Busch Gardens is absolutely worth the 90 minute drive. I was impressed with both the rides and the animal habitats and I agree that they are the best coasters I've ever been on. Better yet don't stop there. Keep driving to Tampa, Clearwater and St. Pete which are all worth the visit.
Your reviews and essays are awesome, guys- I love your voiceovers, the stylish music, high quality camerawork and presentation and of course, your level of knowledge and very well informed opinions! 10 out of 10, always a treat! Thank you!! Greetings from Ireland.
This is my home park, and I consider it one of the best. It looks beautiful but has a great amusement park atmosphere. The roller coasters are top notch and I there aren’t usually big waits. I take it over Disney or Universal.
Generally, I agree, it's an excellent park. I'm surprised by your comment on their operations though. I've only ever experienced slow ops and that's why I try to go in the off-season on a weekday when the park is empty. The overall experience has a solid foundation, but it needs more entertainment and better food offerings like it had pre-2020. I understand that many parks are struggling to regain their financial positions post-shut down, but its' definitely a watered-down experience right now.
BGT is my home park and I've been going since before I could walk on my own and I entirely agree that the park feels watered down compared to before the pandemic. The new entertainment has felt weaker ever since Katonga was replaced with Iceploration and everything after just feels cheap. I do also have to say I think the ops there are more hit or miss than anywhere else in Florida, especially from ride to ride because marathoning Montu is always a cakewalk but waiting for Iron Gwazi is always a chore.
This is my favorite theme park in the world. Every time we visit Orlando, we always drive down to Tampa for one day just to visit here. When I was a kid, I never thought much of this park as I liked what Walt Disney World had more. Then as I got older, I really started to enjoy the mix of awesome thrill rides, nice atmosphere, and unique animal exhibits. This park basically has everything I want in a park plus more.
i went to BGT this wednesday 12th and you may were this day there. The lines werent even 5 minutes long the whole day, best park i have been on and I was able to do all coasters, being cheetah hunt my favourite.
It IS an amazing park. It was also the 1st to close its brewery to expand the park. Houston, TX, also had a Busch Gardens. It closed rather quickly. Again for brewery expansion. AK doesn't run a steam engine(s), but Tampa sure does. Truly worth the drive and a second day to visit the city.
Another great review. I've never heard anything bad about BGT. All the other vloggers I've seen ( who visit BGT ) have nothing but the best things to say. Although you may have been invited out there by them, it didn't feel like a forced positive opinion. Honestly, it sounded like you were working hard to find issues, and that says a lot. It looks like BGT figured out how to outdo some of the big guys in regards to ride design, maintenance, theming and operations. If I lived out there, I'd get their annual pass, not Chapek's. Also, it says a lot about them that they can run a world-class animal care facility working in tandem with the park. I deeply miss that my own Wild Animal Park ( now "Safari Park" ) no longer has the monorail so it's great to see BGT running that train. Almost an hour long tour? That's awesome.
I was not a fan of Bush Gardens growing up in south Florida, I prefer theming over thrill... anyways I really enjoy your Bush Gardens breakdown. Thank you
So I made two visits to BGT this year, in April and July. Here are some thoughts: -I too have to agree that Iron Gwazi is VERY high up for me. It may be a short ride but I feel nothing but euphoria from it. It packs everything into that small time span. The plaza looks great, I love the queue, the crocodile theming, there really is nothing like it. It's really a toss-up between that and Fury 325 for my #1 of all. -The train is an underrated aspect of the park. I took rides on it both times, and it was fun taking a nice tour around and being able to see animals and the rides from afar while unwinding. -The first time I went there were some smaller, "meh" level shows, and it didn't help that Turn It Up was dormant which was really unfortunate. But when I went back for the Summer Celebration there was more, and I was not denied my chance to watch it this time. And it was very charming. I even nearly cried at the end! There was also Cirque Electric which I found pretty badass. But those were to say NOTHING of the AMAZING firework show right near the end. I can't overstate just how good it was. -Both times I relied on AAA to get my admission. When I went in summer there was this crazy sale that made admission + all-day dining $90. Though I'll likely get the Platinum pass for whenever I next go to one of these parks. -You mentioned storms, as far as weather went, both times I got lucky. The second time the worst that happened was rides going down for like 15 minutes and it didn't actually rain then. I didn't dare look at the forecast all day. Near the end, I was sweating it out hoping the fireworks wouldn't be cancelled and thankfully they didn't. So yeah! It was not perfect, but I had a great time when I went. I'm hoping to be back there next year for Howl-O-Scream because I hear it's awesome.
