It is one of the largest water parks in the world and the largest in Florida. Signage above ride indicated 90 min wait for ride. If you want to get the most out of this incredible ride, go at night with neon lights on the Iron Gwazi. Busch Gardens Questions & Answers. All The Best Things To Do, Roller Coaster Phobia: How I Got Over My Fear Of Riding Roller Coasters, Top 5 Animal Encounters At Busch Gardens Tampa, How To Get Amusement Park Discounts (And Even Free Admission!). Busch Gardens. We stayed from 10am until about 7pm. Got young kiddos? I looked at the elf and said my son didnt get to go. Have no fear, the frogs are here! It saddens me to have to write this review. The perfect way to cool off on a hot Florida day. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. We have such amazing memories at Busch Gardens and always have the best time and come to Christmastown every year because we love the Santa experience but this visit left us wanting to cancel our memberships and we will definitely never do Christmastown again. It is an easy walk and many people were doing just that. General parking is $30 and preferred parking has seasonal pricing starting at $35 (annual passholders have discounted or free parking depending on which pass tier you have.) Busch gardens is the clear winner. As a local historian, Ive also written about other popular landmarks and attractions for a variety of publications. Travel Safety Guide. Like to spin around in circles at high speeds? Busch Gardens offers a Quick Queue (Fast Pass) for extra $$, Busch Gardens claims this Quick Queue will let you skip the lines, however the lines for the Quick Queue only shorten your wait in line by a little. Perhaps youre considering the park with the mouse mascot or the place with the flags? Arrived at park at 11:00 am and at 11:45 am my kids entered the cheetah hunt ride. Are pets allowed inside Busch Gardens and Water Country? We would highly recommend getting the City Pass, as that allowed us to see five city attractions for $100. Here are some tips for staying cool in the park during hot weather: While it can get hot in the summer, Florida is quite pleasant in the winter. Used with permission. Would purchasing a parking ticket in advance allow us to bypass the parking traffic? Busch Gardens' Howl-O-Scream is a separately ticketed event that runs on select nights from Sept. 8 to Oct. 31, 2023. Restrooms very untidy and unclean, queueing for rides very dysfunctional even if you had fast passes,but once you got on the rides all were excellent. While the official temperature in Tampa has never reached 100 degrees, summertime temperatures easily soar into the 90s, and humidity can make being outdoors rather uncomfortable for some. The event combines over thirty sample-sized culinary creations, nearly 100 different wines, cocktails, & brews, headline concerts on select dates, and other entertainment. Halloween Horror Nights 2009 Purchasing park upgrades, including valet parking, is optional and not required to enjoy a visit to our park. AND you can do this from November 13, 2022 through January 7, 2024. Quick Queue Visitors will be able to skip the lines once per ride at our most popular rides & roller coasters for one day. The All Day Dining plan is worth it if you plan to eat 2 or more meals at the park. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. However, you'd still have to go through the toll booths, so buying in advance still wouldn't eliminate any waiting time before the toll booths. Please note that the health, welfare, and safety of all the animals at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay are top priorities and we go to great lengths to ensure our animals live healthy, enriched lives. Receive exclusive offers via email such as discounts and shipping upgrades. Included Rides with Quick Queue Tigris Falcon's Fury Cheetah Hunt SheiKra Montu Kumba Cobra's Curse Scorpion Stanley Falls Flume SandSerpent We apologize your experience was affected by extended wait times. General Parking We recently went to Busch Gardens and had a great time. Bier Fest returns to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay with new bites, brews Challenge a 335-foot drop tower, Falcon's Fury, or race like a cheetah on Cheetah Hunt. Plan to do indoor things such as watching shows and eating during the late morning and early afternoon, when the sun is most intense. You didn't think we'd leave you hanging, did you? The only thing was when we first entered the park we lined up for Iron Gwazi at 10am and it didnt have any notes. The scalp you for everything they can. This is just a bit over an hour from Orlando, home to Universal Orlando Resort, Walt Disney World Resort and SeaWorld Orlando. Save some green by purchasing a single-night ticket valid for a visit on any event night through Undercover Tourist. The Jungala area of the park offers a second play area for the tadpoles, but it's temporarily closed. Does it mean the ride is actually CLOSED?? A Classic but Still the Cream of the Crop! The coasters are super fun to ride. (And, yes, those impressive stats make this the tallest and fastest ride of its kind in the entire world.). Related: Best Orlando Theme Park by Age Group, Tags: Busch Gardens Tampa certainly doesn't disappoint when it comes to world-class coasters either! For three of us (mom, dad one teen) it was over $700 for one day- including the quick queue for only two people. Here's what previous visitors have asked, with answers from representatives of Busch Gardens and other visitors. Busch Gardens Tampa: 19 Tips for a Great Day - Tripster -CL, Thank you for reaching out about your recent visit to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Sadly, their main theater, the Moroccan Palace, has a tired "ice show", when there were previously huge Broadway styles shows. We have forwarded your feedback to our leadership team for further internal review and improvement. Monthly news, planning tips and special deals. 