Taking the Teens to Disney June 2014 - Day 1 Busch Gardens

[Taggie]

The Cast

Hubby - Richard (41) Joint Partial Planner

Me - Teresa (43) Main Planner with plenty of spreadsheets

DS1 - Daniel (17) Can't be without my phone or ipod

DS2- Joshua (15) Can't wait to get on the Rollercoasters

Previous Day

Tuesday 17th June - 1st ever visit to Busch Gardens

Actual Temp - 91° Lo 73°

We have never visited Busch Gardens before as the kids would not have liked the Roller Coasters so now they are teenagers, we decided to make it a must on this trip. Before flying out to Disney, we booked the Mears Shuttle for 9:15 am pick up from Seaworld, we knew we would be up early so it would give us plenty of time to have breakfast and get over to Seaworld.

We didn't actually wake up until 6:30 am, must have been really tired and went down for Breakfast at 7:30 am. We decided to have breakfast in the All Star Music Restaurant to keep us fuelled. We had 4 Bounty Platters totalling $38:48 including tax converting to £22.73 at an exchange rate of 1.6929
excuse the half eaten sausage, was a bit peckish. We had already purchased the Refill Length of Stay mugs so had a drink with our breakfast.

We ordered a taxi from the staff outside the front of the hotel and they whistled across to the Mears person waiting over in the car park. We arrived at Seaworld at 8:30 am and thought about popping in for a little bit.

We decided against though and went to hunt out where the Mears Shuttle would be picking us up. After a few minutes one turned up, but the driver advised us, they were Shuttle No 4, but the others would be along shortly. Another one turned up and the driver came out to where we were stood and said he was No 1, so he handed over our reservation letter and were first on, so sat at the front. The Shuttle was completely full by 8:50 am, so we left and because we were full, we didn't have to make any other pick-ups.

Hidden Mickey


You can see Montu from the Car/Coach Park


We arrived at 10:20 am and first job was to hire a locker for the Camera and other belongings (Large Locker $7 inc Tax). Then we headed over to Cheetah

This triple launch coaster carries riders high above the park, then races down along the ground through a rocky gorge. At a length of 4,400 feet, it is the park’s longest thrill ride attraction.

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Due to someone not appreciating the ride somewhere ahead of us, the wait time was a lot longer, but we did get on it and we all survived - I had taken my Sturgeron this morning just in case and did have my motion sickness bands on too!
Next we headed over to Montu

Challenge yourself to seven intense inversions on Montu®, a B&M inverted roller coaster named for an Egyptian god of war. Climb high into the air and hold on for a twisting drop, a 60-foot vertical loop, an Immelman loop and a zero-G roll…and that's only the beginning!

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This was a walk on and we all quite enjoyed this one and when we checked it now had a 10 minute wait we decided to ride it again.

We had been walking around the park slowly and as it was now midday, we decided to head back to the locker room to get a drink purchasing 4 Powerade's totalling $13.65 inc Tax., we were also feeling a bit hungry so decided on 4 M&M Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich's yum yum totalling $15:37 inc Tax.

We headed over to Stanley Falls

Cool off in exciting log-flume style on splashy twists and turns, and then on to a drenching 40-foot drop to the base of roaring Stanley Falls

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This was showing a 20 minute wait, as we came off, there was a tour group of little kids waiting to go on in the Quick Queue Line.

Next we went on Taganyika Tidal Wave

Cruise a gentle and beautiful stretch of African river country, but be prepared for what nature has in store. This river falls out from under you, dropping you 55 feet into the waters below. That’s where the Taganyika Tidal Wave happens, as a monstrous, drenching splash engulfs you and any bystanders who don’t move away in time.

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there was no queue and this ride was great fun, as we got off, there was no one waiting to get on, so they let us reverse our steps and get back in for another go.

Afterwards we went on Congo River Rapids, if you are wet already, you might as well do them one after the other!

Climb aboard for an exciting white water rafting expedition that will send you twirling down this racing river, where thrilling plunges, looming waterfalls and a mysterious water cave are just a few of the surprises it holds.

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There was a 20 minute wait for this one.

Now time to get back to the Rollercoasters, we went on Kumba

After the blood-curdling thrill of an initial 135 foot drop, you will plunge into a diving loop, feel a full 3 seconds of absolute weightlessness while spiraling 360 degrees, and tear through one of the world's largest vertical loops.

