Busch Gardens

[WDWfan uk]

What are your favourite attractions at Busch? Do you have any touring tips to pass on?

Haven't been in a while but we are going on our next trip (in two weeks time )- I'm holding coats and bags whilst DH and DS go on the HUGE coasters, but I'm looking forward to trying out the new Haunted Lighthouse 4D attraction and checking out the rhino rally.

We will try to arrive for park opening, and will definitely be taking spare clothes and a towel, but would love to hear any additional tips you may have

 

[JANNYANS]

If you use the lockers at BG be aware that every time you open them you need another 25c to use them again! can get expensive if you have forgetful people in your group.

 

[metalguru]

Was in Busch on the 14th of Nov, Rhino Rally isn't working you can go on it but the water part of it (the best bit) isn't working.
Haunted lighthouse is a bit poor compared to Orlando's 3/4D offerings, but it's still one of my fave parks.

 

[SimonY]

We went on Sunday 16th November.

All of Rhino Rally was working fine on that day - we arrived at about 9:15 (a bit later than I planned to) and went straight there. There was no-one at all.

I tried the new, big coasters and can recommend them all (Montu, Gwazi and Kumba) - no queues on these all day.

Not sure that I agree about the Haunted Lighthouse - it was every bit as good as any of the other 3D films, possibly better because it is a bit longer and therefore has time to have a bit of a story.

We did Tanganyika Tidal Wave and, with a waterproof jacket on, didn't get wet enough to need to change. We didn't go on the flume ride as it seemed to be the only attraction with a queue. Congo River Rapids was closed.

So no queues and we didn't need towels and changes of clothes.

 

[metalguru]

Well Rhino Rally has been having problems for a long time so you can never tell if it's going to be working properly when you go.

I have to disagree with your view of the Lighthouse - compared to the Uni and Dis 4D films it hasn't got half as many surprises as those and therefore isn't as good. Let's face it you go to see them for the thrills.

I mean Terminnator, It's a Bugs Life, Honey, the new PhilHarMagic all show it for what it's worth ......a cheap copy.

Really the Mick and Bud Dolphin show was better.

And since when can you call Montu, Kumba and Gwazi new?

 

[WDWfan uk]

Last time we went to Busch, we got very wet on the rapids and had to buy a towel from the very conveniently placed outlet ( ) at the end of the ride, and squelched round for the rest of the day until we dried out, so we will be taking a towel and spare things!

Thanks for the locker tip! We always use lockers at the parks so I'll take plenty of quarters with me.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Shirley - we love BG and it was the first park we visited this October - and fortunately everything was working (with the exception of Ali Akbar's tour - which is my all time fave simulator, dated now but hilarious).

Katie started her roller coaster fascination a few years back at BG on Scorpion, and this year moved up to Python - there was no getting her off. Suffice to say she then did Hulk at IOA three times . . . there's no stopping her now.

We love looking at all the animals and the rides are a bonus. The park looked like it had had a bit of a refurb in some areas and was very clean and tidy.

Darryl even did Tidal Wave - as yo know he doesn't do much other than take the piccies, but he thought this was a great ride (there's hope yet, especially since I got him on both Space Mountain and Jurassic Park - twice ).

You'll have a great time at BG

 

[WDWfan uk]

Thanks Annie - I'm a bit of a Darryl when it comes to some of the big BG coasters .... well someone has to take the photos

DS is just hoping that they'll all be working. I've chosen a less crowded day, so the trade off may be that they won't all be working.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Shirley - send BG an email asking for them to advise what rides/shows will be down for refurb - just so DS won't be too disappointed.

I did this before we went and got a really nice reply from them within 24 hours. Saying that, though, they advised Scorpion would be down . . . and it wasn't, they'd finished it earlier so that was a nice surprise.

If you look at the www.buschgardens.com site, there's a "contact us" section - just fill in the relevant e-form and they'll get back to you

 

[calvinjtodd]

Hi just got back 7am this morning, we visited Busch twice, once each week, we were there on the 3rd December and we didn't see anything closed. The only problem was you had no queues for any of the rides as the park was SO Quiet and depressing, we go down on the Busch shuttle for free with the right ticket (flex, adventure passport) 20 people were on the coach on the 3rd. We thought the haunted light house was a bit of a let down, could have been so much more. But having said all that we LOVE the park, old or not and we don't think they even try to compete with Disney, but you can' take away the fact that they do have some of the best coasters.