91% of travelers recommend this experience. Explore the park after dark with . But just visit one additional attraction, and the pass is already worth it. Cobras Curse might be for you! Read our. Busch Garden's Quick Queue Pass: Everything You Need to Know The most you could save if you skip it is $16.92, and that's . I authored the book Busch Gardens Tampa Bay: Images of Modern America, which details the colorful history of the Busch Gardens theme park. 12 answers Attraction representative BuschGardensTPA Tampa, Florida 1 Vote Hi Dana! Except for service animals, no pets are permitted inside Busch Gardens. There are also some clever tricks to extract more money from you. But my wife found the food package on line. HOWL-O-SCREAM - 397 Photos & 144 Reviews - 3000 E Busch Blvd, Tampa Barbados Seaweed Problem 2023: Everything You Need To Know Before You Visit! Thrill-seekers will also enjoy SheiKra, a floorless 200-foot tall dive coaster that plummets you down at a 90-degree angle. Thanks! The kids were disappointed but these things happen. We have been pass members to Busch Gardens for over 10 years and I have never experienced what we did tonight! 3 Closest Beaches to Busch Gardens | Easily Explained Your concerns have been shared with our leadership team to ensure that we are constantly improving. This popular gondola ride (a Von Roll 101 model, for all of you cable car and sky ride enthusiasts out there) takes guests between the Cheetah Hunt roller coaster near the front of the park to the Congo section in the back. Are you craving some coasters? If they could work on the food issue, it would really improve guests experience! Photo Credit: Florida Memory 18,262 Reviews. We've got you covered with discounted ticketsfor Busch Gardens Tampa, including Quick Queue unlimited and more. I especially enjoy helping others plan fun trips on a budget! Some are getting older and t bff ey are slowly phasing them out and bringing new ones in. The address for Busch Gardens is 10165 N McKinley Drive Tampa, FL 33612. more. Busch Gardens has you covered with their affordable vacation packages combining accommodations with park entrance tickets and other benefits. Tampa Bay CityPASS Review: Is It a Good Deal for You? Again we experienced a delay as your other train was experiencing technical difficulties and we could not proceed until the issue was resolved. We hope to see you back at our park again soon! We looked at cost of these passes and would have cost an additional $250 American for both kids. Cayman Islands SEAWEED Problem [2023]: Everything You Need To Know! By the end of the 1970s, the African-themed park had become an internationally known destination for roller coaster fans, animal lovers, and fun seekers. We would like to assure you that this was in no way representative of our park or other team members. However, this pass does not include Iron Gwazi or Serengeti Flyer. Today, we try out the Busch Gardens All Day Dining Deal to see if it is worth the price.The Busch Gardens. Our Haunting Guide to Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay You dont always have to pay full admission price to enjoy a day at Busch Gardens Tampa! You can only use the wristband once every hour - so just space out your meals / snacks etc. The Ultimate Busch Gardens Parking Guide: All You Need to Know There are tons of exciting coasters, gorgeous scenery and fun animal interactions. Kids will love learning about wild birds of prey, reptiles and border collies. I'm pretty sure you can buy them throughout the park. Tigris, Cheetah Hunt and Montu are 3 other coasters guaranteed to get your adrenaline pumping. There are multitudes of interesting animals to see. Tampa boasts over 200 species at their park, while Busch Gardens Williamsburg has a smaller, if not adorable lineup of animals to interact . Which is Better, Halloween Horror Nights or Howl-O-Scream? YOU Decide 86% answered in 1 day. Is Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Worth It? - Ledger Travels Make note of where you park. Thank you for reviewing Busch Gardens Tampa Bay! Is buying a quick queue at Busch Gardens worth it? : r/tampa Continue with Recommended Cookies. You can come back to the all-day lockers in Morocco as often as you'd like throughout the day. Closed. Busch Gardens was opened in Tampa, Florida on March 31, 1959 by the Anheuser-Busch company as a free animal attraction alongside a brewery. The dining plan is worth it if you do not have diet restrictions and you are going to be there early and stay late. 1. The latest updates for our attractions can always be found on our mobile app and at our Guest Relations counter including wait times and resuming operation after a temporary closure. How To Drive Down Steep Hills Without Using Your Brakes! Kids always had fun we stay from open to close. We arrived as soon as the park opened and the kids headed to ride the Iron Gwazi. The app didnt say anything about Iron Gwazi being closed until later in the day. We have forwarded this on to our park leadership team for their further internal review. Buy online in advance and save more! AVOID the Busch Gardens Wait Times with Quick