Question about Busch Gardens's Tampa ...

[ntz4disney]

Hello everyone I have a question about Busch Gardens Tampa, FL and I am not sure where to put it ...feel free to move it to a more appropriate heading!

We are booked for Disney May 10-17 and are planning to arrive on the 7th instead, so we are thinking of buying the Orlando Flex ticket that does Busch Gardens Tampa and their water park and well as Sea World and Aquatica and Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. We are thinking of heading right to Tampa and staying over night to hit BG and their water park ...my question is can anyone recommend a nice clean hotel for the night? We are a family of 4 and would love to have a place that is obviously kid friendly and atleast 2 queen beds. When you sleep on a king every night its hard to downsize to a full size bed, even for one night!

I appreciate any input you may have ...and like I said feel free to move this post to a more appropriate location ...was not sure where to put it

Thanks for your help!!!

 

[NashvilleTrio]

We're heading to Busch Gardens in a couple of weeks. We've booked a stay at a relatively new Holiday Inn Express that has 2 queen beds. It is within walking distance of the park and was a good deal at $100/night.

Good Luck!

 

[ntz4disney]

Awesome ...thanks so much for the referral! I know Disney area inside and out, take me to a different place and I swear I cannot make decisions as to where to stay!

I appreciate your thoughts

 

[collcass]

we are heading down this coming weekend. We did name your own price and got the Sheraton Riverwalk for $60/ni but it is 9 miles from BG

 

[DianaNS]

we are staying at the embassy suites busch gardens two room suite hot cooked to order breakfast included as well as nightly managers reception ie 5-7 free hot apps and beer wine liquor 139 per night we like the two room suite and the shuttle to park on call basis

 

[DOOM1001]

I've probably stayed in like 1/3 of every hotel in the Disney LBV area and the Universal International Drive areas in Orlando.So I'm obviously familiar with the Orlando area hotels,however what I know about the Tampa area hotels is that 1.the Busch Gardens area DOES NOT have an abundant number of good hotels. 2.the prices in the good and not so good hotels is higher than you'll find in Orlando.Knowing these two things I adjust my trips to end up staying in orlando versus Tampa,for example I'll stay in Orlando and drive to Busch in the morning or go to Busch and/or Adventure Island in the day and drive to Orlando at night.This doesn't mean there are no good hotels in the area,as someone said the Embassy suites is very close to the park and a very good hotel,I've also stayed in one called the Tampa Grand Suites,nice hotel that used to be a Doubletree, close to the parks but it lacks a free breakfast.You can also go with a newer hotel like a Sleep Inn on Fletcher ave just off I-75,not a big hotel but nice and clean.There are also nicer hotels in the Downtown area close to the airport,but further away from Busch,which like I said should have more decent hotels.

 

[ntz4disney]

Researching the BG area for places to stay has been interesting, there are some very high end hotels and then some cheapo, couldn't pay me to stay there for free hotels. There does not seen to be an overwhelming amount of family oriented places nearby and I was shocked. We went several years ago when our oldest was 3yo, and we did stay at the Best Western that is right in front of BG. We had a family suite and it was really nice but its since been renovated and they do not offer that accomodation anymore and the reviews on tripadvisor.com do not sounds great. I know its just a place to sleep for one night but who knows. Didn't think getting a room for one night near a well known theme park would be so challenging to us ...we will keep looking, and we also considered just staying in Orlando and making it a day trip instead of an overnight thing ...we have time to mull over it but I figure where else can you get the skinny on places to stay then on the DIS right? Thanks to all of my fellow DISer's who have helped us out ...we appreciate your input!

 

[swilshire]

You might also consider staying in Orlando. We had Busch 2-yr passes at one time and made the trip over from Orlando a couple of times in a week. It's only about an hour if you are staying near WDW.

To me, that would be simpler than changing hotels.

Sheila

 

[karatepamy]

The Embassy Suites on Fowler Avenue is very nice. It's right down the street from Busch Gardens. I was born and raised in Tampa and stayed at the Embassy Suites for a school function. The Orlando FlexTicket does not include Adventure Island. The five-park FlexTicket includes Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Wet & Wild, SeaWorld, and Aquatica. The six-park FlexTicket includes the above five, plus Busch Gardens. The price isn't that bad to go to Adventure Island for one day.

