Flying Unicorn Posted December 30, 2005 Posted December 30, 2005 Our 12-28-05 Trip to Busch Gardens My father and I recently got platinum passports to the Busch parks. So on Wednesday we decide to get them activated. We got up in the morning and went to Busch Gardens Tampa, a park both of us have not been to in a few years. We arrived at around 10:00am and headed in. Long before I got into coasters my father use to come here a lot and his favorite coaster was Montu. So naturally we went there first. Montu- Wow when you first get near Montu you walk through some very nice theaming. It’s no DD Castle but it is nice. The line was less then 5 minutes so we hoped on. This is an amazing ride. The lift hill was longer then anything I had every done up to it so I was a little scared. I was thinking I was going to break my dad’s wrist. As soon as we crested the lift though I was in heaven. I was yelling “Vertical Looooooop!” Truly a top-notch coaster. It’s B&M of course it’s great. After Montu we rode wait for it wait for it, Montu again! I love B&M Inverts! We then headed off in search of another credit. We got lost but finally found it, Scorpion! Scorpion- This was the big surprise of the day for me. It looks so tiny like a kiddie coaster with a loop but man it kicks! Amazingly it had a longer line then Montu! The cars left little room for the knees but that doesn’t matter. This ride is pure fun and really pulls some forces. After Scorpion we headed off for another credit. Then we saw it a truly classic ride Kumba! Kumba- It’s of little surprise to me that this ride put B&M on the map. It’s the most powerful forceful ride I have ever been on. This ride has a pretty much walk on wait which was nice. We got front row. Now I’ve never done anything like this the closest coaster in terms of big, looping and sit-down for me was hulk. Wow hulks got nothing on Kumba. Through the whole ride I was amazed at the forces. It’s a great ride with a really really great tunnel but it’s starting to show it’s age and banged our heads around a little. After Kumba we went for our next credit and my 30th, which alas was Python. My first arrow corkscrew and if they didn’t count as credits my last arrow corkscrew. Python- I still wonder how this ride had the second longest wait of the day. I swear it was like half an hour. When it was finally our turn we sat near the back and suffered. The restraints hurt my jaw on the drop out of the station. Holy crap it’s already painful and we haven’t even gotten to the lift hill. Needless to say it wasn’t the last time it hurt me. My entire head was in pain when we got off. Never Again! From python we had a great view of the ride we had been building up to. We were going to ride Gwazi first but I couldn’t wait. SheiKra- We arrived and were in awe. The ride is beautiful to look at which is good cause you will have plenty of time to look at it. The sign out front said 90 minutes but we didn’t care this was SheiKra the only dive machine in the country. Luckily the wait ended up only being around 50 minutes. I have waited that time for Cat in the Hat and trust me this is no Cat in the Hat. We got front row center. As soon as it took of from the station people began to scream, it was that good. The lift hill was unlike anything either one of us had ever done. It was so steep! It turns and you slowly head towards the drop and then the holding brakes kick in. You are looking straight down and believe me no matter how many times you see it happing or watch pov videos nothing nothing can prepare you for that feeling. Pure torture, and then a click and you go hurtling down through amazing airtime. From their on out you are having the ride of your life. I walked off in utter shock. It was the greatest thing I had ever ridden. I was in love. After SheiKra dear sweet SheiKra we headed off for our final credit of the day. Gwazi. Gwazi- The hardest thing about Gwazi wasn’t the wood no it was finding it. Not a single sign in site until you arrive at the bloody station. Third longest wait of the day, we choose Tiger manly because I heard they don’t run it much. I thought it was a dueling coaster, we only saw the other train once after the lift hill. Bah maybe DD has spoiled me. This was the biggest woodie I had ever ridden and if all wooden coasters are like that I’m sure I am a steel guy. It had lots of airtime nowhere near SheiKra though. It was rough as hell and was the only ride to ever give me a headache. It’s a credit though. After Gwazi Tiger we had lunch while a marching band played. We then left the park and tried to find guest services. After we found them we had our printed passport info changed into cards. They also gave us cool black bags that say Platinum Passport on them. Over all, the park is a lot better then I remember. It’s cleaned up a lot and SheiKra is a life-changing ride and I will be coming back again and again.
lagg Posted January 1, 2006 Posted January 1, 2006 Nice TR. Glad yoy had a good day, I shall be doing BGT in Febuary. It sounds like its one of the best parks in Florida. You should of done both tracks for Gwazi, you would of got another credit.
Erik Johnson Posted January 1, 2006 Posted January 1, 2006 I am glad you had a good time at BGT. I also like the park as well.
Homer Posted January 1, 2006 Posted January 1, 2006 no it was finding it. Gee, you didn't see that big hunk of wood from Morocco? Get your eyes checked... Anyways, glad you had a good time at BGT, and yes, Gwazi is rough. Python- I still wonder how this ride had the second longest wait of the day. Slow ops and one train operation. Its rare Busch drags out the second train for use.
TheStig Posted January 1, 2006 Posted January 1, 2006 ^ Homer, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Montu the god of the sky? Maybe I heard wrong... But yeah nice TR, it's my homepark so it make me happy when I hear good things from outsiders about it. Colin C
Homer Posted January 1, 2006 Posted January 1, 2006 ^Its the god of war, trust me. Wikipedia Article- Menthu In Egyptian mythology, Menthu was a hawk-god, of war. Menthu's name, shown in Egyptian hieroglyphs to the right, is technically transcribed as mntw. Because of the difficulty in transcribing Egyptian, it is often realised as Mentju, Montju, Menthu, Ment, Month, Montu, Mont or Minu'thi.
Guy T. Koepp Posted January 2, 2006 Posted January 2, 2006 Yeah, BGT was an awesome park. I had a great time there in October. I can't wait to get back. Montu is the best Invert I have ever been on. I'm hoping to get on Alpengeist in the near future. Guy "Lovin' BGT." Koepp
cfc Posted January 2, 2006 Posted January 2, 2006 Definitely need to show up at BGT with my platinum passport, too--maybe next October.
Blazen_AZN Posted January 2, 2006 Posted January 2, 2006 i have got to habd it to you, this is one of the only "non-photo" TRs ive bothered to read... probably because you got to the point and bascially reviewed the rides.. hope you had a great time!
lapseofreason Posted January 2, 2006 Posted January 2, 2006 i have got to habd it to you, this is one of the only "non-photo" TRs ive bothered to read... probably because you got to the point and bascially reviewed the rides.. hope you had a great time! :whines because her digital camera broke: someday...SOMEDAY I will write GREAT PHOTO TR'S!!!
Shockwave Posted January 2, 2006 Posted January 2, 2006 Great trip report! Pretty much everything to do with Florida is getting me excited for when I visit in 10 weeks time. 8)
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