Busch Gardens Tampa Visit - SheiKra!

[tloolgb]

Well I contined the "get up early and drive to a theme park" even today...my day off...and I went down to Tampa to ride SheiKra. It was an interesting drive...arriving in the area when people are going to work and going to school in the morning sure added traffic. Lol.
So I got to the gate, and Busch started to impress me right away with the musicians they sent out to entertain us untill 9:30. 9:30 came...and I headed off to find the area where SheiKra was to be closed untill 10...so I headed back to Gwazi...and boy was I impressed. GCI made a nice ride.
So I made it to SheiKra, and rode in the front row center (walked on) then went back to ride the second row (walked on) then I went back...and it broke down. So it was a wait of 15 minutes as it was started and cycled, then I rode the last row. The front row is great...but honestly, the side seats are great. If you have a choice between the middle seats and the edges...go for the edges.
I headed off to Kumba...and I wasn't impressed. I've started to find that I don't really like inversions...and a coaster who really relies on inversions to rock my world just doesn't work well.
I did BGT's bumper cars then...and they were lame. Not the best at all...though nothing can compare to SFNE's Mass drivers road rage on thier bumper cars...so I am a bit spoiled.
Rode Cheetah Chase...Mmm...lame but the brakes suck. Every time you'd stop you'd just bash your gut into the bar.
Rode Scorpion, my first Schwartz. coaster...not impressed. It had way to much force in the helix.
Enjoyed free Busch beer ( ) King Tut's Tomb and Montu. Then I headed home.

Rides
Gwazi-Wow. A wooden coaster I liked...like really really liked. Great way to start my morning.
SheiKra-Very impressive. It is fun, the drop is cool...but it is too short. Its really a two trick ride. Not the best coaster in FL...but damn good.
Kumba-Mmm...no. It's too much emphasis on loopage...not enough speed or airtime.
Ubanga-Banga Bumper Cars-Just a lame little bumper cars. Not enough people on it, but just slow and not even a circle. Oh well.
Cheetah Chase-Yeah...nothing special at all.
Scorpion-Wow. For such a short height this sucker builds up some speed...and forces on the helix. Too many forces actually.
Free beer-YEEHAW!!! What a nice plus.
Montu-Wow...I mean I didn't love it persay...but I think I found an inverted coaster that I don't dislike.

So Busch Parks really impressed me. Like any non Disney park they don't have nearly enough to ride that doesn't bash your head (coasters)...however...as far as park feeling and themeing...they kick the *** off any other chain outside Disney. But what really scored the points with me was the themed music. No other park outside Disney (that I've seen) does that, and to do add that last bit of feeling to the park...it really helps drive home the theme. The rides are good, all thier new coasters (minus Cheetah) are unique and don't feel standard and lousy...and thier park is clean, the people nice, and the beer free. I was very impressed. The layout needs MAJOR work, and I wish the map would give info about the rides...but I am impressed and can see myself back in the future.
Way to go Busch!

[tloolgb]

Photos!

The reason for the visit.


Wow. I give them some major credit. The themeing in some areas is EXCELLENT.


My first Swatz Coaster. Not impressed.


Gwazi. Wow. A wooden coaster I like!


Well, I guess we are in Tampa.


Ah, nothing says "protect the animals" like a nature park stringing up Tigers.


:lightrayfromheaven: Ah, B&M hyper goodness.


Oh no, an old Arrow. It even hurts to look at.


Shrunked Neds?


Mmmm...Camel.


AIR...are we in Alton Towers?


"Looks like a pretty dead party to me..." sorry...too used to spieling...

[tloolgb]

And I do believe I have ridden all the B&M styles...
Flying
Hyper
Standup
Sitting
Floorless
Dive Machine
Inverted

...am I missing any B&M styles?

[Disney Magic]

Thanks for report.

[TDR_Fan]

Originally Posted by tloolgb

Rides
Montu-Mmm...no. It's too much emphasis on loopage...not enough speed or airtime.

*nods head*

Originally Posted by tloolgb

Montu-Wow...I mean I didn't love it persay...but I think I found an inverted coaster that I don't dislike.

Ehh?

[tloolgb]

Hahah I'm sorry...the loopage one should be Kumba.

My bad.

For Montu I am saying I pretty much dislike all the Inverted coasters I've ever ridden...but Montu wasn't disliked, but I'm not calling it a favorite.

[BackIntoYourSystem]

Nice Report! I Liked the pictures.

[eeyore'snumber1fan]

What day did you go? I may have been working that day.

[eeyore'snumber1fan]

Originally Posted by tloolgb

Photos!

My first Swatz Coaster. Not impressed.


Gwazi. Wow. A wooden coaster I like!


[/SIZE]

I love scorpion, its my favorit coster.
Also gwazi is the coster near my work area.

[tloolgb]

/\ I went yesterday (Monday).

[eeyore'snumber1fan]

I was off monday strangly

[SummerInFL]

Looks like you had a good time. Love the photos, I like Busch Gardens but it is missing that magic when we go, it's nice for weekend fun though.

[figment1986]

Ah.. correct about the nice themeing in some areas... Come back in a few years to see the park go through referbishment after referbishment cleaning up the park and attractions... and adding new things...

(flat rides may be coming soon)

say by to python, as it's leaving soon..

(So long and thanks for the ackes will be released soon... just need to tape it.. lol)

[aimster]

Montu is one my all-time fave coasters. I remember there used to be crocs (real ones) in the water where you first leave the station. That freaked my sh*t out every time but I loved it.

I love Kumba and Gwazi too. I totally need to ride Shiekra though. Maybe some weekend next monthw hen I got some extra fundage I'll do a day trip across the bay to the Gardens. Been a few years at least since my last visit.

[JesterMn]

What, no Rhino Rally?