Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (BGT Discussion Thread)

I'd certainly ride it and probably have to go to the hospital right after as a ride like that would certainly not be really man friendly.

After seeing so many responses complaining about it being closed all summer, asking when it would come back or comments about how they shouldn't close it forever even with it stating "early summer re-opening" in the description of the photo, this comment made me laugh, too bad Busch Gardens missed the sarcasm or the social media team deliberately ignored it.

Hey! That's me! I haven't been on this site in almost a year, so it's funny to see myself in a comment. Glad I could make you laugh.

Hey guys, I havent been to this park yet, but I want to go soon

Anyways, I saw this nice video and I am wondering if the Gwazi woodie will get the Iron Horse track soon like what the video talks about.

Here's the video:

What do you guys think?

^I think knocking Gwazi down and replacing it with a Dippin Dots stand would be a big improvement.

^ I realize you were joking, but seriously, it that happens, I will be extremely happy, considering how much I love dipping dots and hate Gwazi.

^I think knocking Gwazi down and replacing it with a Dippin Dots stand would be a big improvement.

They could knock it down and replace it with a giant hole guests can poop in to and it would be a big improvement! Then you could say "excuse me I'm just off to take a Gwazi!"

They could knock it down and replace it with a giant hole guests can poop in to and it would be a big improvement! Then you could say "excuse me I'm just off to take a Gwazi!"

^I think knocking Gwazi down and replacing it with a Dippin Dots stand would be a big improvement.

 

They could knock it down and replace it with a giant hole guests can poop in to and it would be a big improvement! Then you could say "excuse me I'm just off to take a Gwazi!"

This could be the best themed restroom since Disney's "Tangled Toilets."

I was at the park Sunday and thought using the area around Gwazi was perfect for the Food and Wine fest/concerts. If they tore it down and used that area for more food and beer stands and made it a permanent thing, I would be all for it!

Of course, an RMC would be nice too...

^Why could we not have both? Dream big!

^Why could we not have both? Dream big!

A food and beer stand themed RMC? That does sound pretty awesome!

^&^^

^^ I hope you won't have to be 21 to ride it. I'd hate to miss out...

^^ I hope you won't have to be 21 to ride it. I'd hate to miss out...

They could easily make a junior RMC themed to McDonalds and Coke for people under 21 to ride!

^Why could we not have both? Dream big!

 

A food and beer stand themed RMC? That does sound pretty awesome!

This is the sort of quality thinking I approve of.

dt

^^ I hope you won't have to be 21 to ride it. I'd hate to miss out...

 

They could easily make a junior RMC themed to McDonalds and Coke for people under 21 to ride!

Or make a dueling coaster--one side food (for all ages), the other side alcohol (for adults only).

^ But then it wouldn't be a mobius loop like with TC. Actually, now that I think about, the park employees probably wouldn't bother check several thousand IDs a day so I could just sneak by. Also, speaking of beer themed coasters, did you know there's a blue fire clue that launches you out of a keg?

^I think knocking Gwazi down and replacing it with a Dippin Dots stand would be a big improvement.

I totally agree! I would much rather get Dippin Dots than ride Gwazi again.

Last weekend I had the chance to stop in to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay to check out the first annual Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival along with checking out the latest construction progress on the 2016 expansion project in the Egypt section of the park. Regarding the Food and Wine Festival, I felt that the event is on the right track but wasn't a solid win straight out of the gate. None of the food was particularly bad (with one exception) but nothing was extraordinary. I'm curious to see how next year's event steps it up if it returns, but it was nice to see the park continue to dabble in unique, new events either way.

The entrance of the park features some new decor advertising the event...

A full run-down of the event's menu.

Several new topiaries have been added to the park specifically for the Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival.

The old Gwazi plaza and Gwazi Park make up the space where the Food & Wine Festival is hosted.

Nothing to see here.

Another topiary near Gwazi...

Lots of different pop-up shops built for the event.

Gwazi's former entrance serves as a venue for a pianist to perform during the event.

Time for the food!

First up!

The Braised Lamb with Roasted Corn & Merlot Jus Lie was solid.

The Coconut Shrimp Cigars & Mandarin Orange Salad was quite good!

Heading into Gwazi Park...

Time to dine in the shadow of the dormant beast...

It is hard not to stand here and expect a train to come flying by.

Same here.

At the Southern Station, we tried the Shrimp & Grits... The Roasted Red Pepper Grits really made the dish for me.

The Pan-Fried Cod had a nice char to it and the Parsnip Puree was easily the best part of the dish overall.

