would we regret not going to busch gardens

[Welsh_couple]

hey all!

staying at disney for 16 nights from friday, plan is all done and im a little worried about the day we have planned for busch gardens.. we have tried to fit everything we wanted into the trip, we are staying at the dolphin and have planned to go to BG on the 28th of june.. as we have no car we would have to get shuttle...

if we missed BG would we regret it.. it would make the trip planning allot easier and we could use this day as a res tday as it mid trip and we havent got many if any really restfull days!

 

[sk!mom]

Nope- or at least I wouldn't regret it.

 

[Robo]

would we regret not going to busch gardens

If you go, you'll have to tell me.



In the many trips I've made to Orlando since WDW first opened, I have never visited Busch Gardens.

 

[CanadianGuy]

You'll get the best and most qualified answers about other Orlando Area Attractions on the "Orlando Area Attractions" board here on the DIS.

I'll be moving this one over there for you!

Knox

 

[Anelise]

It depends!! I'm 17 and a huge roller coaster fan. Thrill rides are my favorites. I absolutely love Busch Gardens!!
If you have teenagers with you, or someone who's a roller coaster fan, Busch Gardens is a must do. (Of course, if you have the time and the patience to get the shuttle) It's a very different experience from WDW parks, even though it looks like Animal Kingdom a little bit, for the saffari and animals on the park. But the focus is on roller coasters.

If you don't care about thrill rides, you won't mind skipping it at all!

 

[herbiesmomma]

I am not a fan of roller coasters, and I would not miss Busch Gardens for the world. It is a large beautiful park. If you've never been, check it out. You won't be disappointed!

 

[isla bonita]

It is my fav. I know I am on the Dis but what can I say.

 

[DOOM1001]

If you'll be here for 16 days you should definitely do Busch Gardens.

 

[srwarden1928]

Busch Gardens is a terrific park. I would go to Busch Gardens BEFORE I would go to the Universal Parks. Sea World is also an excellent park.

If I were going for 16 days, I would go to BOTH Busch Gardens and Sea World.

BUT I can miss Busch Gardens and have a great vacation simply by doing all four Disney parks (and I can do that in only four days and five nights if I put my mind to it

 

[nascargal]

I am torn. I like having a day 'off' when I go down. One day to do absolutely nothing, no time tables, nothing. But, I also LOVED Busch Gardens. What a beautiful park! I don't do thrilling roller coasters anymore....getting up in the age area, lol, but I love watching them and the faces of the folks on them! I do enjoy BG because like most AB parks, it is clean, family oriented and just beautiful. Depends on how tired you all are! LOL It is an hour trip each way, btw.

 

[Frothy]

Busch Gardens is our family favorite as it is completely different to anything WDW has. The park is so much more than just a roller coaster heaven. You can spend a few hours simply taking in the animals... or doing several of the other rides / attractions. Do it!

 

[vellamint]

We went in 2006 and although I am glad we did I will not go back....done it thats it.

The kids loved it but my husband and I were "sitting" "waiting" almost all day long for the kids to get on a ride (coaster). Not my idea of family fun...sorry.

 

[KayR]

I haven't been to Busch Gardens for years. Do I miss it? No. Will I go back sometime? Hopefully.

Would you miss it? Probably not - if you have never been, how can you 'miss' something. Personally, if when doing a long trip, I think rest days are very important. If you don't get plenty of rest (and I don't just mean sleep), you could be exhausted by the end of the first week and then not enjoy the rest of your vacation.

Doing Disney/Orlando is exhausting, especially if you are going in summer (busy, hot, humid). You will never do all that the area has to offer. Its always good to get to the parks for opening time (you bet more done in the first hour than in any other hour), then if you are staying for fireworks - it makes for a looong day.

I would say, choose the most important things that you want to see/do, make sure you schedule in plenty of rest days/half days. Enjoy Florida (it isn't boot camp!! ) Save the other attractions for your next trip

-Kay

 

[DVC California]

...we are staying at the dolphin and have planned to go to BG on the 28th of june.. as we have no car we would have to get shuttle...!

It is about a 45-60 minute drive from WDW to BG, depending on traffic. Probably longer if you use a shuttle service. If you don't mind driving, I would hire a car for the day from National car rental. There is a counter located at the Dolphin.

if we missed BG would we regret it.. it would make the trip planning allot easier and we could use this day as a res tday as it mid trip and we havent got many if any really restfull days!

There is so much to enjoy within central Florida and the Orlando area that I doubt you will regret skipping BG. The Dolphin shares a wonderful pool with the Swan with waterfalls and a slide. Very nice escape from the theme parks.

That being said, we definately enjoyed our day at Busch Gardens. It is not as sterile as WDW, there was plenty of entertainment beside rides throughout the park, and we enjoyed BG's safari ride more than AK's.

 

[Nie0214]

I went to BG about 4-5 years ago. I am a rollercoaster fan, and only one or two of their rides was really great to me. The park has many dead-ends which were annoying, it also wasn't very shady. I don't remember that much about the park at all, except the safari ride (a giraffe came right up to us!), which just shows how memorable the place is compared to the attractions in Orlando.

 

[Vijoge]

In the many trips I've made to Orlando since WDW first opened, I have never visited Busch Gardens.

Neither have we and we fly down twice a year.

 

[Frothy]

I went to BG about 4-5 years ago. I am a rollercoaster fan, and only one or two of their rides was really great to me. The park has many dead-ends which were annoying, it also wasn't very shady. I don't remember that much about the park at all, except the safari ride (a giraffe came right up to us!), which just shows how memorable the place is compared to the attractions in Orlando.

I simply have to counter this as I've found Busch one of the best for shaded areas. There's plenty of shade around the park... in the gorilla area, in the restaurant areas, in the areas by the coasters and the water rides and absolutely masses of shade in the kids play area.

Each to his own...but if you really are a fan of roller coasters then Busch simply is one of the best parks in Florida. Maybe not as good as some of the coasters in Ohio but Busch has so much from both an education and fun point of view.

 

[Nie0214]

Yeah, I last went like 5 years ago, so it's entirely possible that they have added more shade. I really don't remember much of the park other than the safari ride and Montu (I remember there was no line whatsoever!) & Gwazi (awesome wooden coaster).

My ex-boyfriend was from Tampa and had worked there during the summers, so whenever I flew down to visit him we'd opt to go to Universal instead (or other little things like Pirate dinners) because he was tired of BG.

You'll enjoy it if you go, if you don't, it won't be a big loss (especially if you are visiting Islands of Adventure).

 

[Frothy]

Yeah, I last went like 5 years ago, so it's entirely possible that they have added more shade. I really don't remember much of the park other than the safari ride and Montu (I remember there was no line whatsoever!) & Gwazi (awesome wooden coaster).

My ex-boyfriend was from Tampa and had worked there during the summers, so whenever I flew down to visit him we'd opt to go to Universal instead (or other little things like Pirate dinners) because he was tired of BG.

You'll enjoy it if you go, if you don't, it won't be a big loss (especially if you are visiting Islands of Adventure).

I think you've missed the point of Busch Gardens as a park I'm afraid. It's not just a place to go for ride after ride IMO. It's more tranquil and it is a calmer day out than rushing from one attraction to another. It should be taken at a slower pace and enjoyed for what it is.

 

[mco-missy]

I have lived in Florida since 1971. I have been to BG one time. That was enough. I say skip it and plan for a rest day.