Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (BGT Discussion Thread)

[SharkTums]

Keep in mind that it's a Spring Break week for some Florida districts (including nearby Polk County) so the park may be more crowded than normal.

[coasterbill]

I'm normally not picky about seats but ride Kumba in the back row, far side closest to the unload platform. Ride Montu in the back row closest to the load platform.

 

Otherwise it doesn't matter.

[dmh1079]

Keep in mind that it's a Spring Break week for some Florida districts (including nearby Polk County) so the park may be more crowded than normal.

This! Also Spring Break for many 'damn Yankees' who will be invading Florida for the week. I was there during that week last year (on Thursday, I believe) and the park was very crowded. As a credit whore (your words), if you want to have any time to see animals or enjoy any of the non-coaster things that this park has to offer, I would recommend budgeting for Quick Queue, in case you feel like you need it when you get there.

[jlp94]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

 

So as of right now, here's the plan.

1. Cheetah Hunt

2. Cobra's Curse

3. Montu

4. Skyride

5. Kumba

6. Sand Serpent

7. Falcon's Fury

8. Scorpion

9. SheiKra

10. Air Grover

 

Anything I should change?

 

The animal exhibits will be sprinkled in as we go along (unless there are some that get busier than normal?)

 

Lastly, what are the best places for food? I appreciate all the attraction strategy help, but my family would love recommendations for when it comes time to eat.

[djcoastermark]

Bacon Pretzels by Falcons Fury. Pure heaven. Also, feeding and mingling with the Kangaroos and Wallabies is a whole lotta fun! If the Crown Colony, (or whatever it's called now) has the buffet open, go for it. It is usually only open seasonally , and being spring break, it might be open.

[coasterbill]

It's Busch Tampa, not Cedar Point. You're overthinking this.

 

Ride Cheetah Hunt, ride Cobra's Curse, ride Montu (because it's there, not because it'll actually get lines) and then just do whatever.

Edited March 7, 2019 by coasterbill

[A.J.]

The Skyride lets you off in Stanleyville near the log flume. You'd be better off just walking from Montu to Pantopia.

[jlp94]

Okay, thanks. Good to know that the day can be a little less "planned" because of that.

[coasterbill]

Oh, I almost forgot. Eat the pretzels near Falcon's fury or the BBQ near the Sheikra splash. If anyone in the group is over 21 they get free beer at the Garden Gate Cafe so go there because they'll need it after going along with you while you whore Air Grover when they'd all probably rather ride Serengeti Express Train and see rhinos and giraffes and sh*t.

[Canobie Coaster]

Definitely do not miss the pretzels, particularly the pretzel bacon fury.

[cal1br3tto]

Laughing at the people who now say “gee, NOW this really makes me want to visit BGT for the first time!” As if it wasn’t already one of the best parks in the world

 

 

THIS.

Yeah, this.

 

BGT continues to hold its place in my memory as one of my top parks, and its coaster collection always comes to mind as one of the best and highest-quality I've encountered. But as a (not that this is rare or special) big fan of Steel Vengeance, this new RMC is the icing, the cherry, the....[drools]

[Kw6sTheatee]

I grew up with this park, combine that with its stellar coaster lineup and great atmosphere and you have what is one of my favorite parks including bias.

[djcoastermark]

Ooh, new update. Big headline on local news, got excited, then read the article. Well, at least we know how tall NewGwazi will be. https://www.wfla.com/news/hillsborough-county/updated-busch-gardens-coaster-to-be-steepest-fastest-wooden-hybrid-in-world/1846158059 ( okay, I'll be nice, GnuGwazi has been approved by the FAA for 210 feet.)

[Dombot]

^ Nice to get a confirmation! The fact that it's taller than SheiKra AND it's steeper AND it's only going to have a lap bar is still just mind blowing to me.

[Intamin_coyote]

A sit-down coaster.

 

Lapbar restraints.

 

>90 degrees.

 

210 ft

 

W.

T.

F.

 

Mate.

[ryder]

Hey there! I'm thinking of traveling to BGT for their Halloween event. I've been to the park before (back when Shriekra was the latest, so it's been a while), but never for Halloween.

 

I know their Halloween event in a separate ticket, but about how much does it cost? And I imagine it's probably very crowded... do they sell a "fast pass" type ticket? And if so, is it good for haunt mazes only, or haunt mazes and rides? If not, do they sell sort of "day/night" combo ticket? Because we'd like to do the park rides as well as the mazes, but would rather not pay for two separate tickets in one day.

 

I'd check the site myself, but it's so early in their season, they don't have any info on that posted yet, so I thought I'd ask from advice here to get an idea.

[coasterbill]

They do sell Quick Queue with an option to use it for rides and haunts.

 

The last time we went there was no combo ticket (though I wouldn't be shocked if this has changed), but if you hold a day ticket and a night ticket you don't have to leave the park. You can go to the restaurant in Pantopia and get a wristband and stay in the park. They keep the rides that will be operating for Howl O Scream open (Generally all of the coasters except for Scorpion and Falcons Fury) and you can ride those while you wait for Howl O Scream to start. Sometimes there are delays as they transfer additional trains on for Howl O Scream.

 

Enjoy! It's a great event.

[Too Fast For Comfort]

A sit-down coaster.

 

Lapbar restraints.

 

>90 degrees.

 

210 ft

 

W.

T.

F.

 

Mate.

