Busch Gardens??

[cocowum]

I am not sure where to post this but How busy is BG ?? I am thinking about planning a side trip there (friday 4/29)and I'm wondering whether I should book one of the VIP tours just for FOTL. My Dh hates lines. We are all Rollercoaster addicts but I don't want to book the vip tour if the parks are dead. Also if anyone has used these tours, I'd love to hear your experiences. Any input is greatly appreciated

 

[Worfthedog]

We were last there in this 1st week of May in '02 and it was quite busy, there seemed to be a lot of school outings (we are in the UK so i don't know if there is a school holiday around this time in Tampa), it was very different to WDW and Universal in this respect.

It seems more 'teenager' aimed than all the other parks we have visited in Florida (more like a UK park in fact), I hate queues too but it wasn't unbareable.

Paul.

 

[cocowum]

Thanks for the reply, we won't be getting there till 10 and we will be going 4/29 which is a friday so I think I'll book the tour, just to be safe

 

[Back the Badge]

I have not been to Busch Gardens for 20 years. We plan on going on our next trip. Anyone know if their is a discussion board/ or place with more info other than the busch gardens website.

 

[cocowum]

I found www.bgtguide.com it's an unofficial site that has a forum. It didn't seem to active though. It kind of reminded me of IOAcentral.

 

[NCRedding]

I would definitely do the tour. BG-Tampa does a terrible job at crowd/line control. We were there in October of 2003, not crowded, but waited in line as though it were. DH and DD went at park opening to ride Rhino Rally (which the day before had posted 50 minute waits in the afternoon). They wait over 45 minutes and they were among the first 100 in line.

Also, if you are driving, do not wait til park closing time to leave. OUr hotel was less than 1/2 mile from the park, and it took us 1 1/2 hours to get back to the hotel--they had no parking attendants to help direct traffic at closing. It was also the Halloween party that weekend, and there were traffic jams all over the area. There were still lines to get in 3 hours after the party started.

 

[cocowum]

thanks so much for posting. I was starting to worry about wasting the money. Every post I have read says no lines but I really don't want to take the chance.

 

[Ware Bears]

We went there last Easter holidays and it was VERY busy. We went on a Saturday which I appreciate is obviously the busiest day of the week but the lines were very long. Luckily, we don't do fast rides (too scared! ) but the queues for Rhino Rally, Haunted Lighthouse etc were still VERY long and there is no theming etc like at WDW to keep you amused while you wait. If I were you, I would play safe and book it.

 

[Motherfletcher]

I have not been to Busch Gardens for 20 years. We plan on going on our next trip. Anyone know if their is a discussion board/ or place with more info other than the busch gardens website.

We're going to BGT Friday-Mon. BTW, We saw Matt Roth get his 1st NFL interception Saturday night in Miami.

 

[robvia]

The park has been very busy because of Sheikra.
But actually, something weird happens over at BGT. The line for Sheikra is long in the morning, then tapers off in the afternoon. The lines for the other coasters are reasonable. Doing the tour may be a good idea if you hate to wait in lines. I'm sure they would be long if you arrived around 10am.

 

[eeyore0062]

We went on a Tuesday last week and basically walked right on anything we wanted to ride. The longest line we waited in was Congo River Rapids at about 25minutes, and that was due to the heat and everyone wanting to cool off. You will definitely cool off.... there won't be a dry part on you when you disembark!

We waited one car to ride Sheekra, we waited maybe 5 minutes to ride Kumba, and about 10-15 minutes for Montu, because they were only running one train. We walked right on Rhino Rally, which is unheard of... and the water element WAS working! Stanley Falls was stating it had a 30 minute wait, so we passed. We were already wet enough after Congo and the other, that I can't remember the name. There were many other rides we didn't go on, but not because of lines... mostly there were none.

We ate at the Smokehouse over by Sheekra, and the food was fantastic!

Go and enjoy!

 

[Motherfletcher]

We got there about 3 pm last Thursday and the kids walked on Sheikra two times in a row. Friday with a good touring plan the kids got to Sheikra in time to ride in a train all by themselves, were one of the first to Kumba, walked on at Montu and as stated before we unbelievably walked on to the Rhino Rally. I got to be Navigator and the whole car was cracking up (at my expense). Saturday was a little different but doable then Sunday was packed! Weekdays when school is in session are the best.