Just back from "busch" parks trip!!

[momto2js]

When my kid returned to school after the holiday break, I learned that they not only had MLK off day but also that Thursday and Friday. So soon after 2 weeks of quantity family time at home together I decided we should head to Orlando for the week. I managed to “win” a week at Cypress Pointe resort on Ebay for a reasonable price and off we went with about 7 days planning. For the record, it was a mother son trip and my kids are 2.5 and 5 years old.
We are “Busch” platinum pass holders so we spent the week focusing on Sea World, Busch Gardens, and the weather gods smiled on us so we spent one afternoon at Aquatica too. Here are the highlights.

Sea World:
We spent a total of 3 half days at SW. I was concerned before we left that the parks would be buy for the holiday weekend. Touring plans said that Disney was a 9 for the weekend. I’d say Sea World was about a 5 on that same scale. On Saturday afternoon we saw Clyde and Seymour and the kids played at Happy harbor. Monday we fed the sting rays (which was totally fantastic) played at happy harbor and saw “One Ocean” we left the park around 2pm. Friday we played at happy harbor, saw Clyde and Seymour and then headed out around pm1 for the long drive home.
If going with kids, the Happy Harbor opened at 10am and was deserted until after the first “shamu” show. After that is was much busier. For me with 2 small kids, deserted is better so we started our mornings there. They have added a train ride where the remote control boats used to be. The weather was good for us the whole trip so every day my kids played in the water at all the parks.

Busch Gardens:
I really believe that without the Disney marketing influence, my kids would pick BG as their favorite park. We spent 2 full days there and it was great. Each day we spent about 3 hours in sesame place , another hour in Jungula. We saw lots of the animal exhibits and my youngest was finally big enough for rhino rally. Sunday was much busier than Tuesday but still do able and I think the longest coaster wait I saw was 30 minutes.

Aquatica:
If you ever want to have a water park to yourselves, then head to Aquatica on a weekday in January when the weather is about 79 and sunny. Truly it was great to play in the lazy river alone!! I was able to let my 5 year old run in the climber without concern, and he was pleased to finally be tall enough for the water slides in the “big climber . The water was plenty warm and it was just warm enough not to be miserable between attractions. Going in I thought we would last about an hour, but we had a great time and spent 4 hours there.

In addition to the above, we had breakfast at Ohana and watched the firework from the Poly beach. Both were great.
Happy to answer any questions about the busch park you might have

Oh best deal around buy the popcorn bucket and drink cup on the first day. All three parks did refills with out a blink!!

 

[Lucky'sMom]

Could you give me more details on the popcorn bucket and drink? We are doing all 3 parks in July, and with 5 kids, refills would be fantastic. So this is a refillable cup, are refills free or at a discount? Popcorn refills free or at a reduced price? Also, do you remember roughly what the price was for these? Thanks so much! (Glad you had such a great time! We used to love Jan. trips but our kids just can't miss school and our district doesn't have any breaks except at Christmas, so it's July for us).

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

When my kid returned to school after the holiday break, I learned that they not only had MLK off day but also that Thursday and Friday. So soon after 2 weeks of quantity family time at home together I decided we should head to Orlando for the week. I managed to “win” a week at Cypress Pointe resort on Ebay for a reasonable price and off we went with about 7 days planning. For the record, it was a mother son trip and my kids are 2.5 and 5 years old.
We are “Busch” platinum pass holders so we spent the week focusing on Sea World, Busch Gardens, and the weather gods smiled on us so we spent one afternoon at Aquatica too. Here are the highlights.

Sea World:
We spent a total of 3 half days at SW. I was concerned before we left that the parks would be buy for the holiday weekend. Touring plans said that Disney was a 9 for the weekend. I’d say Sea World was about a 5 on that same scale. On Saturday afternoon we saw Clyde and Seymour and the kids played at Happy harbor. Monday we fed the sting rays (which was totally fantastic) played at happy harbor and saw “One Ocean” we left the park around 2pm. Friday we played at happy harbor, saw Clyde and Seymour and then headed out around pm1 for the long drive home.
If going with kids, the Happy Harbor opened at 10am and was deserted until after the first “shamu” show. After that is was much busier. For me with 2 small kids, deserted is better so we started our mornings there. They have added a train ride where the remote control boats used to be. The weather was good for us the whole trip so every day my kids played in the water at all the parks.

