Reviews of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (Zoo)

10165 McKinley Dr, Tampa, FL 33612, United States

Average Rating:

DESCRIPTION

We offer you the feddbacks of real people like you who have information of the services and products of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (Zoo) near Florida.

Nowadays the firm gets a score of 4.6 stars out of 5 and the score was based on 48418 reviews.

As you can read, the average score it has is basically the best one, and it's based on a large number of scores, so we may say that the score is quite accurate. If many people have bothered to give their opinion when they are pleased with the service, it works.

You know that we do not usually stop to write scores when they are good and we usually do it only if we've had a problem or incidence...

This Zoo corresponds to the category of Theme park.

Where is Busch Gardens Tampa Bay?

REVIEWS OF Busch Gardens Tampa Bay IN Florida

Linda Cade

Nice place. Something for everyone. Train was a great way to get from one side of the park to the other. Lots of animals. Food was eh except for fancy restaurant in the middle of the park. Sesame Street village was perfect for my five year old granddaughter. A pint sized amusement park. Cons: Music too loud and each area competed with the next. At little kids park music was so screechy that I had to cover my ears at times. The place for people that are sensitive to sound LOTS of walking. And they have about rentals ($50) but it's a long walk to get them and a long walk from there back to the car. Chair and scooter rentals should be near the gates. We went at the end of June. Too hot and humid to enjoy walking that much Also not easy to access food anywhere in a wheelchair.

Christine Cassen

Busch Gardens is great. I got to go for free and have free parking because I went to Discovery Cove. The rides are great, especially for coaster lovers. There are many other neat things to do, too. I loved all the animals exhibits. I got to pet a kangaroo! I also got bitten by a bird in the bird enclosure area. There are a few shows (saw a cheetah running, which was neat). The one restaurant overlooking the savanna was really neat. It was super neat to see giraffes while munching on food.

Colleen Budden

VIP Tours at Busch Gardens is totally worth it! To make your experience extra memorable and stress free, book the guided tours at Busch Gardens! We did the the VIP tour for Howl-O-Scream. The VIP access gets you in front of line for each house, all the rides, unlimited drinks, including alcohol, and snacks. The best part was our tour guide Amanda took us around the park and it was completely stress free. All our friends could talk and enjoy the our time together without having to worry about what next ride or haunted house to go to next. Amanda had it all covered! Such a blast and fun night!

Tresa Taylor

Not Handicap friendly. Paid $50 to rent electric scooters. Had only one employee at the Kangaroo help open the door. If it rains you are screwed to go to the bathroom from the smokehouse restaurant. You have to go through pouring rain no overhang. Yes we bought the $13 ponchos too. We had to park the scooters for train ride to only find out we could have driven them onto back of the train. They got soaked!! Employees sure don't offer up any info. They wait until you ask a question and have to refer you to someone else. They usually don't know the answer. At least 4 times this was the case. And the meal plan for $39 each. Don't count on everything being included. Starbucks and overlook Serengeti restaraunts not included. If you get there when they open and stay until close and eat a lot. Then get the meal plan...otherwise just eat when you are hungry. Portions were large a the overlook pub and smokehouse. Also, be prepared to pay $25 to park your car. Just keep the money flowing.

Diana Vergara

Loved it not overly Crowded for the day I went. Easy commute from I 75 south Florida. Peace of advice the hotels near by are scary and the surrounding area outside of the park needs a bit of a upgrade but a nice day overall.

Jennie

If you like roller coasters, this is the place for you! We screamed so much that it took 2 days to get our voices back. Unfortunately, we did not get a chance to ride everything because thunderstorms started around 3:00 and they shut down the rides. The temperature was almost 100 degrees so drink a ton of water. The good news is that they were offering a 4th of July fun pass for $69 per person for unlimited visits until December. That’s cheaper than a daily ticket so it was a great deal. I love the zoo and they have a lot of really great animals to look at. My cons, the food was expensive and not very good. The lines were slow and we stood in line for 45 minutes. They definitely need help in this area. Also, the signs need help too. They need some more and better directions.

Megan Mowatt

I have a unique perspective because I was raised in Tampa and I've been going to BG since I was a wee lass, but this place is great. You can't beat having animals and amazing rides in the same park. There's delicious treats and snacks, live shows, and tons more. There's a ride for every level and age and really cool Safari and animal encounter opportunities. You won't regret your trip!

Gloria Ward

I love this place! I always have fun but the lines for the rides are very long most days and I was a little disappointed in where the preferred parking was located. I really enjoy having an annual pass. I'll continue on with another next year.

T L

Recieved free tickets through waves of honor. What an awesome program! The kids loved this theme park. I really like how they incorporate a zoo setting with a theme park. So much to do. The splash pad is a really cool option.

Jane S.

Lots of great roller coasters which I appreciate. Universal has spoiled me though with how good they are about keeping the lines shaded with fans throughout and Busch Gardens was not on top of that so it made waiting in the lines much hotter than needed. There were surprisingly few rides that were not coasters so I was missing that, but their tower drop ride was the best I have ridden.

Amber H

Such a wonderful park. I just wish we had more time and it wasn’t raining when we went. Nevertheless it was well worth it. My 1 year old loved the Sesame Street season section and the water area there. It was also a very very hot that day so the water was refreshing. The animals were AMAZING! They all looked happy and well cared for. Again, I wish I had more time to spend there. Unfortunately we couldn’t ride any rides due to the weather, but we will be coming back in the future. The work they put into this park shows and the staff were all very friendly-especially the staff in the Sesame Street park. Honestly if I could sit there all day and watch the animals I would...

Tasha Lachut

Love this place and love the price in comparison to other theme parks. Associates are always caring. Had one incident with an employee while there that I wasn't happy about, but overall was great trip.

Katrina Golding

LOVED IT

David Kilburn

Best theme park for adrenaline junkies by far, doesn't seem to get as busy as the parks in Orlando. The rides are some of the best you will see. Well worth the 1 hour plus ride from Orlando. It also has a great Zoo. Highly, Highly Recommended for teenagers and Adult looking for high octane action.

David Sheppard

Nice Park, lots of fun! Mostly catered to adults as most rides have high height restrictions. They do have the sesame area for young ones. Just not much a whole family with younger ones can all do together.

