WildStangAlex Posted March 22, 2010 Posted March 22, 2010 (edited) Hi All, Me and a friend went to the Tampa Bay Area for our Spring Break last week, and we hit up Busch Gardens for two days, since the second day is free anyhow. There is just so much to do in the Bay area, including beautiful beaches, tons of mini golf, indoor and outdoor go-karts and lots of bowling alleys. We geocached and successfully found 5 caches. We also found a carnival in a mall parking lot and rode each ride once. Food in the Bay area is delicious, especially any of the Frenchy's restaurants out at Clearwater Beach, and any Cody's Roadhouse, which includes unlimited salad and rolls with all entrees. The first day (Tuesday, March 16, 2010) at Busch Gardens, was a relatively empty day at the park. We had walk on rides for all of the coasters except (surprisingly) Scorpion. Gwazi was running rough on both tracks 6/10[lion], 5/10[tiger]. Montu was slow in the morning, but as the day went on, it sped up considerably, and offered some very intense rides. Loved it! 10/10. Kumba was a bit rougher than I remember, but had amazing pacing and was really intense and fun 10/10. Skeikra was purely amazing, not only was it as smooth as butter, but there was some surprise airtime, and the ride was so perfectly incorporated into Stanleyville 10/10. Scorpion packs a punch for such a small coaster. 9/10. We had lunch at the Zambia Smokehouse, which was hands down the best [non-Disney] theme park food I have ever had. We got a 1/4 Chicken, 2 pieces of Brisket, 2 huge country ribs, fries, and a dinner roll all for around $13. It was definitely worth it. We saw the show Let's Dance and got on the Sky Ride just before the park closed at 7 pm. The second day (Thursday, March 18, 2010) was considerably more crowded, but still the park offered very short rides on most of it's popular attractions. Today the Sky Ride was closed due to high winds, but we made it on the Log Flume twice, and Tanganyka Tidal Wave early in the morning before changing and hitting up the coasters and ALL of the animal attractions. We rode the train shortly before we left at 4 pm. I hope you enjoy the pictures from our day at the park. The park entrance (Morocco) Gwazi- running both sides simultaneously Entrance I wish it were smoother Drinks Once the hospitality house, now the Garden Cafe Butterfly Topiary Blue McCaws Threesome! an up-skirt view of Shakira Damn you so sexy! 70 mph.... Shakira's a squirter She's just such a part of Stanleyville! Jungala Orangatan Damn Glare Signatre Shot Cobra Roll Love Awesome, yet simple, maneuver Lifthill action B&M's first dive loop Feel the STING of the SCORPION Really Really intense for such a small coaster! Schwarzkopf Loops Rock! The Rhino Rally, with the Water Portion fully functional White Rhino Nairobi Train Station Tortoise Myombe Reserve He fits in well Gorillas Crown Colony House Turtle in Edge of Africa Nile Crocodile (used to be below Montu) Nala The Sarengeti Plain Montu Cheetah Chase, yo Best thing in Tut's Tomb! Zebra Boiler Up! Sheikra...Through the PALM trees! Roar Hope you Enjoyed! Edited March 23, 2010 by WildStangAlex
jjune4991 Posted March 22, 2010 Posted March 22, 2010 Awesome update! I really need to get there soon. But no photos of the upcoming attractions? No Sesame or "roller coaster"?
alpengeist04 Posted March 22, 2010 Posted March 22, 2010 Those are some great pictures!!! ...Nicely done.
WildStangAlex Posted March 22, 2010 Author Posted March 22, 2010 Sesame/Air Grover are completely walled off and impossible to take pics of sorry
Homer Posted March 22, 2010 Posted March 22, 2010 I haven't visited the park in a while, but when did Gwazi's trains lose their art on the front of the trains? I know there's a possibility of Millennium Flyers being installed, but just wondering. Great trip report though.
DBru Posted March 23, 2010 Posted March 23, 2010 Excellent PTR! It's been years since I visited BGT, and I can't WAIT to get back. SheiKra looks awesome. Thanks for sharing!
Looty Posted March 23, 2010 Posted March 23, 2010 Awesome PhotoTR!!!...that last photo of the sunset is truly exceptional (it would make a great wallpaper). BGA is one of the best parks in the U.S. in my opinion...I never get bored there.
PAL Posted March 23, 2010 Posted March 23, 2010 We'll be there in just about a week. Thanks for the preview. Anticipation! You didn't rate Scorpion. Did you ride?
WildStangAlex Posted March 23, 2010 Author Posted March 23, 2010 You didn't rate Scorpion. Did you ride? Yes, we did, I forgot... I edited my post, 9/10
sam06pr Posted March 23, 2010 Posted March 23, 2010 I recommend everyone to ride Scorpion and SheiKra first or last, since scorpion gets a big line during the day and SheiKra shut downs several times a day...
spaceace12 Posted March 23, 2010 Posted March 23, 2010 Boiler Up! "Hail, hail to old Purdue! All hail to our old gold and black!" Nice TR. Are you a senior this year? If not, I will be there in the fall to watch a football game and see you play in the band. Band junkies and fans unite!
coasterking2981 Posted March 23, 2010 Posted March 23, 2010 Whatever happened to the Millenium Flyer trains that were testing on Gwazi?
Hockeydad Posted March 23, 2010 Posted March 23, 2010 Great TR! Now I want to go to BGA more than ever. We may be down that way next year, and if so, we need to stop here for a few days. That park always looks so impressive. It always looks Clean, and the animals always look so healthy and content compared to what I'm used to seeing at the zoos around here.
sam06pr Posted March 23, 2010 Posted March 23, 2010 Whatever happened to the Millenium Flyer trains that were testing on Gwazi? Apparently, nothing, one day they are there and the next they are gone. I guess they did their test runs already...
WildStangAlex Posted March 23, 2010 Author Posted March 23, 2010 That park always looks so impressive. It always looks Clean, and the animals always look so healthy and content compared to what I'm used to seeing at the zoos around here. I couldn't agree more. The best part is that most of the animals don't appear to be caged. Obviously, they are restrained to their areas, but to the General Public, it looks as though they are free to go anywhere.
Coasterfrk49 Posted March 23, 2010 Posted March 23, 2010 Great pictures! That track on Kumba is really starting to look old and nasty. Great ride, but it sure isn't aesthetically pleasing right now. I wonder when that last time it got a paint job was?
bobobobone Posted March 23, 2010 Posted March 23, 2010 I guess we can only hope, that busch was going to order their own pair of flyers after they tested them. Which would explain why the old trains are back.
tiger01 Posted March 23, 2010 Posted March 23, 2010 Neat! Paint on the cobra roll isn't looking it's best. Still a great ride! I've always wanted to ride montu! Some Really Good Photos!
pkdcoaster Posted March 24, 2010 Posted March 24, 2010 Nice pics Kumba was painted in May 2006 I believe I think it is scheduled to be down this May too so it might get some love. That bleeding rust look is not cool JEFF
WildStangAlex Posted March 24, 2010 Author Posted March 24, 2010 That bleeding rust look is not cool I actually really like the look, , but if it's getting painted, I'd like that too!
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