Queue: Is it worth it in Drove over from Orlando area and got into the park nice and early - I think it opens early for annual passholders but other guests were getting in too. The experiences and comments of our guests are always welcome and greatly appreciated. No more waiting! Service was spotty at times. A slice of Bavaria returns to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay as the park celebrates its fan-favorite Bier Fest event, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from July 21 through Sept. 4, including Labor Day.. Commemorating six years of Oktoberfest-inspired festivities, Bier Fest returns for its longest event run with 15 newly created menu items inspired by classic German flavors and 60 brews from regions . Don't miss out on seeing the animals! I thoroughly read the Busch Gardens website before visiting and decided it would be ok because they claimed to be taking all of the necessary precautions, much like Disney or any high-quality theme park. Busch Gardens Meal Deal: Is it worth it? - Family Travels on a Budget With an abundance of things to do and see at the park, it is in your best interest to plan ahead. And dont forget the beer! -HG, How much is a mobility scooter at Bush gardens, The prices vary on busy days. Thank you for taking the time to reach out about your visit. Is Busch Gardens Worth It? You Bet! 7 Good Reasons Why it is? Poor service from staff. We decided to walk to the park which we were surprised to see a line getting closer to the park. Some rides say 5 minutes- Wondering how that can be when reviews complain of long waits. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. We hope you will give us another chance to deliver the excellence we aim for. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. All rights reserved. Sign in. If you're driving, there's plenty of parking available for a fee. SHEIKRA IS A MUST! Will I go there again??? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I loved the roller coasters! Busch Gardens Tampa is the ultimate vacation destination for adventurers. Have you heard horror stories of guests paying up to $18 for a soft drink at some amusement parks? Travel Safety Guide, Is Busch Gardens Worth It? TAMPA BAY, Fla. Bier Fest will return to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay for its sixth year next week with 15 new menu items and 60 beers to . Hotel in Tampa, FL | Quality Inn Official Site | Quality Inn & Suites We bet you didnt know that both of the campuses of Busch Gardens have amazing animal exhibits. Save up to 25% on Nationwide Attractions! Left a number of lines after waiting 10 to 20 minutes. - MM. Orlando Theme Parks, Again disappointed. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. You mentioned parking at Busch Gardens took a while to get through. This post may contain affiliate links. If you visit in the winter, then you might want to take along a light jacket. (That's fine by me, because it leaves more time for fun!). nnual passholders have discounted or free parking depending on which pass tier you have.) We are a highly accredited AZA zoological facility, and our animal habitats exceed all industry standards as well as state and federal guidelines. To answer my own question, the app seemed mostly accurate. Bring swimsuits for the splash areas, it looked like a great place for kids to cool down. So to make the most of that 1 day, youll need to arrive as early as possible. Park Duels: Busch Gardens Tampa vs. Busch Gardens Williamsburg So is a visit to Busch Gardens worth it? That way you can go really early and leave before it gets hot in the summer, or go later when it's empty and cooled down or in the winter just go when it's empty! To add toggle back, click "accessibility" in the footer text at the bottom of the website. It was 10:30 with a 55 minute wait. The Serengeti Plain is home to free-roaming giraffes, zebras, rhinos, gazelles and more. If you intend to enjoy every ride at Busch Gardens and want a more up-close interaction with animals with the add-on pass, as well as enjoy the thrilling water slides at Water Country Park, then two days are sufficient to explore the entire park. We almost skipped the experience because we were shocked by the entrance price of approximately $100 per person. The main negative is the food options aren't great, and all food, snacks and drinks are really overpriced. Don't pay up front. Busch Gardens Tampa is the PLACE TO BE for coasters. There are beautiful wildlife displays everywhere you look, even en route between coasters. Had all day dining but long queues because each restaurant had only 1 member of staff serving yet on the kiosks selling drinks & ice creams they had multiple staff serving no one. So much was wrong with this experience but having to come home and talk to my 8 year old about Santa and tell him that isnt the real Santa and how he is his helper and we will see another onejust sad! Unless it's a special event at the zoo. The cost was a little high since we had to pay for admission to the park as well as a separate charge for the food and wine and concert. We have forwarded your experience on to our park and guest arrival leadership team for their further internal review and improvement. Is Anna Maria Island Safe to Visit in 2022? It is now 2:30 and the wait is 75minutes. We are committed to providing an accessible user experience for all website visitors. This difference in theming, as well as the year-round warm location, gives Tampa a bit of an unfair advantage, allowing for a greater variety of animals, as well as their Serengeti Express train experience. