Howl-O-Scream 2011 Alone Review

This past weekend I experienced Alone for the first time. Alone was introduced to Howl-O-Scream last year as a revolutionary idea to the haunt industry. Just like the title suggests, for an up-charge you can experience the haunted house alone, all by yourself, or with up to 4 friends.

While I am not going to give away any spoilers, I have to say that this house will mess with your mind! The storyline is that the deranged Master Alexander Daedal opened Minotaur Storage to house his vast collection of “cultural” remains. Now his sinister obsession with hoarding has expanded to stockpiling people. But "Don't Touch Anything!". Escape this lunatic’s labyrinth or you will become part of his collection.  

Be sure to look for lots of props from Howl-O-Scream's past featured throughout this house. Now for what everyone is wanting to know... Is it worth it? In my opinion, 100% yes! For any haunt fan this is a truly unique and personal experience you just can't get anywhere else. While it hasn't been confirmed by the park yet, Alone in some form is most likely to return for 2012. Last year and this year, Alone sold out each and every night so you should book it the day tickets go on sale! It is honestly the best houses I have ever been it at Howl-O-Scream or anywhere for that matter! Thanks to Busch Gardens Tampa for the photos.

Vampire Diaries Actor Takes the Ultimate Gamble at Howl-O-Scream

Actor Michael Roark, who was featured in the recurring role of Frank on TV’s The Vampire Diaries, faces a sin-city clan of bloodsuckers in the new Ultimate Gamble: Vampire Casino haunted house at Howl-O-Scream.

The actor, who also a graduated law school at the University of Florida, visited Busch Gardens’ Howl-O-Scream on Thursday night with friends. 

He is also known for his recent role as Donovan Peck in Dolphin Tale and his upcoming role as Ryan in Magic Mike that was partially filmed in Tampa. Stay tuned for more star sightings in the park!

Cheetahs at Busch Gardens' Cheetah Run Get A Special Halloween Enrichment

Cheetah, Cheetah, Pumpkin Eatah? Actually, cheetahs are strict carnivores, but the residents of Cheetah Run were curious to explore the new smells and textures that three oversized pumpkins provided this past Tuesday! 

Pumpkins were put into Cheetah Run for a special Halloween-themed enrichment for Kasi and Mtani, and Cheetah Run’s adolescent female cheetahs.

Enrichment can take many forms and is usually something different, unusual and challenging that stimulates the animals. Food and toys are used daily by zookeepers at Busch Gardens to keep the animals engaged and stimulated, both mentally and physically. Remember, this weekend is the last weekend to experience Howl-O-Scream 2011! To buy tickets or get more information visit TheDarkSideOfTheGardens.com!

Photos by Matt Marriott/Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Last Chance To Experience Howl-O-Scream 2011 & Guide To Beat The Crowds

The Dark Side of the Gardens will close it's gates late Saturday night. The crowds have been out in full force this year and if your like me you like to get the most out of your time at Howl-O-Sceam. So if your planning to head out to the event this weekend, here are some tips to make the most of your experience: 

1) Buy your tickets in advance and save.

There are many ways to save on admission to Howl-O-Scream 2011. You can buy online at HowlOScream.com/Tampa, get a commemorative ticket at Publix, get promo codes at Taco Bell, on Pepsi products and at Applebee's in Central Florida.

2) Take advantage of early entry.

With HowlOScream admission you can arrive after 5:00pm and get a wristband to enjoy the coasters, select rides and get a bite to eat. Be sure to head to the back of the park around 7:00pm to get in-line for either Zombie Mortuary or Nevermore as those lines get the longest as the night goes on! All houses open at 7:30pm to guests.

3) Start in the back of the park.

As stated above, be sure to start your night in the back of the park because the two houses in the back, Nevermore and Zombie Mortuary tend to get the longest lines as the night goes on! 

4) Save the coasters for later in the night.

The coasters run during the day all day any day so unless you won't be making it out the the park anytime soon, skip the coasters and get all the scares you can! 

5) Get exclusive scare time with Fright Feast.

