After reading several recent reviews, I honestly was worried about our planned family trip (me, my wife and four teen to early 20’s kids) while on our first visit to Florida and to Busch Gardens today. We had a completely different (and overwhelmingly positive) experience. Here’s the summary, including a couple tips I found that helped.
First, the reality:
- Florida is hot and humid in the summer. That makes theme parks a hot experience. Should be expected.
- yes, a couple of the coaster rides did have breakdowns and we missed going on them. If it had been several and if they had been closed all day, I would understand people being frustrated. In our experience, one was closed all day, one a good portion of the day, and one for just an hour or two. Without defending Busch Gardens, I think this is more common at coaster-oriented theme parks, and somewhat understandably so. There is absolutely no margin for error or saying “that’s close enough” when you are dealing with rides that could be so dangerous if something minor is off.
- refreshments and food are expensive at theme parks, sports arenas and concerts. Busch Gardens wasn’t much of any moreso than others.
Here’s what we were very pleasantly surprised by:
- ride wait times. We went on a wednesday (today, July 6). We got there early when the park opened. For the first two hours, we practically walked on all rides. That included the new Iron Gwazi (we did first), plus Kumba (twice), Congo River Rapids (twice), the Log Flume, Shiekra, Tigris, Sand serpent and Scorpion.
- advertised wait times at rides. The park got busier round noon. But for the next several hours, we still had 10-15 minute or so waits on several rides. The three with longer waits all ended up being LESS than advertised. We even did Iron Gwazi again around 5:30 before we left and it was about 40 minutes.
- impact of quick express. Those who used quick express (we did not) were managed well and the regular line was integrated well in the queue. Staff seemed well trained on how to do this to give priority to those willing/able to pay extra but it didn’t seem to have an undo impact on our normal queue lines.
- staff were friendly and helpful. Yes, not all had huge smiles and acted perky right off the bat, but again, it is hot, muggy and a long day for them. However, ALL were friendly, especially if we smiled and were friendly to them. They were also helpful, answered questions and gave tips, and one at a concessions counter gave us a small discount on our order and topped off my daughter’s drink when he saw her share it with one of her siblings.
- most lines are well shaded and have fans to help cool you some. And there are several mister area throughout the park. Again, july
In Florida is hot and muggy, so you can’t avoid that.
- the security line and the park entrance line were not long. We got their early of course, so maybe when the rush came an hour or so later it might have been worse. But know that and plan around it.
Overall, We were there from 10-6:30 (including our half hour break) and did about 16 major rides (including some multiple times). Plus we took the train halfway around the park through the Serengeti, passed through several other animal exhibits, and got to see an alligator feeding as well as a rhino keeper talk (while watching the hulking beast glide effortlessly through the pool). We were all done by dinner time and felt we had a full day by then. Bummed we missed Cheetah Hunt (closed most of day) and Cobra (closed all day), but we left very satisfied.
Tips:
- pre purchase tickets (and parking) and get there first thing (45 minutes or so before it opens). We arrived at 9:10. Parking wasn’t even open yet but you could queue up in line. We were one of the first cars there. Parking attendants started letting cars in about 9:25. We bypassed park ticket booth since we prepaid and waited in queue line. At about 9:45 they opened park and started letting people through security. We made sure our backpack only had allowed items, which included some bottled waters, sunscreen, ibuprofen, a portable phone battery charger, and room for hats, sunglasses and phones when we went on rides. We were in park and heading to rides within 10 minutes max.
- buy an all day transferable locker pass for $10. Lockers are at all major rides and it was easy to get a different locker from ride to ride.
- pay for premier parking leave a cooler lunch in the car. We paid $15 extra for premier parking and brought a cooler with sandwiches and snacks that we left in the car. The premier parking is very close to the park entrance and doesn’t require a shuttle (a bonus also when you are leaving and the shuttle line is a little long). You can exit and re-enter the park as long as you keep your original ticket and have ID to prove it’s you. This gave us a welcome 30 minute break from the heat as we started the car, turned the A/C on, and enjoyed an inexpensive lunch. Well worth the extra $15 as it did save us a meal cost in the park. And it was a nice quick break.