IOA or BGTB - CoasterBuzz

This summer our family is going to Florida. We are going to Disney (this is what happens when you have a little sister) and i either get to pick IOA or Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. So, which do you think i should pick. Right now im leaning towards IOA. But please help me out. Thanks

Bryan

Well since I've been only to BGT I'm a little bias....but, It depends on what you like more. Both parks have a lot similar in what to offer but there r some differences. If you like B&M's you will definatly like IOA and BGT. But if you feel you want a wooden go to BGT. In my opinion go to BGT.....more coasters.

First of all, bias is a noun. One cannot be "bias." One can be "biased." Secondly, IOA is the superior park, by far. Not to take anything away from BGT, but IOA is an experience unlike any other.

------------------
SRM 2003-Look for the guy with my name on his chest

IOA is closer, has some very unique and incredible rides (Spiderman) and will be enjoyed by most of your family due to its variety of rides and superior theming. Not to knock BGT it is a great park but coming from Disney I would rather go to IOA then BGT.

PS. Dont knock Disney! There is a reason that it is the #1 tourist attraction in THE WORLD I find that I enjoy it more when I dont look at it as a theme or amusement park but as a unique experience. When you are there you feel like you are in another world, soak up the atmospheres watch and read the pre ride stuff in the queues and who knows you might enjoy yourself.

------------------
Summer 03-CP, HP, Canobie, SFNE, SFWOA, and SFGAm.

If you've never been to IOA or BGT, by all means, hit IOA first. While they are neck-and-neck (to me, anyway) as the best coaster parks in Florida, IOA has so much more to offer beyond that while BGT's only saving grace beyond its coasters are the animals (which you'll probably get plenty of at Animal Kingdom in Disney anyway).

Besides, IOA is a 15 minute drive while Busch Gardens will take you a little more than an hour to get there.

At BGT you obviously have Montu and Kumba. Amazing coasters. But Gwazi was a major letdown for me. Scorpion and Python? Classics but very uninspiring on this side of the millennium. IOA has three great steel beasts in Ice Dragon, Fire Dragon and Hulk.

Then you can compare the other rides. BGT offers a small, vanilla flume ride, a refreshingly soaker of a river rapids ride and decent shoot the chutes. IOA takes all that but drapes it in massive theming of Dudley Do Right, Popeye and Jurassic Park.

The food at IOA is also amazing.

Wait! I don't want to break the TOS around here. I'm not out to put BGT down, but it is what it is, a park with great coasters, a lot of ground to cover to get from one ride to the next and mediocre food (yes, even the Crown Colony Restaurant -- except for the view from the outdoor seating, I've had better grub at 4 of IOA's restaurants).

Unless if live animals is really your bag, I'd vote for IOA then.

iight, me and my dad have discussed it, and , IOA it is. Thanks for the help people.

-Bryan
*** This post was edited by Billy The Kid 4/21/2003 5:02:39 PM ***

Another benefit to IOA is you can park jump to USF, even just to have a look around. Shrek is opening in July and Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast was OUTstanding!

Personally, had a couple of real negative experiences at IOA last week that have put me off the park a bit. It's unfortunate because I had a blast there in February.

Geez I knew no one would say BGT....maybe its just me.

On the park-hopping to USF deal, keep in mind that you can't park hop with the 1 day ticket. They do sell a 2-day park hopper, but it might not be worth the extra $30-40 if you don't plan on coming back a second day.

And Shrek is actually set to open in June (all of the promo literature says June) though it will probably soft open later next month.

The parks are totally different. I prefer BGTB because being a future biologist/zoo keeper I love animals. IOA has wonderful theming and I liked it also. However I felt that I got more bang for my buck at BGTB. I felt that however wonderful IOA was it was still missing the feeling that I could do a lot more, like what BGTB had. BGTB had more attractions that the family will enjoy, even non-coaster enthusiasts. However I do suggest both parks as both are a lot of fun. But in your case it would probable make sense to go to IOA.
------------------
--------------------
""sometimes its embarrassing to talk to youto hold a conversation with the only one who sees right through this version of myself i try to hide behind"-I am Understood byRelient K

Mark W. Baruth said:
First of all, bias is a noun. One cannot be "bias." One can be "biased." Secondly, IOA is the superior park, by far. Not to take anything away from BGT, but IOA is an experience unlike any other.

