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Busch Gardens Tampa
Tampa, FL
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
Click to buy Busch Gardens Tampa tickets
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(2/3/12) Busch Gardens Tampa is offering special Valentine themed Serengeti Night Safari Showcases on Feb. 14th. “Venture through Edge of Africa to witness the active nighttime behaviors of (MORE...)
(2/3/12) You can catch a 9-minute video of Iceploration as shot by our friends at BGTNation.
(2/2/12) Keith, our man on the streets of Florida, went down to Busch Gardens Tampa on Wednesday for the media preview performance of the new Iceploration show. I’ve posted his review below: (MORE...)
(1/30/12) Legend from CoasterCrew was visiting BGT over the weekend and managed to grab a photo of survey work in progress at the Sandstorm ride. Looks like the rumors about it being replaced (MORE...)
Ride Rehabs - The following information is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate.
Current information can be found at their ride rehab page.
Gwazi Lion - NOW CLOSED through Mar. 2, 2012 (Tiger Still Open)
Snuffy’s Romp - Feb. 6 through Feb. 14
Busch Flyers - Feb. 20 through Feb. 28
 General Park News - (2/3/12) Busch Gardens Tampa is offering special Valentine themed Serengeti Night Safari Showcases on Feb. 14th. “Venture through Edge of Africa to witness the active nighttime behaviors of hippos, lions and hyenas, lit only by moonlight and handheld lanterns. Then, on the Serengeti Plain, use night-vision monoculars and special filtered lighting to view free-roaming herds of giraffes, zebra, rhinos and other intriguing African animals. After your amazing animal adventure, cozy up around a roaring bonfire to hear colorful tales of African folklore.” Before and after your trip you can hang out in the Safari Club with appetizers and adult beverages while you wait and end things with a special nightcap of champagne and chocolate-dipped strawberries. All for $60 per person. Call 1-888-800-5447 to make your reseravations.
(1/27/12) BGTNation has posted a preview look at the acts performing at Viva La Musica this season.
(1/23/12) BGTNation has posted a review and photos of the Burn the Floor 2012 show at the park.
(1/16/12) BGTNation has posted a photo report showing off a new show at the Desert Grill called Mystical Mirage that featuring lots of percussion and belly dancers.
(1/13/12) The new Animal Care Center held a sneak preview for invited guests and BGTNation was there, camera in hand to cover the event with still pics and a nice video showing off some patients getting medical care.
(1/10/12) SeaWorld and Busch Gardens in Florida are offering a Preschool Pass for Florida residents ages 5 and younger. The pass is valid for unlimited admission, with no blackout dates, through to December 31st, 2012. For details on how to get one visit the official Preschool Pass page.
(1/3/12) A quick update for you Android phone fans… Busch Gardens HAS launched the Android version of their official park app to the Android Market in late December. The app will use your GPS to guide you through the park, offer park details and tips to get the most out of your day, with route guides , show schedules and ride wait times. The app is also good for both the Tampa and Williamsburg locations.
(1/2/12) Busch Gardens Tampa has now opened a new Full-Service Bar inside the Desert Grill. Check out a few pictures of the new facility posted over at BGTNation.
(12/30/11) Warning…
you’re about to be exposed to a bit of over the top cuteness. Busch Gardens Tampa has sent out a picture showing off their newest baby Giraffe which was just born on Dec. 27th and is already 5ft 7” and weighs in at 127 pounds. Mama and Baby are in an area out of guests view for now, but will join the rest of the giraffe population in about three months.
(12/27/11) The construction walls around the new Animal Care Center building at the park have come down. While it wont open until late January, you can see the themed exterior in the latest update at BGTNation.
(12/19/11) Starting January 1st, your beverage options at the 10 SeaWorld Entertainment parks across the country will take a sudden shift, as a new 10-year sponsor deal with Coca-Cola Co. will kick into effect, removing Pepsi products from the park. Coke and SeaWorld do have a long history together, as Coke was the official drink sponsor for the SeaWorld parks (or Sea World parks as they were spelled back then, long before they were purchased and merged with the Busch parks).
Coke was dropped in favor of Pepsi back on Jan. 1st, 1988 by SeaWorld’s then owners, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich and the partnership was continued under the ownership of Anheuser-Busch. Pepsi was long rumored to have an edge over Coke under the Busch era because Pepsi was a major client of the Busch owned Metal Container Corporation who supplier Pepsi with a large percentage of their aluminum cans. So after a 24 year run… Coke will return at last.