Busch Gardens:
I really believe that without the Disney marketing influence, my kids would pick BG as their favorite park. We spent 2 full days there and it was great. Each day we spent about 3 hours in sesame place , another hour in Jungula. We saw lots of the animal exhibits and my youngest was finally big enough for rhino rally. Sunday was much busier than Tuesday but still do able and I think the longest coaster wait I saw was 30 minutes.

Aquatica:
If you ever want to have a water park to yourselves, then head to Aquatica on a weekday in January when the weather is about 79 and sunny. Truly it was great to play in the lazy river alone!! I was able to let my 5 year old run in the climber without concern, and he was pleased to finally be tall enough for the water slides in the “big climber . The water was plenty warm and it was just warm enough not to be miserable between attractions. Going in I thought we would last about an hour, but we had a great time and spent 4 hours there.

In addition to the above, we had breakfast at Ohana and watched the firework from the Poly beach. Both were great.
Happy to answer any questions about the busch park you might have

Oh best deal around buy the popcorn bucket and drink cup on the first day. All three parks did refills with out a blink!!

Thank you for this review and you made some really great points. I've thought about BG before but haven't given it much thought because I always thought it would appeal more to my kids once they got older with the amount of coasters/thrill rides there. My youngest two children are your kids' ages so your review has convinced me to take another look at BG. SW is definitely at the top of our list and we would like to spend at least two days there.

 

[momto2js]

The popcorn bucket was $4 and the soda cups are $7. The refills were $.99 each. I was able to split a soda between my kids and the popcorn lasted most of the day. One day at BG I went in with $10 (and a small bag with cheese sticks and apples) and I came out with $4. If you go every year BG will also refill them year to year.

Have a fun trip.

 

[bowtie7]

Also remember you can use the same cup (sea world or busch gardens) at both parks, so you only have to pay for it once. (I assume also at Aquatica.)

 

[Lucky'sMom]

Great! What a huge savings this will be for us. Thanks for the info on the popcorn bucket and refillable drinks.

 

[CountyMounty]

Just back as well, agree the weather for the week was great for January and the crowds quite light although Seaworld on Saturday was busier due to the special kids event otherwise very light many rides at BG, SW, and Universal were 5 minutes wait or even some walk ons. Aquatica was great with almost no one there and like you said the water was warm and air just warm enough to be bearable in between stuff, the lazy river water was like bath water. We always try to go this time of year to enjoy the low crowds and cheaper prices but rarely are blessed with temps warm enough for swimming.

 

[penny28380]

Where would you suggest eating at BG?

 

[momto2js]

I think it depends on what you are looking for. We usually eat at the smoke house, because it works for where we are in the park when we are ready for lunch. The colony house has a TS place upstairs and CS downstairs. Never eaten there but I'd assume usual theme park food. On a hot day the AC at the colony house would be a nice break!!

 

[RabFlmom]

I think it depends on what you are looking for. We usually eat at the smoke house, because it works for where we are in the park when we are ready for lunch. The colony house has a TS place upstairs and CS downstairs. Never eaten there but I'd assume usual theme park food. On a hot day the AC at the colony house would be a nice break!!

Love the Crown Colony House restaurant. Not typical theme park meal up there at all. Think better restaurant dressed in your park attire. We like to sit by the windows and watch the giraffes etc. in the air conditioning and enjoy a longer meal . There is an outdoor dining area up there too.
It is a 3 flight up if you come up to the restaurant from ground(on the side of the building) but there is an elevator there. If you go in the front door there is a bunch of stairs to go up to get to the elevator so if you have older or handicapped people who can't do stairs or just tired and hot-head to the side and the elevators. They have chicken or fish family meals where they serve everything to your table in bowls and you serve yourself like at home. It includes the chicken, fish, mashed potatoes, carrot/broccoli veggies, dressing, rolls etc.for about $15. They have a full menu though from about $10-$20 depending on the one you choose. Sometimes they have a piano player/singer there. It is a nice classy atmosphere. Not sure what they serve downstairs in the walk up places. There is an outdoor patio there too.

 

[penny28380]

Thanks, I thought the Crowne Colony House was more expensive than that. That's where I will be eating.

 

[ChrisFL]

Yes, Crown Colony isn't too expensive and is VERY good. They also have some of the best fried chicken.