SeaWorld or Busch Gardens?

[derncare]

We are going to Disney for 6 days the week after Thanksgiving. We're also going to Discovery Cove one day to swim with the dolphins. With our Discovery Cove package, we get free entry into either Busch Gardens or SeaWorld and I am having a TERRIBLE time deciding on which one to go to. I have changed my mind back and forth several times.

We live in Houston and so have been so SeaWorld San Antonio. We have never been to Busch Gardens. We are going with me, my husband, my son who is scared of any thrill rides and will be 8 at the time, my daughter who will be 4, my Aunt, my Uncle, and their 12 year old twins who like thrill rides. I kinda want to do Busch Gardens because we have never been but is there alot to do there if you aren't into thrill rides? My Aunt kinda wants to do SeaWorld even though we have done it in San Antonio as she says that she heard that SeaWorld Orlando is the best one.

Advice?

 

[KStarfish82]

I just came back from Sea World and Busch Gardens. Busch Gardens is the place to go for the thrill rides. They have many nice coasters. They do have more "kiddie" rides I guess you could say, but being 27, I wasn't paying much attention to those. The animal exhibits are nice to look at if you are waiting for the thrill seekers to get off a ride. And the bird aviary is very cool.

Sea World I feel is a very open to all ages. They have Shamu's Happy Harbor for the kid stuff and then Manta and Kraken for the thrill seekers. They also have the shows which are for everyone and the animal interactions.

Also, think about the distance. Sea World is right across the street from Discovery Cove and Busch Gardens is over an hour away.

Good luck!

 

[DOOM1001]

Busch Gardens did renovate their old Land of the Dragons area to the new Sesame Street Safari of Fun kids area,I haven't seen it in person yet but it looks like a nice improvement to the old area and they also added the Air Grover kiddie coaster to this area,they also premiered a new Sesame Street 3-D film that replaced the old Pirates 3-D movie.They also recently added Jungala which is a new area that's aimed kids a little older that has a zip line, a pretty good sized frog hopper type ride that's thrilling for even adults since I ride it all the time and a 3 story maze with nets and rope coarses.This area also has very nice viewing areas to see tigers and orangutans.Other animal attractions in the park are the Rhino Rally safari ride,the edge of Africa walking safari where you'll see hippos lions,hyenas and crocodiles.The Myombe reserve with gorillas and chimps and you can see elephants,giraffes and other animals in the Serengeti plain from the skyride or the Serengeti express railway.They have the Broadway style Katonga show,a live music and dance show at the Desert Grill restaurant and a couple other music shows.The park is obviously known for coasters but also has 3 water rides in the Congo River rapids,the Tidal Wave and the log flume as well as two smaller coasters and a few flat rides.

I think the coasters are what this park is most known for but there are obviously a lot of other things,Sea World as you know from visiting the San Antonio park has all the marine animal shows,it still has 2 amazing coasters in Kraken and Manta and a better themed Journey to Atlantis than the one in San Antonio.The Orlando park is beautiful and definitely worth a visit.I would say if many in your party don't enjoy thrill rides and coasters then Sea World would probably be a better choice,there's still 2 good coasters and 1 water ride so that should satisfy the thrill seekers but you would probably have more things to do for everyone overall.If you want to try Busch Gardens since it's something totally new to you that would be great,it is a great park but as someone else said it's just over an hour away and the area the park is in is not as nice or touristy as Sea World,but the park itself is very nice and clean.

 

[JamieSimms91]

I have been going to florida for a very long time and I have to say that there is not alot of comparison between these two parks, even though I am a huge fan of the coasters at Busch Gardens and also I love Sea world for it's amazing animal exhbits. Plus you cannot see the Shamu show anywhere else so thats another big draw to going to Sea World

But if I had to make a chocie between the two parks i would have to say Sea World because it really shows you the marine animals that i enjoy. But i would go to Busch Gardens For the Coasters aswell as Katonga.
JamieSimms91

 

[inkkognito]

I would do Busch Gardens. SeaWorld has changed their shows significantly because of the accident earlier this year. It's just not all that thrilling to me to not have the trainers in the water. the coasters are good, but there are only two...Busch Gardens is GREAT for thrill rides, plus they have the Sesame Street area as well as Jungala for smaller kids There are animals there too although the emphasis isn't on them as much as at SeaWorld. I like SW, but I would definitely choose Busch in your shoes.

 

[yaytezIOA]

Actually they have four coasters (Manta, Kraken, Atlantis and Shamu Express...but who's counting!)
There is plenty to do at both parks for the whole family, and I would have to agree that BGT is a better choice because of how much there is to do not just for coasters but for families as well.Here is a little article that might help you make your decision.
It's all about the stuff to do instead of JUST coasters, of which there are alot. Funny thing, it doesn't even scratch the surface of what there is to do at the park.

 

[RabFlmom]

I would do Busch Gardens. SeaWorld has changed their shows significantly because of the accident earlier this year. It's just not all that thrilling to me to not have the trainers in the water. the coasters are good, but there are only two...Busch Gardens is GREAT for thrill rides, plus they have the Sesame Street area as well as Jungala for smaller kids There are animals there too although the emphasis isn't on them as much as at SeaWorld. I like SW, but I would definitely choose Busch in your shoes.

I agree. They have already been to Sw in Texas, but have never been to BG. There are some cool shows. Katonga is my favorite. There is also a bird show and a show similar to Pets ahoy at SW. Only at BG it is outdoors and they have some different animals.

Jungala is a col area even for adults. There are a couple rides, a cool playground off the ground, and a really cool way to see the tigers

There are other rides besides the coasters . The train and Rhino ride everyone can enjoy. Cool ways to see the animals. There are even bumper cars. <g>

You can spend hours walking to see all the animal areas, too. We love the park.