TM REVIEWS TM REVIEWS
Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay (not affiliated with TouristFlorida.com, LLC) - (813)987-5082
This is a full-fledged, world-class amusement park featuring state-of-the-art coasters, live shows and other attractions including a gigantic animal preservation park featuring animals from around the world and highlighting African animals (and the African theme runs throughout much of the park). They have many live shows. This reviewer's experience has been that it takes more than a day to see everything (and I still haven't experienced everything there and I have a multi-year pass and have been there many times!)
Shows and Entertainment:
BROADWAY COMES TO
BUSCH GARDENS TAMPA BAY®- According to their release, Busch
Garden's KATONGA show (which opened in April 2004) was "...Inspired
by Busch Gardens’ rich animal tradition, KaTonga’s
simple tales, told through music, dance and lavish stage
spectacle, carry you to the heart of the jungle.
KaTonga takes guests on a journey to the heart of Africa in a 40-minute musical celebration of animal folklore. The show follows a day in the lives of aspiring storytellers, called Griots, as they strive to become masters of their craft. To accomplish this rite of passage, the performers evoke traditional African stories to mesmerize and entertain the audience. Masterful puppet design, magical folklore, energetic original music and spectacular African-inspired dance combine to create the first theme park show of Broadway-production caliber.
“KaTonga is the only one-act original musical commissioned by a corporation for the theme park environment,” said producer Don Frantz. “As impressive, Busch Gardens’ Moroccan Palace Theater is the only legitimate full scale Broadway-style theater in a theme park on the entire East Coast.”
A cast of eighteen including the Griots, puppeteers, dancers and acrobats combine amazing talents to bring the show to life. In addition to featuring elaborate and whimsical costumes, the production uses larger-than-life animal puppets to create imagery sure to awe viewers. The show closes with musicians, singers and drummers surrounding the audience for a giant finale.
The stories reveal life in the jungle through the life-changing experiences of four African animals. Spectacular set design evokes the voyage of the sun, the beauty of the African forest and the mesmerizing power of a river’s flood. A cute adolescent monkey, “Whirly,” learns confidence requires risk to succeed. “Kipopo,” the caterpillar, looks inward to find her true self before morphing into a beautiful butterfly. An overbearing bullfrog, “Rok Rok,” is taught the treasure found in respecting and listening to others. “Kilinda,” an African crowned crane, brings together animals and people in a survival story of epic proportions.
KaTonga’s creators include some of Broadway’s most renowned and experienced talent, among them famed puppet designer Michael Curry. Best known for his award-winning work on Broadway’s The Lion King, Curry’s signature giant puppets were featured in New York City’s Times Square Millennium Celebration and Broadway shows including Kiss of the Spider Woman and Crazy For You. Curry’s puppets are brought to life through Tony-award-winning lighting designer Don Holder’s magic. Choreographer Abdel Salaam, founder and artistic director of New York’s Forces of Nature Dance Theater Company at Cathedral of St. John the Divine, lent his spiritual combination of traditional African and pop dance to the production. Broadway producer Don Frantz and director Chase Senge complete the creative team. KaTonga premieres in Busch Gardens’ Moroccan Palace Theater in April 2004."
R.L. Stine's Haunted Lighthouse in 4-D (25 minute shows) - based on an original story written by the famous author of Goosebumps stories, in this attraction you'll sit in a theater that features a 3-D movie and a number of special effects (I don't want to give them away, it's part of the fun to wonder what the next effect will do to you, suffice it to say that it's an experience to seen and felt). It was THE BEST SHOW WE'VE SEEN IN THIS GENRE OF ATTRACTIONS when compared to other theme parks using a few of these types of effects.
Jammin' (25 minute shows), this new stage show (seems quite popular, full house when we saw it) replaces the old show in the old german festhaus with an exciting rythmic presentation in a contemporary music style.
World Rythms on Ice (30 minute shows) - a very nice show with large-scale Broadway-esque effects with nice surprizes that takes you on a tour of the world.
Wild Wings of Africa (20 minute shows) - At the Bird Garden Theater.
Morroccan Roll (30 minute shows) - At the Marrakesh Theater, see classic popular songs presented with a Morroccan twist.
Dumphrey's Special Day (15 minute shows) - a show for the little ones at the Dragon's Tale Theater (Barney-esque.)
