IOA vs Busch Gardens HELP!

I wasn't sure where to put this post since I haven't gone yet but here it goes. I am going to Florida on 3/15-3/22 and it looks like will only be able to afford one park. Which park should I pick? IOA or Busch Gardens? Both look to have there pros and cons. As of right now, I am leaning towards IOA. It just looks so cool. Also, I will be able to go during the week, so weekend crowds doesn't need to be factored in. What do you all suggest? Thanks.

IOA, certainly!

Both are fun parks, but I would have to say IOA. It has a few less coasters, but the park in general is incredible. The themeing and atmosphere at IOA is almost unmatched. You would like both parks, but IOA maybe a little more.

Zimm
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www.themeparkbrochures.com - Theme Park Brochures and Maps

It wasn't to smart to put "vs." in the title.
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SFNE drops its "floor" for 2002! Visit www.geocities.com/sfneguy for info. and pics of SFNE, including the most unique constr. pics of SFNE on the web. Formerly known as srosatsfne.

yup, don't use VS in your post, Just ask Choice between IOA-BGT.

I loved both parks but I would say IOA is just simply incredible, The attention to detail is amazing and don't miss a single attraction at IOA!

BGT has two great coaster and one nice anton coaster but it is not really a rides park.

IOA is great! GO!

Chuck, who says if you can make BGT too you will like it :)

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Charles Nungester
167 coasters and hopes to be over 200 by the end of 2002 :)

IOA all the way ~ This Park is Amazing!! I've been to both and they are both good but (in MY opinion) IOA blows Busch Gardens away.

Save up an extra 150 bucks, scrape, scrimp, sell your kidney and buy the 5 park 14 day pass and go to Busch AND IOA AND Seaworld AND Universal Studios AND Wet And Wild! I did and it was the best thing to do!
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Bob Hansen

New Top 5:
5-MF; 4-X-Flight; 3-Hulk; 2-Kraken; 1-Raging Bull

I say go to BGT

u know why, IOA doesnt have PYTHON and BGT does!

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Out of the coasters i've ridden here is what I rank them overall:(ive been to canobie lake and SFNE)
1. S:RoS 2. Yankee Cannonball 3. Riverside Cyclone 4. Canobie
Corkscrew 5. Thunderbolt 6. Galaxy 7. Mind Eraser 8. Dragon coaster 9. poison ivy's tangl

All I can say is that my Busch Gardens pass has been collecting dust, while my IoA pass is still smoking from all the use it gets. BGT is a great park, has great coasters, good food (as do all Busch parks IMO). But IoA is a once-in-a-lifetime type thing, even if I do go every month...missing IoA should be a felony resulting in imprisonment, whereas missing BGT should just get you in the county jail for a couple days.

IOA is by far and away my second favorite park that I've been to of all time ;) I went on almost everything and I don't think there is a bad ride in the whole park.

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Excalibur Crew for 2002!

Yep, I concur with most others. If I could only do one, it would be IOA. Busch Gardens is a good park too but IOA has got those attractions you just can't find back home.

IOA
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SFOGeorgia.
Can't wait for Superman: Ultimate Flight
Drachen Fire, RIP: 1992-1998 Dismantled 2002

I mean IOA is certainly decent and all, but especially based on *when* you are planning on going, I'd definitely shoot for BGT. I went to both parks about the same time last year and first off it was a little chilly (which made Bluto, Dudley, and Jurrasic Park MUCH LESS fun :(). Secondly, IOA was SLAMMED on a *Thursday*, conceiveably from 'Daytona Beach Spring Break' spillover. So with 3 of IOAs (limited number of )attractions 'less than desireable due to weather, not to mention the possibility of excess crowds, I would most assuredly pick BGT (of course, all other things equal, I *still* think BGT is the better park).

Or you could say 'screw them both' and just spend the day 'hoochie watching' @ Daytona Beach....
lata,
jeremy
--should I (a) run? (b) stay and trip? (c) smoke a philly? or (d) shoot the b(deleted)...