Millie Gordillo-Guffanti

Excellent park for families! Has something for everyone young and older children and of course for adults too! Great facilities, things are kept clean. Staff is courteous

Chad Belbey

Fairly quick line times and the rides were great, its been 20 years since ive been here and it did not disappoint. I bought the ticket with the all you can eat meal and drink pass. Stayed all day and got my moneys worth..

Reece Rogers

An excellent and somewhat underated park. They have some brilliant new rides and some old favourites. The lines are never very long so getting on all the rides was no issue.

Patrick Kn

Really good theme park for the whole family. Many big amazing rollercoasters, but also many animals. You can do a safari tour, but if possible do this in the morning. The animals are hiding in the hot noon.

Joe Hamilton

It was great fun as always. The year of Beer is awesome. They should go back to free beer like in the old days. Plus bring back the beer tasting.

Crystal Santos

Always a good time! So much to see and do....and the animal encounters are worth every penny. It's a bonus benefit (one time) if you've got a Gold Annual pass! 10 out of 10. Highly recommend!

Crystal Prewitt

My husband and I decided to upgrade our annual passes to platinum in March in Tampa. Apparently the people in the park failed to properly activate it and we didn't find out about their screw up until we took our family vacation in Williamsburg, VA in June and were unable to use our passes, what a mess. Update: Fortunately we were able to get in touch with an outstanding representative who was able to get everything straightened out. I haven't been back to Busch gardens yet, but I expect smooth sailing from here on out. Hopefully... New update: not resolved

Nathalie Penar

What a blast. We loved the set up, it kept us from getting congested in one spot and practically trampled like we did at universal. Great spots to chill and be protected from the sun. Can't wait to go next year loved the rides.

Kreations by Kim-Anne Business

Always a great time with friends and family or by yourself. Love the coasters and the food and everything that you can do. Staff is amazing as well

Karen Frew

We visited during Howl o Scream it was excellent. My family really enjoyed it. We visited the Theme park many years ago when the kids were young. There are lots of new coasters.

Leeskiie

Great theme park. Always clean. Staff is real friendly. Prices are not to bad either. Lots of rides. Plenty to do for smaller children too. Large kids area. Great restaurants in the park also. I have been to this park 100+ times, and never had a bad experience.

Austen Gordon

I had an annual pass for Busch Gardens and I always had the best time. I would go mid week and it was always a quick wait time. The longest wait would be 10-15 minutes, if you go on a weekend it’s way longer but there is a Quick Queue line. I recommend the annual pass because the benefits are definitely worth it, the free beer in August, and the free friend ticket was really cool. There’s always discounts for any tours that you do, I did the behind the scenes and giraffe tour and would do it again. The leaders were really well knowledgeable and made the experience worth it. Also with the annual pass, the parking is free, way better than Disney’s.

Becky Becky

My first time there. I loved it. It was like being in Universal but with Amazing animals along the way.

Trina Mayhand

I loved it. We were able to ride all the rides without waiting. Perfect day!

Remya Ramachandran

Good place.. mostly the rides are for big kids/adults. Though my 5 yr old enjoy the elmo street and small rides..

Allie Santeler

If you are plus-size (16 and above), please reconsider coming here. I am a US size 18 and I have never had issues fitting on ride seats before. My hips/butt did not fit on 50% of Busch Gardens roller coasters, and a staff member was very rude to me after having to leave a ride because of it! I also reached out to Busch Gardens via email after my visit there, and they did not apologize or validate my experience at all - they simply told me that it wasn’t their problem. Do better, Busch Gardens! Be more size inclusive!!

melissa weaver

Always something for the whole family to do. Annual passes are great you get awesome discounts. The best time to go is during the week the park is pretty much empty and no lines for any of the rides.

Lady

Absolutely top notch! The park is like out of a magazine. Incredible grounds with beautiful vegetation. Everything is clean and tidy. Plus the rides are a lot of fun!

Nick Rock

Awesome family friendly place!!! It has something for everyone to do and enjoy. The food is great, the rides are amazing and the animals are extraordinary!!! It's a bit pricey, but it's worth it for a great overall experience. I would recommend getting the all day dining passes/wristbands if you do decide to go and the souvenir cups save you a ton of money on drinks. If you haven't already, check out the park and I promise you won't be disappointed. They even have a rainy day policy, you can't beat that.

Dan Brown

Usually a good time, but figured I would try to get a few hours in on an early August weekend. Who would have thought that it would be busy and that the on and off summer rains would keep me from riding any rides before 6pm? Probably should have thought this one through. But seriously, for FL residents, buying a one day pass and getting to come back through the end of the year is such a great deal. Highly recommended!!

georginamgo

It is a beautiful zoo with so many animals to see in relatively large natural environments. They all seemed well taken care of. I found the roller coasters too intense for us and it's a pity they don't have more family roller coasters, which seem very popular. Some unusual animals. Worth the trip from Orlando.

Michael DeNinno

Absolutely the best wildlife exhibits in the country. My only wish is that they would expand more with animals than with rides. Missing Chinese Panda's, Okapi's, and wolves. That would complete it all in my book. Hopefully focus will get them there in the future. Wonderful hands on exhibits and a place the whole family will love. I'm an annual membership holder and I live out of the state it's so great.

Jan Addair

Busch Gardens Tampa isn't just roller coasters. We have teenagers, a five year old and a special needs daughter that were all entertained for significantly less money than what we spend to go to the Orlando parks. Lots of animals, rides for small children, and a cute little water area for a cool off.

Ashley O'Toole

Do NOT go to Disney, it's a waste of money. Visit Busch Gardens instead, its 1000% better. You can actually ride the rollercoasters without waiting in long lines and the rollercoasters are for adults- so they are actually really fun. Animal exhibits are wonderful, I especially enjoy getting face to face with the cheetahs, lions, and tigers. They also have spotted hyenas which are rare in zoos and a special treat to see. This place is just the best, highly recommend!

Elizabeth Vance

We love Busch Gardens more than Disney. Incredible rides hands down! Themed roller coasters, wide variety of exotic animals, their own super scary Halloween attraction, food fests, lots of scenes that change throughout the year. A must see in Florida!

