Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (BGT Discussion Thread)

[YoshiFan]

Update from today:

Crowds were surprisingly low for Spring Break. Most of the coasters were 10 - 20 minutes except Cheetah Hunt and Cobra's Curse.

[Skysthelimit]

We stayed overnight in Tampa after going to the Madonna concert last night. I worked a half day from the hotel and we decided to visit the park for a few hours given we were down the road.

We arrived around 1 and started with Serengeti Flyer, Kumba, Sheikra. Iron Gwazi and wrapped things up with back left on Montu. 
 

Operations were surprisingly good. Montu and Kumba were both running two trains with little to no stacking and Sheikra was running 3 trains. Iron Gwazi just seems to keep getting better with age. Outside of the Texan RMCs, I think this one has the best lap bars. The ops don’t staple and the lap bars don’t tighten at all during the ride - good stuff. The Skyride was closed for no apparent reason but otherwise a good day. Friday must be the sweet spot for operations lately. 
 

Lastly, I swear that Sheikra is the least-rattlyest B&M coaster out there. Restraints aside, it rides like a dream compared to Valravn and Dr D. that have a noticeable up and down shake to them. 

[thrillseeker4552]

Boyfriend is out of town this weekend so I had a nice solo visit to the park today. Iron Gwazi had surprisingly "fast" dispatches (average around 90 seconds) which is a sweet spot interval for not stacking trains. Cheetah Hunt was also running 4 trains / 2 stations with decent operations too. Kumba's newly refurbished train 1 is running like a dream and I had some of the best rides I've had on it. It and Montu were also on two trains and dispatching quickly and overall it was a very good day at the park. Only downside is Scorpion was closed (seemingly unexpectedly) and Cheetah Hunt went down in the afternoon. I left around 3:00 and it still hadn't come back up.

The weather was also absolutely perfect. Clear skies and upper 70s. Trying to enjoy this nice weather before things start becoming grossly hot next month.

[YoshiFan]

Most (or maybe all?) of the track is in place. I couldn't get the best view or pictures as the Skyride was closed. They got a lot done in the 19 days since I was last there. It also looks like Pass Member previews will be next month according to the rewards page on the website.

 

 

[YoshiFan]

Update from Thursday last week. With the track complete, it looks like they are working on the station building. The annual pass previews have been moved from May to June. I thought May was kind of optimistic.

 

There is also a wall up heading into the Tree Top Trails are of Jungala.

 

Also if anyone is planning to ride the Sky Ride when they visit, I suggest riding earlier in the day. When it first re-opened, it closed at 4 on Monday - Thursday when the park closes at 6. Then it changed to closing at 6 with the rest of the park. On Thursday, no times were listed and it was already closed for the day at 3:45. I guess now it closes whenever they feel like it (it didn't appear to be weather related).

 

[YoshiFan]

If anyone is planning on going to the park for Phoenix Rising's opening, I think the park put out the wrong date. Here is the post from the other day:

I just got an e-mail from the park about the Passport to Thrills event and they list the previews as the following:

"Saturday, 7/13: Platinum Pass Member Preview, 10-5pm

Sunday, 7/14: Platinum and Gold Pass Member Preview (10am – 9pm)

Monday, 7/15: Platinum, Gold, and Silver Pass Member Preview, (2pm-9pm)

Tuesday, 7/16: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze Pass Member Preview (2pm- 9pm)

Wednesday, 7/17:  All Pass Member and Fun Card Preview (10am- 9pm)"

Based on that it doesn't seem like it is opening to everyone on the 14th.

[YoshiFan]

I went to Busch Gardens yesterday to ride Phoenix Rising. I was able to get 1 ride before previews ended and then some more rides during Passport to Thrills.

It's a mostly tame coaster as expected but in the back of the train, there were some more forces than I was expecting.  There was a slight rattle but less noticeable than Penguin Trek's and didn't take anything away from the ride. I also thought it was better than the 2 Vekoma family inverted coasters I have ridden at Fun Spot Orlando and Kings Island with steeper banked turns on Phoenix Rising.

