Busch Gardens Tampa is an interesting park to visit as it has a TON of potential. Not only are their coasters really badass, but the park is also really well themed and is really nice. So even if you don't like the big rollercoasters like Iron Gwazi and Montu, you can still have a great time. The park is also a zoo as there are many animals around the park. As well as that, there are many flat rides, water rides, and other general rides for everyone to do. HOWEVER, in recent years, the operations of this park have gone DOWNHILL!!! The operations are HORRENDOUS!!! It went from a park that was truly top-notch and one of the best, to being run along the same lines as Mt. Olympus, because United Parks just has NO INTEREST in properly running this place, and ONLY seems to care about making a short-term profit for their shareholders. And that TRULY is a shame. Because there is SO MUCH potential at Busch Gardens Tampa, with just how many great rides they have, and how massive the park is. Just walking around Busch Gardens Tampa is a good workout. Yes. They do have transportation methods if that sounds like too much work for you, such as the train. There also is the skyride. Except.....that's an upcharge now for people who aren't passholders. Yet another example of United Parks nickeling and diming the guests. If you are ever taking a trip to Orlando, despite the DRASTIC decline in quality, I would still recommend going out of the way to get to Busch Gardens Tampa. Yes. Iron Gwazi really is that good. And there still is just a ton more examples
OK. Let's go over what is BY FAR, the best flat ride in the park. Their drop tower. Falcon's Fury. And let me tell you. This is NOT just an average ordinary drop tower. No, this is one of those drop towers that tilts you 90 degrees for the drop. No really. Right at the top, it just tilts you face down, and then just drops you. HOLY SH*T!!! I know I usually hack Lex Luthor and look down to try and get that "OH SH*T!!!" feeling. Well, on Falcon's Fury, it's not a hack. It's how the ride is meant to be ridden. You don't have a choice. YOU WILL LOOK DOWN!!! Add in the fact that is's a decent sized drop tower, and.....yeah. Excluding Tower of Terror @ WDW, this is my favorite drop tower. A real treat and something you NEED to do at Busch Gardens Tampa. Now this was the only flat ride I did at the park. Well, at least the only flat ride that still exists. I did ride Phoenix on my first visit. It's gone now, and GOOD RIDDANCE!!! Oh wait. I did the bumper cars. Well themed, but some of the slowest and tamest ever, and considering the competition, that's saying a lot. Now onto the other flat rides I didn't do, they also have a Screamin Swing (those are always fun), a super frog hopper, a carousel, and other kiddy flat rides. While Busch Gardens Tampa lacks in the flat ride department, it's no big deal. Most parks lack in the flat ride departmemt.
GET ON THIS DROP TOWER!!! YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!!!
Dark Rides
Busch Gardens Tampa has an interesting dark ride collection. Too bad I never rode any of their dark rides (I was really lazy that day). Their best dark ride was Rhino Ralley. Basically, it started out in a jeep and see a bunch of animals. It then jad a section where it turned into a boat ride and went down a river, but yeah. They got rid of Rhino Ralley because...I dunno. It apparently was a maintenence nightmare. They've also got a 4D Show called Pirate 4D Adventure. I never saw it, so I don't know much about it. But Cody claimed that it was pretty funny.
Water Rides
The water rides at Busch Gardens Tampa aren't really anything special. I rode Congo River Rapids, and.......meh. It was all right. There's nothing special or unique about this ride. It's just an average rapids ride. But I still had fun on it due to it being a very hot day, and riding with a very interesting family who was fun to talk to. Plus, it gives good views of Kumba. They had a log ride called Stanley Falls. From viewing it, it seems like an ordinary log flume. But at least you'd be on an ordinary log flume with an awesome view and setting. I was gonna ride it, but it broke down in line. So I left, and.....now it's gone. Oh well.
It may not be anything special, but it'll get you wet.
Water Park
Yep. Busch Gardens Tampa does have a water park. Now technically, this water park is not actually a part of Busch Gardens Tampa. It's got seperate admission and is really just across the street. But come on. Its associated with Busch Gardens Tampa and its just across the street. I never visited the park as I'm not even sure if it was open as I visited in November. It seems like a decent water park. But, yeah. Compared to the other stuff in Florida like Volcania, Aquatica, and the Disney Water Parks, nothing special. Check it out and see for yourself if this is cool or not.
Dining
The one place I ate at Busch Gardens Tampa was Zambia Smokehouse. Now I only ate there on my first visit. I know I LOVED the food back then. Upon returning there my 2nd visit (I didn't eat then due to a lack of appetite and money), the food seemed.....fine. Good, but nothing special compared to what I had at other Busch/Sea World parks. But while I liked the food at Zambia Smokehouse, the operations were HORRENDOUS!!! SERIOUSLY, BUSCH GARDENS TAMPA NEEDS BETTER STAFFING AT ITS RESTERAUNTS!!! Also, I know this isn't my experience, but I did hear that one resteraunt at the park was shut down for health-code violations temporarily (I can guarantee that I'll never eat at Dragon Fire Grill now). So yeah. Take that into account with the dining options (also shows just how bad of a job United is doing with the parks). I really hope the park isn't just doing the bare minimum to keep it up to code, but is actually treating the food well and making stuff that's genuinely good to eat.
I loved it in the past. Hoping its held up years later.
Theming and Other Attractions
Here are the reviews of all the other stuff at Busch Gardens Tampa. Well first off, the park is LOADED with theming. Every area in the park is well themed and they don't have any dry spots. As for other attractions, the park doubles as a zoo. So you can see all sorts of animals while at the park. They have this one attraction called Edge of Africa where you can visit many animal exibits. At the Jambo Junction, you can feed the animals and interact with them. They have some bird gardens, a place to get up close look with monkeys and chimpanzees. Even Jungala is filled with animals. As well as animals, Jungala also includes some rope bridges, nets, and even a zipline. And of course, the frog hopper. As well as all this stuff with animals, there are many shows at Busch Gardens Tampa which I'm assuming are of very good quality and are very entertaining. So as you can tell, there is alot to do at Busch Gardens Tampa.
In Conclusion
Busch Gardens Tampa has the potential to be a completely awesome theme park to visit. Not only do they have some completely awesome rollercoasters, but they lots of oppertunities to get close with animals, and just overall have an awesome time. There's just so much you can do at Busch Gardens Tampa. You can get your thrill fix on Iron Gwazi or Montu, get up close with some animals, eat some really good food, or just sit down and enjoy all that the park has to offer. Unfortunatly, the current management just seems to be not putting in much love or care into the park, with bad operations, poor staffing, and now apparently a health code violation in one of their resteraunts. And it's a real shame as there is so much right with this park. Hell, even with the horrendous operations and the mistreatment the new management is giving this place, I still had a good time becuse the coasters and atmosphere are that good. But while I can still have a good time, I'm hoping for new management who can really improve the operations. Cause there is a TON of potential in this park, and it can truly be great again.
Enthusiast FAQs.
*Are there kiddy coaster restrictions? - No. You can ride Air Grover.
Tips
*Get a park map as Busch Gardens Tampa is not an easy park to navigate.
*Wear pants or shorts with zippered pockets to avoid getting a locker each time you ride one of the coasters.
*They allow POVs if you bring a Go-Pro or any professional secure camera.
*Be prepared to get Fastpass if you go on a busy day.