Rides include:
Ride Update May 2005 Busch Gardens®
Tampa Bay opens SheiKra, the nation’s
only dive coaster. According to their press release SkeiKra is
"...Set among the jungle ruins of a once-mighty African
civilization, SheiKra begins by carrying riders up 200 feet then
hurtling them 70 mph straight down at a 90-degree angle. It will
be the first coaster of its kind in North America and only the
third in the world, but no other dive coaster can match the
height, speed and intensity SheiKra will offer. At 200 feet,
SheiKra now takes the crown as Florida’s tallest roller
coaster. This thrill machine is also the tallest dive coaster in
the world and the first of its kind to incorporate an Immelmann
loop (a rolling maneuver), a second, 138-foot dive into an
underground tunnel and a water-feature finale. With more than
half a mile of steel track, SheiKra offers a total ride time of
just over three minutes. With its adrenalin-pumping vertical
drops, high speed, multiple coaster elements and overall
experience, SheiKra is certain to fulfill thrill seekers’
expectations and solidify Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s standing
as the state’s coaster king,” said Dan Brown, executive
vice president and general manager, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. As
the eighth member of the park’s family of renowned coasters,
the name SheiKra evokes the power and speed of an African hawk as
it plunges, twists and turns, giving riders a bird’s-eye
view of an adventure unlike any other. SheiKra will serve as the
centerpiece of Busch Gardens’ newly themed Stanleyville
area, which will also include shopping options and the new 500-seat,
indoor/outdoor Zambia Smokehouse. The restaurant is situated on
the coaster’s perimeter, allowing guests to be a part of the
action while dining..."
Congo
River Rapids, Tanganyika Tidal Wave, Stanley Falls Flume,
The
Steam Train, Skyride, Rhino Rally featuring close-up animal
encounters in a Rover vehicle and a raging river thrill ride all
in one, SheiKra Dive Roller Coaster, Kumba roller-coaster, Montu
roller-coaster, Gwazi roller-coaster, Python roller coaster,
Scorpion roller-coaster, Crazy Camel (a circular spinning
carnival-like ride), Sandstorm (triple-car per arm spinning
carnival-like ride) Ubanga-banga bumper cars, and numerous kiddie-rides
are interspersed throughout the park and make sure to take the
little ones to
Land
of the Dragons where you'll find an excellent playland with
rides, climb-ons, walk-throughs and a stage show.
Animal Preservation exhibits in natural and semi-natural environments include: asian elephants, tortoises, snakes, alligators, crocodiles, gorillas, chimpanzees, hippopotami, lions, tigers at Claw Island Tigers, hyenas, baboons, giraffes, zebras, antelope, very many types of exotic birds at the Bird Show Theater, the Aviary Walk-Through, Flamingo Island and Lory Landing, orangutans, giant lizards at the Living Dragons exhibit, gazelles and many more in the large Myombe Reserve, the Edge of Africa and the Serengheti Plains areas of the park.
Tours:
Serengeti Safari - a 30 minute guided truck tour through the Plains
Animal Adventure Tour - a 2 hour behind-the-scenes guided-tour lets you get close to the animals
Guided Adventure Tour - a 4 - 5 hour tour with front-line access to most of the major rides and shows and includes an "animal interaction" segment. They say that private tours are also available.
Other attractions include: Curiosity Caverns, games of chance, Sultan's Arcade, Show Jumping Hall of Fame, Clydesdale Hamlet, Sand Dig, Tut's Tomb, Meet & Greet the Busch Garden's Characters, Budweiser Beer School, special events at various times throughout the year, and they also have camps (1-866-GO-TO-CAMP) and educational programs.
Dining and refreshments: Anheuser Busch® Hospitality House (where you can get 2 free Anheuser-Busch beverages per day), Hospitality House Pizza, Stanleyville Smokehouse, Zagora Cafe, Vivi Restaurant, Desert Grill® Restaurant, Sahara Snacks, The Oasis Snacks, Crown Colony Pizza, Crown Colony House® Restaurant, Sultan's Sweets and Kenya Kanteen.
Gift Shops containing very interesting souvenirs, hand-crafted items and clothing are available at numerous locations throughout the park.
Rain Guarantee (last checked June 17th, '03) - Amazing as it may sound, they have a fantastic Rain Guarantee that says "If rain affects your visit today, Busch Gardens will issue a "complimentary" ticket valid for a return visit within the next 7 days...", wow, how can you beat that?
All prices, shows, attractions and other features of this amusement park are subject to change without notice. Attractions may close for renovations and are subject to availability. Shirts and shoes are required at all times. Some rides have height, age, size and physical condition restrictions.
A benefit of buying your tickets online is that they say you'll avoid shipping and handling charges and can print the ticket out at home and avoid the lines. See their website or call them for details about discounts and other offers, which can be substantial, and you may also want to check into the Orlando FlexTicket® if you are going to be in the Orlando area.
If you are going to be in the Orlando Area, you may also be interested in knowing about the
With 8 departure locations (last checked on April 20, '04) from the Orlando area, this shuttle bus service to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is only $10.00 ROUND TRIP and is free to Orlando FlexTicket® holders (price subject to change without notice.) See their site's Frequently Asked Questions/Information for details. Reservations can be made at the above link or by calling from the U.S. 1-800-221-1339 (reservations are suggested but are not necessary, however they'd like you to reserve if possible so that they know approximately how many buses to run, and then you may not have to wait around for another bus to be added to the run.)
Busch Garden's, Tampa Bay is a must see/do if you have the time. Go to their site for more info on their fantastic park!
1 word review - "PRIME!"
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