Vikki Collier

I'm 37 years old. It was my first time going. I loved it. There were rides for all ages! The food at Smoke House was great! It was also great that you can buy souvenir cups and refill them the same day!

Robert S

Busch Gardens is the ultimate family park. Something for all ages. Roller-coasters for the thrill seekers, along with plenty of animals to view in open grasslands. Perfect park to own the yearly pass and go for the day. Plenty to see and do, the ice skating show is fantastic. People watching here is a favorite past time.

Abner87

Busch Gardens is always a good alternative to a have a great time with your family and friends. Normally I get there by 900 so I get good parking spots and not so long lines. if you planning to stay all day get the meal plan you have lot of restaurant options... my favorite is Zambia Smokehouse(delicious brisket)... I love all the attractions and the areas.

Michele Kane

Busch Gardens is a zoo and an amusement park all in one. The amusement park aspect of this park is great, the rides are definitely worth the wait times. The zoo part of the park is pretty good, it only focuses on Africa though, but the behind the scene tours are really what make it. My husband and I did two different tours, the "Heart of Africa", tour where we got to get up close to the Hippos and the Lions and the "Elephant Encounter". Please when visiting consider spending the extra money on an encounter. I promise you will never forget it.

Ivonne Sanchez

Great place to spend the time. We have an annual pass and usually go twice a year. I love the Christmas decorations and events that they do. The Halloween scares me but my husband loves it. It's great and close to home. They have a Sesame park for the younger kids with many rides they are actually tall enough for. It even has a small rollercoaster that my 3yo could ride in. In the sesame part they have a decent sized splash park for the kids to cool down.

Isaiah Hogan

We have been going to Busch Gardens for 3 years now and never had a boring moment even when we had a wait in a line for an hour or more. They have something for every age group. And it's different in every season. We sometimes go to just walk around the place and look at the animals. Winter is wonderful with the Christmas decorations. They have tons of food and beverage choices. The shows are amazing and keep changing every season. The Ice Skating show is one of the best shows in the US. To summarize this place bring out the inner child in every visitor!

Kim Hamilton

Annual member. This is a Great place to go and walk and enjoy the animals.

Jan Broucinek

A fun place to visit, but they are a victim of their own success. It is so popular that there is always a line for rides. The price is high, but I suppose most people use an annual pass with payment plan. If you just want to see animals, then the crowds in those areas aren't too bad.

Tiffany Teeters

We currently have 10 annual passes that expire in a few days. We will not be renewing our passes this year. While we greatly enjoyed our year at Busch Gardens Tampa there were several occasions (more often then not) when we went and didn’t get to ride any of the rides we wanted to ride due to maintenance issues. When rides break down it creates very long waits (even worse then normal) on the other rides. The most frustrating part is the fast passes. While I see the advantages of both selling and purchasing them, it’s one of the main reasons we will not be renewing our passes at this time. I wish they would do away with them all together. The fact that they even allowed the fast passes to be used on the pass holder only nights was completely disappointing. I honestly do like Busch Gardens and would recommend going. We will look into another annual membership possibly in the future but for what are paying for such a large family they will have to step up their game ;)

Michael Morris

The Busch Gardens Halloween event was amazing. I took my daughter and we had a great time. The combination of haunted houses, scare zones, roller coasters and music made for an amazing experience. I highly recommend it.

Christopher Starks

Our family enjoyed a great visit in July! It was overcast so it was a nice break from the sun. The park was not overly crowded on a Tuesday and the longest we waited for a ride was about 20 min. The animals were all out and about so that awesome to see them, many of them quite close. The park was very clean and tidy and the garden areas were green and vibrant. We sampled some foods but didn't get a chance to do any shows. Will be planning a fall trip to enjoy it all again and more!

Imre Szollosi

Great family park. My buddy and I doubled date their and we had a blast! But I would get the fast past though; makes life easier.

Rayvenwynd

My family and I had a wonderful time at Bisch Gardens. It was crowded but not too bad, the lines for rides were reasonable, the food was good, and we had a lot of fun! We didn't interact with staff too much this trip but everyone we did meet with was pleasant but forgettable. No one went out of there way to wow us. The negative side was that they closed two water rides for "Annual maintenance." That's kinda dumb, Busch Gardens. You don't close a ride that will cool a guest down every year in the hottest time of the year. But, it wasn't trip breaking. Parking was $25, which is the only thing that I thought was overly outrageous. That and $30 to $40 for a shirt. But, as I understand it, it's about standard for any park. Overpriced stuff keep normal people from buying souvenirs and advertising for free. Overall, it was a fun trip, but for the prices I'll just stay Orlando instead.

Jason Olson

Busch Gardens has been a staple in Florida for 60 years! I personally have been going since I was 2 years old. The park went through a dip for while, but the new owners have really been upping the game. If you like Coaster, this is the park to go to. To hot in the summer? 3 great water rides will cool you past you skivvies, if you are wearing any. As far as food, they closed the best restaurant that over looked the Savannah and had sit down service with COLD AC! Very disappointing. Best bet is to get a seasonal pass. Parking has become a complete rip off at $25 for the cheap areas. If anyone from Busch Gardens reads this, Please add a great dinning venue.... some of us like to sit and chat and enjoy a cocktail!

Elizabeth Skipper

Lance Austin is the BOMB!!!! WE GOT IN FREE TODAY... because my son is active military. We had a blast!!! And the park wasn't crowded. Only a 5 min wait for every ride. Definitely will be back again!

Alan Henderson

An experience located in the heart of Tampa, second to none! Busch Gardens contribution to the city is one to be marveled! Celebrities, Live Shows, Rides, Games, Food — I mean you can't go wrong! During the holidays, BG offers different experiences like it's unrivaled Howl-O-Scream nights and it's gorgeous Christmas Scenery. Ultimately, If you decide to invest in a annual pass this year, especially if you're a Florida resident, then you can definitely expect to get the best bang for your buck! P.S If you get the 'All you can eat' wristbands — then you better come hungry

Simeon

If you want to come to Florida for a sweet vacation, Busch Gardens is one of the attractions that you must experience. With so many great rides to choose from, along side a small amount of wild life, makes a trip with you and the family an experience you won’t get anywhere else. I had so much fun on every single ride, and the waits are not very long.

