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Welcome to Theme Park Review! Photos & Videos of Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, and FUN!
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| Food |
| If you plan to spend the whole day (at least two sit-down meals) at Busch Gardens, the All Day Dining Plan is a good deal. The park has mutliple sit-down restaurants with above-average theme-park food that are included in the All Day Dining Plan. Zambai Smokehouse serves BBQ, Zangora Cafe offers healthy alternatives, Dragon Fire Grill offers Italian, American, Asian and Southwest cuisine. |
| Operating Season |
| Open year round. |
| Established Seasonal events |
| Howl-o-Scream is a nightly Halloween event in October with scare zones and houses requiring a separate admission ticket for entry into the park. All major coasters are open during Howl-o-Scream.
Around June, the park hosts a Food and Wine Festival bringing unique flavors to the park. |
| Access & Location |
Driving Directions
From the North:
Travel SOUTH on I-75 to FOWLER AVENUE exit. #265. This exit is also the exit for the University of South Florida. Bear right on the exit ramp, and it will lead you directly onto Fowler Avenue. Proceed west on Fowler Avenue to McKinley Drive. (McKinley Drive is the first light past the main entrance to the University.) Turn left on McKinley. Proceed south on McKinley to parking and the main entrance to the park.
From the South:
Travel NORTH on I-75, past the intersection of I-4, to the FOWLER AVENUE exit #265. This exit is also the exit for the University of South Florida. Bear left on the exit ramp, and it will lead you directly onto Fowler Avenue. Proceed west on Fowler Avenue to McKinley Drive. (McKinley Drive is the first light past the main entrance to the University.) Turn left on McKinley. Proceed south on McKinley to parking and the main entrance to the park.
From Orlando:
Travel WEST on I-4 to I-75. Go NORTH on I-75 to the FOWLER AVENUE exit #265. This exit is also the exit for the University of South Florida. Bear left on the exit ramp, and it will lead you directly onto Fowler Avenue. Proceed west on Fowler Avenue to McKinley Drive. (McKinley Drive is the first light past the main entrance to the University.) Turn left on McKinley. Proceed south on McKinley to parking and the main entrance to the park.
From St. Petersburg:
Travel NORTH on I-275 to the FOWLER AVENUE exit (Exit # 51, Exit # 34). Turn east (right) onto Fowler Avenue and proceed 2.5 miles to McKinley Drive. Turn south (right) onto McKinley and proceed to the main parking lot entrance.
Busch Gardens Shuttle
Mears Destination Services offers round-trip motor-coach transportation from several Orlando-area locations to Busch Gardens Tampa.
•The fare for round-trip transportation is less than $20 per person from Orlando attractions (payable at the Busch Gardens Service Desk once you arrive). Transportation is complimentary with multiple-park tickets.
•Passengers are responsible for transportation to and from the designated pickup and drop-off locations in and around the Orlando area. Mears Taxi services are available at a minimal charge by calling (407) 422-2222.
•Arrival time at Busch Gardens is subject to change: could be as late as 11:30 a.m.
•Departure time from Busch Gardens depends on the park’s closing time. Please call the number below for exact departure time.
•Number of stops for each shuttle are not determined until day of trip. Your shuttle could potentially have a maximum of 3 stops on the route.
•For additional information please call 1-800-221-1339. |
| Nearby Lodging |
| Many budget hotel chains are located close to the park on Busch Boulevard, but unfortunately these motels are not well kept. |
| Virtual Queue Options |
| Two versions of Busch's Quick Queue are available. Regular Quick Queue gives you one-time front-of-the-line access for all the coasters and water rides. Unlimited Quick Queue is exactly what it says for the same rides. Note that some attractions using Quick Queue restrict you to a particular row of seats. |
| Shows |
| There is not a standout show at the park, and the animal attractions are recognized as better options when not riding. |
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| TPR Notes |
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At just an hour away from Orlando, this well-themed park is a must for any Florida vacation. There are several world-class coasters for the older kids and young-at-heart adults, multiple water rides, and a small collection of older flat rides interspersed throughout lush African and desert terrain with animal exhibits.
Children will have to be entertained mostly by the animals and the Jungala play area and Seasme Street-themed attractions. Multiple exotic shows and street performers entertain throughout the park, and food quality is generally above-average theme-park fare. Keep in mind that this park can be very hot during the summer with hot/crowded queues and very few air-conditioned areas.
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