Busch Gardens
Disclosure – Busch Gardens Tampa Florida post contains affiliate links that at no additional cost to you may earn That Traveling Chick a commission. Huge thanks to Busch Gardens Tampa for a great day!
Arriving at Busch Gardens
Spending a week on Pine Island was awesome enough but then add in a stop at Busch Gardens on our way home just put the vacation over the top for how much fun we had. Sun was shining, weather was comfortable and we were doing something we loved which was enjoying being together.
Upon arriving to the parking lot we were greeted by a very nice staff member who made my morning. A bright and cheerful welcome to the park and well wishes for a great day starts things off great! After parking we hopped into a train that took us over to Busch Gardens.
Upon getting to the park we got in line to get the Quick Que passes. While they were more than we expected them to be we sprung for the extra so we could make sure to hit all the rides we wanted too. They price their Quick Que passes depending on the day and traffic.
Christmas at Busch Gardens
The park was all decorated up for Christmas and was so pretty. Hard for this Minnesota girl to think of Christmas when there is no snow, but with all the decorations and such all I kept thinking was, I could get used to never seeing snow again! I might have been born in Minnesota, but am not what one would call a Minnesota girl, I am a warm weather kind of girl.
Wrapping my head around Christmas decorations and Christmas music playing, even though it was December, was so hard due to the fact we left home and it was cold, spent a week in warm Florida weather which makes you think it’s middle of summer. So strange.
Busch Gardens Rides
The first ride we went on was Gwazi. This ride was totally awesome! Hubby is a bit scared of coaster, but he gave this a try and loved it! Thanks to the Quick Que passes when we got off we got right back in line and did it a second time.
Next came SheiKra for me as hubby took one look and said NO WAY! The ride is crazy and has a huge drop right at the beginning which I absolutely love but he was not up for that. I was in the very front row, and when it reaches the top, and you are just dangling there looking down it is one of those, WHAT AM I DOING moments.
SheiKra is a total thrill as when you hit the top and it takes off you are wishing you hadn’t climbed on but at the same time loving every second. It was for sure an eye opening ride!
There is a gondola that takes you to the other side of the park and went on a ride my friend said is the best coaster ever! Well, she was right. No, it’s not a huge rush like SheiKra, but it is right up there with the best of the best coasters I have been on.
Cheetah Hunt is long, fast, and has great twists and turns. This was my hubby’s favorite as well which is why we actually went on it 3 times in total! If we could have stayed all day and just did this ride over and over we sure would have.
More Rides and Food
After riding the Cheetah Hunt, we decided to check out Montu. Well, that was a HUGE mistake. That ride was the end of our fun day, sad to say.
The ride an awesome ride but was not for us. Spinning rides are not for me, but hubby can usually handle them. This time for whatever reason he just didn’t do well.
For whatever reason this just had to much spinning/twisting and it did us both in. We got off it, felt dizzy and out of sorts and kinda stumbled around in a daze for a bit. Thought maybe food would help so we grabbed a bite to eat in a little eatery by Montu and just chilled out for a bit.
More to See
There is so much to see so we took some time walking around looking at animal exhibits, feeding kangaroos and Lory’s and looking at all the Christmas displays. This amusement park is huge and there is so much to see and do.
There were some really neat trees and shrubs done up to look like animals, like these ones. There is a lot of time and care put into maintaining Busch Gardens to keep it looking as beautiful as it does.
One More Ride
Even though we both were still feeling a bit out of sorts, maybe due to the ride, the long week we had, all the driving, or something else all together we don’t know. But, we wanted to do the Cheetah one more time so got in line and had one more rush!
The Cheetah is a ride I highly recommend if ever you visit Busch Gardens Tampa.
Time to Leave
As much as we wanted to stay longer, we had a lot of hours of driving ahead of us and I needed to get out of the sun, and into a car and close my eyes, and pop some Advil.
As we got off the last ride we realized we still had the Quick Que passes we bought and thought we should give our Quick Que passes to 2 people so they can enjoy them.
A young guy and girl walked by and I said, Hey are you going on this ride? They stopped, looked at me kinda strange, and said, we were going to, is if fun?
We both said, yes this is the best ride in the park. I asked them if they got the Quick Que passes today when they got to the park. The girl said, no, we didn’t have money for those. So I said how would you like ours, we are leaving and there is front of the line for 5 more rides today.
The look on the girls face was priceless and she said, “they are worth $40 each”. We said.. YUP.. Merry Christmas and enjoy. Shook their hands and they kept saying thank you, thank you. I love paying it forward and that put a huge smile on our faces, on their faces and warmed our hearts to do a good deed.
On Our Way Out
On our way to the exit we went by one of my favorite stands, The DOTS stand. I couldn’t leave the park without having DOTS, even if I felt like crap. So, got some DIPPIN DOTS, and even a picture to show my son, who loves them and would be jealous! Yes, even texted him this picture just to tease him a bit.
Wrap it Up
Busch Gardens is a great place to visit, for families, couples, honeymoons, girl’s weekend getaways, etc. I also did a review of Busch Garden’s here ~ Living Smart Girl.
There is so much to see and do there. If you like rides, or animals, or just looking at beautiful scenery then this park is for you.
They have it all, and I can’t wait to go back again. Really had planned on riding every ride I could that day, which was why we sprung for the Quick Que passes, but thanks to Montu that didn’t happen. Oh Well, next time!
Busch Gardens On Social Media
You can find them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.
