Busch Gardens Wait Times (2024)

FAQs

What is the least busy day at Busch Gardens? ›

Visit during the weekday: Although the park typically has lighter traffic on weekdays (and this can vary), Tuesdays and Wednesdays generally tend to have lighter crowds and shorter wait lines.

Guests always ask if Quick Queue is worth the price. The answer is always yes, especially at certain peak times of the year like summer, spring break and the holiday season.

Skip the lines at our most popular rides & roller coasters as often as you would like for one day, and get 1-time priority access to the ALL-NEW PHOENIX RISING & Iron Gwazi. $ 49.99 /ea.

North America's tallest and world's fastest & steepest hybrid coaster. The award-winning Iron Gwazi takes thrills to new heights, plunging riders from a 206 foot-tall peak into a 91-degree drop and reaching top speeds of 76 miles per hour.

Daytime Fun with Rides and Shows

Take on Tigris, Florida's tallest launch coaster with breath-taking drops and speeds at over 60 mph on this 1,800 foot journey. Or brace yourself for Falcon's Fury, a 335-foot freestanding drop tower. Thrill has no limits at Busch Gardens Tampa.

Arrive at Busch Gardens (9:30am) *Park opens at 10am

It takes about an hour to drive to Busch Gardens, and the ideal time to arrive is between 10am and 12 noon in the first hours after opening. (You want to allocate some time for parking as well.)

At a length of 4,400 feet, Cheetah Hunt® is the park's longest thrill ride attraction! Unveil the Thrills: Roller Coaster Insider Tour! Experience Roller Coasters like Never Before! Delve into the heart-pounding secrets of Cheetah Hunt, Cobra's Curse, and Montu with our exclusive Insider Tour.

Turn your phone into your ticket! Access your Memberships/Annual Passes and barcodes to use your discount in-park. View your purchases and barcodes for easy redemption.

Make the most of your visit to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Pass members must log in to see discounts. Skip the lines at our most popular rides & roller coasters as often as you would like for one day, and get 1-time priority access to the ALL-NEW PHOENIX RISING & Iron Gwazi. $ 49.99 /ea.

Can you bring your own drinks to Busch Gardens Tampa? ›

No outside food, beverages, or coolers are allowed to be brought into Busch Garden Tampa Bay, except you may bring a bottle of water or a refillable water bottle. Exceptions may be made for Guests with special dietary needs, including food allergies and baby food/formula.

We were able to see all that Busch Gardens had to offer in a single day, and by following this Busch Gardens Touring Plan (PDF File) I created, you can too. A main point to note is that we encountered virtually no lines on our trip and long lines would definitely hamper the ability to see everything in one day.

Located in Tampa, Florida, Busch Gardens opened to the public in 1959. According to ticket-price data gathered by The Family Vacation Guide in May 2022, Busch Gardens is the most expensive theme park in the world just above Disney World.

Download the Busch Gardens App

Download it prior to your visit and get familiar with it. It allows you to see waiting times, pre-order food, see show times, etc. My favorite feature is that it has the park's map and it provide GPS-like walking directions. It really made our lives easier.

Of course, to meander around the park at a leisurely pace and truly see everything, we recommend two full days at Busch Gardens Tampa. Just be sure to prioritize your time – between the rides, shows, attractions, and sheer number of animal exhibits, you will find your day goes by quickly here!

The conventional wisdom is that mid-January through March tend to feature smaller crowds (and potentially lower prices) at theme parks, as well as the period between Labor Day and Thanksgiving. In general, weekdays are the mellowest, especially Tuesday through Thursday.

Winter, late spring, and fall weekdays typically have the lowest crowds. Because most of the attractions at Busch Gardens Tampa are outdoors, a day with extended inclement weather will often reduce crowd levels.

At Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA, even our youngest guests can have tons of fun. Our parks were designed with kids in mind, and our kid-friendly offerings are geared toward families with children 9 and younger. Plan your Virginia family vacation before you ever leave your home.