The only way to get early access to houses is with Fright Feast where not only do you get a scrumptious feast and see a fantastic show but also you get 30 minutes of exclusive scare time in the houses and then an hour of front of the line access.  

6) Buy Front Line Fear.

The best way to get through the houses fast and then experience the shows, hordes, or just take in the Halloween atmosphere is with a Front Line Fear pass. You can get in each house once with little to no wait at all or you can get the Extreme Front Line pass where you can get in each coaster and house one time with little to no wait!

7) Book a VIP Tour for the Ultimate HOS experience.

The best way to experience Howl-O-Scream is with a VIP Tour. There are 3 tiers in the VIP Tours including Mega, Ultimate, and Super. All tours include Front Line access, refreshments, an exclusive check-in area and more! 

Hopefully these tips will help you get  the most out of your Howl-O-Scream experience this weekend. Visit HowlOScream.com/Tampa today for more information and to buy tickets, book tours, and upgrade to Fright Feast.

Holidays at Busch Gardens 2011 Line-Up

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay celebrates the spirit of the season with the return of several holiday classics, festive decorations and more!

From Nov. 19 to Jan. 1, Christmas spirit is in the air when Busch Gardens presents Christmas on Ice, a limited-engagement ice show with a cast of professional skaters bringing a graceful winter wonderland to life. This guest favorite has moved to the park’s amazing Moroccan Palace, which will soon be the home of the all-new Iceploration, opening 2-2-12.

The Marrakesh Theater decks the halls with Christmas from the Heart, featuring inspiring holiday gospel and spiritual songs performed by a live choir. In Desert Grill, join a Christmas Celebration, the musical extravaganza featuring seasonal songs, tap-dancing toy soldiers and fun for the whole family!

Join Santa for breakfast at Desert Grill from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturdays, Dec. 3 and 10. Enjoy exciting and unforgettable photo opportunities with Santa as well as his holiday elves, followed by a performance of our traditional family favorite, "Christmas Celebration". Prices are $18 for adults and $12 for children. To make your reservations click here or call 1-888-800-5447, at least 48 hours in advance.

The rest of the park is transformed into a holiday wonderland featuring a cappella carols by the Men of Note, spectacular poinsettias, festive decorations and classic holiday music. Stay tuned for more information and a review of Holidays at Busch Gardens 2011! 

New Howl-O-Scream 2011 Billboards and Promotions

Howl-O-Scream is keeping it fresh this year with a new round of billboards featuring the now famous eye infested rose instead of the Lady of the Gardens. They look great and it's a great way to change things up to get people's interest. 

Also, Howl-O-Scream has many deals through their sponsors. You can save up to $35 off your Howl-O-Scream 2011 admission when you purchase in advance online using a promo code found at the following sponsors for Howl-O-Scream 2011: 

Visit your nearest participating Taco Bell in Tampa or Orlando, purchase a Pepsi product in the Howl-O-Scream Souvenir cup to receive a promo code for $35 off admission. Visit participating Publix supermarkets in Florida. Look for the Howl-O-Scream gift card display and save $35. Or when dining at your nearest participating Applebee’s restaurant in Tampa or Orlando, look for the weekly promotional code on your receipt.

To enter your promo code from one of the sponsors click here. Thanks for viewing and be sure to keep checking back for even more Howl-O-Scream 2011 news!

Buccaneer Cheerleaders Face Howl-O-Scream 2011

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders Karen Bittinger, Elisa Eichbauer, Darla Faye Nolan, Milly Figuereo, Kelli Jones, Meagan Praden, Lauren Rasys and Amber Rehman took a break from the sidelines to visit Howl-O-Scream 2011 at Busch Gardens over the weekend.

During their evening at the nationally ranked event, the cheerleaders toured the brand-new Zombie Mortuary, Nevermore and Ultimate Gamble: Vampire Casino haunted houses and met several of The Dark Side of the Gardens’ zombie hoards, including the event’s infamous cheerleader zombies.