They built a very small queue for the ride. It can hold around a 20 - 30 minute line at the most. There is only 1 train and slow dispatches with everyone from the previous ride needing to exit before the air gates open for the next train. Combined with this being one of only 2 coasters in the park without an inversion (besides the kids coaster), it's probably going to be very popular with long waits once it opens to the public.

The Passport to Thrills party was also great other than them not letting people in until 6 when they originally stated you could check in at 5:30 which caused the line to go past Scorpion. They gave out first rider buttons (also available during previews), popcorn, drinks and a Phoenix Rising fanny pack that was originally supposed to be available for all pass members until the end of the month. There was also a DJ and free face painting.

 

 

 

[prozach626]

delete

[tndank]

RIP Scorpion.  Last day is 9/2.

https://x.com/BuschGardens/status/1826985253707137415

 

[Zand]

5 minutes ago, tndank said:

RIP Scorpion.  Last day is 9/2.

https://x.com/BuschGardens/status/1826985253707137415

 

So Cedar Point can give a months notice to ride a water ride before it closes, but Busch Gardens only gives 9 days for a classic coaster that I'm sure has been in the plans for months. Okay.

I really need to ride Shockwave at SFOT, feels like it may be the last Schwartzkopf with intensity left (that hasn't been neutered by Six Flags).

[Skysthelimit]

Surely the 5% surcharge has generated enough cash to keep Scorpion running. 

[YoshiFan]

sooperdooperLooper is one of my favorite coasters at Hershey and I also really liked Laser at Dorney so when I moved from PA to FL, I was glad that Scorpion was here so I still could ride a Schwarzkopf looper frequently. It's sad to see it being removed. I agree less than 2 weeks notice is not good. For anyone non local, it doesn't give them much of a chance to get their final rides in.

[Halian]

On 8/23/2024 at 10:39 AM, Zand said:

So Cedar Point can give a months notice to ride a water ride before it closes, but Busch Gardens only gives 9 days for a classic coaster that I'm sure has been in the plans for months. Okay.

Typical private equity behavior from our friends at UP&E: squeeze everything to the bone and beyond to make line go up faster. Enshittification has come to the theme park industry.

Unrelated to that, I think their practice of surge-pricing ECVs is completely and utterly disgusting. (Thankfully, I have a power wheelchair of my own now, after leg injuries severely hampered my mobility.)

[prozach626]

I don't think a park needs to cater to an exceptionally small fraction of a percent of people who would go across the country just to have a final ride on Scorpion. I'm not surprised they're removing an intermediate roller coaster since they just added one.

[jedimaster1227]

Keep in mind that this coaster has been operating with one train and reduced operating hours for some time… And it still hasn’t garnered significant wait times or demand.

If you compare that to the ridership counts of other legacy coasters in the chain like Loch Ness Monster, the ROI for operating Scorpion just isn’t there. 
 

While Scorpion is a solid coaster and a good entry-level option for guests to choose for their first inverting coaster, it hasn’t warranted a major sendoff campaign and the ridership and guest trends will back this up. The coaster has been operating on borrowed time for years and guests haven’t been playing trips to the park specifically for it before, so there’s zero reason to believe that a significant amount of guests will flock to the park in the next nine days to send it off. 

[bert425]

that quick closure does have me wondering if maybe they really didn't have a choice.

how does Theme Park Insurance work?   if they found something really wrong or a potential hazardous situation, could an Insurance provider say - close by end of the month, or we drop you?

could it possibly be something like that?

Just wondering out loud.

[jedimaster1227]

^ I would imagine if there were anything dire it would have been recognized some time ago and wouldn’t have been allowed to continue operating if it was significant enough to lead to a permanent closure. While I’m no expert in code/safety violations, I can’t imagine a scenario where any agency or inspector would allow unsafe conditions to go unaddressed while the ride still operates in violation/at risk. Immediate closure with the latitude to reopen once the issue has been satisfactorily mitigated would likely be the best case outcome in such a scenario. 
 