I went to BGT for the first time over Labor Day weekend. I had a SeaWorld Platinum Pass, so I figured I could hit SeaWorld Orlando and BGT with my partner in that time. SeaWorld was fun (especially Mako!), but since the lines were nonexistent it was a half day park, which was fine by me, because it meant we could head to BGT early. There was a little lightning and some rain in the area, but they loaded Iron Gwazi without much delay (and I agree, best coaster, it tries to rearrange you in the best way possible). We were able to walk onto Montu with no wait, and then another band of rain swept through, shutting everything down for about an hour. This was actually perfect timing, because we were feeling a little peckish and grabbed a bite to eat at the Platinum Passholder Lounge near Cheetah Hunt. Soon after we finished, the rain had passed, but it was late enough in the afternoon that most of the crowds just left. When they reopened the rides, we were able to walk onto almost everything-- even getting to ride Kumba twice in a row-- and finished with night rides on Cheetah Hunt (fun, but terrible dispatches) and Iron Gwazi. It's a risky proposition, but I HIGHLY recommend visiting on a day where it looks like it will rain. We had an absolute blast.
imo it’s one of the best cuz it has a great balance of thrills rides and also a bunch of animals but the ops can be really bad sometimes like I swear iron gwazi always has a long wait not because just because it’s amazing, but because the ops take at least 3 minutes per train
I love Busch gardens can’t wait to go back & also the first time I went they closed the rides cause of weather and it took till the park closed in 30 minutes so we had 30 minutes to do what we want we got 3 more done and did 6 rides that day & can not wait to go back
My online review of the past summer was pretty much: The park could be amazing if it was properly ran, but holy molly are the operations absolutely terrible. Just inefficient, no communications whenever something goes wrong, the park app is never accurate nor up to date, that was brutal. Also very dirty, and the animals looked miserable. I went this summer and the only highlight was that they had a good coaster line up, the rest was just pain.
Bush Gardens is not the Bush Gardens of years ago. More money and less entertainment. ($14 for a funnel cake?) We bought season passes for the past 16 years and we are done.
This park has been struggling to stay towards the top since covid. Iron gwazi being open (and covid being less of an issue) has made things better than 2020-2021 but it is nothing like when I went in 2016 and 2019. I'm a passholder and so much of it just seems run down and slow. Seaworld is a few steps above in most areas and disney and universal are on a whole new level. Busch exceeds at the thrills, and meshing that in with animals, but the operations, the employee attitudes, the food, and the other entertainment is lacking. Operations suck 75% of the time I go. It's absurd. I've seen sheikra run 1 train and it has 4 or 5, like wtf? It's disappointing because 20% more effort and care will make the park one of the absolute best in the world. Seaworld company is too busy cutting corner since covid
For those wondering why the Skyride is closed because of the sign that says "Our phased reopening.." it can easily be shown why. Serengeti Flyer will be opening and 2023 and is practically jam-packed right next to the skyride. Serengeti Flyer is a Double-Swing flat ride. The Skyride might be closed until there is enough information about Serengeti Flyer provided to us by parks and thrill seekers. Hopefully, the Skyride will reopen soon, but since S.F. will be opening early 2023, I don't think the Skyride will open until more information...
Loved this park when I went for my week long trip to Orlando in February 2020, unfortunately Iron Gwazi hadn't opened and Chita Hunt was closed for maintenance.
Nice video but Kumba is not considered a floorless coaster. It is actually called a sitdown because your feet do not dangle and instead touch the floor of the train.
Great video! Having done Ikaros at Gröna Lund, I can’t wait to experience falcon’s fury at somepoint in the future, as well as everything else at Busch gardens since it all looks incredible!
