Guide To Beat The Holiday Crowds at Busch Gardens Tampa

Holiday crowds can be a hassle in any theme park during the months of November and December. If your wanting a more relaxing trip to the park here are 5 tips that will definitely make your trip more enjoyable: 


1. Use the new iPhone and Android App to plan out your day. 
It's free to download and gives you wait times, show times, and a guide to get you around the park!

2.Pre-Purchase your ticket online.
Save time waiting in lines to buy tickets by buying them in advance online by clicking here. Most tickets are turnstile ready so you won't even have to bring it to a window.
3. Head out to the park early.
By heading out to the park early you can beat some of the crowds and have that much more time to experience all there is to offer. Start out with the coasters first and then visit the animals and see the shows later in the day.

4a. Check show times and plan which show you want to attend.
If you like shows,  check the show times early in the day and plan which ones to attend, this way you won't miss any shows you are interested in. My personal favorite currently at the park is Christmas On Ice.
4b. Check wait times for the rides or start in the back of the park.
If your a coaster person, then check the wait times for the rides using the app or just start in the back of the park and work your way up. In the mornings most people start in the front and work there way back, this way you can beat long lines for the rides.
5. Buy Quick Queue to get through the rides faster.
While Quick Queue is an up-charge, it is a bullet proof way to getting on all the coasters in a short amount of time. This way you will have more time for all the other experiences there are to offer at Busch Gardens Tampa.

Leave any questions about how to beat the Holiday crowds by leaving a comment below! Be sure to keep checking back for more guides and information this Holiday season.

Holidays at Busch Gardens 2011 Review

This weekend was the start of Holidays at Busch Gardens 2011. This year the Holiday spirit is in full swing with 3 returning shows, tons of festive decorations and more!  
The decorations around the park this year were definitely amped up with more red and green around the park than ever. My favorite new addition was the cheetah themed Christmas Tree in the Cheetah Hunt realm. Be sure to click the pictures to view them larger!

Like always, Busch Gardens Tampa is never short of Christmas themed shows during the Holidays. Christmas On Ice, Christmas Celebration and Christmas From The Heart all returned this year. While Christmas Celebration and Christmas From The Heart were similar to previous years, Christmas On Ice was a mostly new experience.

Christmas On Ice moved into the Moroccan Palace which is the future home of the epic ice show, Iceploration. Besides the new theater; new acts, songs, sets, and lighting effects made this show better than ever. Keeping some of the crowd favorites like the little girl skater and the opening and closing numbers, it also ushered in some new acts like the cube spinner from Kinetix, a new duo and more. What really made this show work was the intimate experience brought by the new theater. This is a must see in 2011. Check out pictures of it below but there is no video due to a new no videography rule this year. 

New this year is an awesome photo op where your family can get their picture in a larger than life snow globe! The experience is complete with the Busch Gardens logo and animals in the background. The photo op's cash register building is even themed beautifully. It is an awesome addition to Holidays at Busch Gardens and hopefully more like it will happen in the future! Check out some photos of it below.

Overall, Holidays at Busch Gardens 2011 is one of the best years of the event yet. With more decorations and a much more elaborate ice show you don't want to miss a second of all the Holiday cheer. As always click any picture to view it larger and be sure to check back on the latest news on all the happenings at Busch Gardens Tampa! 

Busch Gardens Tampa Gives Back To Pass Members With Discounted Tickets & More

Busch Gardens Tampa is always having special previews and deals for Pass Members. The trend continues with discounted single day tickets through Christmas and more!

Busch Gardens Pass Members receive $20 off Single Day Guest Admissions for friends and family. Take advantage of this special offer now through December 25, 2011. 

Must purchase and visit by December 25, 2011. Not valid for Fun Card. Limit 6 per household.