I think it is much safer to err on the side of Phoenix Rising opening right next door as a justification to replace one (aged, increasingly costly/difficult to maintain with low ridership/demand) moderate thrill coaster with another (brand new, marketable, easy to maintain) of the same class, with no real need to operate both. 

[Hilltopper39]

I feel like the last couple of visits to BGT Scorpion always had a decent little que but that might have been just because of it's height requirement. Now with Phoenix Rising open right next door I gues movingon makes sense.

I do hope Scorpion get a chance to be rebuilt somewhere else, surely someone would like a chance to operate it, I would love to see that ride at Knoebels.

The one thing I'm kind of excited for with this is to see what they do with that little plot of land. If there were a pathway from that corner of Pantopia over the train tracks into Stanleyville area next to Sheikra that would be a huge improvement for walking that park. It's a pretty big loop and a cut through right there would be really nice. 

[YoshiFan]

BGT sent out an email today pushing back the closing date to September 8th. 

”Good news, thrill seekers! There's even more time to enjoy the twists and turns of the iconic Scorpion roller coaster, because we've extended the closing date to Sept. 8, 2024. This unique coaster has been a fan favorite since 1980, and it’s your last chance to experience a piece of history. While we say goodbye to Scorpion, exciting new attractions are on the horizon.”

[prozach626]

If I had Oprah money, I'd buy parks and close down popular attractions completely without notice just to lurk forums and social media. I305 would be closed immediately and go SNBO for no particular reason. Steel Vengeance would be demolished and replaced with SFSTL's carousel, which would remain under refurbishment for five more years.

 

 

I'm not joking.

[Zand]

Today's featured wiki article

I'm still sad that I've been to BGT twice and it was closed both times. Definitely the most unique drop tower I've ever seen.

[YoshiFan]

I went back today to get some more Scorpion rides in. I was surprised to see the park hours listed at the parking booths as 10 - 5. This is a recent change as it was showing closings at 6 recently. Now every Monday - Thursday in September and Monday - Wednesday in October have those hours. It's understandable as the park is empty on those days. Even with the heat index at around 100 degrees, the log flume was a complete walk on.

I do feel bad for any people visiting for the day. Serengeti Flyer and Congo Rapids are closed with no reopening date listing. Iron Gwazi was closed all day with Sheikra also having some downtime. With the carousel and Skyride closing in the next few days for refurbishment, that leaves the train, log flume, bumper cars and Falcon's Fury as the only non coaster rides operating in the entire park.

[jedimaster1227]

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has announced "Wild Oasis" coming to Jungala in 2025. This updated corner of the land will feature a refurbished and updated family drop tower (formerly known as "Wild Surge"), a new climbing structure, new water play areas and added animal exhibits. 

https://buschgardens.com/tampa/kid-friendly/wild-oasis/ 

Wild Oasis

Opening Spring 2025 to Entertain, Educate and Inspire

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay invites explorers of all ages to "Wild Oasis", an interactive, re-imagined realm designed to entertain, educate and inspire. Guests will be immersed in the sounds and sights of the rainforest and engage in activities that touch on its many elements, including a newly themed drop-tower ride with engaging special effects, a high-energy climbing canopy, a new multi-species habitat and interactive water play areas. Guests are challenged to explore even further by engaging in a scavenger hunt highlighting the connections and relationships between different species in the rainforest.

[prozach626]

Man. The industry seems to be trending back to families. It's ironic, since pop culture is trending away from families. There seems to be a disconnect here.

[Hilltopper39]

1 hour ago, prozach626 said:

Man. The industry seems to be trending back to families. It's ironic, since pop culture is trending away from families. There seems to be a disconnect here.

I think the industry is trending more towards "what the f*** is going to happen in the next 6 to 18 months? We better stop spending money now and do everything we can to cut costs just incase because it aint looking good", and sprucing up a previously existing family area is just a convenient low cost maintenance project that they can market as a new addition.

 

Also I loved Jungala so any signs of life back in that area of the park are welcome.