Calvin & Anne

 

[WDWfan uk]

Welcome home Calvin and Anne !

Thanks for the link Annie - I'll shoot them an 'e' !

( A little story - When we visited in '95, in the early afternoon three of the biggest coasters (Montu and Gwazi didn't exist then), Kumba and two others 'went down'. Apparently some sort of computerised system shut them down as it perceived a safety issue. There were folk stranded VERY HIGH up on Kumba and they were eventually led down a VERY HIGH ladder, as the ride did not go back up again ....... just watching them get them onto the ladder so high up was a very scary experience! I will always remain the person who looks after the loose articles and picture taker after seeing that !)

 

[mike230652]

Got back today ( 12th Dec)

I'll be doing reports later.....but we hit Busch for the first time on this visit( three times !! )

Yeah, it was fairly quiet....but that just means it's no queue time!!

Haunted Lighthouse was OK, but not anywhere near as good as any exisiting 3-D / 4-D rides and certainly a million miles behind Shrek 4-D!!!!!!

No spoilers.....but all that happens is you'll get wet a couple of times, my DD ( 12 ) adores R.L. Stine books but thought HL was really poor.

Gwazi only had one car running, all othe rides were up and running...................Montu and Kumba were breathtaking!!!!

Loved the Ice Show too...............all in all the 4 of us loved the place.

mike230652

 

[THE DENTIST]

can you tell me what the VIP tour costs and if it's worth it?

Also, which day of the week in jan would be best; 24-29 available.

how long does it take from orlando by car.


Love,

KUL

 

[mike230652]

KUL

It takes about one hour by car from Orlando ( that's what it took us from Marker 14 on the 192 ).

Don't know how much a VIP tour costs.....but on the basis the parks will be quiet and you'll virtually walk straight on to any ride you want, why bother? You'll also find staff at most animal areas at given times of day to discuss any aspect of the specific animal you wish. We spent 20 minutes with the guide at the giraffe are ....just us 4 and him. He'd have been pretty lonely otherwise!!

Busch has 9 giraffes ( all female ) the eldest is Tango ( 9) and the youngest is 5 months...................I now feel confident that I'm pretty well up on giraffes (LOL!!)

BTW Busch does rip you off.... they will NOT allow you on any coster with bags/handbags/cameras...anything that can be considered loose. Their lockers are 50 cents a go.......but if you leave your loose syuff at the lockers inside the main gate you only pay $1 for all day.

Also have to repeat what I said earlier, Haunted Lighthouse is very weak. Our two ( 10 & 12 ) thought it was pathetic. Absolutely no originality and no discernible storyline.

I'd also strongly advise against eating in the top restaurant at Crown Colony Club, without doubt the worst food we had on holiday, it was both expensive and terrible. The staff were useless and it was the only time on holiday I refused to tip....I gave our server fair warning on 3 occasions. NIGHTMARE!!!

Having said that the carvery on the ground floor is pretty good as long as you want basics, i.e. beef / turkey sandwich & fries .

Wow...sorry, that reply just turned into a review of a day at Busch!!

Got to say though.....Busch was excellent, and a great day out!!


mike230652

 

[edie w]

It's true that you have to pay each time you go into your locker, but at $1 for the main lockers even if you go in and out 5 times in the day (which you won't), that's pretty economical in comparison to WDW and USF where you are paying $7 and $8 for the day respectively. If you are just using the lockers during ride times, then that's definitley a bit steep as the ones at USF rides are free for 2 hours.

Of course the only days we travelled light and didn't use a locker at all were the Busch and SW days!!

WDWfanUK - what a terrifying story! I am ludicrously scared of heights (altho will do any coaster ) and the thought of having to climb out onto a ladder makes me want to lie on the floor and hold onto the carpet! I am resisting - but only just....

We ate at the hospitality centre (DNe is veggie and there are very few options at BG) this year. Excellent pizzas, strange beer and rather unpleasant potato salad.

Went on Congo River Rapids this year and nearly drowned. Excellent. Better than Kali River Rapids, but not as much fun as Popeye & Bluto at IOA. Should have taken a change of clothing as remaining soggy all the way home was not a pleasant experience!

The only thing is.... the elephants disturb me. They really don't look contented. Too much repetitive trunk swinging.