Busch Gardens
About an hour’s drive from the Orlando resort areas, Busch Gardens is a sister park to Sea World and is similarly themed around animals. The park is home to both a number of different animals and a selection of excellent rollercoasters. Like Sea World, the park combines its rides with the animal exhibits, and many of the rides have an animal theme. There is a particular focus on animals of Africa (the park’s themed areas are based on different African locations), although there are some Asian and American species on show as well.
Although it’s a bit of a drive, Busch Gardens is well worth the time it takes to get there from Orlando. It hosts some world class coasters, and the animal exhibits allow for a lot of close encounters. However, Busch Gardens does not have animal ‘shows’ which may make some people more comfortable visiting here than Sea World itself.
Last visited January 2022
INVESTMENT
8
THRILL FACTOR
8
FUN &
LAUGHTER
7
STAFF &
FACILITIES
10
UNIQUNESS
6
VALUE
10
THEMEING &
IMMERSION
6
THOMPSONS'
RATING
7
The vertical drop on SheiKra
BEST BITS
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The park is very good value, especially compared to Disney and Universal. Three park tickets (which cover Sea World, Busch Gardens and the Aquatica water park) are much cheaper than their rivals.
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The animal exhibits are mostly very well designed to bring you as close to the animals as is safe. It seems to us that there is a good balance between customers being able to get close to the animals, and them being within a simulated natural environment. We particularly love the turret in the tiger enclosure which allows you to pop your head up into their habitat and see these beautiful animals very close up.
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We really like the way that some of the rides are themed around an animal’s characteristics. The most obvious example is Cheetah Hunt, but it also applies to Sheikra and Falcon’s Fury.
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Although the park is an hour away from Orlando, the drive is very easy (straight down the I4 with no toll roads). There is a Busch Gardens shuttle which runs from various locations in Orlando, but we have never used it.
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Our favourite ride is Cheetah Hunt, which is one of the best rollercoasters in Florida. Although we have not been on Iron Gwazi yet, we expect that to be right up there too.
DOWN-SIDES
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Some of the rides are opened at staggered times, meaning that not all of the rides are open when the park opens.
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You have to pay to use the lockers, which are compulsory on most of the rides. However, the minimum locker rental is for one hour which means you can usually do two or three rides without having to pay for another locker. You can also get an all-day multi-use locker access code for a one-off payment.
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The inevitable Florida thunder storms affect Busch Gardens much more than other parks. This is because most of the rides are high and fully outside, and you don’t want to be at the top of a big metal structure when there is lightening around! We strongly advise that you check the forecast and go on a sunny day, because they will close the rides at the first hint of a storm.
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The car park is completely uncovered. On a hot day, expect your car to be like a sauna when you return!
TOP TIPS
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If you’re travelling from the Orlando resort area, allow one and a half hours for the journey. Although it should only take an hour, the traffic on the last couple of miles can be bad, and you also have to get a tram from the car park to the entrance.
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You don’t have to pay for water if you ask for ‘iced water’ at any kiosk selling soda on tap.
* depending on where you sit
Cheetah Hunt
A launch coaster which is themed on the acceleration of a cheetah chasing its prey. It features three electro-magnetic launches; one at the beginning, one up hill and one towards the end. The fastest launch takes you to around 65mph. The ride is long with many different elements, including high speed banked turns, some big drops and one inversion.
Our view: This is an excellent ride, largely because the theming is so perfectly done, simulating the actions of a cheetah. Although there are a lot of sudden changes of direction it is very smooth. Joe particularly likes the final section of the ride where it takes you through swift turns low to the ground, as if a cheetah running towards its prey. Hayley loves the uphill launch and sudden changes of speed.
Tips:
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This ride is busy in the mornings but gets quieter towards the early afternoon.
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This ride is not as scary as it looks, it’s great fun.
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The cheetahs live in an enclosure opposite the ride entrance and it is worth finding out what time the keepers are giving them a toy to chase, to watch them run at full speed.
