bengunn
Pirate Member
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2001
- Messages
- 375
Day 20 Busch Gardens
Previous episodes:
Prequel
Day 1 The trip to Orlando
Day 2 Animal Kingdom
Day 3 Magic Kingdom
Day 4 Typhoon Lagoon, Shopping and Illuminations Cruise
Day 5 - Islands of Adventure
Day 6 Epcot
Day 7 Seaworld
Day 8 Universal Studios
Day 9 Epcot and the Magic Kingdom
Day 10 Discovery Cove
Day 11 Kennedy Space Centre
Day 12 Disney MGM Studios
Day 13 Blizzard Beach
Day 14 Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios
Day 15 - Cypress Gardens and the move to Bradenton
Day 16 Anna Maria Island
Day 17 Siesta Key
Day 18 Sanibel Island
Day 19 Our Silver Wedding Anniversary
The Cast:
Richard (bengunn): Chief planner
Kathy : DW, just wants to go on holiday
Josie : DD 20, at Reading University, Assistant Planner, not very good at getting up
Sam : DS 17, just done AS exams, can get up very quickly when he wants to
Wednesday 4th September
We needed to be off fairly early, by our standards, today as we had to check in for our Serengeti Safari by 10:30. In the end we left the villa at 09:05, which was later than I wanted to leave, but had a good trip to Busch Gardens, arriving in the car park at 09:55. We then wasted a lot of time getting our Fun Cards from the vouchers which we had printed out on-line. We got to the ticket booths only to find out that you had to go to a tent back about 100 yards across the car park; we then had to wait while they took our photos and made up the cards.
We eventually made it into the park at 10:25 and checked in for the 11:15 safari just in time. We now had half an hour to kill. Gwazi was the nearest ride with a 30 minute posted wait and only the Lion side running. We asked what the real wait time was, as there was no line visible, and they said it was about 20 minutes. We were supposed to be at the safari by 11:00 so we decided to risk it and put our stuff in a couple of lockers; the line when we got to it looked short but was actually 20 minutes; the ride is incredibly slow loading. Kathy and Josie ended up getting on the train before Sam and I as we were in the back row and the two people in front of us turned out to be single riders who would not go on together; what annoyed me was that the CMs made no attempt to fill up the train
.
Eventually, we got on and quite enjoyed the ride, although it was incredibly rough. Kathy had in the meantime run on to the safari to let them know we were on our way. Josie, Sam and I got our stuff from the lockers and hurried over to the safari, getting there at 11:05. I think we were the last there but it was no problem; there were only 9 people in total on the safari; ourselves, an American family of four who we had spoken to on the tram from the car park, and a lady from Oxford. We were herded along to the place where we boarded our truck; you stand on the back of a truck with a mesh fence round the sides; there was plenty of room with just 9 of us as the maximum number is, I think, 20.
The truck drives around the Serengeti enclosure for about 45 minutes, stopping at several places so you can see and feed the animals. We fed storks, giraffes and eland and saw zebra and addax. The giraffes were the favourites as some of them would let you stoke them; others would not come near the truck at all. It is entirely up to the individual animals; some of them never come for food from the truck; some are regular visitors and others come sometimes. Our guide was Kim, who was very good at telling you about the animals. We would highly recommend this tour as it was one of the highlights of our holiday.
After the safari, we went on Montu, except for Kathy; it was a walk-on and a very smooth ride; I think that it is the best coaster of all the ones we rode this holiday but others will no doubt disagree
.
Lunch was next; Josie went to the Zagora Café to get a chicken strip dinner ($11.11 with drink) and then joined the rest of us in Sultan Sweet eating the healthy option (2 croissants, a chocolate muffin, brownies and a strawberry cheesecake plus drinks for $19.60).
After lunch we walked through the excellent Myombe reserve and looked at the gorillas and chimpanzees, then carried on and looked at the snakes, tortoises and elephants. Along the way, we saw a CM taking a lesser anteater for a walk on a lead! This was interesting, as we did not even know that there was such an animal; it looked like a baby giant anteater.
