Whether you’re an animal-lover or a roller coaster fanatic, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay should be on your must-do list when visiting the Sunshine State. The park is an amazing combination of animal exhibits and world-class, record-breaking attractions. However, for first-time visitors, some common mistakes can be avoided. If only someone would clue you in on them, right? Well, thankfully, we’ve compiled some of the biggest mistakes Busch Gardens Tampa Bay newbies can make, and how to avoid them.
The first and most important one is paying the full cost of admission. Side-step this mistake by snagging discounts on Busch Gardens Tampa Bay tickets from your trusted source at Orlando Informer.
Once you have your admission, let’s move on to the other ways to make your first visit as smooth as possible.
First-Time Visitor Mistake: Not Planning Your Transportation to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
It may come as a surprise that Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is about an hour or so from Orlando, Florida. If you’ve got a car, it’s an easy drive — but if you’re traveling without one, it’s important to plan ahead. Ride-share options like Uber or traditional taxis are available, but be prepared: they can get pricey. A one-way Uber for up to four passengers typically ranges from $65 to $120, not including potential surge pricing. Taxis? They can run as high as $200 one way.
Thankfully, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay offers complimentary round-trip shuttles to Orlando with Mears Transportation. In addition to being at no cost, there are convenient pick-up locations throughout the International Drive area, including from SeaWorld Orlando and the Doubletree across from Universal Orlando Resort. Just remember that there is only one pick-up and drop-off time each way, and reservations are required, which cannot be made day-of, but can be reserved well in advance.
Don’t Forget to Hydrate and Dress for the Weather
It might sound like a no-brainer, but it’s a common mistake for guests to make when visiting Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Hydration is important, especially when visiting a park that’s mostly outdoors. If you’re spending time here during the summer months, temperatures can get pretty high. The heat can take a toll and potentially put a damper on your day if you’re not careful. Our best suggestion here would be to bring a refillable water bottle to help avoid this, since there are plenty of water stations available.
On the other end of this, Florida is tropical weather at its finest as the state’s rainy season runs from May until mid-October, and tends to be unpredictable. While this offers a break from the heat, thunderstorms and downpours can derail your plans without proper preparation; there’s also the resulting humidity to consider. Here, it’s important to pay attention to the weather percentages on the day of your visit and dress in a way that’s both comfortable and suited to the day’s conditions. Packing a poncho wouldn’t hurt either.
One Common Mistake: Not Checking Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Operating Hours
Since Busch Gardens operates on seasonal hours, it’s important to check the operating times to ensure they are aligned with the date of your visit. It may seem like stating the obvious here as well, but this mistake is made all too often. Those wanting to visit during a less busy time, like early November, following the Halloween season, or January and February, may be caught off guard by the park’s limited hours.
Although it might make sense to visit the theme parks during the slower season, anyone booking their vacations during this time will want to be especially aware that Busch Gardens tends to close earlier at around 6 PM on weekdays. With this in mind, plan to head to Busch Gardens on the weekends in this time of year. While the crowds might be a little busier, the park will typically be open later.
Go During a Special Event to Maximize Your Day
Planning your visit during one of Busch Gardens’ annual events, like Howl-O-Scream or the Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival, works in your favor on a few levels: The event season typically grants those aforementioned later hours, which helps optimize your time. This is especially true when combining day admission for Busch Gardens alongside Howl-O-Scream, when many popular rides like Iron Gwazi and SheiKra will be open.
Of course, going during one of these events may mean the park may be a little busier, but it’ll be worth it. Any of Busch Gardens’ events can potentially help create those lasting memories. Aside from experiencing its attractions at night, this could also be done by catching can’t-miss live performances, and uniquely created food and beverages to partake in.
Be sure to follow Orlando Informer on TikTok, Threads, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news, tips, and more at Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World, and other Orlando attractions.