Cheetah Hunt
Thompsons' overall rating 9
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
9
9
9
8
9
SheiKra
Thompsons' overall rating 8
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
9
6
4
7
9
Montu
Thompsons' overall rating 7
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
8
6
4
7
4/9*
Kumba
Thompsons' overall rating 4
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
6
4
2
5
4
Congo River Rapids
Thompsons' overall rating 4
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
3
6
3
5
N/A
Scorpion
Thompsons' overall rating 4
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
5
5
2
3
5
Sand Serpent
Thompsons' overall rating 2
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
2
2
1
1
2
Falcon's Fury
Thompsons' overall rating 4
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
8
4
3
3
N/A
Cobra's Curse
Thompsons' overall rating 7
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
5
7
8
5
9
Tigris
Thompsons' overall rating 8
Thrill
Fun
Themeing
Immersion
Smoothness
9
7
5
7
7
The lift hill on Mako
SheiKra
A dive coaster which runs at high speeds and features many inversions. There are two completely vertical drops; the first one you are held at the top before dropping and the second comes as a bit of a surprise later on. The ride is themed on the sheikra eagle diving to hunt its prey.
Our view: This is a great dive coaster which features so much more than just the initial drop. It’s very smooth and fast-paced.
Tips:
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If you are in any way afraid of the drop, sit in the back row so that you are not hanging over the edge.
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If you enjoy airtime, have the harness a little looser than you would for other rides to enjoy the times when you leave your seat.
Falcon's Fury
A drop tower with a twist; Falcon’s Fury raises riders in the traditional seated position (facing outwards) but as the seats reach the top they are pulled through 90 degrees, meaning riders hang facing straight down. At the bottom of the drop the seats correct themselves.
Our view: Joe is not a fan of any drop tower rides and doesn’t like the feeling of hanging before dropping, so would hate this ride. Hayley went on the ride and liked the drop but did not like hanging for so long at the top. The actual drop itself was very enjoyable, giving the impression of a free fall. Then it feels like the seats catch you gently at the bottom as they return to their normal position.
Tips:
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You have to fully trust the harness to go on this ride as you hang from it for a long time at the top before dropping.
Kumba
A large rollercoaster which features multiple inversions.
Our view: Coaster enthusiasts get very excited about Kumba. Frankly, we cannot understand why. It is quite jerky and unenjoyable with no unique features. We don’t think it is worth more than a few minutes queue time.
Cobra’s Curse
A spinning coaster featuring cars with four seats; two on each row. The cars spin at various points in the ride. The first section is ridden facing forwards. For the second section the cars spin and riders face backwards. In the final section the cars spin freely based on the weigh distribution of the riders. The ride starts with an elevator-style lift, themed on a cobra stretching its head upwards.
Our view: As with all spinning coasters, this ride is really fun. We particularly enjoy the final, free-spin section of the ride. It is not scary and so is suitable for most members of the family.
Tips:
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If possible, try to sit in the same car as people who weigh significantly more or less than you, to make it spin more.
Cheetah Hunt
SheiKra
Hayley in the tiger enclosure's viewing turret
Montu
An hanging coaster which features a high first drop and many fast inversions.
Our view: This is one of the best hanging coasters around. It is quicker and more intense than others of its kind. However, as with some other hanging coasters, where you sit makes a very big difference. The ride is much smoother sat towards the front. At the back it is a lot faster and more intense, but feels very jerky.
Tips:
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We strongly suggest sitting towards the front of this ride. The back is uncomfortably jerky and makes for quite an unpleasant experience.
Congo River Rapids
Scorpion
A short but quite fast rollercoaster which features lots of banked turns and one inversion.
Our view: Although old, this coaster is surprisingly fun, and a bit more thrilling than it looks. The fact that it does not keep changing direction means that it is smoother than many coasters of the same age.
Sand Serpent
A wild mouse coaster, which features a number of sudden turns and short drops.
Our view: Wild mouse coasters are generally not very good, and this is typical example. The ride is jerky, uncomfortable, and instantly forgettable. It is certainly not worth queuing for. In fact, it’s not worth bothering with even if there is no queue.
Tigris
A multi-launch coaster coaster which goes both forwards and backwards through two concentric loops. It also features a barrel role at the top of the higher loop.
Our view: This is a very fun, smooth, enjoyable and thrilling coaster. It's quite short (because there is only ever one car able to run), but every element is exciting.
Tips:
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As it's towards the back of the park it's a good ride to do at the beginning of the day to avoid queues.
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It's very close to Sheikra so it's possible to go on both whilst using the same locker.
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It doesn't really matter where you sit as the ride is fun in all seats.
Congo River Rapids
A water rapids ride, which features fast-moving boats and multiple water features.
Our view: These are good fun but quite similar to rapids rides at other theme parks.
Tips:
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Depending on how the boat moves you might come off bone-dry or completely soaked. There is no way to predict this. Only go on this if it is sunny or you have a change of clothes.
The 'elevator' lift on Cobra's Curse
Tigris