Melinda Vanhersh

When we went it was very hot out, they need more cool off spots for really hot days like this. But other than that we had a blast. My daughter done the animal encounter with the giraffes for her birthday. My grandson enjoyed the roller coaster.

Izabela Woźniak

The park is very nice for the people who are looking for a strong adrenaline experience. Most of attractions are high, very fast, curly in every way. On the other hand there are many lovely places for animal lovers. For example safari where you can touch a giraffe, BUT that one is extra paid. Lack of atractions with moderate intensity makes this park limited for many people to use.

nicollette Maassen

Went here for my birthday with my family this year and it was the best birthday ever! All of the animals looked super happy and healthy. The rides were great! Feeding the kangaroos and birds were the absolute BEST part!!!! Wonderful park!!!!

J Squared

This place is huge! We purchased an annual pass and this was our first visit to Busch Gardens. We have only seen half of the park so far! We went on roller coasters, saw animals, saw a show on ice, saw tons of restaurants. Very clean atmosphere, park is well kept. Very friendly staff and very helpful! Alveria was so helpful from the moment we walked up to the kiosks outside the gate. She helped us obtain our passes and also gave us our lanyards and draw string back packs. She was so friendly, it was infectious! We can't wait to go back again and see what we missed!

Chelsea Allen

I love this place. Unfortunately it's not big people friendly (meaning tall and wide) . Rides my bf could ride anywhere else, he could not ride there. I feel like the seats that were made for a bigger person was limited more than it should. It made our time get frustrating because he did not enjoy himself at all. Because there was nothing he could ride ( as in coaster)

Tom Mitchelmore

Fantastic animal park with spacious and rich enclosures. In terms of rides, the rollercoasters are some of the best in the US. Only issue is that staff are particularly slow at managing the station as opposed to somewhere like Universal. Would highly recommend the quick queue, absolutely worth it for a single day visit.

Dionne Fields

The first time my two son’s visit Busch Gardens on our family vacation we had a wonderful time. Busch Gardens was the best family theme park that my two kids and I have ever visited. We took a lot of family and magical photos at Busch Gardens theme park and resort. While we were on one, of the huge water rides my camera got soak from the water and all our family photos from Busch Gardens were gone. I was so hurt and in tears, that all our family memories of Busch Gardens was gone. And then with comfort, my two son’s told me we could go back to Busch Garden during their Christmas Town to create new family memories and new family photo’s. My two sons’ and I are looking forward to returning back to Busch Gardens during the Christmas holidays.

Lisette K

Extremely fun, if you like the adrenaline rush than you will enjoy all the roller coasters. The kid rides are quite nice too. My three year old always has a blast.

Rich Noto

Great place to spend the days. Its a combination of Rides and Zoo. Best times of year to visit is for Halloween and Christmas lights. Food and wine concerts are also a great time.

Regina Wheatley

Absolutely the best wildlife exhibits in the country. My only wish is that they would expand more with animals than with rides. Missing Chinese Panda's, Okapi's, and wolves. That would complete it all in my book. Hopefully focus will get them there in the future. Wonderful hands on exhibits and a place the whole family will love. I'm an annual membership holder and I live out of the state it's so great.

melissa aznar

It was awesome! It's worth buying the meal ticket. There are bathrooms, water stations and first aid clinic's everywhere. Most of the food was good. But who really cares because if you don't like it just eat somewhere else next time. Rides were good and and the animals were cool. I would recommend going if your in town!

James C Taylor

Best Central Florida amusement park due to its combination of exciting rides, animal attractions, park size and wait times. It's like going to the zoo AND to an amusement park in the same day. The roller coasters are among the best in the country. Food prices were reasonable... my son and I had lunch and dinner for under $50 in total.

Nelly Sophia Orozco

Love going there. Good for all ages. If you’re a USF student, get their special annual pass. They have monthly perks and freebies you can get. You can go to the rides, see the animals or just hang around. Always have a great time there! They have seasonal events which are always fun. Check out their calendar so you can go and do something different as well. Advice: check lines online so you can strategically choose your rides.

destiny melgar

Fantastic place for animal lovers and roller coaster fans. Great kids area as well if you're looking for a place to keep them occupied

First Name

Lots of fun. Lines incredibly long tho. But the Turkey legs were fantastic. Animals were great.

David Stone

Our family loves Busch Gardens. It’s such a beautiful combination of an all-inclusive zoo experience and a theme park. I also love that the tickets are much lower priced than Disney or Universal Studios. If you really wanna save, Busch Gardens does a “pay for the day, play all year” deal every year that allows you to by an annual pass at the price of a daily one. I love this deal!! Great for business and great for the family. Howl-o-Scream is also another great event that is put on by Busch Gardens that is a must for Halloween/Horror lovers.

Philip Luoma

Thank you for supporting the Armed Forces. My family and my friends family enjoyed our free day there. Even for a Saturday the lines were not very long and it was not crowded. It was so much fun we didn't really notice how hot it was....especially after cooling off on the water rides. See you again soon!

Jesus Navarro

Awesome experience. I drive all the way from Brevard county each year. Best value for your dollar. Only complaints, wish Busch Gardens would add another house or two, eight house would be epic. Also, they should rotate/ change up more than two houses each year.

Jenipher Chandley

This is by far one of the best parks ever. I've been taking my kids here since they were young. So much to learn and explore. There's even an doctors area you can watch them take care of the animals. I'm lucky to live close by. Love the rides and the sky tram.

Donald Domek

I like Busch Gardens. Normally I would give them a 5 Star. The mistake I made this trip was going there while school was out. They day was super hot and it was a weekend. The lines for the rides for all were about an hour long (some longer). I recommend you download the app and look at wait times for various days before you decide what day might work for you. Use the app in the park too to save you walking to a ride that you would never wait that long for!

