Busch Gardens Tampa 10/27/05

[ragingbullchick]

By the time we walked through the front gates, it was 11:00, and the park closed at 5 due to Howl-O-Scream, which we weren't going to. So we got to work! The first ride of the day was Gwazi Lion (the Tiger was closed due to low attendance). When we were in line, it looked short, but as soon as I saw the station platform, I saw that it took about 2 mins. to get the people strapped in and on their way, so staffing was terrible. Anyway, it was a long woodie, but really rough, but I think it would've been more fun with both sides open. After this, we headed to SheiKra. Of course, my brother chickened out, so my dad stayed with him (he's a 3rd grader)outside of the queue. About a 10 min. wait for back row, but there's only three rows on this ride, with 8 across, which makes it AWESOME!!! It was an amazing coaster, really smooth! After that, we met up w/ my dad and brother, and my mom stayed with him this time, so the rest of us rode with my dad. 10 min. wait for front row, even more amazing!
Now we were kinda hot, so we went on Tanganyika Tidal Wave, a walk-on. This ride is exactly like Splashwater Falls, so we got soaked! We looked at the bird exhibits for a while, which were really cool, and then we went to Kumba. A 15 min. wait for 8th and back row. Excellent ride, smooth, but not as smooth as Sheikra. And it does like 10 inversions, like SW, but smoother. Then we went on Python, because it was the only other coaster we could get my brother on. Our longest wait yet, 20 mins. and a terrible ride. Seriously 15 seconds long after the chain lift, and it killed my head. Ouch! I needed to go on something smoother, so we went on Sandstorm, like Triple Play. Fun ride. Now we went on Scorpion, a 15 mioin. wait for 3rd, 4th, and 5th row (my brother wouldn't go on this either, that little whimp!). It reminded me a lot of Demon, and it banged my head around a little, but not as bad as Python. Now we went over to the zoo part, and everyone shared some nachos, popcorn, pop, ice cream and beer. We decided to eat our snacks in line for Rhino Rally, a safari-like ride. About a 30 min. wait. It was really fun, and worth our time. Most of us were headed for Montu, but of course, my brother chickened out on that one too. So my cousin took him on the sky ride, which they got stuck on. Ha ha. Serves him right for being such a baby.
Back on topic... Montu was a three train wait for rows 5 and 6, our shortest yet. And the best ride. Ten times better than Batman, and I love that ride. It ws so good, we went on it 3 more times. Then, my brother and cousin got off the sky ride after being stuck up there for 20 mins. So we were done with rides, and looked at animals for the remainder of the time. It was a great day, and they have outstanding coasters!!!

[FRD714]

Thats cool! I have always wanted to go to busch gardens.

[ragingbullchick]

^ It's really fun, but a ton of walking! The coasters are scary, but that makes them awesome!!!

[zjohn1988]

The first ride of the day was Gwazi Lion (the Tiger was closed due to low attendance). When we were in line, it looked short, but as soon as I saw the station platform, I saw that it took about 2 mins. to get the people strapped in and on their way, so staffing was terrible. Anyway, it was a long woodie, but really rough, but I think it would've been more fun with both sides open.

Staffing is always bad there, and the employees are lousy.

After this, we headed to SheiKra. Of course, my brother chickened out, so my dad stayed with him (he's a 3rd grader)outside of the queue. About a 10 min. wait for back row, but there's only three rows on this ride, with 8 across, which makes it AWESOME!!! It was an amazing coaster, really smooth! After that, the rest of us rode with my dad. 10 min. wait for front row, even more amazing!

IWhat i like is how each row is higher than the row in front of you, which gives you a first row feeling.

Did you by any chance check out their photos?

Most of us were headed for Montu, but of course, my brother chickened out on that one too. So my cousin took him on the sky ride, which they got stuck on. Ha ha. Serves him right for being such a baby.
Back on topic... Montu was a three train wait for rows 5 and 6, our shortest yet. And the best ride. Ten times better than Batman, and I love that ride. It ws so good, we went on it 3 more times. Then, my brother and cousin got off the sky ride after being stuck up there for 20 mins. It was a great day, and they have outstanding coasters!!!

Ugh i waited in line soo long for Montu!! lol

You picked a terrific time to visit, glad you had fun!

[Trailblazer Tony]

You got extremely lucky with lines and stuff. I am glad you had a good time. No Cheetah Chase? Was Kumba a headbanger at all? I have always wondered that. Also, i started training my brother around 5th Grade, so give him time, then break him in.

[ragingbullchick]

Yeah, it was a Friday, most kids were in school, or were waiting till Howl-O-Scream. They under-staffed the park totally.

No Cheetah Chase. The line was really long for that, and it didn't look all that exciting.

Kumba doesn't bang heads at all, it's phenomenal! But, it is a little bumpy on the corkscrews, not much at all, which is great for being 8 or 9 years old.

This is my BGT favorite coaster list:

1) Montu-- smooth, many inversions, and an excellent layout
2) SheiKra-- amazing ride, but very short
3) Kumba--- great layout, just slightly bumpy
4) Scorpion-- an older ride, very simmilar to Demon
5) Gwazi (Lion)-- nice layout, really rough woodie
6) Python-- rough, extremley short ride. Killed my head!

Note: Did not ride Gwazi Tiger (wasn't open) or Cheeta Chase (long lines)

[mschulz5]

Now we went on Scorpion, a 15 mioin. wait for 3rd, 4th, and 5th row. It reminded me a lot of Demon, and it banged my head around a little, but not as bad as Python.

I don't see how you could've banged your head, because they are lap bars, not OTSR's.

[coasterinsane]

Kumba does not go upside down 10 times.
It goes upside down 7 times.

[Rusty888]

sounded like a great trip

[zjohn1988]

I don't see how you could've banged your head,

Oh you can........unless you keep your head forward the whole time.

[ragingbullchick]

Oh I'm so sorry coasterinsane ...
Did you notice how I said "LIKE 10 inversions"? That means about, approximatley, or in other words I WASN'T COUNTING!!! It did a lot of inversions, and it seemed like 10, or somewhere around there, which 7 is.

mschulz5-- sorry, I got Scorpion mixed up with Python . (I wrote this TR over a week after our trip). But Scorpion and Gwazi both have lap bars, and your head can still hit the back of the seat.

[twixmix0303]

I think coasterinsane was just trying to be helpful. Don't take it in such a negative way.