Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (BGT Discussion Thread)

What are the crowds usually like this time of the year? I'll be heading there on Tuesday March 2nd. Also it has been a few years since I've been to BGA & I don't remember if there are single rider lines or not (I'll be going alone)?

What are the crowds usually like this time of the year? I'll be heading there on Tuesday March 2nd. Also it has been a few years since I've been to BGA & I don't remember if there are single rider lines or not (I'll be going alone)?

No single riders queue

But It shouldn't be that busy. The weekdays are pretty slow, you will get everything done

^ Dang it! I was relying on using those for my trip since I'll be the only one on the big coasters.

Does Busch Gardens let you pick your seat or are you assigned?

^ Dang it! I was relying on using those for my trip since I'll be the only one on the big coasters.

 

Does Busch Gardens let you pick your seat or are you assigned?

You get to pick wherever you want to ride.

If scorpion has a big line, you will get assigned, But if it is not busy you can pick wherever. Or if there is a big line and you want a certain seat (front or back) just ask the op they MAY let you wait for the next coaster to get on that seat.

But I am pretty sure it wont busy

^ I'm going in the end of June on a weekday. Do those same rules apply?

What are the crowds usually like this time of the year? I'll be heading there on Tuesday March 2nd. Also it has been a few years since I've been to BGA & I don't remember if there are single rider lines or not (I'll be going alone)?

 

No single riders queue

But It shouldn't be that busy. The weekdays are pretty slow, you will get everything done

Thanks yeah I thought that BGA didn't have single rider lines. Oh well 2005 was the last time I was there I remember because it was Sheikra's opening year so I still have not ridden that floor less but I rode Griffon so I have an idea on what it is like with no floor. Just checked the weather & there is an 80% chance of rain for most of the day which should make the park even more empty.

^ I'm going in the end of June on a weekday. Do those same rules apply?

It would be busier than normal but not too crowded.

Photos of Millenium Flyer trains sitting on Gwazi's transfer track have surfaced courtesy of BGTGuide. I have posted a sample of the photos, but visit the link below to view the entire report.

http://bgtguide.com/bgt/gwazitrain

More photos click this link: http://bgtguide.com/bgt/gwazitrain

Yay! Now Gwazi will surely be good for everyone. This is very exciting news. It gives me a really good reason to try to get back to the park soon.

Any chance they update the worst SOP ever in checking every seat belt before locking the lap bars?

^Well, Millennium Flyers only have one belt per row so even if they did keep it, it should (theoretically) go faster.

I really liked Gwazi the first time I rode it in late Feb of 07 (then again it was Florida's coldest day in a while apparently) but could definitely feel the hurt when I tried it again in October of that same year, so hopefully it'll ride a lot better.

This is most excellent news. Unfortunately, it's still not a great layout, but maybe it won't be so rough anymore.

This is fantastic! This should definitely improve the overall ride experience. I absolutely hated Gwazi with PTC's and judging by the lack of people in line for it everytime I visited, most people did too. The next step is to actually have them duel now

This is just another great reason to visit the park in 2011!...way to go BGA!!!

Thats great news! The last time I was at BGA, while I rode every other coaster multiple times, one time on Gwazi on one side was enough for me. It's good to know that management is at least trying to come up with a solution for Gwazi's roughness.

This is awesome and great timing for me since I'm going up for the first time in late June. While the layout doesn't seem as good as some of the other GCIs, it still looks decent. Hopefully the new trains will make it a lot smoother and give it some air time.

This is good news, but I do have to wonder if they will re-align the station gates to match up.

Thats my big pet peeve on Timberwolf at WOF...the gate-to-train alignment is sooo horrible.

Is this a borrowed train from another park?I hear that it is so they can determine if they'll make the switch.I don't understand why they would even need to test the new trains,only if they haven't ridden the coaster lately,my last 2 rides have been downright painful.I used to love this ride,it was shaky but tolerable shaky now it just hurts.

This can only mean great news!

I actually really liked Gwazi when it first opened. But on subsequent trips, it just has fallen to the wayside. Hopefully now it wont be the Black Sheep of GCI anymore...

Actually, Im pretty sure the Tiger side was my First wooden coaster...

^I rode it a few times January 31st and it wasn't all that bad to me. Not smooth, but def not as bad as some others out there.

Does anyone know where these trains came from? I was thinking maybe Ozark Wildcat but than I remembered weren't those spotted at Wild Adventures?

^I would guess these are new. Hersheypark's Wildcat got new Millennium Flyers when they replaced their PTC's. Which brings up a good point; Wildcat was pretty rough even after they got the Millennium Flyers. The track damage from the PTC's was still there. Now I didn't get to ride it before the changed the trains, but from what I heard it was a lot worse. Gwazi will certainly be better with the new trains, but by no means perfect unless some serious track work is done to fix the damage. The biggest difference between PTC's and Millennium Flyers on an identical track layout can be noticed by riding Roar at SFA (PTC's) and SFDK's Roar (Millennium Flyers). Even on a bad day, SFDK's was still far more enjoyable than SFA's. I'm wondering what will happen to these PTC trains now that they are out of use. Maybe they will go to another ride for replacement trains like Hershey sent Wildcat's trains to Lake Compounce for Boulder Dash, or spare parts.

That's awesome that they are finally getting some! These trains are sort of like Pepsi throwback, but with coasters!

^I would guess these are new. Hersheypark's Wildcat got new Millennium Flyers when they replaced their PTC's. Which brings up a good point; Wildcat was pretty rough even after they got the Millennium Flyers. The track damage from the PTC's was still there. Now I didn't get to ride it before the changed the trains, but from what I heard it was a lot worse. Gwazi will certainly be better with the new trains, but by no means perfect unless some serious track work is done to fix the damage. The biggest difference between PTC's and Millennium Flyers on an identical track layout can be noticed by riding Roar at SFA (PTC's) and SFDK's Roar (Millennium Flyers). Even on a bad day, SFDK's was still far more enjoyable than SFA's. I'm wondering what will happen to these PTC trains now that they are out of use. Maybe they will go to another ride for replacement trains like Hershey sent Wildcat's trains to Lake Compounce for Boulder Dash, or spare parts.

BGA has been re-tracking many sections on the ride since it when down in feb (or jan?) So I guess they did it to get it ready for the new trains. I heard they are only testing them

Did anyone see the Cheetah Picture?

bgtguide.com/

Some Say it may be a clue to something new

www.floridathrills.net/content/attachments/1305d1267688597-jpg.html

Adding the flyers was a great improvement for Wildcat at Hersheypark. Now I don't need an adjustment every time I ride it!

Yay!!! I've been wanting these trains ever since I rode Lightning Racer!!!