ALFONSO DEJESUS

I love the attractions, the zoo, the shows, the food, the games, the people... it makes u want to come visit the park over and over again! With things to do for the whole family, and all walks of life...from the oldest of elders to the youngest of toddlers, there's stuff to do and see for everybody! No wonder this place is worldwide known

Brandon Poruba

Very nice amusement park for the price, never too crowded if you go on the right day. Food is a little bit on the pricey side but that's what you should expect from an amusement park. The grill easily has the best food with it's great selection of BBQ dishes.

Alicia Manning

We’ve been to Busch Gardens several times with our season passes and we absolutely love it! It’s more than just roller coasters, it’s actually a beautiful place to see! The plants and the animals alone make this a truly unique experience you just have to see! The food is incredible and with so many different restaurants and little snack shops set up, there’s something for everyone! Even our picky eater!

Thomas Baez

Beautiful park. The meal plan was a great value. Good food. Friendly and helpful staff.

Nick Woolliscroft

Great rides and beautiful animals all in one park. Also the queues are smaller than Disney/Universal parks as its further from the main attractions which is good

Joe Lester

This and Sea World are my 2 favorite parks. I have been a passholder since 1997. The new coaster, Tigress is now one of my favorites! The weather kept my son and I from riding any others. We enjoyed watching the animals play in the cooling rain. The Bartender in the Serengeti Pub was awesome! I can't recall her name. She was from Atlantic City. Kudos!!!

Alex G

Definitely more of a roller coaster park than it was the last time I'd been there. If that's your thing then you'll have an awesome time! Plenty of animals to check out too if you're not a ride fan. I will absolutely recommend getting a meal deal as it also means unlimited bottled water as well and that is such a lifesaver in the Florida heat! The meal deal also gets regular snacks, beer and wine at buy one get one free as well. Definitely bring a hat and sunscreen if you're prone to sun burns. If you're doing the water rides plan for that too! Parking is 25 dollars for general or 30 for preferred if you're not a pass holder, totally worth the preferred if you don't want a long walk at the end of the day. The food is your standard theme park fare. Coke products for those that care. Loads of Pokéstops throughout the park too if that's your thing. Animal experiences are definitely where it's at here. Definitely a must do if you're in the area.

Simonne Valdez

Food festivals, petting the wallaby’s, and really really fun roller coasters. Busch gardens has really evolved over the years. I’ve had a yearly pass for over 10 years and I still really enjoy going and taking people who visit Tampa. They have events and different parts of the park that appeal to everyone. Can’t wait to see what new things they think of!

Joseph Penn

Great fun! the roller coasters were amazing and I really enjoyed the whole park. The animals were also great to see and learn all about. I am glad to have an Annual Pass to Busch Gardens that has a guest ticket so I can bring my friends here as well.

Michael McFarland

You know when one lives in paradise and say what would you like to do. Let's enjoy a nice walk and see all the beautiful animals from Africa grab a cold beer and jump on a rollercoaster or 2 on a chill day. We usually play more on the rides, but today was a nice chill day at the park.

Rachel Lyne

Loved the shout out to Veterans. Thank you for hosting this event. Both my son and I are Veterans and we were able to enjoy a day together at the park. Great fun. The all day meal package is worth the price.

Derek Furst

They make no attempt at efficiently loading rides. They let an empty seat open on a ride and wouldn't let a single rider take the spot. They don't look for or ask for single riders and very much do not care about trying to load riders on efficiently. There is nobody guiding people into the stalls in a smart fashion so the gate area is a cluster.

Bryan White

Awesome place, wait times for times are a joke! Prices are far out of line. Bathrooms are clean and staff is nice. No reason ever anyone should wait 90 minutes for a 2 minute (if your lucky) ride.

Yan Alvarez

Reasonable wait times, thrilling rides, great food, and nice staff. Every year they step their game up even more. If you're looking to spend the whole day here, consider all day dining, you won't regret it.

Alexander Fuchs

The park is a very good example of exploitation. Very much for the entrance fee and with each ride the spinnt extra pay. If you do not want to pay extra you have to walk through the park and can not do anything. No recommendation. Never again

Alyssa Boozan

Beautiful park, clean, and friendly staff. We had always gone to the BGW park and this was our first time visiting here. We were not disappointed at all! The rides were fun, and the best part was being able to walk around and see all of the animals. We even went into one of the wildlife shows and found it very interesting. We will definitely go back again when we visit Florida!

Flash Marsh

Always love coming here. Florida wouldn't be complete without it. For some reason it feels 5 or 6 degrees warmer everytime we come and usually holds for the day. The rides are fantastic and the queues always appear much shorter than Universal. Plenty more for the younger kids too with adventure courses, animals and some smaller rides that our 3 year old enjoyed. Highly recommended to anyone looking for an adventure and fun packed day out in Tampa

Ethan Brown

amazing place! has something for everyone! lots of thrill seeking rides which are absolutely fantastic and also many beautiful and stunning animals! however only main issue in my opinion is that the food is very nice but it quite pricey which i do u derrame due to tourist but prices could be lowered a little. nevertheless amazing place for all ages!

Bev Becker

Busch Gardens is always a fun time. The small price difference between the Fun Pass and the Annual Pass is worth it. Go ahead and go for the better ticker.

Cassandra Hathaway

Wonderful theme park. Lots to do and see. It would be great to see a few more shows or interactive event while walking around. The rides are amazing and they keep updating the park to make you want to keep coming back. I would also recommend doing the Busch Gardens Run for the Fund 5K they do every year.

Veronica Touhey

Fun for the whole family. My in-laws are 70+, they caught a show and then sat and enjoyed some ale while my two tweens and my husband did the rides. I played in the toddler area with my 3 year old, and then took the train around the whole park while he napped.

Jocelyn Vega

Always a pleasure going here. If you go on any weekday the line are no more than half an hour maybe. Would highly suggest!

2 TONE

Great roller coasters, rides shows and a zoo. This place has it all. Food is great, and compared to other theme parks, admission and concessions are very reasonable

Jose Garcia

Family loves this place. We go 2 to 3 times a month and worth every penny. Only complaint is stroller parking always has open spots but gates claim they're always full. They should fix the communication between parking attendants and front gates.

Taylor WARMACHINE Holliman

Best place to take your family. Buying a speed pass would make it so much more enjoyable if you only have one day to go. Full of thrills and excitement.

