IOA vs Busch Gardens HELP!

On our visit, the first day we were at (monday) SW, we had high winds that kept Kraken closed. Not sure if it was standard, or just for off season, but they "upgraded" our tickets to a two day ticket for no extra charge (this was a year ago, so who knows what goes now). Spent Tuesday at IOA (LONG waits for DD and Spiderman) and Wednesday at BGT. On Friday we drove back to Orlando from Tampa and stopped at SW again. I guess we were there for around 5 hours. Nice leisurly pace... took plenty of pictures of the animals (ones we missed on Monday), had lunch, and two more rides on JTA (did 2 on Monday) and then a total of around 6 in a row on Kraken (very short wait for front seat, no wait for others)... and were back in St.Cloud by around 4pm go get ready to go out to dinner with my wife's cousin. Much slower pace (and much more enjoyable pace) than the "wall to wall" theming of IOA.

All depends on what you're going for. If you want the ULTIMATE theme park experience, your choice is easy. IoA.

Fortunately for me, I like coasters and IoA while it's number of coasters are small, the coasters are world class. BGT is probably nice, but I dunno. There's a zoo in my city if I wanna see animals that bad.

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Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like bananas.

Here is the way I look at IOA. The park map lists 15 distinct attractions there. Of those 15 about 4 of them are either kids only or just geared more to kids. Then, if it is cold out or you don't like to get wet, three more attractions get the boot because they are water attractions. One attraction is really a show that if you aren't there at specific times, tough luck. So at best 11 rideable attractions and some really good theming. Stack that up against say Cedar Point which has this year 15 coasters, the same number of total attractions at IOA, and I start to wonder why everyone is so gaga over IOA. Is good theming really that important? Sure the rides at IOA are world class. So are alot of the rides at Busch or CP, or any Six Flags park.

Busch on the other hand has a little bit more in the ride department, animals, and a really nice atmosphere. And if you want theming, check out the theming around Montu sometime. I thought it was pretty good.

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Bob Hansen

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

Like I said, it totally depends on what you're planning on getting out of it. No one is comparing the coaster count of IoA and CP. I just said that IoA is the ULTIMATE theme park experience and it is. Like many people have said they could go to BGW and never ride anything and be happy, I could do the same at IoA. Don't forget BGT has a throwaway ride in itself in Rhino Rally.

BGT, even by their most ardent fans, has issues with Gwazi. Seeing a coaster that is meant to duel and doesn't bothers me in almost the same way seeing a coaster that's SBNO does. It's not doing what it's supposed to do.

I agree that if it's chilly to dodge the water rides, most notably Popeye, but I didn't really get wet at all on Dudley Do-Right, and it's the best flume ride in the world. It runs away with the title. JPRA is another can't miss, and you can actually dodge the majority of the water if you don't sit near the front.

IoA does need wood, but parks can survive without them (read: BGW). What they do offer is quality theme park experience, like I said. Not to mention, when it's all said and done, 3 B&Ms beat 2.

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Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like bananas.

Now don't get me wrong. My wife and I did not go to SW for the animals. As I said, on our first day, we found Kraken closed with no warning at the gate. We went to Guest Services to do a little whinning... I mean complaining... I mean to give some "Constructive Criticism" as to suggest that they let guests know that Kraken is in fact closed. Since that was our main reason for coming, we would have used our time more wisely and rescheduled our visit for a day that it was running. He asked, "What about staying for our animal exhibits and shows." Nope, sorry, Kraken was our reason for being there. HOWEVER... once we were there, we found that we were more interested in the animals than we thought we would be (however that big twisting steel sea monster was still our reason for being there). So, no, while we did not go to SW for the animals, we found that we did enjoy the day.

Same for BGT. There were only four animals that we were really interested in there... a scorpion, a python, and that dueling lion and tiger they have there. As I may have said, BGT, while a Theme park, has many points in common with a more traditional Amusement park. Only one station is really "themed" (Montu), and that theming is very very subtle (no designed sets, just a station that looks like it is made out of the huge blocks seen in the pyramids and other ancient Egyptian ruins). Timbuktu, with its flat rides, could eaisly fit into any amusement park, and so could the areas around the Tidal Wave and Stanley Falls flume. So the Tidal Wave has minimal theming (you float through an African village) and the Falls has practically none, I still like those rides.

