My family and I are big theme park fans. Ever since my brother and I were little, we've all always loved the excitement and non-stop action that theme parks provide. No, they're not exactly authentic experiences, but there's nothing quite like the thrill of roller coasters, giant pretzels and people in big, furry costumes on a warm summer day. In fact, of all our yearly family vacations, not a single one of them didn't involve a theme park in one way or another.
On a family trip to Williamsburg, Virginia in 1995, we spent a day at Busch Gardens and loved it! The rides were great, the food was good, and the theming was unique. The Busch Gardens in Williamsburg is themed after Europe, with each section of the park representing a different country. We loved it and looked forward to the day when we could visit Busch Gardens Williamsburg's sister park in Tampa.
In 2005, my family started taking yearly trips down to Orlando, Florida, the theme park capital of the world. We love the atmosphere and excitement of the entire city, and we love the endless amount of fun and entertainment around every corner. While our trips to Orlando usually consist of Disney World and Universal Studios, the two major theme parks of the world, in 2006 we decided to try something a little different...
We decided to add Busch Gardens Tampa into the mix, and I couldn't have been more excited! I'd watched many Travel Channel specials on the theme park, and the entire theme really appealed to me. The Busch Gardens in Florida is themed after Africa, with each part of the park representing a different country. Another huge aspect of the park is that it's primarily an animal park - not a zoo, but live animals are incorporated into many different attractions and up-close encounters available to guests. It's always been a dream of mine to visit Africa, and I love animals of all kinds, so I was thrilled to check the place out. As of now, it was as close to Africa as I would be able to get!
If you're staying in Tampa, the theme park is right in the middle of it all. You won't miss it. However, if you're staying in Orlando you have a bit of a drive ahead of you. We took I4, the main road to cut across Orlando from east to west, to Exit 9. We then got onto I75 North which took us up into the heart of Tampa. It was an hour and 15-minute drive with one bathroom break, which wasn't bad at all. If you don't have a car available on your trip, there are shuttles that leave from most major Orlando hotels, excluding the Disney and Universal Studios resorts. If you don't mind the extra cost, your best bet is renting a car or taking a taxi. Just make sure to arrange transportation back to your hotel at the end of the night.
As for tickets, we purchased ours in advance. You can always buy your theme park tickets at the gate, but it saves both time and money to buy online. AAA offers great discounts on theme park tickets, and you could even use your American Express Rewards points for free tickets to the park, depending on how many points you have available. Busch Gardens' website itself offers several great deals, including a "Pay One Price, Get a Second Day Free" special. They're currently running a promotion where you can buy adult tickets at children's prices - you get two-days of admission (within a 7-day period) for only $60 each, both adults and children. These same tickets are available at the gate for $70 for adults and $60 for children. Busch Gardens is owned by the same company as Sea World, so you can also find combination tickets to both parks.
Once you get into the park, security is tight. We found that the security was much more thorough at Busch Gardens than it was at any of the other Orlando theme parks, including Disney. They not only looked in our main bags, but they looked in my makeup bag and my father's camera bag. It wasn't at all intrusive, and I thought they did a great job keeping everyone safe. Just be sure to either arrive early or at an off-beat time to avoid long bag-check lines.
Also unlike at Disney World, you can't bring food into the park. You're allowed in with water bottles and other small drinks, but don't plan on having a picnic lunch. All food eaten in the park must be bought in the park. However, Busch Gardens has many different kinds of restaurants to choose from (both counter service and sit-down) with great food at slightly cheaper prices than the Orlando theme parks. Everyone will be able to find something they like, and you can find restaurant menus on several different Busch Gardens fan sites.
We loved our day at Busch Gardens Tampa and had a great time! It's not quite Disney, but it was definitely on-par with the awesome Universal Studios. If you love roller coasters, animals, or just fun days out with the family, I highly recommend the park. Located only an hour away from Orlando, it's a great supplement to any central Florida vacation!
by Troobabiee7 on January 21, 2009
Busch Gardens /Adventure Island
3000 East Busch Boulevard Tampa, Florida 33612
(813) 987-5000