Jaylinie Chan

The animals are beautiful and the rides were a lot of fun. The show was also very entertaining and enjoyable. It's a great place for a family to go to. Only downside is that the items in gift shops are expensive but the park itself is a lot of fun.

Athira Unnikrishnan

Rollercoasters have always been on my bucket list and I should say this place did not disappoint me one bit. It was breathtakingly amazing. And when I say breathtaking, i mean it literally. It was my first time on roller coasters and i am glad I chose this place. Also saw some wildlife. This was the first time I saw African penguins , kangaroos and wallabies. I would suggest you visit the place once you reach of height.

FOOD NINJA96

Enjoyed it. Wasn't busy at all so could go on all rides with 0 queues. Was able to see all animals, some close up! It was really fun.

Ches Lysov

Love Busch Gardens. Have been there several times, but every time coming there I open something new for myself. Animals part of the park is stunning you can always learn something new about animal, learn how you can help safe some species. Highly recommend this park fire kids and for adults

Angelo Giuffrida

Great theme park and lots of cute animals to see. Our tour guide was amazing - talking the time to explain everything to us and answer any questions we had. Was a great experience and wish we had more time.

Sarah Reynolds

This is a fun place for people of all ages. There is a little but of something to do for everyone here. They could have did a better job at cleaning (man, does it smell like elephants everywhere) and notifying guests of show times and animal attractions. This is my only complaint. I used to love the ice show when I was little so being here was very nostalgic for me.

Bryant Levy

I really liked this place and I shouldn’t blame them for the weather. They even gave us free tickets to come back because it rained when we visited. The rollercoasters were fun, and the animal sections were better than most zoo. But they need more places for cover, more to do indoors, definitely a better gutter system (it flooded so heavily I was genuinely (but not really) worried the alligators would get loose. They are located in Florida. I feel that they should be more prepared in a place where it rains almost every day. But the worst part was the food. I really expected food that relates to its African and Australian sections, but it’s all high school cafeteria food. They had a section with ribs and beef, but they needed more and again, it would be fun if the food reflected the area of the park. I had a good time, but the weather and low quality food took it from being great.

Cadat Broderick

Came here as part of the Tampa City pass (which I highly recommend looking into) A lot of roller coasters. We watched a Doo Whop show and an Ice skating show both were good quality. We also went on a train Safari, they offer more personalized safaris on a truck which allows you to feed giraffes. They had Hollow Night starting at 7 pm but my wife was too chicken to go.

Andrew Moore

It's best suited to older kids and teens but our young kids still had fun. The lines could do with better cooling and more fans and the wait time posted on the app is very wrong! The map is also a little confusing. Otherwise there are some great coasters for older kids and teens! And the train arround the park was fun also.

Dennis Hayes

Great fun, many educational attractions. Learn about animals and conservation. Really great world class thrill rides, the whole family can find something they like here.

Sergio Soto

Had a great time. Except for all the rain. We really enjoyed ourselves. Made found memorable moments for yrs to come. Enjoyed Summer Nights DJ and music.

Daniel Gregory

Awesome park! Rides are fantastic! Went on a summer weeknight and wait times were short, was able to ride every ride in less than 4 hours!!!! Especially recommended if you are taking children for the first time, or special children! Park employees were also less busy and were able to provide better interaction with the guests, very enjoyable!!!!

Lynden Sands

I had a great time here it was rainy and lightning was within 3 miles of the park, so a code 2 was in effect and all of the small and large rides where closed, but you can still still see the attractions. As soon it cleared the rides where opened again. I loved that I was able to see the majority of animals up close on the train ride especially the rhinos. The staff was very friendly and offered great service, this really stood out most. I will be back here the atmosphere is more relaxed compared to Universal or Disney.

Michael Velasquez

Love this park. It has always been clean and it feels very safe. Nice animals to watch. I am not a rollercoaster rider but the ones they do have look amazing. I mainly go for the animals and the shows. Lots of events there throughout the year, so definitely worth checking out.

Christopher Dunn

We have family from Peru visiting us today. So we went to Busch Gardens with them. We have an annual pass and Busch Gardens honored us with $10 gift cards to spend on whatever we want in the park. So we took advantage. Thank you Busch Gardens.

Rhea Galati

We had a blast! I had been one time many years ago and did not have a good experience but boy has it changed!!!! We took my 9 month old grandson and he loved the animals, the Sesame Street show, and the train rides! Hats off to Busch Gardens for the best comeback ever!

John Davis

A wonderful experience my friends and family always has a great time. There is so much to see and do at Busch Gardens Tampa bay. The staff are wonderful and always helpful. We've got season pa6and enjoyed our visit. I would suggest you to take your time has there is so many hidden areas.

kendra pfleidner

Spook houses were fun. Was a bit expensive. Show was hilarious and very good. Not appropriate for children though. Had a great time.

Alexis y Suhelen Torres / Yuriar

Family place. Animals and reptiles. Water rides. Be ready to spend more money once you get inside since there are more to do, but it’s not included on your pass entrance. The “Turn it Up” dance on ice show is really good and the “critters in charge” animal show is really good too. Have fun!

Angela Wilson

Had a 2-day pass and did Adventure Island and Busch Gardens. We walked from our hotel and the parks and the walk was between 10-20 mins. We were thrilled to find out we could get shuttles between the two parks. Tried to tip our very kind and courteous driver and she said tips aren’t allowed. Great customer service and two very fun and entertaining parks. Highly recommend!

Samantha Wabi

My husband and I have season passes. We LOVE going to Busch Gardens!!!! It is so much fun for us. Sometimes we go every week! There is always something fun to do! The shows are amazing and the rides ROCK!

Sam Register

The staff was great, the rides were fun and the beer was free. I haven't been in 20 years but I loved it so much this time I plan on going with my friends yearly now. I really loved the safari train! Tip: souvenir cups sold will get you 99 cent refills. Cup retails for 12.99 (the one I picked up near the entrance) and within just 3 refills it had paid for itself, since bottle sodas and whatnot were a bit high. Honestly though all around pricing for most everything is not terrible. This is the vacation spot for Floridians, not overpriced Disney.