It boils down to this... It is all opinion and what you like.

1) at BGT I liked Montu, Kumba, Scorpion, and Gwasi. At IOA I liked Hulk.

2) BGT has made the theme ing seem natural... like the park was carved out of the existing surroundings. At IOA, only Jurassic Park and Lost Continent (an Port of Entry) made me feel that way. The rest seemed artificial and forced. ToonLagoon and Seuse Landing, while entertaining, were places that were enteresting to see once, but once I saw it, there was nothing to make me want to stay there. Lost Continent and Jurassic Park on the other hand were places where I could have hung out all day. At BGT and SW, I could have walked the parks all day long and had an equally enjoyable time at any place.

3) While there is lots to do at BGT, the the atmosphere is more laid back and relaxed. IOA has a limited selection of attractions, yet (in certain areas... ie Super Hero Island, Toon Lagoon, and Seuse Landing), the theming makes things just jump out at you (especially in Super Hero Island... the theming just screams at you).

4) I like more traditional parks. I like Knoebels and Kennywood type of atmosphere. While corporate parks, I like the amusement park atmosphere of places like Hershey and Dorney. While BGT is a Theme park, there are elements of things that are very "Amusement park-ish". Timbuktu and the area around the Tidal Wave and Stanley Falls flume for instance have little theming and seem give a slight hint of an amusement park atmosphere over a big themer. IOA, as said before, is themed 120%. Just a personal choice, but I like the "amusemnt park" style.

Again, not bad mouthing IOA. Would I go again. Yes, of course. Would I make a special trip to go there? No. If I had to chose between going there or to BGT, I would pick BGT. Would I chose to go there or SW... I would flip a coin. Kraken, while my favorite in Florida, may not be enough to get me to go back (if I could only go to one park that is). Add another coaster or some other unique trill attraction, then yes, I would chose SW over IOA as well.

...just try making the decision every month, LMAO....

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Bob Hansen

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

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MikeMir87 said:
I say go to BGT

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

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You can't be serious!

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DRACHEN FIRE WILL LIVE FOREVER!!!!
MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

I just went to BGT this weekend and I have been to IOA three times. I have also been to BGW. Okay, just one tid bit of info, I find BGW and BGT to complement eachother. I like the theming at BGW and the rides at BGT but both have good rides that if were just put together would make the perfect park. Like if Apollo went to BGT that would make BGT a lot better. I actually didn't really find the BGT theming to be that great. IOA on the other hand has amazing theming on everything. Not a spot is missed.

In the thrills department, it is hard to pick a winner. IOA has better thrills other than roller coasters while BGT has awesome roller coasters and that is really it. Kumba is a much better ride than Hulk. It was a little bit more rough than Hulk but a whole lot more intense. I hear about how Hulk's ending pales in comparison to Kumba's and now I see why. The high speed interlocking corkscrews and the tunnel are way better than the corkscrew and turns. Montu is totally different than Dueling but I found Dueling to be better but Alpengeist is still my favorite Invert. So far they are even in coasters but then BGT has Scorpion and Scorpion is really cool. I cant wait to ride more Anton's, maybe SFOG this summer. The forces on that ride were really amazing. Gwazi and Python weren't really spectacular to me but Tiger was better and the second Python corkscrew is killer on the neck.

In conclusion(i guess I will answer your question now:)). I would go to IOA just beacuse it is an overall better park. You will feel really amazed after a day there and at BGT you dont really feel that way. Even though IOA doesn't have as good of coasters, the theming and originality of them makes them okay. One sidenote though is at BGT you can convert your day pass into a full year pass free of charge so if you thought you were gonna be there again, then get it. Also, BGT is like a city block not an isolated forest like BGW. Just thought I would say that since it surprised me. So IOA;)

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