Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Took the kids before school started! The weather was hot (felt like 100 degrees per weather app), but no rain, no thunder, and no lightning. Stayed 11am-6pm. Walked 13k steps. Read a book when they went on coasters (don't ride coasters anymore with possibility of neck and back issues from them). The kids rode 4 or 5 big coasters. Lines weren't too bad. A few coasters were closed( Cobra's Curse, Montu were the others they wanted to rid but couldn't, also Kumba is closed for good and the log ride was torn down). They had some travelling "cool off stations" where they would spray water and dance for guests to cool off. I wanted to do the skyride, train ride and finish the day with Congo river rapids, but they were closed for weather/maintenance?! Who knows why, really? Expensive as well, $38 for parking, I saved by getting one "All-day dining pass" ($42/person*) and we shared it a little (*though not supposed to share). I wasnt too hungry, but we got 2 full meals so saved $40. Then, when the next meal was available (every 90 minutes), they saw Chick-fil-A (NOT included in all day dining) and it was $60 for 2 meals, ugh. If I could've convinced them to not get Chick-fil-A I would've saved more money in food/drink expenses. 3 tickets and one dining meal= $246. Parking=$38. Additional food/drinks (lots of water 2 for $8.50 or 1 for 5.69) = $125. No souvenirs. Money is tight: single dad paying full mortgage and bills, got to be frugal these days 🤷‍♂️. Loved seeing the animal exhibits! The animals seemed happy, well fed and cared for (as happy as they can in captivity). Very fun, overall and a good time was had by all! 3 stars due to rides being closed for no apparent reason.

Although some of the exhibitions were shut for refurbishment and some of the rides were closed for bad weather, there was still plenty left to do. Parking $39 (correct as of May 2026) which I thought was a bit steep. The animals all looked well cared for. The food served with the all day dining ticket was good value.

Had such a good time at Busch Gardens! There is something for everyone—whether you’re into thrilling roller coasters or just want to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery and animals. The rides are top-notch, especially the coasters, which are some of the best I’ve ever experienced. I also loved the animal exhibits—they’re well-maintained and give you a chance to see a wide variety of wildlife up close. The staff throughout the park were friendly, helpful, and made the experience even better. Food options were diverse, and the overall atmosphere was fun and vibrant all day long. Definitely worth the visit, and I’ll be coming back again!

Great parks, but ruined by deceptive charges (Expecting management to contact me for a refund) I visited with my family, including two 11-year-olds. The parks themselves are great, with a good balance of rides and shows. I want to highlight and deeply appreciate the excellent customer service from Chris at Adventure Island and a lady at Guest Services in Busch Gardens. We were happy to spend money on food and photos during our 3-day visit. Unfortunately, the terrible administrative and phone customer service completely ruined our experience. I am writing this review in hopes that management will contact me to process a full refund of $229 due to two unacceptable incidents: Deceptive hotel promotion ($132 unfairly charged): I booked the "Pay for 2 nights, get the 3rd free" package directly through the website link. At checkout, the hotel charged me for the extra night, claiming they never received the package information. Phone customer service is nonexistent; I was on hold for 1 hour and 25 minutes with zero response trying to resolve this and add extra services. Unjustified cabana relocation ($97 additional charge): I booked a specific cabana at Adventure Island. Upon arrival, I was told it was "occupied" and that my reservation was mysteriously for a "night event" (who rents a cabana to protect themselves from the sun at night?). I was forced to pay an extra $97 to be moved to a cabana much further away. The most outrageous part was walking by my originally reserved cabana later that day and seeing it completely empty. It is a real shame that a great family trip was tainted by what seems to be false advertising and a broken system. I look forward to a prompt resolution and my money back.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is such a fun place for you and the family. My kids love roller coasters and this place has some pretty awesome coasters. My kids and I Favorite roller coaster is the Iron Gwazi which is number 3 biggest, scariest coaster in the world. I would recommend Busch Gardens to any family they also have a kids area for the smaller kids with smaller rides and jungle gyms and splash pads. Great for the whole Family!!