 

[karatepamy]

we are staying at the embassy suites busch gardens two room suite hot cooked to order breakfast included as well as nightly managers reception ie 5-7 free hot apps and beer wine liquor 139 per night we like the two room suite and the shuttle to park on call basis

When I stayed at the Embassy Suites, we had the same type of room. But it was four high school girls per room. Luckily, it wasn't cramped since it had the sitting area in the other room. This is a really beautiful hotel. I enjoyed staying there.

 

[ntz4disney]

Thank you all for the help with finding a place to stay! We are on the fence as to staying in Orlando and driving over or hotel hopping ...but thanks so much for the places to stay if we decide to go that route! We are actually looking to purchase the ticket that would include BG Williamsburg, and it will also include all the Anheiser Busch theme parks, BG Williamsburg, Water Country, BG Tampa, Adventure Island, all of the Sea World parks, and Aquatica ... and even Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA which is only about 50 minutes from us here ...still researching picking up that ticket, apparently you can only buy this combo ticket at BG Williamsburg ...might have to make a 4 hour drive there before we leave to get the most for our buck! That ticket is only $159.00 each person for one full year form date of purchase ...cannot beat that price at all! Well worth that price and then some if you are going to use it ...we will use the Virginia park tickets in June and then we will use the BG Tampa tickets and the water park one too in May as well as December and also SeaWorld/Aquatica in both May and December ...just like our AP's we know how to stretch out the tickets!

Thanks again for your help

 

[tampabrat22]

All the info here about the hotels is correct. There are a few nice ones in the area (newer hotels). BG is located in an odd part of town, its right by to USF so there is the whole college community around there and it is fairly nice, but as much as I hate to say it, just on the other side of 30th St (Bruce B Downs) is one of the worst parts of town in the Tampa area.

I'm not trying to scare anyone but the mall & general area that is right around the corner from BG always has bad incidents and "Suitcase City" as it is referred to by locals, is a really bad part of town. So just be sure to be careful if you decide to venture out.

Personally I would get a hotel in Orlando and drive back after BG, its only about an hour drive, unless you will be going to AI too, then I would stay at one of the hotels mentioned. Or search for something in New Tampa, Brandon or the Downtown area...which all have much nicer hotels.

 

[kellymonaghan]

If you like Indian food, check out Cilantro. Best I've ever had in the US. Not too far from Busch.

11009 N 56th St
Tampa, FL 33617
(813) 983-8220

 

[drj1950]

I live about 10 miles away from BG I'll agree you must be careful where you stay,if you want to stay nearby stay in New Tampa or right by USF.I work at the mall so I'm very familar with the area

 

[pktbMouse]

I wouldnt say Busch Gardens is all that kid friendly..yes they have Jamba Play area, the wildlife train and some animals..but if your kids are very young there is not much for them to do..its more aimed at adults and fast coaster rides. If your kids are older and can go on coasters then fine...its just alot of money for 1 day when your young kid will have done the kiddie things by 11am. Just my opinion..I have a 6yr old and he was bored by noon asking if we could go back to Disney!!

 

[junewd]

I was planning on visiting Busch Gardens Tampa but I have a friend that told me when they visited one and a half years ago that it was really run down and derelict..with several of the rides breaking down frequently or not working at all....has anyone been there recently?

 

[donaldduck352]

We go all the time,my DW is a coaster junkie.I still think BG looks pretty clean for as old as it is( it opened in 1959).As far as rides breaking down,not then the normal then any other park.Now that spring break is comming all rides should be up and running.They do close some down for maintenence,but not during peak times like SB.

 

[DOOM1001]

I was planning on visiting Busch Gardens Tampa but I have a friend that told me when they visited one and a half years ago that it was really run down and derelict..with several of the rides breaking down frequently or not working at all....has anyone been there recently?

There's no way BGT is run down,maybe your friend might be talking about some of the areas outside the park which are definitely not great but the actual park inside is still very nice and clean.If some rides were broken or not running that's all chance as they could be closed due to a number of reasons such as refurbishing.I go to the park pretty often with my last visit at the end of February during the Bands,Brews and BBQ days and everything except one side of Gwazi was operating.They also just opened up a new kids Sesame Street area with a new kiddie rollercoaster called Air Grover.