Thanks for the English lesson.
I don't think IOA is "superior" at all to Busch Gardens. It really depends on what you have in mind for your day at the park. Busch is much better than IOA if you prefer a more low-keyed approach - one of the best parts about visiting Busch is that it lets you escape the maddening rush with an excellent collection of wildlife. The park tends to be much less crowded and offers a great combination of amusement rides and natural beauty. On the other hand, if you want to experience more high-tech thrills, IOA may be the better deal for you. Both parks are fine, it just depends on what you are in the mood for.

Read my BGT Trip report

------------------
#1 Canobie Lake Park Fan!!! My top 7 coasters:
1. S:RoS @ SFNE 2. Montu 3. Yankee Cannonball 4. Kumba 5. Gwazi 6. Cyclone (SFNE) 7. B:DK

I went to both parks this past January and I had alot of fun at each of them. However when I went, the staff at BGT was extremely rude and unprofessional. (With the exception of the
Rhino Rally staff) The staff at IOA was the best I have ever experienced at a theme park. That being said BGT has more stuff to do, IOA was more about doing the same few things over and over again.

Paris said:
On the park-hopping to USF deal, keep in mind that you can't park hop with the 1 day ticket. They do sell a 2-day park hopper, but it might not be worth the extra $30-40 if you don't plan on coming back a second day.
And Shrek is actually set to open in June (all of the promo literature says June) though it will probably soft open later next month.

Wow. I got it ALL wrong! Thanks for the clarification, Paris.

I visited both parks in February and had a great time at both parks. Just returned from another visit to IOA, staying at the Hard Rock, visiting the park on parts of three different days. (This followed four days at Disney.) I encountered apathetic, slow ride ops with little recognizable customer service skills (is capacity always this bad on *busy* days?). There was no visible security. The food was bad. Again, three visits on three different days. Ugh! Based upon my pleasant experiences during my first visit, I'll return. Without that to fall back on, there is no way in hell I'd ever visit again. I can't imagine ever going to this park without staying on property and using Universal Express. It would have been pure hell without it.

If I had to choose between them, I think I would return to BGT.
*** This post was edited by IBsteve 4/22/2003 3:55:12 PM ***

I was at both parks in Feb. So if I had to chose one it would be IOA hands down or up if you perfer.

Have Fun!

I've also visited both parks. It's a shame that you can't do both. I would pick BGT. Why? More coasters. To me Montu is better than both of the inverts at IOA. Kumba is comparable to the Hulk. I'd give the Hulk the upper hand because of the theming and the blast up the lift hill. Other than that BGT still offers Gwazi which overated or underated is still more than IOA has to offer. I don't really understand all the hype surrounding Spiderman. I was totally unimpressed with it. All though BGT is bigger and the rides are spaced farther apart you can use the train to get from one side of the park to the other pretty quick. The crowds and lines are shorter at BGT also. I think some of the newness has worn from IOA and that goes along with the theming on certain rides such as Dudley Doo Right, Spiderman etc. I also like the fact that there is plenty of shade from the heat at BGT.

I'd have to say IOA, clearly. I had the chance to visit both. I had a fantastic time at IOA. Enough so that I ended up spending 3 days there. BGT was so-so. The rides were pretty good, Kumba being my favorite of the bunch.

Given Spiderman, the two B&M's, the wonderful theming and nice dark rides, IOA was definitely more fun for me even though it had fewer coasters.

-Matt

Would you rather go to CP or SFWoA? It's your choice. You pick. Both parks are very cool. I have no preference. A lot of help, huh? ;)

------------------
Don't Fight It, Ride It, RAGING BULL!!!!!!- Six Flags Great America