Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (BGT BGA) Discussion Thread

[The SETGO GuysMy Dumps Smell Like Cantaloupe]

I was at the park yesterday and it was pretty busy. The Brazilian tour groups were out in force! Luckily I kept running into them going in the OPPOSITE direction I was going.

I was at the park Sunday. I have a few storys (And Later pictures to share)

I seriously hate Brazilian tour groups now, There was one group that was entering the line for Cheetah Hunt in the worst way, Clumps of 20-40 people at a time. I end up between to huge groups (With another family in front of me).
The whole 90 minutes, they kept trying to cut me (The ones behind me) I politely tried to tell them that if I let one of them cut, I would have to let all of them cut....I wasn't really prepared to wait another 10 minutes in line, nor do I think thats accaptable for anyone to cut. (I'm also thinking at this point that they want to jump me) Finally I'm on the train, All of the gates are occupied by the group, As the trains begins to move, they all point at me and give me the finger....

Yeah, Fun.

In other news, Cheetah Hunt is going slower than it was a month ago The first turn is taken at a very very slow speed....The launch isn't as forceful either. There was a problem later in the day, when a train got stuck on the third brake run. (Good time to be in the Rhino Rally area, as I was) I do have a few pictures, which I will post later.

I wore my Rhino Rally Polo to the park, and decided to go for a ride on Rhino Rally. I was talking to the ride ops for a good 30 minutes. Rhino Rally will be getting an expansion! The announcment is currently slated for August!

Rhino Rally turned out to be one of the highlights of the day, I had an awesome driver! I was navigator, and I chimed right in with my own jokes (Even teaching the driver a few new ones), at the end of the ride I was dubbed Rhino Rally's biggest fan.....

Pictures will be up soon. (Just a few shots)

EDIT- I changed my signature to reflect my new position!

[Erik JohnsonFormer captain of the Arrow bus.]

I rode it yesterday and it seemed pretty much exactly the same as it was when I rode it opening weekend.

[aimsterthe ghost seems to think there is a "Donkey Fairy"]

^Let me guess, people were pounding on the glass and that's why the cheetahs were hissing?

No one was banging on the glass where I was. This cheetah was just weird. He/she would come up to the glass and be all, "Take my picture! I'm so pretty!" and totally pose, then all of a sudden hiss! Cranky kitty.

[paiging_jenWhen I grow up, I want to breed donkeys!]

My cat hissed at me tonight when I picked him up. It happens. And I'm sure the cats are still adjusting to their surroundings. I still enjoy seeing their natural instincts come out with things like hissing, charging babies in the windows (which I witnessed the day Cheetah Hunt opened), etc. Can't take the wild out of the animals!

[Jay20016I'm a know-it-all about donkeys!]

The two trains have been at Scorpion for a few weeks now, but even still I've yet to see them both on the track at once.

If anyone has the chance, I completely recommend checking out Cheetah Hunt at night as it definitely takes things up a notch. It is a good coaster in the daytime, but was a damn fun one at night - especially in the old Rhino Rally section.

[aimsterthe ghost seems to think there is a "Donkey Fairy"]

^ Yeah I'm really anxious to ride Cheetah Hunt at night. It's already a run ride, but looks to be even more awesome after dark. Hopefully next weekend crowds won't be as bad as this past one (due to the holiday, of course).

And I forgot to mention in my other post that's great news about Rhino Rally getting an expansion! I remember hearing rumblings about that before Cheetah Hunt opened. Will be interesting to see what they come up with.

[Jay20016I'm a know-it-all about donkeys!]

^ Yeah I'm really anxious to ride Cheetah Hunt at night. It's already a run ride, but looks to be even more awesome after dark. Hopefully next weekend crowds won't be as bad as this past one (due to the holiday, of course).

And I forgot to mention in my other post that's great news about Rhino Rally getting an expansion! I remember hearing rumblings about that before Cheetah Hunt opened. Will be interesting to see what they come up with.

I'm interested if they are not already working on it as across the path from the elephant exhibit there is a rather large section being excavated. It is the old elephant enclosure, that then became a spot for camels... then nothing... then camels... then random other stuff, and then camels again.

I was at the park yesterday (5th of July) and while it was busier than normal, it wasn't too outlandish, 3 trains on Montu and Kumba out the gate with Cheetah Hunt having a delayed opening, and then another delay when they finally added all of the other trains. Even Sheikra seemed to be going pretty good as it never really went over a 15-20 minute wait at peak, and then walk on later. But, forget about Gwazi, another late opening and only one side was running. Posted wait was 15 minutes but it went almost nearly to the entry way where it splits just outside of the fluffy, fluffy bunnies filled with medicine and goo. If I didn't know that it usually takes 15 minutes when you're at the white line by the gates, about to board, I might have waited.

Cheetah Hunt's line at the end wasn't all that bad. It got down to about 30-45 around 8pm...

[paiging_jenWhen I grow up, I want to breed donkeys!]

I'm interested if they are not already working on it as across the path from the elephant exhibit there is a rather large section being excavated. It is the old elephant enclosure, that then became a spot for camels... then nothing... then camels... then random other stuff, and then camels again.

That's the new Animal Care and Nutrition Center they are building.

BG Animal Care Center

[coasternutA donkey is a domesticated member of the Equidae or horse family.]

I'm sure this has been mentioned before about Cheetah Hunt, but I hate those hard Intamin OTSR's. I wonder why (since it is a new ride), they end up with those? I got 10 rides (single ride line open) on 7/5 after 6pm in 2 hours. I've definitely got bruises on both shoulders to prove it. The ride opened 45 minutes late today, so I only got 1 ride in at opening.

It's a good ride and I enjoy it, although I doubt the 60mph claim. It's still a great addition to the Garden!

[aimsterthe ghost seems to think there is a "Donkey Fairy"]

I'm hoping the single rider line will be open for Cheetah Hunt when I'm back at the park next weekend. I asked at a couple different times on Sunday and it wasn't open.