Cypress Gardens

[nuttypretzel]

We just did a long weekend trip to Cypress Gardens. If you are interested in feeling like you have your own personal park, this is the place to go. There were about thirty cars in the parking lot on Friday, maybe double that on Saturday. Every ride was a walk on and you could re-ride as many times as you wanted to. At the bumper cars, they just turned the ride on and told us to let them know when we were done. The water ski show is still top notch and the gardens are beautiful. We also had a good time at their water park. Their enclosed tube slide is very fast. The only downside was that the Starliner was closed for maintenance.

They have a buy one day and get the second day free so this makes it a very inexpensive weekend. If you decide to go, be aware that they are only operating Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

 

[nuttypretzel]

These some bad news posted over on screamscape. Cypress Gardens has put 11 of their rides up for sale. If you are thinking about going to CG, go now.

 

[DOOM1001]

Screamscape put an update that what was done was a private appraisal for all their rides,and that the 11 rides listed for sale have been removed from the website listing them.

 

[encinc]

I'll be curious to see whether Cypress Gardens makes it. We had a wonderful time there during March Break last year. We were hoping to go back while DH is at a conference in Tampa in Feb, but our free days are Mon/Tues, so I doubt they'll be open. It's a good old-fashioned park, and we loved the second day free.

 

[DOOM1001]

The news from Screamscape today did not sound like good news for Cypress Gardens.They basically said they aren't booking any special events past New Year's and the landscaping budget has been trimmed and given orders to just make it to New Year's.It also sounded like they may have or are trying to sell the park to another company but negotiations have fallen through and if nothing else comes up they might close the park after New Year's and later in the year just open the waterpark section of the park and remove the rides.Hopefully they find a way to keep this nice little park operating.

 

[garmich]

I'm hoping that they keep the park open. I've never been to Cypress Gardens. We almost went there during our last trip to Orlando in August. But, the weather was not great because of TS Fay. Hopefully, the park will still be open when we return in 2010.

I just went to their website. They have a $5.00 admission special for this Sunday, Nov. 9, in case anyone is interested.

 

[nuttypretzel]

Well the closing is now official according to the Orlando Sentinel. The park closes November 17th. All rides and all of the animals are to be removed. The plan is to be closed for 4 months and then to reopen with an expanded water park but no rides.
I wonder if Disney is interested in a real Bagheera.

 

[horseshowmom]

I'm really disappointed. I was planning on visiting the park over Christmas. They used to decorate beautifully, and I was looking forward to seeing it again.

 

[DOOM1001]

It doesn't really make much sense in what they're doing,I mean there's 5 waterparks in the area within an hour's drive or so,2 at Disney,Aquatica,WetnWild and Adventure Island in Tampa.I've seen their waterpark and compared to these other parks I don't know how much they would have to spend to upgrade their waterpark so it becomes relevant in comparison to these others,because it's clearly the worst and smallest by far.So it just seems like they're getting rid of the rides to save on maintenance and operations but they're going to have to spend a whole lot to make this a worthwhile park.I simply don't get it and it doesn't look good for the future.I understood when Cedar Fair turned Geuga Lake from an amusement park with a waterpark to simply a waterpark since Cedar Point is so close to Geuga Lake, i didn't like it but sorta understood,here I just don't get it!

 

[encinc]

I don't get it either. I'm disappointed, but at least I now know to make other plans for our February trip. I wonder where the rides from Cypress Gardens will end up.