A Wild Time at Busch Gardens Tampa
- Sep 11, 2024
- 4 min read
Hey all!
Today, we are visiting Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida, to experience Iron Gwazi and explore the rest of the park. Before arriving, we purchased a combo pass for $100, which grants access to both Busch Gardens and Sea World. This deal is a fantastic value if you find it while in Orlando. Our day began with a visit to Iron Gwazi. This RMC conversion hybrid wooden rollercoaster is the tallest, fastest, and steepest hybrid rollercoaster ever built. It stands over 200 feet tall with a 91-degree drop and features intense overbanked turns and inversions that offer exceptional hangtime, showcasing the expertise of Rocky Mountain Construction. After one ride, I felt quite breathless; the experience was brief but very intense, with the notorious "Death Roll" making it a one-time experience for me. While I am uncertain if it surpasses Steel Vengeance, it remains an outstanding ride. We then proceeded along the left path of the park to Tigris, their Sky Rocket 2 launched rollercoaster, which reaches a height of 150 feet and includes an inversion at its highest point. The ride launches back and forth, gaining speed and delivering a genuine adrenaline rush. Overall, it was another excellent ride. I then finally had my turn on the original first dive rollercoaster in North America, Sheikra.
Sheikra was closed during my initial visit to Busch Gardens, so I was eager to experience it. This ride stands over 200 feet tall and includes one inversion and a splashdown. While it may not have all the features of other dive rollercoasters at different parks, its standout elements are the splashdown, theming, and the older over-the-shoulder restraints, which provide more freedom when plunging down a 90-degree drop. This might be my new favorite dive coaster. After that, I took a quick ride on Kumba. Kumba is notable for its numerous inversions and its interaction with the terrain at the ride's end. However, perhaps due to my shorter height, I often experience head banging against the restraint. Additionally, the ride has developed a slight rattle over time. It's still a must-ride, but I wish it would undergo a re-track.
We then proceeded to the park's latest attraction, Phoenix Rising. Unfortunately, I was unable to experience the ride due to the restraints not accommodating my thighs. Recognizing the importance of safety, I am hopeful to lose sufficient weight in my legs to enjoy it on a future visit. Subsequently, I took a quick ride on Scorpion, the park's original rollercoaster featuring a single loop, and bid farewell, in case the rumors about its potential removal are true.
We then made our way back towards the park's entrance, where I had a quick ride on their launched roller coaster, Cheetah Hunt. This ride includes one inversion, interacts with some of the animal exhibits, and maneuvers over and under the Sky ride, culminating in a unique finale where the track switches back and forth over a rushing river. While it may not match Maverick at Cedar Point, it effectively utilizes its speed and elements.
Next, we visited Cobra's Curse, a spinning rollercoaster featuring an elevator lift that begins forward, then moves backward, and finally spins. It is a distinctive family rollercoaster, though it left me feeling slightly unwell. Lastly, in my opinion, the highlight of the park was Montu. This inverted looping rollercoaster has great theming, interacts heavily with the terrain with its inversions blasting in and out of the trenches, and the pacing is phenomenal. This is hands down probably the best inverted rollercoaster ever built. This ended up being my favorite ride of the day and I would return to the park in the future just to ride this ride. Overall, it was a pretty good visit, there were barely any lines, and customer service was pretty good as well. With that, let's dive into the photo report!
Thanks For Reading!
As Always, Keep On Coast'N'