Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Florida is filled with so many great themed parks (obviously!), but with so many options, is a trip to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay worth the trip?
It seems every year my husband Adam and I take our kids to one or more Disney parks in our annual Florida trip. Each year, we come home from Disney after a fun-filled week asking ourselves, was the fun we had worth the expense and hassle of the trip to Disney. So, this year, during our 2023 trip to Florida, we decided to check out Busch Gardens Tampa Bay instead.
The purpose of our annual Florida trip is to visit close friends who live in Sarasota. So during our Busch Gardens trip we had three adults, 3 three-year olds, and 1 one-year old. We visited the park on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. Turns out October during the week is an amazing time to visit the park. The weather was perfect and the crowds were non-existent. We arrived at the park at 9:30a.m. on a Tuesday, a school day for most kids, but the park was near empty. We opted to skip out on the hefty price tag for the premium parking spaces, which was $20 well saved, considering the park wasn't busy. My local friends tell me the premium parking is worth it on the busy days though.
Busch Gardens was surprisingly accommodating to the whole family. I truly did not expect the amount of activities available even to Sam, my one year-old.
Our first stop in the morning was the Sesame Street Kids area. The kids area consisted of several rides meant for toddlers as well as a splash pad. The park was so empty my kids could ride the classic cars multiple times without getting out thanks to a super-friendly park employee who let them ride as long as they wanted. (Big thumbs up to him!). Big Bird also read the kids a book during one of his story times!
The kids also got the opportunity to climb through the largest tree house I've literally ever seen. Sam got himself stuck in some of the ropes so I had to climb in and save him, but he quickly recovered from his situation. (Big thumbs down to the park employee who told me adults aren't welcome inside the tree house unless helping a child, which I obviously was!) Alexander even got to ride his first roller coaster, Air Grover!
I was certainly impressed by the kids area, and after several hours of successful kid fun with no serious meltdowns, I thought it would be pushing my luck to stay at the park later in the day. Nonetheless, I decided to push it so that we could try the Serengeti Express train ride. It did not disappoint! I would seriously put the experience of Serengeti Express on par with anything I've experienced at Disney's Animal Kingdom. We decided after the train ride we just had to explore all the different animals available to see at the park. Plus, Alexander was not going to let us leave without finding the penguins and he is definitely the boss in our family.
Several hours later, we still had no major kid meltdowns and we left the park with our hearts full and feet tired. The kids obviously slept the whole drive back to where we were staying.
Tampa Bay Busch Gardens also offers a wide array of roller coasters and thrill rides geared towards adults. Adam and I only took the time to do one coaster, but we walked right on. We didn't opt to participate in any of the animal encounter options, though it does seem cool when our kids are a bit older.
Disney is always a great time, but I've literally never seen any of their parks not packed. I've always walked two miles just to get in the front gate. I've always spent my day trying to arrange ride times and activities and meals. I am a lover of all things Disney, and I'll never quit going, but now that we've tried Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, I can honestly say its a great option for those who want the same amount of enjoyment with their visit with a fraction of the amount of stress and expense. Tampa Bay Busch Gardens 10/10 would recommend!
Need a place to stay in Tampa? Check out The Tampa Edition, a five star hotel with a rooftop bar and terrace, expansive spa, and Michelin stared restaurant on property. Book through me and you will be eligible for special perks including:
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom
$100USD equivalent Resort or Hotel credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
Signature "Welcome" amenity
Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi
I also offer other accommodations/ticket bundle options for those planning to visit the park.