Bush Gardens/Universal trip help?

[eculmone]

Hi All; First let me say love love love this site. I posted under trip reports but got only one response and so here I go over here? Has anyone ever been to Bush Gardens in Tampa Bay? Due to crazy airfare this year we are doing things a bit different. We are flying one way from Detroit to Tampa, renting a car and exploring Bush Gardens. They had a hotel/park special buy two days get third free at The Don Cesar Hotel on St.Pete's beach Then we are driving over to Orlando's Universal Studios to take advantage of buy three get two days free at Royal Pacific Hotel in Universal. Both Hotels are Loews property and look FANTASTIC. I'm excited and looking for info on this type of adventure. Unfortunately, Tampa Bay area doesn't have any sites like this one?

Does anyone have hints, tips, strategies, favourite restaurants etc. they might lend my way? We leave in two weeks

Oh ya and then we have another one way flight back home from Orlando to Detroit. It works out to be about even $ with the added bonus of a rental car for touring and checking out other parts of FLO RI DA DEE DA DA!! I just thought we'd try to get the most bang for our buck this year. As you can see by my siggy. We are Disney/Universal die hards but due to financial prices rising we thought for the same amount of money, we'd expand our horizons and see the Gulf Coast. If anyone can offer ideas or suggestions I'd love to hear them Thanks all

 

[inkkognito]

Busch Gardens is awesome, especially if you love roller coasters. We live near WDW and go there all the time as it's only an hour away. I advise arriving early and buying Quick Queue if the crowd builds and you want to do the thrill rides. They have a BBQ place near the SheiKra coaster that is to die for. They also have a signature sit-down restaurant (Crown Colony?) that I was totally underwhelmed by...give me the BBQ any day.

 

[Chaoticsweetness]

Bush Gardens is great, I go there at least three times a year. There is always something to do there, specially in the summer time Congo River & Tidal Wave I am not a big fan of Roller Coasters though, but I do love standing by Sheikra & getting soaked on hot days (as you can tell I am a huge water ride fanatic ) & inkkognito is right about the bbq *drools* Their skyride is awesome, when its working. & The wildlife is amazing. So enjoy your time there!

 

[eculmone]

Inkognito and Chaoticsweetness;
Thank you sooooo much for the info We are pumped now DD12 & DH love coasters and I love BBQ hee hee

12 days till VACATION!!!

 

[katie111]

We went to Busch Gardens this last Monday, Feb 22nd, and the place was dead. All of the coasters were a walk-on. Most of the rides were not even full when they were going. It was great. The only things we waited for were the sky ride and the train, and those waits were only about 10 minutes. It did close at 6 though so if that is the case when you go, I would try to get there early so you can see & do everything. It was a lot of fun. Right now everything looks a little dried out and grey because of the weather they've been having so its not as lush looking as it is on their website but with no waits for the rides, who cares?

Also did Universal. The only really big lines there were for the Simpsons (so fun!) & Rip Ride Rockit (which we didn't do). Would recommend Margaritaville & Mythos at Universal. Also the pizza at Louies was pretty good.

Have a great trip!

 

[eculmone]

Thank you Katie We've done Margaritaville's nachos yum and Mythos for lunch So were game to try Louies. mmmmmm My DD loved the Chicken fingers at Mels The Monster Cafe was closed so we didn't get to try it. I hear it's up and running again. Anyone try it?