Kick The Sky has the best idea, but if you can only go to one go to IOA.

BGT has 2 great steel coasters (Montu & Kumba, a very good woodie (Gwazi), a nice small steel coaster (Scorpion), and Python which isn't much, but relatively little else to offer. However, you can find the same basic things elsewhere.

IOA is something that you can experience no where else. It is a unique themed creation, and there is nothing outside of Orlando quite like it. Spiderman is the best non-coaster ride that I have ever been on. Hulk and Dueling Dragons are great steels. Don't miss it.

Jeremy is correct about spring break, Try to check ahead and find out how to best avoid the college mobs.

IOA. SpiderMan, The Hulk, Dueling Dragons, ultimate theming. Yes I would go to IOA.

I vote for BGT. I enjoyed IOA too, but in addition to all the coasters, BGT has the added attractions of the animals. I really enjoyed all the variety they have. But really, you won't lose no matter which park you end up choosing!

Last year my wife and I went to both IOA and BGT. While we enjoyed both of them very much, and I would like to visit each of them again. But the one that I want to go back to is BGT. I just found more there that interested me and I liked the look of the park better... there were parts of it that definately screamed "Theme Park", but yet there was just a hint of the "amusement park" feel (I would take an old fashioned Amusement park anyday over a big Themer). IOA, with its wall to wall theming, while impressive, was just a bit over powering for my tastes. Perhaps it was just that I liked the African theme of BGT, and while all themes were neat at IOA (really liked Jurassic Park and loved Lost Continent), some of them (Superhero Island, Seuse Landing, and Toon Lagoon) were just a bit of "sensory overload" for my part.

Take away theming etc, and I would still take BGT based on coaster record alone... Montu, Gwasi, Kumba and even Scorpion (forget Python) are right up there on my "fav" list, while only Hulk makes it from IOA (sorry, DD left me cold).

Now if SW would get more for the thrill seekers... with JTA and Kraken, I would even consider that over IOA.

And again... nothing wrong with IOA... I just liked BGT and SW more. However, given the chance, I would hit all three again.

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"I wasn't always this cynical, but then I started kindergarden..."

SLFAKE: "SAY THAT AGAIN!"
That's *precisely* how I felt about IOA (save actually thinking that Hulk was notable). I loved Jurrasic and LC, but the others were as you said 'sensory overload'. I think what is comes down to (at least in my case) prefering theming based (at least loosely) on 'natural' or 'realistic' models rather than complete fantasy.
lata,
jeremy
--who didnt realize that there were so many amazing women so lonely

Jeremy you are dead on with the whole water ride thing at IOA. When I was at IOA last week it wasnt exactly warm which made riding the three water rides a dicey proposition. I ended up riding Dudley and the Jurasic Park one and froze my butt off the rest of the day.

I am more of an animal person myself and that is why I like Busch. The Lorikeet exhibit to me was almost as cool as riding a coaster. Same thing goes for me at Seaworld with the Stingray Lagoon and the dolphin experience in Key West.

The theming was nice at IOA but if you are travelling with a non rides person, that doesnt give that other person a lot of options. My wife and I enjoyed Busch and Seaworld together more than IOA.

Also Hulk is great but that is the only coaster in the park that I would reride. Dragons reminded me too much of Batman with poor pacing and a rougher ride than say Montu or Raptor.

At Busch I could reride Scorpion, Montu, and Gwazi Lion many many times and not be bored. Even at Seaworld reriding Kraken and hanging out with the Stingrays would keep me happy for the day.

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Bob Hansen

New Top 5:
5-MF; 4-X-Flight; 3-Hulk; 2-Kraken; 1-Raging Bull

*** This post was edited by Kick The Sky on 3/1/2002. ***

Free beer samples...Definitely, BGT. I agree with , Kick the Sky. I could ride Montu, Kumba, Scorpion and still would have the same *joker* smile on my face....

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Dayuum, Your HOT!