(11/28/11) According to a picture posted on Twitter, Gwazi Lion appears to be in the process of re-tracking the lift hill. Meanwhile you can also take a peek around the park during a recent ACE event, as reported by JohnnyUpsideDown.
(11/22/11) BGT Nation has posted a photo review showing off the park’s Holiday events.
(11/18/11) A little bird has told me that the Garden Gate Café at BGT is currently undergoing some extensive renovations, and should be quite a sight when it reopens.
(11/2/11) Busch Gardens Tampa has announced a few items this week. For starters, the Fun Card program is back for 2012, where you can pay for a day and ‘play all year’. If you buy it now, you can get in for the remainder of 2011 as well for no additional cost.
The park has also listed a line up of special events and concerts for 2012.
Jan. 13: Jack Hanna
Jan. 18 - Mar. 24: Real Music Concert Series
Jan. 18-21: Terry Myers Orch w/ Swing Sisters
Jan. 25-28: Glenn Miller Orch w/ The Diamonds
Feb. 1-4: Tony Orlando
Feb. 8-11: Frankie Avalon
Feb. 15-18: Osmond Brothers
Feb. 22-25: Herman’s Hermits
Feb. 29-Mar. 3: The Ventures
Mar. 7-10: Rita Coolidge
Mar. 14-17: The Grass Roots
Mar. 21-24: Marylin McCoo & Billy David Jr.
Feb. 11 – Mar 4: Bands, Brew & BBQ
Feb. 12: Lynyrd Skynyrd
Feb. 19: Brett Michaels
Feb. 26: 38 Special
Mar. 4: REO Speedwagon
Apr. 16-May 6: Viva La Musica
June 9 – Aug. 12: Summer Nights w/ the return of Kinetix and coasters after dark.
(10/25/11) BGTNation has posted some construction progress photos showing off the new Animal Care Center which is set to open in 2012.
(10/19/11) Watch as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders take on Howl-O-Scream’s Dark Side of the Gardens in this latest video released by the park. Awesome fun and lots and lots of screaming. Check it out below!
(10/18/11) Busch Gardens Tampa has announced their entertainment lineup for the park’s first ever 12th Grade Grad Night event on Friday, April 27th (7pm to 2am). In addition to all the thrill rides, the park will also feature a concert by Cobra Starship and a performance by comedian Gabriel Iglesias (who was quite funny in the bits I’ve heard over the years).
(10/5/11) The concert lineup for the park’s 2012 Real Music Series can currently be found over at BGTNation. Nothing too exciting however, unless you’re a fan of old time Big Bands (Glenn Miller Orchestra) or 50’s/60’s music (Frankie Avalon, Tony Orlando, etc).
(10/3/11) Videos showing off Fiends and The Midnight Hour shows at Howl-O-Scream as well as a peek inside some of the park’s haunts have been posted to YouTube by BGTNation.
(7/15/11) Picking up the slack from Disney’s end to Grad Night events, Busch Gardens Tampa will host their first ever Grad Night event in 2012 on April 27 and 28. According to Busch Gardens the event will officially kick off each night at 8pm and last until 2am, however schools are allowed to arrive at the park as early as 6pm.
 2011 - Howl-O-Scream 2011 - Review by Justin Hitaffer
Introduction - This year’s itinerary at Busch Gardens Howl-O-Scream includes a few all-new attractions, including Ultimate Gamble: Midnight Casino, Nevermore, and Zombie Mortuary. Other returning favorites are the Nightshade Toy Factory, Death row Vengeance: Fear the Dead, and Deconstruction: The Doctor Is Out of Control. Also included was the new Alone house; in which you and up to 3 other people can journey into.
Ultimate Gamble: Vampire Casino - One of the newest Haunted Houses, we were granted the honor of being the first to enter. Prior to entering, you are greeted by the owner of the Revivara Casino, and he ushers you into a casino that is run entirely by vampires.
Atmosphere - 4 / I enjoyed how realistic all of the slot machines and tables looked; it helped make it feel as if we were in an actual casino. As you progressed, it kept that sense of realism; things you imagine being in the back doors of a casino were represented nicely, yet it got creepier after every turn you made.
Story - 5 / The story is of a casino called the Revivara Casino, which is supposedly “set off of a major highway, where all travelers pass by.” The theme of the attraction was kept very linear, and the story was very believable in my eyes.
Fear Factor - 4 / In the end, it really comes down to how frightening you think vampires are. But it is their charm, wit, and appearance of humanity that ends up being truly frightening. There was a lots of blood, and *Spoiler Alert* the room full of categorized hearts, right before the kitchen, was what really sealed the deal for me.
