DerekRx I'm the gyro!
Joined: 19 Feb 2005 Total posts: 4964 Location: Buymoria, PA Age: 30 Gender: Male |
 Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 6:52 pm Post subject: Photo TR: Busch Gardens Tampa |
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Sunday morning we got to Busch Gardens right at opening, and again got complimentary preferred parking. Todd and Will were already waiting for us at the gate, and Karen and kids arrived at the same time as us. After some time getting through the biometric scanners and guards not too keen on letting people in with nail clippers (which they sold IN the park!) we were off to Sheikra for some passholder rides. Showing our passes at Gwazi, we were given access to the Sheikra area. It fits in great in the area, though theming is not totally done yet. Sheikra is the best B&M to be built in about 3 years. Its finally a complete dive machine, with 4 great elements instead of just one. The first drop is fantastic, the Immelmann is insanely big and fun, the second drop is just like Oblivion's, and the splashdown effect is cool. It was definitely worth the trip just for that ride. The only part that didn’t fit was the ending helix, which needed more forces and banking. I love the station queue design, drop into the tower, and the splashdown pool. We managed 2 back row rides before the line seemed to be too long for us to want to wait.
After Sheikra it was off to get Greg on Python, then over to Kumba for some rides and platinum rerides. Here we ran into an op who was kind of rude. (To reride, you show your pass to the ride op at the exit and he will put you on the next train.) We show him our passes, the passholder group in front of us sits down on the train we just came off of, he says nothing to us. Todd asks him if we can reride, he says yes, and so we pick a row. As he stands there looking at us confused, the train is locked, he comes to check us and says "you were supposed to wait behind the line, I would have put you on the next train!" The people we butted in front of didn’t mind, they understood, but the op was just all attitude. He didn’t have to point it out at all because there was no harm done. Or he could have said it nicer, or even waited until after we rode to tell us the “proper” procedure. Of course, if he would have communicated with us better from the start, there wouldn’t have been any problem at all.
Next Gluttenfree wanted to meet up with his cousin who lives in Tampa, Barleyfree, and family, and they rode Scorpion in the hot late morning sun while we wished the Desert Grill was opened. Then it was off to Cheetah Chase (formerly Wild Maus) then to the now opened Desert Grill (formerly Festhaus). With the lack of the German sampler platter, I was forced to get an Italian Sausage Sandwich, but begged until they gave me the German potato salad. Service was kind of slow at first, but at least they opened a little early and it was air conditioned. Still I miss my German sampler platter, now I really have to get back to Busch Gardens Williamsburg (good thing I have a Platinum pass!)
Afterwards it was off to Montu for a ride and reride in row 7, then back to Sheikra before heading to the airport, stopping off before and after Sheikra for some free beer (Amber Bock and Bare Knuckle Stoudt). The line seemed long, but would have only been about 45 minutes from our point right by the picture spot outside of the entrance. This was when the 1:30 thunderstorm hit us, right as Karen, Kaitlyn (her daughter), Greg and I were next to ride in the front row. Even though we were in the open air section of station queue, we stuck it out and had rode front row 45 minutes later soaked to the bone (my shoes are still wet). After a group picture at the splashdown, we headed to the airport where we were again upgraded to First Class (thanks Greg!).
In short, it was a great weekend. It reaffirms my love of Florida vacationing, just not living there (at least during the summer and hurricane season). I look forward to returning to the area again in October to get back to some places I couldn’t include this time, and with Sheikra being as good as it was, I may have to make a day trip back to Tampa. Thanks to those who helped suggest how to orchestrate this plan, my friends who went along for the ride, and all of you who read all parts of this report.
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| Our main reason for this whole trip, Shakira! |
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| Here you can see both drops |
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| A trainful of riders hit the bottom of the first drop |
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| Todd may work like a dog, but that doesn't mean that he should also do his business where they do! |
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| Ah Kumba! Still my favorite looping coaster. |
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| Coaster Team member N'atman believes these are moosen. Let's not tell him they're really camels, ok? |
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| Already soaked from the thunderstorm, some Coaster Team members still fled during the photo because they were afraid of getting wet. |
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All clear....
Dispatch, enjoy your ride.
Derek |
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