I live in Tampa and Busch gardens is my local park I've had passes there and all the SeaWorld parks for my whole life IAM more of a Disney person and don't really like roller coasters I still like the park especially Christmas town my favorite ride is cobra curse it's a pretty cool place
I actually have a friend that works at Busch gardens Tampa she's a zookeeper named Alicia she works at lorikeet landing the bird exhibit I've gone behind the scenes before and have been able to interact with the different animals before it was really cool
@@mosinc7388 thanks! I looked it up after commenting and was removed about 2006. Along with the Big Bad Wolf in Williamsburg they were a couple of my favorites!
I wish I could go but I'm banned from Florida unless I could find a travel partner. Only a young married couples could go to Orlando FL unless he or she is their child, or you have 2 years of OTR experience.
Busch Gardens is absolutely worth the 90 minute drive. I was impressed with both the rides and the animal habitats and I agree that they are the best coasters I've ever been on. Better yet don't stop there. Keep driving to Tampa, Clearwater and St. Pete which are all worth the visit.
You drive 90? I drive like 30. I’m in Clearwater. But real advice don’t go to Clearwater. Some things are great but you will get disappointed
Your reviews and essays are awesome, guys- I love your voiceovers, the stylish music, high quality camerawork and presentation and of course, your level of knowledge and very well informed opinions! 10 out of 10, always a treat! Thank you!! Greetings from Ireland.
This is my home park, and I consider it one of the best. It looks beautiful but has a great amusement park atmosphere. The roller coasters are top notch and I there aren’t usually big waits. I take it over Disney or Universal.
12 years ago, I would have visit these park while I was in Florida if I didn't have the goose back trailer on the back of the pickup.
Kumba isn’t floorless it’s a rare floored B&M looper 👍
the on at Seaworld Orlando is floorless.
Generally, I agree, it's an excellent park. I'm surprised by your comment on their operations though. I've only ever experienced slow ops and that's why I try to go in the off-season on a weekday when the park is empty. The overall experience has a solid foundation, but it needs more entertainment and better food offerings like it had pre-2020. I understand that many parks are struggling to regain their financial positions post-shut down, but its' definitely a watered-down experience right now.
Always appreciate feedback! Cheers P.E!
Iron Gwazi operations are atrocious most times and Cheetah Hunt is unreliable. Ops are otherwise solid.
BGT is my home park and I've been going since before I could walk on my own and I entirely agree that the park feels watered down compared to before the pandemic. The new entertainment has felt weaker ever since Katonga was replaced with Iceploration and everything after just feels cheap. I do also have to say I think the ops there are more hit or miss than anywhere else in Florida, especially from ride to ride because marathoning Montu is always a cakewalk but waiting for Iron Gwazi is always a chore.
This is my favorite theme park in the world. Every time we visit Orlando, we always drive down to Tampa for one day just to visit here. When I was a kid, I never thought much of this park as I liked what Walt Disney World had more. Then as I got older, I really started to enjoy the mix of awesome thrill rides, nice atmosphere, and unique animal exhibits. This park basically has everything I want in a park plus more.
Christmas time at BGT is also EXTREMELY charming and one of my favorite places to be during the holiday season in FL
7:55 Yesss i’m a ride operator at that ride! i appreciate that sm because we definitely try to get our line moving quite fast!
i went to BGT this wednesday 12th and you may were this day there. The lines werent even 5 minutes long the whole day, best park i have been on and I was able to do all coasters, being cheetah hunt my favourite.
This is my home park, I have passes, and I'm glad my park is amazing for people that have came from so far to see this!
Drove 16 hours for this!
Best park in Florida, and best review channel out there. Such impressive work.
It IS an amazing park. It was also the 1st to close its brewery to expand the park. Houston, TX, also had a Busch Gardens. It closed rather quickly. Again for brewery expansion. AK doesn't run a steam engine(s), but Tampa sure does. Truly worth the drive and a second day to visit the city.
thanks for all the great videos
Busch Gardens is my hometown park and I'm eternally proud of it 😍
Only there once way back in 1994 so a lot of these not around but really liked the mix of zoo-style stuff and an amusement park, want to go back.