Nevermore - Another of the new Haunted Houses is Nevermore, described as a “gothic’s terror.” You journey into the manor of Lenore, and are overcome with the nightmare and torment that haunts the lord of the house.
Atmosphere - 5 / The attention to detail in this one was just staggering. The statues that hid the people looked very much alike, and they got me a few times. And the repeated use of the phrase “Nevermore” really embodied the main theme of paranoia in this house.
Story - 4 / This story was a bit more difficult to grasp in the beginning, as there isn’t as much a tangible theme, such as “zombies” or “vampires”. But the underlying theme of paranoia and nightmares are what really end up being the most realistic and terrifying upon further evaluation.
Fear Factor - 3 / The fear of the attraction is really dependent upon how well you understand it. Not as much blood and gore as others, but the use of statues and the like (things that are in plain view) can end up being as frightening as someone popping up from nowhere.
Zombie Mortuary - The last of the new houses, it centers on a small-town funeral home infested with zombies. These zombies feast on the mourners to satiate their hunger.
Atmosphere - 4 / The house sported some very nice attention to the scenery, such as the garden of zombies before you “enter” the mortuary, and the mortuary itself. An all-around well-crafted house.
Story - 5 / I really enjoyed this house’s story. The interesting part about this house is that you kind of experience the beginnings of any zombie; how each comes from its own individual life. It changed my mentality of the zombie itself; I envision each individual zombie as a single entity, and not just as one of the masses.
Fear Factor - 3 / This house’s focus, in my opinion, was the atmosphere it conveyed, and not as much as each individual scare. But to me, this will be one of the houses you won’t forget.
Deconstruction: The Doctor Is Out of Control - A returning house, Deconstruction is about insane Dr. Edgar VonAngst, a reconstructive surgeon that reconstructs his patients in grotesque, sinister ways.
Atmosphere - 5 / It is a very gruesome house. Full of body parts, human bodies, experiments gone wrong, and much, MUCH more, I guarantee the house will have images that stick.
Story - 4 / The story of an insane reconstructive doctor was well followed. The seemingly endless and slightly unnerving saw blade grinding above us at every turn was a nice touch. That was a part I can still hear grinding in my head as I type this.
Fear Factor - 4 / Overall, this house gets high marks. While a bit more of a gross-out house in my opinion, there were parts of the house that were particularly frightening; for instance, the strobe light hall toward the end, which was probably the best strobe light hall out of all of the houses. A very surreal experience.
Nightshade Toy Factory - The Nightshade Toy Factory appears to be an abandoned toy factory by day, but by night the factory becomes alive with the deranged toys it used to manufacture.
Atmosphere - 4 / What really makes this house creepy is the toys you and most everyone is familiar with and loved are now alive and just creepier than ever. That is what really made this house’s creepy atmosphere: the dandily familiar turned disturbing.
Story - 3 / The story wasn’t very clear to me, and it really left it up to the imagination to fill in the gaps.
Fear Factor - 2 / Unfortunately, this house scores the lowest of them all. It wasn’t as scary as the other houses, and the dolls and bears just weren’t as scary as other themes. I did enjoy the twisting tunnel at the end of the house, though. I actually stumbled there, and had to hold onto the railing. That would probably be the main thing to check out this house for, I am sorry to say.
Death Row Vengeance: Fear the Dead - A zombie plague infects Grey Echo Penitentiary, and the inmates scheduled for execution must choose between death or torture from the zombies.
Atmosphere - 5 / Prison, to begin with, is a very creepy place. And with zombies, there’s really no competition. The sight of each inhumane execution, mixed with the zombies afterwards, really hit it home for me.
Story - 5 / The conflict between eternal suffering and death that is shown in this house is philosophically poetic, in a sense. While many other houses do the same, this house is a pure and easy-to-see example of things worse than death.
Fear Factor - 5 / This house, even while being one of the oldest houses, scored highest, was our favorite of the houses. The realistic horror scenes such as the electric chair and the firing range can truly startle you. It was surreal, and rather terrifying, to say the least.
(8/29/11) BGT confirmed all the details for Howl-O-Scream 2011, The Dark Side of the Gardens. This year’s event will run for 17 nights with three new haunts featured, including the rumored one themed to Poe:
Nevermore - Beating hearts, swinging pendulums and a raven’s cries haunt the manor of Lenore, creating a demented and twisted nightmare. Step inside to experience the gothic terror that maddens the lord of the house. and feel delusion overcome reality. Find your way out of this horror story before paranoia authors your final chapter.
Zombie Mortuary – No one remembers how the epidemic started, but now, zombies live here. The undead that infest this small town funeral home feed on the fresh flesh and brains of mortuary mourners to satisfy their insatiable hunger. Avoid the walking dead or you may find yourself deeper than six feet under.