Visit Busch Gardens
You can also plan and book your vacation using my Book Your Trip site or fill out the form and I can get your trip booked for you.
ps. A side note here. All my original pictures were lost so the edited pictures have an ‘ in Gardens and I know that is not how it is spelled but can’t edit these. Bummer on my part.
Shirley says
It’s been at least a decade since I’ve been to Busch Gardens…I need to go back!
Sheila Thomas says
Put it on your bucket list 😉
Lisa Manderino says
This would be such a fun trip! I love riding big roller coasters!
Sheila Thomas says
Me too. Hubby is scared of heights but he will ride coasters that aren’t to freaky.
Kristi @ Way Beyond The Norm says
I love amusement parks too. And I used to be able to ride the spinning rides, but just can’t handle them anymore. Sounds like we should check out Busch Gardens!
Sheila Thomas says
They seem to have some of the best coaster I have tried, and I can’t wait to visit again.
Keagan says
I love all the rollercoasters and animals there great pictures of all of them.
Sheila Thomas says
Thank you for reading my story 🙂
Lori Nielsen says
I haven’t been to Busch Gardens for about 12 years. I don’t remember the Montu ride. But I love that you gave away your passes!
Sheila Thomas says
I don’t know if it’s a newer one or not, but know I will never go on it again 😉
I couldn’t see throwing away something someone else would love to use. 🙂
Susan Whitehead says
It’s funny that Busch Gardens is practically in our backyard and I have not been in decades! As a Florida girl, most of my friends also have a hard time imagining Christmas without snow and cold weather, but that’s how we like it here. 🙂 It is totally normal for me.
Sheila Thomas says
I could totally get used to no snow or cold for Christmas.. LOL!
I have so much fun stuff here in Minnesota that I never do, because well…. I live here 😉
jen says
lovely review. i haven’t been since i was a kid. might be time to look at it again.
Sheila Thomas says
I felt like a kid being there as there is so much to see and do.
Maggie says
I’ll be in Tampa soon!! Perfect timing when looking for things to do!!! Thank you!!
Sheila Thomas says
It is a great place to kill some time. 😉
kmf says
While I can no longer do spinning rides, I do love rollercoasters…have never visited Busch Gardens so need to check it off the list.
Sheila Thomas says
I can’t do spinning rides either. I used to when I was younger, but one time on the Tilt a Whirl I got sick and since then I can’t do spinning stuff. Plus I get car sick and so any ride that is like a 3D or whatever, make me ill. LOL!
Pam says
I love amusement parks too. We visited the Busch Gardens in Williamsburg a few summers ago and LOVED it! So I’ll have to try to get to Tampa too someday.
Sheila Thomas says
I really want to visit the one in Williamsburg. I am assuming the rides are not the same as in Tampa.
Taci- Life Beyond Zebra says
Never been! Looks so fun.
Sheila Thomas says
It was a lot of fun. Wish we hadn’t gotten sick, but tis life.
Jennifer | Me and My Traveling Hat says
We went to the Bush Gardens in Williamsburg at Christmas around 10 years ago. We definitely need to go for another visit.
Sheila Thomas says
Oh fun! That one is on my bucket list for sure. Might try to go to Williamsburg in Oct for vacation and will for sure be trying to go to Busch Gardens if we do.
Amanda says
We love Busch Gardens! We went before Christmas last year and the crowds were low and everything was decorated so lovely.
Sheila Thomas says
I love how they change things up for each Holiday.
Missy says
We have not been there yet. I liked elepahnts. People are talented.
Sheila Thomas says
Yes, talent for sure to make those.
Heather says
I have not been since I was 16. One of these days I will get back there. It looks like it may have changes, just a little. 🙂
Sheila Thomas says
I say.. go again 🙂
Lisa says
Sounds like a great park to visit! I think I’d enjoy the animal exhibits the best. I’m not very adventurous when it comes to roller coasters. … oh, and I loved that you gifted Quick Que passes to that young couple. That was such a cool thing to do.
Sheila Thomas says
Thank you 🙂 Yes, I loved making someones day. I always say, what goes around comes around.
Glory says
I didn’t even know there was a Busch gardens in Tampa. We get over to Florida every once in awhile and this looks like a super fun place to take the kiddos!
Sheila Thomas says
Yes, one in Florida and one in Virginia. I can’t wait to check out the one in Virginia.
LeAnn Harbert says
This looks like a good trip to take my granddaughters on.
Sheila Thomas says
It was an awesome place to spend the day. Next time I hope we can do a 2 day pass or something so we have more time to see it all.
Karen Raider says
I haven’t been to Busch Gardens in years. I don’t have clear memories of the rides. I remember that it was fun. I’ll have to look at my photo album to see the photographs.
When my husband and I went to Six Flags in Missouri, I had 4 discounted admission tickets. Of course, we only need two. I offered the 2 tickets to 2 teenage boys. They were very appreciative. I heard one say, “Now we can get some souvenirs”. That made my day.
I enjoyed your review of your trip.
Sheila Thomas says
Thanks for checking out my post. I loved BG and I hope we can go back soon.
Nancy Steward says
I live in Tampa so Busch Gardens has been in my life since I was a small child. I love it.
Sheila Thomas says
Oh awesome!! I’d say.. Lucky girl!! So, do you like coasters?
Richard Brandt says
I haven’t been to Busch Gardens in years! Hope they’re still hanging in there.
Sarah L says
I love fun rides. I’d even spring for the fast passes to get more rides.
Patti Cooper says
Yes, I love the Busch Garden information Its a fave of mine