Chris Gd

Loved the military tickets I got for my family. Overall, spent an entire day here for $150 when you include the stroller, parking, and food...which is a fantastic deal. The place was empty on a Wednesday in September, which was great for us...not a single line on any ride!!! I will say, alcohol is super expensive here and not worth the price. But the staff was friendly. You could easily spend an entire day here. I plan to come back annually to enjoy my free ticket for being active duty.

Sapphire Bapt

Such a beautiful experience. I've gone many times as a kid but it has always been a wish to go as an adult. I just visited today with my family and we had a blast. I would say it's worth it to purchase the All Day Dining wristbands! We were able to eat every hour or just get a drink /snack. I had discounted tickets so 2 adults =208$ and the children were free due to the preschool summer tickets. Parking is $25

Maddie Whalen

Would be a fantastic park but was pretty disappointed on my visit. 3 of the major coasters shut down while we were there and for the price I paid I wanted to enjoy all the rides. Otherwise the animals were active, there were games and activities plus there weren’t a ton of people and lines were short so that made it a little better experience.

Jamie Butterweck

Such a wonderful experience for all ages. A zoo and a thrill park all in one, what could be more fun?! Plus with special happenings all year long there is always bound to be something fun to see, do, or taste.

Deneen Ritter

I always love to go to Busch Gardens. Keep in mind if you ever go through on a rainy day, wait out the rain. A lot of people leave. But it's Florida the rain never last very long.

Michelle Vanco

If you were thinking of going to Sea World. Don't just go to Bush Gardens instead. Much better park. Lots to see and keep you busy! The Giraffe feeding excursion is a must try!

karl behl

Was there for the Howl-O-Scream event. From the start it was way better that other parks in the area. Better scare zones, faster lines, and nicer characters. (so that was last year) This year we went back for the 20 year experience!!!!! We opted for the unlimited package so we are going to be there many times this year. Last night we took the kids and were able to hit every house before mid-night. Although most of the houses are named the same they did seem to make a few changes in them. We would have like to see many more changes being the 20 year anniversary but only one new house. The good and the bad: Good is that we could make it through all the houses and scare zones in one night (Halloween - horror night is to busy for this to happen) As said before they did do some updates and the scare zones were a little better than last year. We did go on a Sunday so next week I am hoping for more "scare" when we go Friday/Saturday. This is the last year for FIENDS.. Its a MUST WATCH. great show (not for kids although it is kept pg13) The BAD: the houses don't change enough. This is our 3rd year going and most of the houses are the same. We did not go yesterday for the Adult drinking night but I did notice the drink selection. NOT IMPRESSED. They only offered 4 beers, two special (pre-mixed) drinks, One place had frozen margaritas and Jack and coke, several places did have a liqueur selection and wine but I did not see what all they had for that. Two years ago they had the hard cider drinks and I wish they would bring those back. I enjoy them and the wife loves them. Heard several other people ask for them as well. The souvenir cups are the exact same as last year. NO 20 year specials.

Peter Siebold

Went on a company trip there. Had a great time I had been a handful of years since I had been there and had forgotten how much fun it was. And that you can drink at the park which is completely awesome. I've no idea why I I have not been going there more often. This is something that I will have to remedy.

ironwolf6896

Did all the roller coasters in one day. Saw a bunch of cool animals as well, but they were sleeping because it was so hot. Super fun.

Sharon Arinkov

What an amazing day! Lots of fantastic animals and brilliant rides. The all day dining plan is well worth buying. Best day out in a long time

Alex Mcdonald

Busch Gardens. Oh, Busch Gardens! How I appreciate thee. Thou hast saved me

AC

Busch Gardens was absolutely amazing!! There’s so much to see!!! The animals looked content and healthy. I really enjoyed the safari tour. We got to feed the giraffes and get really up close to the animals which was a lot of fun. Can not wait to return!! Loved it here!!

Meggan Rowe

A great place to go if you love roller coasters but if you have a toddler it needs some work. Needs more fan misters and ac places to hang out. 1 splash pad had concrete floors and my daughters legs knew it. The other splash pad was amazing with the rubber floors but it was pretty deep into the park so quite a way for the little one to travel in the Florida heat. At the end of the day our toddler had a blast and we would do it again. All's I'm saying is that for that price we expected it to be a little more WHOLE family oriented.

Danny Serrano

An excellent theme park with a large zoo like feel with thrilling roller coasters and plenty of food choices. If you plan to go during the summer months, arrive early with plenty of sunblock, drinking water and bug spray. Mosquitoes are a problem in Tampa Bay so Busch Gardens is no exception. The park has a pretty good amount of shade throughout. You can also cool down with Busch Gardens' water rides like Congo River Rapids. I suggest you purchase a quick queue pass that allows you to move faster through the lines much likes Disney's Fastpass. On a busy weekend this may cut your wait time in half. On slow days it may not be necessary to purchase. Overall Busch Gardens is perfect for young children, thrill-seeking families and convenient to access without too much overcrowding like many Orlando parks. Also, if you're visiting Busch Gardens for the first time, you're under 30 minutes away from the best beaches in Florida.

Tiffany Harris

I love it! 25 minutes from home. Season passes and free preferred parking. We eat before we get there and take our souvenir cups for .99$ refills!! Have an awesome day of fun and never spend more than $20.00!! If it rains we leave and go right back!

Sylvia Meade

Enjoyed a pleasant day with the family, July 2019. I was glad to see that the elephant seems to have been removed from our last visit 2018. We visited late August last year with my daughter visiting from England and her family. We noticed a lone elephant on concrete , chained and pacing up and down. The area was very smelly and although this was nearer to the end of the day the whole picture was archaic. Whilst I imagine Busch Gardens feeds the elephant well and attends to his veterinary needs, this was not a happy elephant. We visit again next week and I will ask about the elephant as when we went at the beginning of July this year, I could not find the elephant. All the other animals seem to be in good condition and well looked after. The very young children had great fun in the water areas. Older children had lots of fun and laughter on the many Rollercoasters.

Brittany Fields

Always a great time whenever I go. Even during the tourist seasons of the year and it’s packed. If you’re a Floridian, make sure to get an annual pass or fun card. There’s so much to do, just can’t possibly be able to bask in everything with just one trip to Busch gardens.