The Beef Short Rib & Brioche Toast had a nice sauce and the meat had a "melt in your mouth" tenderness to it.

Live entertainment has been added throughout the park specifically for the Food & Wine Festival. This "living fountain" was fun to watch, especially because her fingers actually sprayed water as if she were a part of the real fountain.

So sad... Or maybe not, depending on how you felt about the ride.

The Gourmet Lodge was where we tried the Beef Brisket served with Cheddar & Smoked Gouda Potato Au Gratin. Honestly, this felt like the same (solid) brisket you can get throughout the year at the Zambia Steakhouse. The potatoes were nice though.

The Deconstructed Duck Confit with Fried Wontons, Orange Salsa & Microgreens was one of the better dishes of the event.

Next up was the Comfort Kitchen where we tried the Habanero Shrimp Salad and the Bacon Mac & Cheese. The shrimp had a light kick despite being soaked in a habanero sauce, but the salad beneath it had a fantastic lemon thyme vinaigrette.

The Bacon Mac & Cheese was fine... It was the standard mac with cheese sauce on top along with some sliced strips of bacon. Nothing overly special but it tasted fine enough to finish.

The Chef's Plantation was my favorite booth of the event with all three dishes winning in my book. The Goat Cheese Fingerling Potato Tart had a quiche-esque consistency but the cheese really brought the potatoes in a neat way. I would get this one again.

The Pan-Seared Salmon Cake with Caper-Lemon Aioli served atop Wasabi Microgreens was my personal favorite item of the entire event.

The Griddled Cheese Cake Sandwich was really nice, provided you get past the notion that this isn't a cheesecake dish. Really, it is two pieces of pound cake with a thin layer of cream cheese between slices, pan-griddled and served on a plate with raspberry coulis. The dessert was tasty (albeit heavy) but not the cheesecake sandwich I was expecting.

Both of the typical Howl-O-Scream pavilions in Gwazi Park are used for the Food & Wine Festival for shaded seating and additional dining space.

It is just... There.

The only "bad" dish of the event was the Pan Seared Diver Scallops atop a Crispy Tortilla with a Watermelon Salsa. These scallops were small and oddly bitter... Typically when scallops are the main focus of a dish, they are larger and more flavorful. This was not the case at all.

The Roasted Pork Belly topped with a Tomato Onion Jam & Fried Leeks on the other hand was a big win for us. Well cooked and flavorful!

The Mango Eclair was flavorful and refreshing.

The Midori Margarita was the only drink we bought at the festival, but it was well worth it! I'll hardly ever turn down a drink with Midori at this point.

Two towering giants in view.

Time to make our way back out to catch up on the rest of the park...

This was one AWESOME topiary!

Her face is a little strange.

Shameless plug!

I honestly didn't know that Beer-based bread mix was a thing.

Over in Egypt, the 2016 expansion project is well underway.

The old walkthrough Tut's Tomb has long-since closed.

Busch Gardens knows how to poke fun at the uber-fans.

On the backside of the Crown Colony House visible construction is evident.

It appears that at least one trench will be built for this new attraction or area.

Early signs of footers are already on-site.

The Serengeti Safari Train is currently closed while the 2016 attraction is being build. The track that passed behind the Crown Colony House and Egypt has been entirely removed for this new project.

I never get tired of seeing this!

Woosh!

TPR Turtle Fancy fulfilled!

Fans of the Madagascar: Operation Vacation! show should note that the park's main gift shop is selling all show-related merchandise at 25% off... Could this be a hint that the show will be retired soon?

Great report! The food all looks amazing, and Gwazi has never looked better!

Yep--I'd eat that!

Food, liquor, roller coasters. Doesn't get better than that.

Fantastic report.

Wow, the food looks amazing! Thanks for posting this. Any idea what the new attraction will be? I though maybe something indoors using the old Tut building for a queue, but this looks much bigger.

Ahhh...you saved me from having to do a PTR of this event - thank you!

I 100% agree with your assessment about the Food & WIne Fest. The food was just okay...not as good as Epcots, although I am sure that they will improve on this in the coming years. I LOVED the beer selections that they had though!

I also had no idea about the 2016 project so thanks for sharing the photos. I am sure whatever it is will be awesome!

Wow, the food looks amazing! Thanks for posting this. Any idea what the new attraction will be? I though maybe something indoors using the old Tut building for a queue, but this looks much bigger.

I'd always hoped for something along the lines of DarKastle (such as an adventure inside a pyramid) using the Tut exhibit as a queue.