Blue0ctane Posted April 3, 2006 Share Posted April 3, 2006 Well, it's confirmed. I'm going to Busch Gardens on Friday, May 5th. The next day I'll be going to Adventure Island for a bar mitzvah party, and it'll be closed down to the public. Now, I've never been to either. I know about Busch, but what about Adventure Island? What rides are good? What rides will be under construction? Stefan, the bar mitzvah kid, said that Tampa Typhoon would be closed. So what are some good alternative water slides? Also, how long should it take to get up to Tampa? My mother says we'll leave around 8:30 AM, and I live in Boca Raton. Google Maps says that it'll take 4 hours, 20 minutes, but this is a Friday, and we're actually going to take I-75 (going through Naples and Alligator Alley) as opposed to I-95. So, how long do you think it will take? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarryH Posted April 3, 2006 Share Posted April 3, 2006 From Ft. Myers to Dania Beach, it takes me about 3 hours. Ft. Myers to Tampa takes me about 3 hours. So with traffic, I would say it'll take about 5 hours. During rush hour, it always seems some truck flips over or there's an accident, so be careful if you are travelling during those times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue0ctane Posted April 3, 2006 Author Share Posted April 3, 2006 I dunno, 8:30 AM doesn't seem to be near rush hour, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLUSHIE Posted April 3, 2006 Share Posted April 3, 2006 What time do people work over there? Rush hour(s) here is like... 6:30-10:00am Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 Traffic around Naples on 75 is always horrible. HORRIBLE. I have never driven through that area at or near the speed limit. Anyway, Miami to Tampa is almost exactly 5 hours on 75. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 I love Adventure Island! Yeah I noticed that they've actually pulled Tampa Typhoon from the maps. From a quick driveby on our way to BGT I couldn't even see that one, or Gulf Scream. The new slide looked pretty much open and done, but it looks to have pretty low capacity. Don't Miss: Everglides, New Slide, 3 Adult body slides that you climb the waterfall to, Activity Pool, Wahoo Run, Splash Attack, Water Moccasin. Damn, I can't believe I still remember all of the names!!!! As for the traffic, yeah I-75 seems to always be pretty amusing. You'll go 80 a lot of the way, then there will be some fire, or overturned truck, or an overpass that randomly fell down. Sweet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebl Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 ^ "...an overpass that randomly fell down." That doesn't exactly make me want to go back to Tampa... Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterFanatic Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 ^^ Totally accurate. Of the 3 years I lived in Tampa, I think I spent at least two of them sitting on 75 and 275. Unless you are from around the area, you have no understanding how 50% of all wrecked cars magically catch on fire in Tampa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue0ctane Posted April 4, 2006 Author Share Posted April 4, 2006 Maybe now I'll convince my mother to take the I-95 way. Thanks for the info, Elissa. Any idea what the new slide is about? It is totally sweet that if it is open by May, we'll be able to ride it with no lines. I <3 no lines. I'm looking at a park map from 2004 of Adventure Island right now (don't ask how I got it), and it shows some really cool rides - Gulfscream, Calypso Coaster, Aruba Tuba, Key West Rapids, Wahoo Run, and Caribbean Corkscrew. Any news if any of these are still up> Tampa Typoon looks REALLY bad-ass, I can't believe it's closed down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 I would recomend the turnpike, actually. It's somewhat more direct, and will shave some time off the trip. If you take 95, you basically have to go straight up, and then straight over. Taking the turnpike (at the very least from Ft. Pierce to Orlando) will shave a bit of time off the trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted April 4, 2006 Share Posted April 4, 2006 I disagree about taking the turnpike. Then you're dumped way north in Orlando. Take Alligator Alley/75, it will be fine. As for the new slide, it's one of the mat racer ones that starts up at the top together enclosed, does a big turn then races down some dips to the bottom, very fun. I told you about a bunch of the rides already. Aruba Tuba/Calypso Coaster is a basic tube slide. Corkscrew is a standard corkscrew slide, I'm not sure if Tampa Typhoon and Gulfscream are still there. Key West Rapids was cool when it opened, but then had issues so they turned it more into a basic tube slide with some stopping pools along the way down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue0ctane Posted April 5, 2006 Author Share Posted April 5, 2006 Wow, that sounds boring now. I've never been on a "standard corkscrew" slide before, and I suppose Aruba Tuba sounds pretty fun, but it sure sounds like they wimped out on the park a bunch since 2004. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three Posted April 5, 2006 Share Posted April 5, 2006 My ideal, quickest route directions (a bit more complicated, but more direct) 95 to Ft. Pierce Ft. Pierce to Yeehaw Junction on turnpike Yeehaw Junction to Bartow on 60 North on Bartow Highway to Polk Parkway Polk Parkway east to I-4 I-4 east to I-75 first exit is Busch Gardens'. edit: As for cool rides at Adventure Island? Nothing beats Everglides. Unless you've been on something similar elsewhere (I hadn't). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue0ctane Posted April 10, 2006 Author Share Posted April 10, 2006 OK, I've heard that there isn't that much traffic on I-75, that taking I-95 is actually slower because of the Orlando traffic. Anybody want to verify this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted April 10, 2006 Share Posted April 10, 2006 Just take I-75! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheStig Posted April 18, 2006 Share Posted April 18, 2006 Listen to the lady, I take I-75 all the way to BGT/AI, its just easier from where your coming from. As for Adventure Island, I seriously havent been there in maybe 4 years, but its a really great water park. Make sure you wear a lot of sunscreen though because its starting to get mad hot in FL, and you'll butn to a crisp! As for slides, Wahoo Run usuially has a fairly decent wait on a normal day, but its worth it if you have a bunch of friends with you. Make sure you hit both the adult and kiddie body slides. There is one adult one that the name skipss my mind right now but it has airtime! Everglides is pretty cool too, just don't eat it right after you get off the slide portion (I did and got a concussion ). But besides that, have fun! Oh and also, pick up one of those squirt tube things they sell, they are funy to hose people down with that you know on slides and whatnot... Colin C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doom1001 Posted April 22, 2006 Share Posted April 22, 2006 When I head to BGT from Miami I almost always take I -75, I live like 20 miles south of where I-75 starts so it's like 285 miles, since the Fowler ave. exit is 265. It takes me about 4.5 hours. Sometimes I've gone up US 27 to highway 70 and meet up again with 75 by Bradenton, it takes longer but sometimes I can't stand 80 miles of nothing in Alligator Alley.I wouldn't even think of leaving at 8:30 am and taking 95 unless if you want to be by West Palm by 10:00.Taking the turnpike to Yeehaw jct. and 60 across could be alright but I've never tried it. It's a bummer they took out the Tampa Typhoon to replace it with Riptide which better be excellent since I'm not a fan of replacing rides, seems like they could've found space somewhere to add this ride and leave the other ones alone!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three Posted April 22, 2006 Share Posted April 22, 2006 What's wrong with Aligator Alley? It's like Florida's very own friggin' autobahn! ...not that I'm, er, advocating illegal activity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue0ctane Posted April 29, 2006 Author Share Posted April 29, 2006 Make sure you wear a lot of sunscreen though because its starting to get mad hot in FL, and you'll butn to a crisp! I'm going at night. I think I'll wear Under Armour. I wouldn't even think of leaving at 8:30 am and taking 95 unless if you want to be by West Palm by 10:00. It's taken me an hour to get from Hollywood (Florida) to Boca, and that was hell by itself, but ouch. It's a bummer they took out the Tampa Typhoon to replace it with Riptide which better be excellent since I'm not a fan of replacing rides, seems like they could've found space somewhere to add this ride and leave the other ones alone!! Yeah. I really wanted to ride Tampa Typhoon. So yeah, now some real questions. Should I get my mother to buy BGT tickets online, at Yeehaw, at AAA, or at the park? (Looking for cheapest solution.) What rides are expected to be closed? Does BGT have a single rider line for any attractions? And sorry for putting up such a hassle with the driving, but I was looking efficiency. :-/ I'm stupid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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