Another great review. I've never heard anything bad about BGT. All the other vloggers I've seen ( who visit BGT ) have nothing but the best things to say. Although you may have been invited out there by them, it didn't feel like a forced positive opinion. Honestly, it sounded like you were working hard to find issues, and that says a lot. It looks like BGT figured out how to outdo some of the big guys in regards to ride design, maintenance, theming and operations. If I lived out there, I'd get their annual pass, not Chapek's. Also, it says a lot about them that they can run a world-class animal care facility working in tandem with the park. I deeply miss that my own Wild Animal Park ( now "Safari Park" ) no longer has the monorail so it's great to see BGT running that train. Almost an hour long tour? That's awesome.
Have always wanted to visit Busch Gardens Tampa, but this absolutely put my excitement over the edge
These coasters look amaze 🤩😍
I was not a fan of Bush Gardens growing up in south Florida, I prefer theming over thrill... anyways I really enjoy your Bush Gardens breakdown. Thank you
😎👍 I thoroughly enjoyed my 2021 Christmastime visit with great rides and memorable holiday shows, plus festive decorations!
So I made two visits to BGT this year, in April and July. Here are some thoughts:
-I too have to agree that Iron Gwazi is VERY high up for me. It may be a short ride but I feel nothing but euphoria from it. It packs everything into that small time span. The plaza looks great, I love the queue, the crocodile theming, there really is nothing like it. It's really a toss-up between that and Fury 325 for my #1 of all.
-The train is an underrated aspect of the park. I took rides on it both times, and it was fun taking a nice tour around and being able to see animals and the rides from afar while unwinding.
-The first time I went there were some smaller, "meh" level shows, and it didn't help that Turn It Up was dormant which was really unfortunate. But when I went back for the Summer Celebration there was more, and I was not denied my chance to watch it this time. And it was very charming. I even nearly cried at the end! There was also Cirque Electric which I found pretty badass. But those were to say NOTHING of the AMAZING firework show right near the end. I can't overstate just how good it was.
-Both times I relied on AAA to get my admission. When I went in summer there was this crazy sale that made admission + all-day dining $90. Though I'll likely get the Platinum pass for whenever I next go to one of these parks.
-You mentioned storms, as far as weather went, both times I got lucky. The second time the worst that happened was rides going down for like 15 minutes and it didn't actually rain then. I didn't dare look at the forecast all day. Near the end, I was sweating it out hoping the fireworks wouldn't be cancelled and thankfully they didn't.
So yeah! It was not perfect, but I had a great time when I went. I'm hoping to be back there next year for Howl-O-Scream because I hear it's awesome.
I went to BGT for the first time over Labor Day weekend. I had a SeaWorld Platinum Pass, so I figured I could hit SeaWorld Orlando and BGT with my partner in that time. SeaWorld was fun (especially Mako!), but since the lines were nonexistent it was a half day park, which was fine by me, because it meant we could head to BGT early. There was a little lightning and some rain in the area, but they loaded Iron Gwazi without much delay (and I agree, best coaster, it tries to rearrange you in the best way possible). We were able to walk onto Montu with no wait, and then another band of rain swept through, shutting everything down for about an hour. This was actually perfect timing, because we were feeling a little peckish and grabbed a bite to eat at the Platinum Passholder Lounge near Cheetah Hunt. Soon after we finished, the rain had passed, but it was late enough in the afternoon that most of the crowds just left. When they reopened the rides, we were able to walk onto almost everything-- even getting to ride Kumba twice in a row-- and finished with night rides on Cheetah Hunt (fun, but terrible dispatches) and Iron Gwazi. It's a risky proposition, but I HIGHLY recommend visiting on a day where it looks like it will rain. We had an absolute blast.
imo it’s one of the best cuz it has a great balance of thrills rides and also a bunch of animals
but the ops can be really bad sometimes like I swear iron gwazi always has a long wait not because just because it’s amazing, but because the ops take at least 3 minutes per train
I love Busch gardens can’t wait to go back & also the first time I went they closed the rides cause of weather and it took till the park closed in 30 minutes so we had 30 minutes to do what we want we got 3 more done and did 6 rides that day & can not wait to go back
My online review of the past summer was pretty much: The park could be amazing if it was properly ran, but holy molly are the operations absolutely terrible. Just inefficient, no communications whenever something goes wrong, the park app is never accurate nor up to date, that was brutal. Also very dirty, and the animals looked miserable. I went this summer and the only highlight was that they had a good coaster line up, the rest was just pain.
