Busch Gardens

I'll be heading to Busch Gardens Tampa in a couple weeks and I'm trying to figure out what day of the week is the slowest to visit and what rides I should hit right away. Any ideas or suggestions. *** Edited 3/27/2008 2:31:53 AM UTC by Hoek***

Well if you are getting there right at opening my suggestion is to hit Shiekra first, it will have the longest line by far. From there, I personally would head right to Kumba, because odds are you can marathon that ride with little or no (I have in fact ridden it 5X in a row during normal operating hours at this time without getting off before.) From there I would work my way back to the front of the park, hitting up the Scorpion and Cheetah Chase next, followed by Rhino Rally, then finishing with Montu and Gwazi before focusing on the animal attractions (take the train and the sky ride both at some point) and shows are re riding the coasters.

I've been to the park countless times on all days of the week and have never encountered long lines. Believe it or not, Scorpion and Cheetah Chase usually have the longest lines (about 30 minutes). Montu, SheiKra and Gwazi are usually a 10-15 minute wait and the best coaster at the park- Kumba- is almost always a walk-on. You'll probably wait longer for Rhino Rally than anything else, and it's definitely worth it. The whole park is worth it- one of the best you'll ever visit.

Gwazi may not have the longest line, but every time I've gone it had the longest wait. Sometimes they shut down Tiger or Lion while running just one train and I've never seen them in any hurry to load passengers. Sheikra may have the longest line, but it won't matter if they run three trains and run the line efficiently. I have not been on Rhino Rally which may have low rider capacity.

Sometimes, Rhino Rally brakes down, and they stop running the water portion of the ride. So, make sure you try to get on with that portion. Otherwise, they just do the driving portion only. As rule of thumb, I believe that Saturdays are the worst followed by Fridays, Sundays, Mondays, and than you have the rest which in my opinion are the least packed days (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays).

So, choose one of those days. I really doubt that any attraction will have that long of a line this early in the season. If you are going to Disney World, go on the weekdays, and go to Busch on the weekend because Disney will be so packed while Busch should be moderate. The same thing goes for Universal.

I would think that Universal would be more packed than Busch, but I don't know. I say pick (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays) for Disney World if you are going there, and any other weekdays (not weekend) you want to go. Go to Busch on the weekend just so you can skip Disney World on the weekend.

Kumba shouldn't have a long line. Cheetah Chase is a mouse, and it might have a long line, but if the park is empty, why would it? Montu might have a long line, and so could Shiekra. I doubt Gwazi would be that long.

In my experience when they are slow they run one train on everything but Shiekra which can result in some 15 minute waits. Not big deal if you have company, but in my case I was there on business so I was by myself.

April will be busier than normal- due to spring break. But weekdays are usually slower than weekends- and Its not usually too bad- (summer is another story).

As for all the praise for Rhino Rally- I HATE that thing and the lines are long.

Actually, April will be fine this year as the Easter holiday fell in March instead of April this year. So many area schools are on break now (and most colleges have their breaks even earlier).

A weekday in April will likely mean you have the park all to yourself, with ideal weather to boot if it doesn't rain. Sounds great.

^April will still probalby be busy down in FL. Alot of the northern schools worked spring break out this year not to coincide with Easter, but put it a bit later this year. My girfriend is a teacher and her break is from the 12-18 of April this year.

As for the park, in all of my experiences, Montu always had the longest wait (but that was before Shekira was built). I would definately head to Sheikra first and then move from there. I would suggest Montu second and then work on the rest of the park. Kumba is usually a walk on, so not to worry there. It also seemed like the water rides such as the tidal wave and Congo River Rapids also had some pretty long lines as long as the weather is decently warm.

Define northern schools. I teach in Illinois and just about everyone was on break this week or will be this upcoming week.

I've been to Busch Gardens in April is years past and the place was a ghost town except for Rhino Rally. *** Edited 3/28/2008 10:05:47 PM UTC by mulfdog***

NYC and some schools in NJ have spring break from April 19th - April 27th. I was surprised about that since in my area (PA) spring break was around Easter and had hoped that since Great Adventure is open during the week in April during that week, it would be dead. I guess not.

There was drama here in Tampa schools because of religious holidays. Spring break is no longer centered around Easter because its a Christian holiday. Our county schools didnt have Good Friday off as an official holiday- but 60% of students didnt go to class. Not editorializing- just giving some info.