May/June 2001 Trip -- Part 2: Detective Barry at Busch Gardens

BarryHom

DIS Legend
Joined
Aug 20, 1999
Messages
14,159
May 25, 2001

The cast:
Me (the 29-year old)

I wanted to make sure that Rhino Rally was working. I don’t see why Busch Gardens would want to disappoint people.

I went on the skyride. I entered at Nairobi and waited about 10 minutes. As I passed over Rhino Rally, I did see the rovers float down the river. From what I could see, the rover gets stuck on a bridge. A flash flood hits the rover, the bridge breaks, and the rover floats down the river. I thought it would be like a river raft ride, like the Congo. The water part wasn’t like that at all. Remember boats you made out of newspapers and floated in a pond? The water part was like that. It didn’t look very thrilling. The queue line was spilling out the entrance. The queue area seems too small for the crowds the ride will get.

The skyride ended at Stanleyville. I took the ride back to Nairobi and I didn’t have to wait. I still felt disappointed when I viewed Rhino Rally from the air again.

When I departed Rhino Rally, the ride op said that we could tell the employee at the front gate that we didn’t get to ride the water part and we could be sent to the front of the line. I didn’t have time to do this. Besides, I couldn’t trust the driver to veer left. What if he or she went right again? I would have to come back. That sounds like a big inconvenience to the guest. I don’t think it is good guest service to tell a guest to keep on coming back because he or she did not experience a part of the ride. You could see part of the water ride from the exit. If a guest can see that, he or she would expect to be able to ride the part. I can see a lot of guests complaining about this.

And count me in as one of the complaining guests. After I got off the ride, I was tempted to cut up my Busch Gardens/Sea World two-year pass. I didn’t because I didn’t have any beef against Sea World.

I walked out of the park. I overheard a guest say, “It’s hotter than a (insert word that rhymes with witch).” The heat was not unbearable to me and it would get hotter later in the day. Five people with strollers decided to make a human barricade across one of the paths and I had to find an open space to sneak through.

I headed out to the tram to go back to the parking lot. As I did, I kept on thinking that Busch Gardens is not my favorite park. The park seems dirty. Although trash was not strewn all over the place, I felt a dirty feeling from the park. Some buildings don’t look any different than when they opened in the 70’s. They stick out like bad fashion. I’ve also never felt that I’ve been taken to another place when I am at the park. You can hear the traffic from Busch Blvd. Rides and lands seem to intersect each other with no real distinct changes. The park isn’t as a fine-tuned operation like Universal, Disney, or even Busch Gardens’ sister park, Sea World. Busch Gardens does have great roller coasters and that will be the main reason why I would consider visiting Busch Gardens again. However, I would gladly drive an extra hour to Orlando because of the better products.

I had lunch at Burger King and headed to Orlando. As I drove to Orlando, I was composing my complaint letter to Busch Gardens, which made me go the wrong way on I-4.

Next stop: Disney-MGM Studios.
 
In response to your post about Busch, I agree that the Rhino Rally ride was not what I expected. I did not get to ride the water part either and after hearing that the jeep tipped over a while back, I am not sure if I am going to ride it anyway.
However, I enjoy going to Busch Gardens and for 99 dollars for a 2 year pass, that is a lot less than what Disney charges. I have seen as many animals on the train ride as I have on the Safari ride at AK; I am also a roller coaster lover so that is a big plus for me, my son and my grandson. Busch has some great points, another being the food prices. The refillable popcorn buckets and drink bottles is a good deal as is the 10 percent I get off whenever I show my pass. The Howl O Scream at Halloween is a lot of fun too.
Disney is wonderful, no doubt but the prices are outrageous from pass prices to food cost. I limit myself to 1 meal a day at Disney when I go. The rest is done just before I enter and as soon as I get out.
Have you ever been to Adventure Island? How does it compare to the Disney Water parks. I have considered going there instead because I can get a better discount through AAA.
 
Barry I agree. The last time we went to Busch I wasnt very impressed. Of course I dont do coasters! I'm glad you finally solved the mystery. I am up late reading this just to find out. ;)
And I also see that my daughter didnt log out of her name! EEK
 
snuggles, don't try to fool us! I know that's YOU in that tu-tu!!

Hmmmmm, I haven't been to Busch Gardens yet, PIC, and now I'm a little suspect. I don't blame you for being ticked off, though. At least you took the time to find out what was bugging you. I'm sure lots of people left singing "Is That All There Is???"
 

All i want at any theme park is coasters. Animal Kingdom and Epcot needs something- LIKE A COASTER!!!
 
Thanks for clearing up the mystery Barry. Thanks for posting!
 
Snugs...I am LOL at your daughter not logging out!! :)

Barry, great trip report, although I too would have been disappointed with that ride as well...I haven't been to Busch Gardens in like 8 years or so and I really have no desire to go back either...but I love reading your reports...you are so funny!! :) Thanks for posting! :)
 














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