such a good experience at BG..........we haven't been there for years , but are planning it for our next trip in August 09. What were the wait times like for the big rides like Gwazi, Sheikra and Rhino Rally?

What exactly is in Jungalia? Are there rides and animals?
Debsxx