Ultimate Gamble: Vampire Casino – Fanged fiends entice you to test your luck in this sultry hangout straight from Sin City. The seductive games and high-stake thrills at Reviver Casino are sure to get your blood pumping, but will you escape before your luck gets drailed? Just stay away from the killer All-THEY-Can-Eat buffet.
Some returning favorites will be back, but with some new twists:
Nightshade Toy Factory, Death Row Vengeance: Fear the Dead, Deconstruction: The Doctor in Out of Control, and the return of last year’s huge experimental haunt… ALONE… (A personal experiecnce in horror). Yep, Alone…, the upcharge haunt that you will back $40 for the experience of traveling through it all by yourself is back. If your too chicken, you can bring along up to 3 other friends to drag down into the depths with you. Spots fill up quickly, so reservations are highly recommended.
The list of live shows will include the new Midnight Hour show in the Desert Grill along with the returning Fiends (inside Stanleyville Theater, featuring the Dr. Freakenstein’s naughty nurses), and for adults you can venture into Club Virus, an adult-only dance club inside the Marrakesh Theater.
And this is Busch Gardens, so you can experience the park’s best coasters, all in the darkness of night, including Cheetah Hunt, SheiKra, Gwazi, Montu and Kumba. You may be wondering about the Scare Zones… and none were listed by name, as it is my understanding that the Zombie hordes will be everywhere, making the entire park one giant scare zone where no place is safe. Click here to experience the Dark Side of the Gardens at Howl-O-Scream.
2012 - Iceploration - (2/3/12) You can catch a 9-minute video of Iceploration as shot by our friends at BGTNation.
(2/2/12) Keith, our man on the streets of Florida, went down to Busch Gardens Tampa on Wednesday for the media preview performance of the new Iceploration show. I’ve posted his review below:
Iceploration is Busch Garden's brand new ice skating show that opens tomorrow. The show is not just an ice skating show, but also has live actors acting out and narrating the story line, acrobats, high-flying aerials, trampolines, simulated flying and swimming high above the stage, puppetry, live animals (mostly birds and dogs), special effects such as bubbles and snow, digital animation that interacts with what is happening on stage, and a completely original score. Award winning skaters and gymnasts are part of the cast of the show. There are simple moments in the show where two actors are interacting on a bedroom set similar to a play, there are moments where almost every actor is on stage doing something with action going on everywhere. In fact, there are so many sets, props, and large puppetry used in the show, some of the sets and props are hoisted high above the other sets on cables backstage! Parts of the show are reminiscent of Katonga, Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy, Cirqu de la Mer from SeaWorld, and even the Finding Nemo show from Animal Kingdom. A totally original show, but some little pieces that have a similar feel and style. The feature skaters were amazing doing very impressive maneuvers on a relatively small stage. The creative team that put this show together are top notch, and you have a unique opportunity to learn about them in the lobby where a pictorial is on display with small write-ups of interesting information about the team and how the show was created. The show is slated to be in place for two to three years depending on the guest feedback. It's a solid addition to the entertainment line-up that Busch Gardens offers. In fact, every show that I visited today was at capacity even though the lines were short at the rides. Tony Orlando was in concert, and there was a special dancing show in the Desert Grill. The next time you visit Busch Gardens, you will definitely want to check Iceploration out!
(1/18/12) BGT will put on exclusive showtimes to Passholders to see the new Iceploration show all next month according to a report at BGTNation. Follow the link for details.
(9/9/11) Busch Gardens Tampa has announced Iceploration as the name of their new Ice show that will open on Feb. 2nd in the Moroccan Palace theater. The new show will feature a cast of 20, full of ice skaters, aerial performances, puppets and live animal stars. According to Park President Jim Dean. “This show reintroduces the ice show to our most loyal fans while bringing together the things Busch Gardens stage productions do best: world-class entertainment with top-notch skaters, amazing costumes, original music, larger-than-life puppets and even animal stars.” Here’s the official description of the show below:
The 30-minute show opens with Austin, a digital-savvy preteen, explaining how technology has made his generation more connected to the world than ever before. But his grandfather – and old-world explorer – argues that the boy is more disconnected than he realizes, and takes him on an adventure around the globe. Through their travels they visit the African Serengeti, Great Barrier Reef, the Arctic and the Amazon rainforest.
The adventure unfolds as they arrive in the African Serengeti. Here, larger-than-life puppets and spectacular set design bring elephants and other awe-inspiring animals to life at a watering hole. Solo and chorus skating performances accompanied by acrobatics tell an anecdote of an agile cheetah stalking graceful gazelles and meerkats.