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this had a 15 minute wait time.

Joshua wanted to do Sheikra, but Richard and I chickened out, so we convinced Daniel to go with him, there was only a 10 minute wait time.

Plunge from the sky on SheiKra®, our ferocious, floorless dive coaster by the masters of motion at B&M. Climb 200 feet to the edge of a 90-degree drop that inches you mercilessly over the edge—and stops.
Then surrender to speed as you dive straight down into a 70 mph coaster whirlwind with an Immelmann loop, a second dive into an underground tunnel and a splashdown finale that drenches SheiKra fans waiting to catch their own piece of the fun.

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Whilst the boys were on Sheikra, we bought two of those drink refill mugs, that can be used at the other Seaworld parks, you just need to pay 99c + tax for each refill. Two cups came to $23.52 inc Tax.

None of us had been on a Wooden Coaster before, so as Gwazi had only 10 minute queue time, this was our chance to try it

Take a wild ride on a fast, twister-style wooden coaster.

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I hated it, I felt my skull was rattling around in my head and it was so noisy, never again, experience says I have done it and that's enough for me, not sure of the rest of the family were too impressed with that one either.

It was now almost 4 pm, so we headed back to the lockers for the Cameras so we could take photos





Cheetah Hunt




We decided to go on the Sky Ride to get some aerial view photos as the queue was quite small

View the spectacular scenery as you fly through the air in a cable car that runs between the Crown Colony® area and the Congo area on the opposite side of the park.

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It is amazing what you can see from the Sky Ride, definitely worth doing.
Back on the ground, time to see more animals





We come across Rhino Rally, which was a walk on and Daniel gets to be the helper!

Hop aboard a wild jeep tour that takes you through the wilds of Africa. It's an off-road adventure that combines the thrill of an African safari with the exhilaration of going up-close with exotic animals as you trek across the wide open veldt.

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It was now about 5 pm and we wanted to do the Serengeti Railway

With stops at the Congo, Nairobi and Stanleyville, this relaxing ride gives you a great view of our large free-roaming herds of African animals, including giraffe, zebra, antelope, ostrich and much more.

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but there was a 30 minute wait, so we used this time to have a sit down and Richard phoned his mum, being on the Three Network, we can use our phone plan as if we were in the UK to call back to the UK.

[Taggie]

We went to Sultan's Sweets which had huge gorgeous cookies, so we bought 4 at a cost of $17.08 including tax which converted to £10.09.

At 6:30 pm an announcement came over that a storm was heading our way and everyone needs to find cover and the rides were closed. We quickly used the toilets and headed straight for our Shuttle, we had to be on it by 7 pm anyway. You return on the same Shuttle you came in on, so it makes it easier, this time our shuttle was the last to leave at just after 7 pm arriving back at Seaworld at 8:25 pm.



We walked out of the car park and over to the Lynx bus stop catching the Lynx 50 to Downtown Disney arriving at 9 pm.



We joined the queue at Earl of Sandwich and managed to find a table outside.
I had the Philly Cheesesteak $6.49, Richard and Daniel had Hawaiian BBQ $6.49 and Joshua had BBQ Chicken $5.99 Total was $27.12 including Tax.

We arrived back at All Star Music at 10:20 pm suitably knackered but very pleased with what we achieved today and we were greeted by a friend.


Day 2 - Animal Kingdom & Blizzard Beach + Rainforest Cafe

Quoted comments are taken from the Busch Gardens Website to describe the rides correctly.

[macdonald88]

You certainly managed to pack a lot into your trip to Busch gardens. We love the coasters here and strolling around taking in the atmosphere. Sheikra is brilliant I faced my fears of it a few years ago.

[FLAFantastic]

Lovin the trippee!

What a first day!

AnnMarie

[Guest]

This is a great report on Busch - we are going to use the shuttle this year as I dont want to drive so seeing the time it takes to get there and back was so useful. Thank you.

[ljbojangles]

sounds like a great day out!

[summersun]

great day

[carys]

Looks great this will be out first time so I can't wait now thanks.

[col2501]

Found you! What a great day at Busch Gardens, you managed to do tons! we where here towards the end of our hols, we had a fab day there

[smedley]

Seriously busy day, you packed plenty in!