Bush Gardens is not the Bush Gardens of years ago. More money and less entertainment. ($14 for a funnel cake?) We bought season passes for the past 16 years and we are done.
Great thrills but most of the coasters will leave you feeling sick, everything is so tightly wound up not like sprawling coasters like up north
You definitely missed the Twisted Tail pretzels in Pantopia. They are a top tier theme park food.
That explains why that place had a big queue! Now we have to go back!
@@ReviewTyme I have a vid about travel tips for the park when the time comes.
One of the only theme park channels my one year old watches without crying hahaha it must be the music 😊
Im well jel, got some awesome rides in the UK but I would surrender the larger of my two testicles to go to BGT.
1 minute in and he already said that Kumba is a floorless coaster
This park has been struggling to stay towards the top since covid. Iron gwazi being open (and covid being less of an issue) has made things better than 2020-2021 but it is nothing like when I went in 2016 and 2019. I'm a passholder and so much of it just seems run down and slow. Seaworld is a few steps above in most areas and disney and universal are on a whole new level. Busch exceeds at the thrills, and meshing that in with animals, but the operations, the employee attitudes, the food, and the other entertainment is lacking. Operations suck 75% of the time I go. It's absurd. I've seen sheikra run 1 train and it has 4 or 5, like wtf? It's disappointing because 20% more effort and care will make the park one of the absolute best in the world. Seaworld company is too busy cutting corner since covid
Another great video!
For those wondering why the Skyride is closed because of the sign that says "Our phased reopening.." it can easily be shown why. Serengeti Flyer will be opening and 2023 and is practically jam-packed right next to the skyride. Serengeti Flyer is a Double-Swing flat ride. The Skyride might be closed until there is enough information about Serengeti Flyer provided to us by parks and thrill seekers. Hopefully, the Skyride will reopen soon, but since S.F. will be opening early 2023, I don't think the Skyride will open until more information...
So funny that iron gwazi is super smooth, when original gwazi gave me back problems as an elementary schooler 😂
Busch Gardens Williamsburg is so much better in my opinion
Yes it is it's kind of like Epcot it's so much better then Tampa
Loved this park when I went for my week long trip to Orlando in February 2020, unfortunately Iron Gwazi hadn't opened and Chita Hunt was closed for maintenance.
Nice video but Kumba is not considered a floorless coaster. It is actually called a sitdown because your feet do not dangle and instead touch the floor of the train.
Gyat ngl fr skibidi sigma rizz🍆
So y'all done 200+ Coasters! Top 10, 20, 25? List soon? And how does DC Rivals compare to the best Coasters you've been on?
$50 nanocoasters seems to be a trend at the Sea World and Busch Gardens parks. I have no clue why they charge that much compared to other places
I could have stop there if I had a chance but I had a goose back trailer on the back of the pickup so I wasn't able to go and park anywhare.
Is the Phoenix (Intamin Looping Starship) ride still closed?
Great video! Having done Ikaros at Gröna Lund, I can’t wait to experience falcon’s fury at somepoint in the future, as well as everything else at Busch gardens since it all looks incredible!
Kumba isnt a floorless coaster but great review
Kumba is a sit-down not a floorless
I love Busch Gardens but hate lightning
I live in Tampa and Busch gardens is my local park I've had passes there and all the SeaWorld parks for my whole life IAM more of a Disney person and don't really like roller coasters I still like the park especially Christmas town my favorite ride is cobra curse it's a pretty cool place
I actually have a friend that works at Busch gardens Tampa she's a zookeeper named Alicia she works at lorikeet landing the bird exhibit I've gone behind the scenes before and have been able to interact with the different animals before it was really cool
Oh my that's my friend who o works there in the video at 13:06
Is The Python not there anymore? That was my first real deal roller-coaster when I was a kid back in the 70s. Loved it!
It's not
@@mosinc7388 thanks! I looked it up after commenting and was removed about 2006. Along with the Big Bad Wolf in Williamsburg they were a couple of my favorites!
Hey bestie
Going here mid November!!!
I wish I could go but I'm banned from Florida unless I could find a travel partner. Only a young married couples could go to Orlando FL unless he or she is their child, or you have 2 years of OTR experience.