Austin and Grandpa then dive into the Great Barrier Reef to explore the harmony of life on the ocean floor. An amazing black light transition and never-before-seen helium-filled puppets immerse the audience in the wonders of the sea, filled with parrotfish and lionfish, sea urchins, turtles and a moray eel.
In the Arctic, majestic skaters become striking snow flurries as a winter storm threatens the travelers. Austin and Grandpa witness even more beauty as they encounter the Aurora Borealis phenomenon, represented with theatrical lighting and projections. Then, they share the stage with amazing live animal stars, including a Siberian lynx and a sled of Siberian huskies as they continue to traverse the tundra.
Austin and Grandpa wrap up their adventure around the globe immersed in the lush, tropical Amazon Rainforest. Squirrel monkeys, sun conures and colorful macaws fill the air as playful frogs and a graceful dragonfly skate into the grand finale: a new signature song called “Meet the World.”
The park has also announced that Christmas on Ice will also perform in the theater from November 21st to January 1st.
(3/28/11) I’m told that the closing date for Cirque Dreams is September 3rd.
(3/25/11) Screamscape sources tell us that the current Cirque Dreams show which just opened in December is expected to close it’s run as early as September. It will likely be replaced in 2012 by a brand new Ice Show being developed under the codename, “Adventure Planet” that is supposed to feature a lot of themeing as well as a storyline.
2012/2013 - Rhino Rally Expansion - Rumor - (12/12/11) We’ve heard these rumors before, but the latest word sent in from the spy network claims that the proposed ‘expansion’ to Rhino Rally may begin as early as January 2012. Obviously, since the loss of the attractions finale, they are looking to not only expand the attraction in length, but also come up with some kind of new exciting highlight moment. According to our source, one proposal on the table would see your vehicle actually get hijacked for part of the revamped attraction.
(6/24/11) The latest word from insiders is that the planning is still in progress to expand Rhino Rally. There may be some conflicts between what the Operations side wants to do with the attraction VS what the Animal Care staff want to see happen with the animal habitats, but those kinds of issues are usually normal. The expansion will obviously not be ready by this August, but as previously rumored, the park is also looking into switching out the current Land Rover fleet for some new vehicles as well, and are currently said to be looking at least four different bids.
(6/17/11) According to a report over at Orlando Parks News, a Rhino Ralley driver was heard apologizing to guests about the new “short” version of the attraction, which gave up it’s water portion to Cheetah Hunt. However, they continued by saying that “a new section” to the ride could be open as early as August.
While I had heard myself long ago that plans to expand Rhino Rally were in the works ever since the inception of Cheetah Hunt, it does take a bit of time to build some new roads and access into other animal areas, as well as the possible construction of new habitats built to accommodate the LandRovers, so will it be August or sometime next year?
2012 / 2013 - Drop Tower - Rumor - (1/30/12) Legend from CoasterCrew was visiting BGT over the weekend and managed to grab a photo of survey work in progress at the Sandstorm ride. Looks like the rumors about it being replaced with something new may be coming true. Lets just hope they decide to give Sandstorm a new home somewhere else… maybe by Montu or Kumba, because Sandstorm is really the only good flat ride in the entire park.
(12/12/11) The latest word on the rumored drop tower ride proposed for the Sandstorm location claims that the ride may not be planned to open until late 2012 at the earliest, so it sounds like this may be intended more as a 2013 attraction.
(9/21/11) Possibly backing up the rumor of a drop tower coming to the Tampa park, a reader reports that during the grand opening of Cheetah Hunt, they had a moment to speak with “the rides designer (forget his name)”, which I’m guessing may have been Mark Rose. In any case, when they asked him about what was coming next to the park he simply said to watch for what the other parks were getting to figure out what was coming next. Though with the problems the park had putting in Mach Tower in Williamsburg, I’m kind of surprised they would be ready to drop one into Tampa before they’ve had a good bit of time to give the first one a good shakedown. Anyway… this is all still just a rumor at this point, so stay tuned!
(9/19/11) I’m not sure how serious this rumor is, but someone is claiming that the park’s Sand Storm flat ride could be replaced by a new 200 foot drop tower ride, possibly very similar to the Mach Tower ride that just opened in Williamsburg last month. Anyone know more?
2013/2014 - New Show - Rumor - (12/12/11) Word has it that the park is working on ideas and proposals for a new animal based show that could open in a couple of years. No word on just what venue it may go into, but I’m guessing this would likely be for 2013 / 2014.
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