General admission for Howl-O-Scream is $77.99 plus tax. Reduced advance-purchase rates and special offers are available for Busch Gardens Pass members at TheDarkSideOfTheGardens.com. The event runs Thursday through Saturday nights, Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 6-8, 13-15, 20-22 and 27-29.  Operating hours are 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. during Freaky Preview and on Thursday nights. Friday and Saturday hours are 7:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Busch Gardens Announces Headliner Acts Coming to First-Ever 12th Grade Grad Nite

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has announced it's headliner acts for its first annual 12th Grade Grad Nite on Friday, April 27, 2012 from 7pm to 2am. The park will remain open after hours for graduating seniors to enjoy high-energy DJs and dance parties, headline entertainment including Cobra Starship and comedian Gabriel Iglesias, and Busch Gardens’ top coasters in the dark, including SheiKra, Kumba, Montu, Gwazi, and Cheetah Hunt.

American pop rock band Cobra Starship and comedian Gabriel Iglesias will headline the entertainment, adding to the excitement of the night with special performances for the graduating high school seniors. Cobra Starship, formed in 2005, released their fourth album, Night Shades, in August 2011 with the hit single “You Make Me Feel…” The band is best known for their Top 40 hit, “Good Girls Gone Bad.”

Gabriel Iglesias is known as the “fluffy” comic in a Hawaiian shirt who coined the saying, “I’m not fat… I’m fluffy.” Gabriel hosts Comedy Central’s newest TV series, “Gabriel Iglesias Presents Stand-Up Revolution” and his credits include “Last Comic Standing,”  and “Jimmy Kimmel Live".

Admission is $54.99 + tax (One complimentary chaperone ticket given for each 10 paid student tickets; additional chaperone tickets can be purchased for $54.99 + tax). Admission to the all new 12th Grade Grad Nite 2012 is limited, so make your reservations early. To make reservations email gradnite@buschgardens.com or call 1-866-781-1333. Grad Nite is a separate-ticketed night event and tickets may only be purchased through the student’s school. Entertainment, rides, attractions, operating hours, and prices are subject to change without notice.

Deployed Soldier Reunited With His Family At Sesame Street's Safari Of Fun

For the Hill children – 6-year-old Chrislyn, 4-year-old Christopher and 1-year-old Christian – the “A is for Africa” show at Busch Gardens’ Sesame Street Safari of Fun recently featured a surprise ending that was many months in the making. 

The children’s father, Air Force Staff Sergeant Christopher Hill, had been deployed to Zabul Providence, Afghanistan since early 2011. After more than 7 months away from his family, SSgt Hill and his wife, Frances, wanted the perfect surprise homecoming to reunite him with his children – the youngest of whom started walking while he was away. 

At the finale of the family-friendly show featuring the Sesame Street characters, the stage attendant announced that they had a special guest to introduce, but that they would need special help from the audience (and a wave of Abby’s magic wand) to bring him all the way back from Afghanistan. 

After a tearful reunion, the family posed for photos with their Sesame Street friends onstage, and 4-year-old Christopher thanked Elmo for bringing his father home. 

Ssgt Hill is stationed at MacDill Air Force Base.

Animal Care Center Construction Update #2

With the opening just a few months away the Animal Care Center is coming along great! The walls are up and the ceilings are in the 16,000 square foot building. Viewing the whole center from the Skyride shows how massive it really is. They are also promoting the care center on the walls surrounding the construction site. The banner on the construction walls include a new piece of concept art of the building which looks like it will be a very nice building similar to the new Adventure Tour Center built next door. The Animal Care Center is on track for an early 2012 opening so check back regularly as we keep you updated on this exciting new addition! Check out some pictures of the banner and progress of construction below:

Meet Zuri, A White-Necked Raven in Jambo Junction

Just in time for Halloween, a White-necked Raven has found it's new home in Jambo Junction here at Busch Gardens Tampa. Zuri which means beautiful in Swahili is the name of the Raven which lives in Jambo Junction. With the most popular Howl-O-Scream haunted house of the year, Nevermore, based off of Edgar Allen Poe's tales just a few minutes down the pathway, Zuri is fitting in just right!