Next we joined the queue for Rhino Rally; this was a very hot 30 minute wait but it was worth it as the ride was fully operating and is good fun, if a little obvious in places. The animal viewing is quite good on this ride but not as good as the safari at AK.
Next we walked through Timbuktu and went on the Scorpion which was a walk-on and then Kumba which was also a walk-on (Kathy gave Kumba a miss). I thought that Kumba was rougher than Montu and it banged my ears on the headrest which always annoys me.
We then put all our stuff in lockers and went on the Congo River Rapids; Kathy and Josie wore ponchos and I stayed dry until just before the end when, just before the ramp up to unloading, a jet of water completely soaked me!
Next was Stanley Falls (another walk-on), which is a great log flume ride; not too wet but wet enough. As Sam and I were wet and Kathy and Josie were still in their ponchos, we then went on the Tanganyika Tidal Wave (yet another walk-on). I love the 1812 Overture they play as you go round here; of course we got soaked and then Sam and I stood on the bridge to make really sure that we were as wet as possible.
Still soaking, we went on the Python which was again a walk-on and then went back to the lockers and Sam and I got changed. We then walked to Stanleyville Train Station, looking at the giant anteater and the orang-utans on the way, and caught the train to Nairobi. We walked around the Edge of Africa seeing hippos (with a baby) and hyenas but we could not see any lions.
It was nearly closing time now and we had missed a few animal areas but ridden all the rides we wanted to ride except the Skyway which was closed.
We drove back to the villa via the I275 and the Sunshine Skyway which is a very impressive and high bridge; from a distance, it looks as though you have to drive up the side of a mountain!
Dinner was at Bennigans again; stir-fry chicken, chicken pasta, chicken fajitas, ribs and steak plus drinks for $61. Not the cheapest but lots a excellent food; sadly we could not manage desserts.
Tomorrow: Rain, Shopping and Salvador Dali
Previous episodes:
Prequel
Day 1 The trip to Orlando
Day 2 Animal Kingdom
Day 3 Magic Kingdom
Day 4 Typhoon Lagoon, Shopping and Illuminations Cruise
Day 5 - Islands of Adventure
Day 6 Epcot
Day 7 Seaworld
Day 8 Universal Studios
Day 9 Epcot and the Magic Kingdom
Day 10 Discovery Cove
Day 11 Kennedy Space Centre
Day 12 Disney MGM Studios
Day 13 Blizzard Beach
Day 14 Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios
Day 15 - Cypress Gardens and the move to Bradenton
Day 16 Anna Maria Island
Day 17 Siesta Key
Day 18 Sanibel Island
Day 19 Our Silver Wedding Anniversary
The Cast:
Richard (bengunn): Chief planner
Kathy : DW, just wants to go on holiday
Josie : DD 20, at Reading University, Assistant Planner, not very good at getting up
Sam : DS 17, just done AS exams, can get up very quickly when he wants to
Wednesday 4th September
We needed to be off fairly early, by our standards, today as we had to check in for our Serengeti Safari by 10:30. In the end we left the villa at 09:05, which was later than I wanted to leave, but had a good trip to Busch Gardens, arriving in the car park at 09:55. We then wasted a lot of time getting our Fun Cards from the vouchers which we had printed out on-line. We got to the ticket booths only to find out that you had to go to a tent back about 100 yards across the car park; we then had to wait while they took our photos and made up the cards.
