Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is hidden gem - this African themed park is an easy one hour drive from Orlando's main tourist areas. It's a combination of terrific animal encounters and a superb collection of white-knuckle thrill rides. It caters to a whole variety of tastes and age groups and includes 9 themed areas, 4 animal habitats and hosts many events throughout the year.
Photos of Busch Gardens
Express Shuttle Bus To Busch Gardens From Orlando
The service schedule will vary throughout the year and be subject to change. For guidance purposes only, the Orlando area pick-up will be between 8:30 and 9:30 – depending on location. The return journey from Busch Gardens will depend on park closing time and vary throughout the year.
Drop-off and pick-up locations are as follows.
- SeaWorld (near the bus & taxi drop-off)
- ICON Park, 8350 Universal Blvd (8445 International Drive, (in the heart of the Entertainment district of I-Drive)
- Publix, 8145 Vineland Avenue, Lake Buena Vista (near Premium Outlets – Lake Buena Vista area)
- Old Town Entertainment District, 5770 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy (serving 192 East in Kissimmee)
- Doubletree Orlando by Hilton at the Entrance to Universal Orlando, 5780 Major Blvd, Orlando, FL (serving North International Drive area and Universal Orlando guests)
- Margaritaville Resort – 8000 Fins Up Circle, Kissimmee
As always, we recommend that guests make a reservation for the Shuttle Express to secure their seats. This can be completed by calling 800-221-1339 or visiting https://buschgardens.mears.com.
This service will be complimentary to all guests with a multi-park, Busch Gardens inclusive ticket in hand.
*Please note that all details are subject to change and for guidance purposes only. Bus stops, routes, and schedules should all be confirmed by guests using the reservation contact details above.
What’s New At Busch Gardens?
Serengeti Flyer features twin dueling arms that soar progressively higher, reaching speeds of 68 mph, a maximum height of 135 feet at the ride’s peak and the pulse-pounding thrill of multiple negative-G moments. The park’s new thrill features the capability to adjust the ride’s intensity level, giving guests the opportunity for a milder or wilder experience. Serengeti Flyer allows 40 guests to experience the ride at once, seated back-to-back in rows of 10 across two gondolas.
Our Favorites
Iron Gwazi – hang on to your hat (48″ height restriction)
Cobras Curse – a sizzling new spin on roller coasters (54″ height restriction)
Congo River Rapids – yes, you will get wet but who cares!
Sheikra – 90 degrees face down! (54″ height restriction)
Cheetah Hunt – one heck of a ride!
Falcon’s Fury – face down all the way!
Kumba – it’s Swahili for ‘you must be nuts to ride this’! (54″ height restriction)
Montu – your legs dangle in the breeze! (54″ height restriction)
Myombe Reserve – Diane Fossey was right.
Free Beer – a real summertime treat!
Tigris – has definitely earned its stripes! (54″ height restriction)
Edge of Africa – budding zoologists will thoroughly enjoy this.
Insider Tips
So Worth It – Always worth the 60-minute drive from Orlando, and the perfect park to visit if you’re staying in St. Pete Beach or Clearwater.
Water Play – If you have kids and the mercury is rising rapidly then consider a couple of hours across the street at Adventure Island, Busch’s Water Park.
Check Out Quick Queue – Skip the lines once per ride at the most popular rides & roller coasters for one day. There’s also an unlimited version. Not valid during Howl-O-Scream®.
A Superb Line-Up of Super Cool Coasters
Iron Gwazi is North America’s tallest hybrid coaster and the fastest and steepest hybrid coaster in the world. This new look coaster takes thrills to new heights, plunging riders from a 206 foot-tall peak into a 91-degree drop and reaching top speeds of 76 miles per hour. Riders on Iron Gwazi will experience a dozen airtime moments, including three inversions, as they sink their teeth into crocodile-inspired thrills.
Florida’s tallest launch coaster Tigris is catapulting riders through an exhilarating array of looping twists with forward and backward motion & breath-taking drops. It starts with a 150-foot skyward surge, and an inverted heartland roll – all at more than 60 miles per hour and along more than 1,800 feet of steel track. Wow!
The park has put a new spin on family thrills with Cobra’s Curse a new multi-directional ‘spin coaster’. This one-of-a-kind metallic beast features a menacing 30,000-pound snake king icon and a 70-foot vertical lift takes riders within inches of its 3 foot-wide eyes and 4-foot-long fangs.- it’s a slithering good time guaranteed!
Rollercoaster buffs can also enjoy a topsy-turvy day pulling a few g’s on Kumba, while Montu is an equally fearsome Egyptian thriller that will scare the pyramids off you! On Cheetah Hunt the speed will literally take your breath away……..all three of these are simply first rate!
Take to the air on Falcon’s Fury the tallest thrill ride in the park that lets you swoop and dive like a plummeting bird of prey. SheiKra is a heart-stopping ‘dive coaster’ that swoops straight down at a mind-boggling 90 degrees and they’ve removed the floor so you can enjoy the full 70mph rush!
Jungala
Jungala, set in the Congo area, is a 4-acre attraction inviting guests to discover exotic creatures (like our favorite – the white Bengal tigers) and explore a village hidden deep in the jungle. Connect with the inhabitants of the jungle with up-close animal interactions, and enjoy multi-story family play areas, rides, and live entertainment. Try the Congo River Rapids, an old favorite that seems to get wetter every time we ride it!
Edge of Africa
The very interesting Edge of Africa has some stylish animal habitats with hippopotami, hyenas, lions, and baboons while the Serengeti Safari Tour (well worth the extra charge) takes you out onto the plains for an extremely close up look at giraffes, zebras, and rhinos.
The Trans Veldt Railroad also skirts the Serengeti and provides a good opportunity to rest those weary legs! Myombe Reserve is home to a group of endangered mountain gorillas – so human it’s scary and a source of constant wonder, so take some time and enjoy them.
Sesame Street Safari of Fun
Sesame Street Safari of Fun is aimed at introducing children to the wonderful world of animals in a fun setting that is guided by familiar Sesame Street characters like Elmo, Grover, Ernie, and Bert. The area is full of interactive stage shows, meet and greets, playgrounds and rides specially designed for children.
Location & Info
Location: 10165 N McKinley Drive, Tampa, FL 33612
Telephone: (813) 884-4386
Website: buschgardens.com/tampa/
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