Zuri came to Busch Gardens at a young age from a zoo in Texas were it was hatched. She will be raised in Jambo Junction, located in the Nairobi area of the park and will become one of the park’s educational Animal Ambassadors. In the wild White-necked Raven's are found in southern and eastern Africa. Thanks to Missy and the whole Jambo Junction team for sharing the facts about and showing off Zuri. Quoth the raven, "Nevermore". Check out a few more pictures of Zuri below: 

Celebrate New Year's Eve at Busch Gardens Tampa

Countdown to 2012 with the biggest party 
this side of midnight – it’s the ultimate New 
year’s celebration on December 31!

A New Year's party you'll never forget: DJ's pumping party music throughout the park, going zero to cheetah on Cheetah Hunt, and fireworks blasting off at midnight. It's a New Year's party you don't want to miss! To purchase tickets click here or call 1-888-800-5447. Check back in a few weeks for more details on Holidays at Busch Gardens 2011! 

Real Music Series 2012 Line-Up

Busch Gardens Tampa's annual Real Music Series takes you back with big bands of the '30s and '40s and the artists that defined the '50s, '60s and '70s. All the concerts take place in the Stanleyville Theater Wednesdays through Saturdays from January 18 through March 24, 2012. Concerts are held each day at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

2012 Line-Up:

January 18-21  The Terry Myers Orchestra with The Swing Sisters 

January 25-28  The Glenn Miller Orchestra with The Diamonds 

February 1-4  Tony Orlando 

February 8-11  Frankie Avalon 

February 15-18  The Osmond Brothers 

February 22-25  Peter Noone and Herman’s Hermits 

February 29-March 3  The Ventures 

March 7-10  Rita Coolidge 

March 14-17  The Grass Roots 

March 21 -24  Marylin Mcoo and Billy Davis Jr.

Busch Gardens Offers Florida Residents a Free Serengeti Safari with a Single Day Ticket Purchase

An all-new offer at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay lets Florida Residents experience the off-road adventure of a Serengeti Safari free with the purchase of a single-day admission!

The 30-minute Serengeti Safari is an open truck tour that offers guests a unique look at Busch Gardens’ 65-acre Serengeti Plain habitat, featuring hundreds of exotic, free-roaming African animals. During the safari, guests will encounter antelope, rhinos and ostrich up close and hand-feed reticulated giraffes with the help of an expert guide. Be prepared for amazing photo opportunities!

Guests who take advantage of the online offer will have the opportunity to book a complimentary Serengeti Safari with each full-price, single-day admission they purchase at $79.99 for adults or $71.99 for kids ages 5 to 9.

Children must be 5 or older to participate in the Serengeti Safari. Capacity is limited, and reservations must be made in advance at time of purchase.

This offer will be sold exclusively online, and eTickets let guests print their tickets at home and go straight to the turnstiles. Tickets will be available for purchase through – and must be redeemed by – Dec. 15, 2011.

For those who already have an annual passport or park tickets, the popular Serengeti Safari is available "a la carte" at $30.55 per person, plus tax – a 10% discount from the regular general admission price os $33.95.

eTickets are available at http://www.buschgardens.com/!

Monster Mash Dine with Elmo & Friends On October 22nd

Are your little one's too young for Howl-O-Scream? Well join The Count in a special lunch for Halloween with all the Sesame Street Safari of Fun characters. Families can dance the Monster Mash, meet the count, share hugs with our lovable characters, parade in costume and enjoy a delicious lunch buffet. The lunch takes place from 12pm to 1:30pm. The price is $22 for adults and $15 for children. Also, 1 free 6 x 8 photo, per family, is included. 

The Monster Mash Dine with Elmo & Friends is on October 22. Make your reservations and view the menu through the "Lunch with Elmo & Friends" dining reservation http://commerce.4adventure.com/estore/scripts/skins/BGT/DiningBookNow.aspx or call 1-888-800-5447, at least 48 hours in advance.