David Mott

I can't rave enough about Busch Gardens! I HIGHLY recommend spending the extra money and getting platinum passes. The benefits are great.

Angela Clagg

So many memories. I've been coming here since I was 10 years old! I'm 30 now. This place is great to bring your family and even come with friends.

Mike Morra

Love the place, been coming here for years. Have had a pass for at least a decade. Great rides for sure, and some of their shows are excellent as well. Great place to see plenty of animals too, just take a train ride around the park or check out the sky ride. They also have a couple places to snag a drink if that's what helps you get through the day. I'll definitely be back again.

Richi Velez

This is such a great park. We are annual pass holders and we love the fact that we can walk around and enjoy the shows and animals when we want to relax. When we want some excitement they have great rides that will get your adrenaline pumping and they just keep adding to the park to make it better all the time. Its a great mix for whatever you want to do. I can't wait til Iron Gwazi opens next year.

Melissa B

The meal deal is well worth the money! We had a great time on the gondola as well..quicker than walking one end to the other. Plan ahead and make an itinerary

alicia s

Very fun and affordable, if you’re a thrill seeker it’s a very good more local and cheap place to go to if you’re a Floridian. Usually the wait lines aren’t as long as places like Disney but they can get long most of the time I think it’s worth it. Good place to spend days off.

Ben Gruszka

Had a great day at the park. We visited on a quiet day so got many re-rides on the major coasters. Love Cheetah hunt & Tigris - awesome rides! Disappointed that Cobras curse was not operating all day but understand technical issues happen from time to time. The food is very basic theme park food so don’t expect to get anything other than an average lunch. We didn’t go to any of the animal exhibits due to us not being a fan of zoos, but the rides were fab and the park is well themed. Overall, had a really good day.

Stephanie Tingler

A great place to take the kids! Love the train and the sky ride. Great view of the whole park!

Robbie Rotten

Always easy to access the car park, theme park is never over crowded, nice to have the variation between rides and animals to see. Great atmosphere and the all day dining is great value. Food is excellent and a large choice of restaurants.

Elizabeth Wilson

My husband and I love going to Busch Gardens. This was our first Florida theme park, and we finally bought annual passes because we enjoy it so much! There are coasters, animals, good food, events, etc. This has been a fun retreat place for us since we’ve been living in Florida, and we recommend it to anyone who hasn’t been there yet. The annual passes are DEFINITELY the way to go. Go a few times and the pass has already paid for itself, and go more than that and it’s as if you’re going for free. Pretty awesome! Check it out!

Jordy Gelman

I’m a Gold Pass member and I’m a tad disappointed. First off, as a Florida resident, I’m well aware of “weather” conditions (trust me). However, I was disappointed this last time because after buying a Quick Queue ticket ($80.00) the park decided to shut their rides down due to possible lightening in the area. Now been there done that, usually I’m understanding. This time my friends and I had only managed to go on 1 ride before this happened. We then waited a full 2 hours hoping the rides would reopen (it was sunny, but we get that safety comes first). We decided to leave and attempted to go back later or at another date, which the park was fine with. They gave my friends who paid for their tickets new tickets for another time. However, they refused to refund or replace our Quick Queue tickets, which were the most expensive items. We each paid ($80.00) for them. Again, would have been fine with giving us a “next time” ticket rather than a refund, but they refused. I find this wrong honestly. Considering the money people spend here, they should be more understanding to this issue. Again, I get weather happens and is out of their control, but guests won’t come back after spending almost $400 on tickets they couldn’t even use while at the park, especially your annual pass holders who are paying monthly for your benefits etc. It’s definitely disappointing.

Erin Garbutt

Fun for the whole family. Fun for animal lovers looking for a zoo like experience and fun for thrill seekers with their coasters! Can't beat the price and it's close to home.

Johnathan Tillman

Went to Florida for a family vacation. On our last day their we took a day to visit Busch Gardens. It is like a zoo and amusement park combined. We arrived as the park opened and started by taking the train and walking around to see everything and plan out the day. The coasters are good with lots of drops and turns. It was a weekday, so if you planned it out, lines were nearly nonexistent. About half way through the day, a storm moved in and stayed that shut all the rides down. I got the meal plan to save some money on food. So we went to shows and ate. There are good food options throughout the park, but not everything is included in the plan. Even with the rides shut down, we still had a lot to see and do. The park has a weather policy, so we got tickets to come back. I will have to see if I can plan a return trip before a year is up to finish testing out the rides we didn't get to.

VertixPlayz YT

Rides were scary but fun! I stayed there for a whole day and couldn't even finish all the rides! I went to the water too, it was so fun! And the water was so good since its hot. Love it deserves a 5 star.

Camila Leal

Amazing park! Very clean and it’s beautiful, the roller coasters are awesome. It is not too crowded, and you don’t have to wait that long in line, the annual passes are worth it! The only thing is that you have to like roller coaster because if you don’t then there is not a lot you can do. But 100% love this park!

Cindy Bell

Took my sister for her birthday... we’re both over 53, so no roller coasters for us.... however- I was expecting SOMETHING to ride other than the train and sky ride! It was August 9th, and half of the concessions were closed, and the open ones didn’t have enough staff. Lines for a drink or food were SUPER long. And it was sweltering hot! A very good portion of the animals “were not home” to view, and I really wanted to spend some money and couldn’t!!! When we wanted to leave, each of the employees sent us in a different direction. Was not the fun trip I expected. Will re-consider where to spend the next Fun time...

Christie Vaughn

I really liked it here. This was my first time going there. I am not a rider so I did not ride any rides but had plenty to do still. The animals have plenty of room to roam which is a big plus for me to see. Also it is worth getting the all day dine deal. The food is wayyyyyyyyyyy over priced to me unless you do the dine in deal. . I bought a season pass so definitely will be going again.

Business Hours of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Florida

SUNDAY
10AM–6PM
MONDAY
10AM–7PM
TUESDAY
10AM–6PM
WEDNESDAY
10AM–6PM
THURSDAY
10AM–6PM
FRIDAY
10AM–6PM
SATURDAY
10AM–6PM

PHONE & WEBPAGE

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay en Florida
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