 

You may not have been on many RMCs, Macks, or the new generation loopers, but once you get on them, you'll wonder why OSTRs were ever a thing in the first place. The restraints are much more freeing and comfortable, but they're just as secure as an OTSR is. With the way that you're sitting, there's no way you could ever get out. And considering the fact that the RMCs actually do have high risk elements, while most B&M coasters (other than the hypers) are just pure vertical G's, its even more head scratching as to why the non-hypers all have OTSRs.

 

I'm also not a huge hater on the comfort collars. The collars are unnecessary, yes, but they're not as bad as straight up classic, clunky OTSR's. So I think that Tigris should still give some good hangtime.

[BlahBlahson]

My favorite options at BGT Howl o Scream are either Fright Feast or VIP Guided, for what you get.

 

Vip Guided started last year at $99 for the lowest priced nights. It included 3 hours of guided front of line to the houses, included alcohol, and including the ticket itself. That's cheaper than just the express passes for Universal HHN most of the time.

 

Fright Feast is what I've gotten 4 years running. Last year it was $33 after taxes, you also need to buy HOS ticket. You can enter the park 1 hour prior to regular park closing (time to do the Safari train or a coaster), then you have an open buffet in Pantopia Grille for 1 hour, and a mini-performance of the Fiends Show. Then you get 1.5 hours of Front of the Line Access to every Haunted House, I was able to do 5 out of 6 houses twice during that timeframe, so basically zero wait for all of them. Honestly I think Fright Feast is the best value of anything I've ever purchased in a theme park. You can do almost the whole event in 2 hours and get food, then the rest of the night is extremely chill.

Edited March 26, 2019 by BlahBlahson

[A.J.]

And considering the fact that the RMCs actually do have high risk elements, while most B&M coasters (other than the hypers) are just pure vertical G's, its even more head scratching as to why the non-hypers all have OTSRs.

It's not just about preventing people from "flying out" - in many cases, it's about keeping the riders' bodies in place and upright. If you were to ride Intimidator 305 without the vests, what condition would your back and neck be in when the ride was over? Or Olympia Looping, or the Edmonton Mindbender, with insanely-fast transitions to forces of over 5 Gs, without the shoulder bars? Or a ride where you hang over the edge, but without that vest or shoulder harness that your body can safely fall into?

 

I would argue that B&M coasters' heavy positive G forces are exactly what necessitates the use of their vest harnesses, for the above reason. And for the coasters that don't necessarily need them, why should B&M waste all of their resources developing a brand-new seat, restraint, and related mechanics when what they already have will do the job just fine?

 

Also, for B&M's existing coasters, like Kumba, Montu, and SheiKra, a conversion to a more modern, possibly free-bodied lap restraint is virtually impossible due to the need for more space per seat (since the bars stick out on either side, as opposed to being strictly forward then down, like a traditional shoulder harness).

 

I'm not saying you're wrong here, but a lap restraint on its own, overhead or otherwise, isn't always the correct solution. Rocky Mountain obviously knows how to design a coaster that is comfortable (or easy) enough in the positive-G sections to not have to worry about riders' bodies curling forward.

Edited March 25, 2019 by A.J.

[Nrthwnd]

^^ I'll take Door #2 (Fright Feast) please?

[ryder]

My favorite options at BGT Howl o Scream are either Fright Feast or VIP Guided, for what you get.

 

Vip Guided started last year at $99 for the lowest priced nights. It included 3 hours of guided front of line to the houses, included alcohol, and including the ticket itself. That's cheaper than just the express passes for Universal HHN most of the time.

 

Fright Feast is what I've gotten 4 years running. Last year it was $33 after taxes, you also need to buy HOS ticket. You can enter the park 1 hour prior to regular park closing (time to do the Safari train or a coaster), then you have an open buffet in Pantopia Grille for 1 hour, and a mini-performance of the Fiends Show. Then you get 1.5 hours of Front of the Line Access to every Haunted House, I was able to do 5 out of 6 houses twice during that timeframe, so basically zero wait for all of them. Honestly I think Fright Feast is the best value of anything I've ever purchased in a theme park. You can do almost the whole event in 2 hours and get food, then the rest of the night is extremely chill.

 

That's some great advice! But I know I'd also want to do many of the rides (since I haven't been to this park since Shriekra)... and I'd imagine the ride lines are huge? Definitely want to also do Falcon's Fury, and CoasterBill was saying that's closed during Howl o Scream (Cheetah Hunt is also a must). Or is there a way to also add ride FoL?

[coasterbill]

No, Falcon's Fury is open for Howl O Scream (unless it's broken which I mean... probably). The ride lineup is generally all adult coasters (except for Scorpion) and Falcon's Fury. Everything else is usually closed except for U Banga Banga Bumper Cars where they usually do some zombie thing.

[Dombot]

The ride lineup is generally all adult coasters (except for Scorpion)

Correction: Scorpion has been open the past two years I've been to the event. Maybe I'm just lucky, but it definitely has operated during HOS in the past and I wouldn't count it out.

[djcoastermark]

Helpful hint. We do this and it works for us. Get the early entry. If you get there early enough you can get on the skyride and Scorpion before the "Shutdown" We didn't do the show/food in the big hall but instead chose to do a few rides with little or no wait. Head to the front of the park when the houses open as these will fill up fast and work towards the back of the park. You will be able to hit all the houses early with very little waits and then have time to ride all night long with very little waits. The ride lines later in the eve are very short as most people are going for the haunts. To me, I love riding the coasters at 1 or 2 in the morning with little waits as opposed to waiting in line for an hour for a house.