Home Orlando Parks Busch Gardens Tampa Busch Gardens Tampa Gets Wild With Jungle Jack Hanna & Falcon’s Fury...

Busch Gardens Tampa Gets Wild With Jungle Jack Hanna & Falcon’s Fury Opens

September 18, 2014

Welcome to an all new Busch Gardens Tampa update. Today we’ll take a look at Jack Hanna’s recent visit to the park, check out the new Opening Night Critters show and more.

“Wild Days” with Jack Hanna

“Jungle” Jack Hanna, Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, made his annual visit to Busch Gardens Tampa September 13 and 14. Mr. Hanna has been making pilgrimages to the park for nearly 50 years now, and his shows always impress. He presents a great array of animals and facts about them as well as recounting some tales of his travels over the years. I remember as a kid watching “Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild” on Saturday mornings. It was always a funny and educational show.

Jungle Jack signing autographs before the show

Busch Gardens Tampa, Busch Gardens Tampa Gets Wild With Jungle Jack Hanna & Falcon’s Fury Opens — Three banded armadillo

Snow leopard cub. It's so FLUFFY! — Snow leopard cub. It’s so FLUFFY!

This is a python. His name is Monty. Get it?

This owl was so tiny! He was abotu the size of my fist. I told him I'm still waiting for my Hogwarts acceptance letter. — This owl was so tiny! He was abotu the size of my fist. I told him I’m still waiting for my Hogwarts acceptance letter.

Opening Night Critters

I finally got the chance to see the new Opening Night Critters show that debuted earlier this summer at the Pantopia Theater. Last time I was in the theater was back in February for a media tour and it was completely gutted as they were converting it from a 4D theater to live performances.

The story behind Opening Night Critters is after the “main attraction” of the theater quits, a couple of stagehands decide it’s time for their big break. However, they discover working with animals isn’t as easy it it may seem. The 30 minute show is fast-paced and very funny. And the best part is, the majority of the dogs and cats used in the show were rescued from shelters from all across the country.These were dogs and cats that were branded “unadoptable” for various reasons. All they really needed was a second chance.

Did someone say "Dog and pony show"? — Did someone say “Dog and pony show”?

Falcon’s Fury Finally Opens

After months of testing, tweaking and waiting for special parts from the ride’s manufacturer, Falcon’s Fury officially opened to guests on September 2. The world’s tallest free-standing drop tower was an instant hit with park guests.

Howl-O-Scream

Howl-Scream starts terrorizing guests on September 26; however, not much progress can been seen yet. Most of the houses are in backstage areas and the park typically doesn’t roll out the props throughout the park until event nights. However, the Shop of Horrors is already open in the Morocco section at the front of the park and ready to satisfy your Howl-O-Scream merchandise needs (and creep you out a little at the same time).

Only house I could see in the park was Zombie Containment Unit 15 (the new interactive laser-tag Zombie hunt). It's located over by Jambo Junction in the Nairobi section of the park. — Only house I could see in the park was Zombie Containment Unit 15 (the new interactive laser-tag Zombie hunt). It’s located over by Jambo Junction in the Nairobi section of the park.

To learn more about this year’s Howl-O-Scream, check out the rundown I posted last month.

Food & Wine Festival

Next Spring, Busch Gardens Tampa will be offering their own version of a Food & Wine Festival. Busch Gardens Williamsburg has been offering this event for several years and we’re excited to see it’s coming to Tampa. To learn more, check out the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx4mu9h8fbo

Around the Park

And let’s wrap things up with a random look around the park and it’s thrilling and furry inhabitants.

The Penguins from Madagascar were out greeting guests.

Motor City Groove has been back entertaining guests at the Pantopia Grill. This is a really good show!

A new beverage bar opened inside the Tiger Lodge in Jungala.

Ok that should about do it for this update. Thanks for reading! Are you excited about Howl-O-Scream? Brave enough to ride Falcon’s Fury? Tell us below in the comments below!