We eventually made it into the park at 10:25 and checked in for the 11:15 safari just in time. We now had half an hour to kill. Gwazi was the nearest ride with a 30 minute posted wait and only the Lion side running. We asked what the real wait time was, as there was no line visible, and they said it was about 20 minutes. We were supposed to be at the safari by 11:00 so we decided to risk it and put our stuff in a couple of lockers; the line when we got to it looked short but was actually 20 minutes; the ride is incredibly slow loading. Kathy and Josie ended up getting on the train before Sam and I as we were in the back row and the two people in front of us turned out to be single riders who would not go on together; what annoyed me was that the CMs made no attempt to fill up the train
. Eventually, we got on and quite enjoyed the ride, although it was incredibly rough. Kathy had in the meantime run on to the safari to let them know we were on our way. Josie, Sam and I got our stuff from the lockers and hurried over to the safari, getting there at 11:05. I think we were the last there but it was no problem; there were only 9 people in total on the safari; ourselves, an American family of four who we had spoken to on the tram from the car park, and a lady from Oxford. We were herded along to the place where we boarded our truck; you stand on the back of a truck with a mesh fence round the sides; there was plenty of room with just 9 of us as the maximum number is, I think, 20.
The truck drives around the Serengeti enclosure for about 45 minutes, stopping at several places so you can see and feed the animals. We fed storks, giraffes and eland and saw zebra and addax. The giraffes were the favourites as some of them would let you stoke them; others would not come near the truck at all. It is entirely up to the individual animals; some of them never come for food from the truck; some are regular visitors and others come sometimes. Our guide was Kim, who was very good at telling you about the animals. We would highly recommend this tour as it was one of the highlights of our holiday.
After the safari, we went on Montu, except for Kathy; it was a walk-on and a very smooth ride; I think that it is the best coaster of all the ones we rode this holiday but others will no doubt disagree
.Lunch was next; Josie went to the Zagora Café to get a chicken strip dinner ($11.11 with drink) and then joined the rest of us in Sultan Sweet eating the healthy option (2 croissants, a chocolate muffin, brownies and a strawberry cheesecake plus drinks for $19.60).
After lunch we walked through the excellent Myombe reserve and looked at the gorillas and chimpanzees, then carried on and looked at the snakes, tortoises and elephants. Along the way, we saw a CM taking a lesser anteater for a walk on a lead! This was interesting, as we did not even know that there was such an animal; it looked like a baby giant anteater.
Next we joined the queue for Rhino Rally; this was a very hot 30 minute wait but it was worth it as the ride was fully operating and is good fun, if a little obvious in places. The animal viewing is quite good on this ride but not as good as the safari at AK.
Next we walked through Timbuktu and went on the Scorpion which was a walk-on and then Kumba which was also a walk-on (Kathy gave Kumba a miss). I thought that Kumba was rougher than Montu and it banged my ears on the headrest which always annoys me.
We then put all our stuff in lockers and went on the Congo River Rapids; Kathy and Josie wore ponchos and I stayed dry until just before the end when, just before the ramp up to unloading, a jet of water completely soaked me!
Next was Stanley Falls (another walk-on), which is a great log flume ride; not too wet but wet enough. As Sam and I were wet and Kathy and Josie were still in their ponchos, we then went on the Tanganyika Tidal Wave (yet another walk-on). I love the 1812 Overture they play as you go round here; of course we got soaked and then Sam and I stood on the bridge to make really sure that we were as wet as possible.
Still soaking, we went on the Python which was again a walk-on and then went back to the lockers and Sam and I got changed. We then walked to Stanleyville Train Station, looking at the giant anteater and the orang-utans on the way, and caught the train to Nairobi. We walked around the Edge of Africa seeing hippos (with a baby) and hyenas but we could not see any lions.
It was nearly closing time now and we had missed a few animal areas but ridden all the rides we wanted to ride except the Skyway which was closed.
We drove back to the villa via the I275 and the Sunshine Skyway which is a very impressive and high bridge; from a distance, it looks as though you have to drive up the side of a mountain!
Dinner was at Bennigans again; stir-fry chicken, chicken pasta, chicken fajitas, ribs and steak plus drinks for $61. Not the cheapest but lots a excellent food; sadly we could not manage desserts.
Tomorrow: Rain, Shopping and Salvador Dali
