What's next for Busch Gardens Tampa??

[bbombei1]

Then whats the plan for 2019? Take down Gwazi at least? They have to add something that year considering its the parks 60th anniversary!

 

[cwgator]

Then whats the plan for 2019? Take down Gwazi at least? They have to add something that year considering its the parks 60th anniversary!

Parks don't necessarily add major attractions for anniversaries. I know as enthusiasts we want or think they always do...however that's just not always the case. Seeing as the park has changed hands so many times since AB, the park would be lucky to have some signage put up and some festival surrounding it vs. some major attraction addition. Sadly a lot of the tradition has been lost within theses parks in particular over the years.

The park added nothing major for it's 50th anniversary in 2009.

For comparison within the company, for the 50th Anniversary of the SeaWorld Parks:

• Orlando: No Attractions Added (just fanfare and festivities)
• San Antonio: No Attractions Added (just fanfare & festivities)
• San Diego: New Park Entrance & Explorer's Reef (This was significant for the park, but no major ride added)

Mind you they technically added Antarctica during SeaWord Orlando's 40th year in 2013, but there was no 40th anniversary fanfare that I can recall.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg did add Tempesto for the year of it's 40th anniversary, but also lacked the fanfare.

With that said, if this enclosing of Sand Serpent is indeed for 2018, then I could see 2019 being next major coaster addition. However I don't see them making it about the 60th anniversary of the park. If they do it would be a plus.

 

[MakoMania]

Agreed, Sand Serpent indoor in 2018 doesn't rule out a new coaster in 2019.

I'll wait to see what they are going to do with Sand Serpent before I make a judgement. If they do some decent theming and effects, it could be a great attraction! Plus having a ride that can operate in bad weather is always a bonus in Florida as we all know.

 

[Disneyhead]

Jesus, how lazy is this? What's next? Adding a bungee jump to the top of Gwazi?

Don't be silly. That's soooo '90s.

Zipline. It's what all the cool kids are doing these days.

 

[bbombei1]

Well they did have that 50th anniversary museum which I checked out once or so and they added summer nights in 2009, so that's a pretty nice way for Anheuser-Busch to call it a career with BGT. Least they paid respect to the park one last time before leaving.

 

[Nick]

Still think this is dumb when the park has so many SBNO attractions.

However, it will accomplish what they are aiming for: A coaster that can operate on the rain. They can throw together some loose theming and you have a completely different experience for what is a pretty old and rather lame coaster.

 

[anihilnation]

I am ok with this, since wild mouse coasters are not the most attractive to look at. Probably 2019 will see a major new coaster, as that will be a minor year for Seaworld Orlando, so then BGT can get the spotlight.

 

[Kumba's Roar]

I'm personally okay with this too. I was expecting the next major addition to be 2018 or 2019. With this happening, I am hoping that means 2019. I never go on Sand Serpent, so an indoor coaster is something different. If they do something like Laff Trakk's theme but to Africa, I think that would be better than what it is now.

 

[shiekra38]

I'm personally okay with this too. I was expecting the next major addition to be 2018 or 2019. With this happening, I am hoping that means 2019. I never go on Sand Serpent, so an indoor coaster is something different. If they do something like Laff Trakk's theme but to Africa, I think that would be better than what it is now.

I think a voodoo theme would be fun and allow them to use crazy blacklight effects..

 

[mcusi]

I don't have a problem with the project, especially if they actually make something out of the enclosure. I really do hope that this isn't the only thing that they will be working on though.

 

[UAN17]

We visited Busch recently, it tanked it down all afternoon and there was legitimately nothing to do and our transport back to Orlando wasn't until 7pm. Fortunately we had managed to get on the coasters once each early on.

I think this park has more problems than any in Orlando and we were left annoyed we hadn't followed our instinct and spent another day at Disney or Universal instead.

Coasters are great and all but once you reach a certain age there's only so much you can be thrown around in a day! I'd like to see them diversify their offerings. I feel Seaworld does this so much better with:

- Better shows and more of them

- Ok it's awful, but at least they attempted something with Antarctica

- More hands on animal exhibits

- Things like Turtle Trek

Sure they can't compete financially with Disney and Universal but I feel even smaller scale dark rides that Merlin affords in their UK and Legoland parks don't have to cost a fortune and at least offer something different.

 

[MakoMania]

Don't ask for a Merlin dark ride! The ones we have in the UK constantly have broken effects and audio fails! Hex is the one exception.

 

[UAN17]

Don't ask for a Merlin dark ride! The ones we have in the UK constantly have broken effects and audio fails! Hex is the one exception.

They're not world beaters by any stretch. But I'd rather do a few of them then walk around a park getting p*** wet through for 7 hours with all the rides closed.

 

[shiekra38]

We visited Busch recently, it tanked it down all afternoon and there was legitimately nothing to do and our transport back to Orlando wasn't until 7pm. Fortunately we had managed to get on the coasters once each early on.

I think this park has more problems than any in Orlando and we were left annoyed we hadn't followed our instinct and spent another day at Disney or Universal instead.

Coasters are great and all but once you reach a certain age there's only so much you can be thrown around in a day! I'd like to see them diversify their offerings. I feel Seaworld does this so much better with:

- Better shows and more of them

- Ok it's awful, but at least they attempted something with Antarctica

- More hands on animal exhibits

- Things like Turtle Trek

Sure they can't compete financially with Disney and Universal but I feel even smaller scale dark rides that Merlin affords in their UK and Legoland parks don't have to cost a fortune and at least offer something different.

In my opinion, BGW is what all Busch parks should aim to be...great Shows, great Coasters, great food, and some dark ride elements/dark rides thrown in there

 

[Cheezbat]

In my opinion, BGW is what all Busch parks should aim to be...great Shows, great Coasters, great food, and some dark ride elements/dark rides thrown in there

Agreed.
Busch Williamsburg is such a well rounded park. Beautiful, good food, good coasters, water rides, dark rides/screen attractions, nice kids areas, and shows.

 

[Speed]

In my opinion, BGW is what all Busch parks should aim to be...great Shows, great Coasters, great food, and some dark ride elements/dark rides thrown in there

Agreed.
Busch Williamsburg is such a well rounded park. Beautiful, good food, good coasters, water rides, dark rides/screen attractions, nice kids areas, and shows.

Is it just because I don’t pay enough attention or is it that BGW has barely been affected by Blackfish?

 

[mcusi]

In my opinion, BGW is what all Busch parks should aim to be...great Shows, great Coasters, great food, and some dark ride elements/dark rides thrown in there

Shoot, then all BGT has going for it is great coasters.

 

[Cheezbat]

Shoot, then all BGT has going for it is great coasters.

Doesn't really seem like it was affected at all...

 

[Mad Dog]

Is it just because I don’t pay enough attention or is it that BGW has barely been affected by Blackfish?

Maybe not Blackfish, but Blackstone's cost cutting sure affected them. Most of that great entertainment has been gutted since In Bev (AB before that) sold the parks. BGW's attendance has subsequently suffered from the cuts. It used to be a must stop for me every few years. I don't go anymore. It's only a shadow of it's former greatness.

 

[anihilnation]

Maybe not Blackfish, but Blackstone's cost cutting sure affected them. Most of that great entertainment has been gutted since In Bev (AB before that) sold the parks. BGW's attendance has subsequently suffered from the cuts. It used to be a must stop for me every few years. I don't go anymore. It's only a shadow of it's former greatness.

I think BGW might have had it the worst when it came to budget cuts, didn't they once cut all entertainment a few years back?