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. With rhinos, sloths, tigers, cheetahs, lions, gorillas, giraffes, zebras, hyenas, penguins and many more animals to view, including several interaction opportunities. You can book a safari tour to trek across the vast plain and even hand-feed giraffes! 20002023 Undercover Tourist. Undercover Tourist challenges you to share your favorite Walt Disney World Resort thrill or a chance to win a trip for 2 happening August 3rd-5th 2023. Real Helpful. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay: Vacation Planning Tips and FAQ's There are also many live concerts at Busch Gardens throughout the year most of which are free with park admission. Beautiful day, clean park, fun coasters. This is just a bit over an hour from Orlando, home to Universal Orlando Resort, Walt Disney World Resort and SeaWorld Orlando. They have something for everyone. Make the most of your Busch Gardens adventure. Take a ride on the SkyRide or Trans-Veldt Railroad to see the animals on the Serengeti Plain, or walk through the Edge of Africa for an up-close and personal visit with some of Africas most beloved animals. Lots of rides to do, lots of animals to see. This page in our SeaWorld Center includes vacation-planning information on Busch Gardens Tampa, including an overview of its areas, attractions, and dining. In addition to the various shows and concert series, Busch Gardens Tampa holdsseveral annual holiday events, including: #8 Buy an All-Day Dining Pass if you plan to eatmore than 2 meals at the park. March 24, 2023 If you click on the links in this post, we may earn money from the companies mentioned in this post, at no extra cost to you. We recently went to Busch Gardens and had a great time. The address for Universal Studios Florida is 6000 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. When the elf said something Santa said oh I didnt forget Ill get to him later. If you are traveling with your pet, Busch Gardens has an excellent on-site kennel located at the front of the main parking lot, directly across from the first tram stop. On the flip side, youve got the second half of the park thats dedicated to the animals to enjoy! We have always been 100 Busch Gardens and even during Covid kept paying our pass holder price but tonight was ridiculous! After eating we decided to find bird attraction but had trouble navigating park even using the app. Im a Florida native, a roller coaster junkie, and a frequent traveler. We also had a nice time on some of the slower rides like the train through the serengeti and the sky ride. Vacation Spots Is Busch Gardens Tampa All Day Dining Worth It? On days of higher attendance such as holidays and weekends, our attractions and culinary locations may see higher than normal wait times as we strive to ensure an enjoyable experience for all our guests. But with Busch Gardens Tampa Bay being dubbed by Orlando Sentinel as "Florida's roller coaster capital", it's never a bad idea to zoom through the lines and enjoy all the thrills. Closed. -MK, We appreciate you taking the time to share some of your thoughts regarding your recent visit. Love animals? $ Quick Bites Fast Food Mediterranean, This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Thank you for visiting our park and leaving feedback about your experience. Ready to take the leap on a memorable family vacation? 10165 North McKinley Dr. Website Price & Hours Ticket prices vary by day Hours vary by day Details Amusement Parks Type Half Day to Full Day Time to Spend scorecard 4.0Value 4.0Facilities. Busch Gardens (Tampa) - Serengeti Safari, is it worth it? We next ventured to ride the train and boarded in the Congo. Several of the big name rides were closed. Thank you for visiting us. In fact, at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, guests 21 and over receive 2 free beers with their park ticket all summer long! Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival has returned with a full menu of options. We regret to read that your visit did not achieve the level of value you had anticipated. Took family to Busch gardens Tampa while there during Christmas Dec.2022we live in Ontario, Canada. Busch Gardens Williamsburg is also a beer lovers paradise. Frogs will experience a dozen airtime moments, including three inversions, and a menacing 91-degree drop as they reach speeds up to 76 miles per hour. We found it to be a great value. Hotels near Seminole Hard Rock Casino Tampa, Hotels near Museum of Science and Industry. If you are looking for a convenient place to stay where you can be assured you will get your money's worth and friendly service at the same time, make reservations at Quality Inn & Suites Near Fairgrounds Ybor City. What's Busch Gardens Tampa Address? Come back and experience them again soon. Thank you for reviewing your most recent visit to our park! Ive been visiting Busch Gardens Tampa on a regular basis since 1981, and Ive got many tried & truetips for making the most out of a day there. What we love about Busch Gardens Tampa is that it's an amazing zoo and incredible theme park rolled into one place. 2023 Hasbro. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed our thrilling roller coasters. Being an Orlando native it was worth the trip to Busch Gardens. July 13, 2023 at 11:37 am EDT. To be honest your Santa sounded like he was drunk and he even started to try and tell the kids a joke and he couldnt even hold up the right amount of numbers on his fingers to tell the joke!