Celebrate Kasi and Mtani, the cheetah cub and yellow lab's special friendship with a limited-edition collectible pin, available exclusively for Busch Gardens Pass members. The commemorative pin is available at souvenir locations throughout the park for $5.95 and a portion of the proceeds from this pin will be donated to the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. It is available at Emporium, Emporium Kids, Cheetah Hunt Gift Shop, Tiger Treasures, Caravan Crossings, Santa’s Christmas Workshop and Xcursions.

Jack Hanna Returns to Busch Gardens Tampa on January 13th, 2012

Join “Jungle Jack” Hanna for a day of wild animal shows, autograph signings and special meet and greets when he visits Busch Gardens on Jan. 13. For only day only, the internationally-known animal expert will share animal facts and his travel tales during animal shows in the Stanleyville Theater. Showtimes are at 11:30am and 1:30pm!

He will also join families for a memorable Serengeti Night Safari where you will take a two and half hour adventure across the Serengeti Plain to witness nighttime animal behaviors and enjoy unique food and drinks with the animal expert himself.

Hanna will also make special appearances at a family sleepover that evening where you can Enjoy an overnight family adventure that includes going behind the scenes, encountering wildlife at night and an animal encounter hosted by Jack Hanna.

Lastly there will be an exclusive PassMember Breakfast with Jack Hanna the next morning where you can join Jack Hanna and friends for a one-of-a-kind breakfast experience. Be one of the first to discover our new Animal Care Center.

To make reservations or to get more information visit http://seaworldparks.com/buschgardens-tampa or call 1-888-800-5447 today!

Perez Hilton and Kat Graham Visit Busch Gardens Tampa

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton and his good friend, actress Kat Graham of The Vampire Diaries, spent an afternoon at Busch Gardens during a trip to Tampa over the weekend. From hand-feeding giraffes on the park’s 65-acre Serengeti Plain to riding the new triple-launch coaster, Cheetah Hunt, Hilton and Graham experienced all of the wild animals and wild rides that Busch Gardens is known for. 

After riding Cheetah Hunt, Hilton had an up-close animal encounter with Busch Gardens’ most famous furry face, Kasi the cheetah, at the park’s Cheetah Run habitat.

Perez Hilton is a well-known celebrity blogger and television personality. Kat Graham is currently starring as Bonnie Bennett on the hit CW television series, "The Vampire Diaries." Thanks to Matt Marriott/Busch Gardens Tampa Bay for the photos.

Baby Boom Continues at Busch Gardens with the Birth of a Baby Grevy’s Zebra

The baby boom continues with yet another birth on Busch Gardens' Serengeti Plain. A new Grevy’s zebra was born on Busch Gardens’ 65-acre Serengeti Plain on Friday, November 4. Within an hour after its birth, the female foal was running with the rest of the herd and nursing from its mother.

Just last week, Busch Gardens announced two other additions, a male Cape buffalo, and female Sable antelope.

Busch Gardens’ guests can view all of the new babies from Rhino Rally, the Skyride or Serengeti Express train ride. For an even closer look, the Serengeti Safari offers guests an open-bed truck tour Serengeti Plain, with opportunities to get up-close to antelope and rhinos and hand-feed giraffes. Thanks to Matt Marriott/ Busch Gardens Tampa Bay for the photos.

Santa's Christmas Workshop 2011 Now Open!

Santa's Christmas Workshop opened late this week at Busch Gardens Tampa in the Moroccan Village! The holiday season is beginning soon with Holidays at Busch Gardens starting up already on the 21st! The shop has all the returning favorite African and Busch Gardens themed merchandise along with the classic holiday merchandise and more. There is more to be added in the store within the upcoming weeks! Also, kudos to the theming department for theming the  claw machine with some awesome penguin plushes! 

Stay tuned for an update on Holidays at Busch Gardens on or before November 21st! Also, be sure to check out the Holidays at Busch Gardens line-up by clicking here.

Here's a little something extra, the Fun Card/ Holiday at Busch Gardens billboards! They are so catchy!