View Full Version : Busch Gardens or IOA/Universal
Hi
We are planning our visit for next year and need some advice.
As there is so much we want to do on our visit, we currently don't have many spare days in our itinerary (have included some quiet/rest days), however we visited Busch Gardens on our visit in 1998 but we have never been to IOA.
Would you suggest buying the 3 day IOA/Universal ticket and not going to Busch Gardens or should we get the 2 day IOA/Universal ticket and go to Busch. Which park are we most likely to get the most out of. We are a party of 6 adults.
Your suggestions would be appreciated. Many thanks :D
Hmm...... difficult one this! I have to confess that if it were not for my neices & nephew I prob would not bother with IOA - I find it rather noisy & commercial. Busch gardens though, I liked, not as many scary rides as IOA but to me a rather nicer atmosphere. I suppose the answer is - it depends what you like!!
I have to admit to being a bit of a Busch Gardens fan personally.
If you have Sea World on your agenda as well as Universal/IOA then it is worth considering the 5 park Orlando Flexticket.
We managed both and they offer different things. If you haven't been to IOA then on a personal note I would go there. At least you can go between the two parks. Not too much has changed at Busch, it's still good though.
As there are quite a few of you going, probably of mixed ages aswell, personally I would go to both. IoA and Busch Gdns are both great, and too good to miss. I would think by going to both, you will suit all your party members, and not feel that you may have missed out. Chloe
BlueDaze
01-11-2004, 02:58
Must admit to never getting over to Busch Gardens in 4 Florida visits (shame on me..!!)
However, I think you must visit IoA & Universal.
IoA, whilst in my opinion being a bit teenage oriented, has some great rides.
Universal, I found to be really enjoyable this summer. The newer rides (Men in Black, Mummy & Shrek) have livened the place up and in Lombards Seafood Grill they have one of the best restaraunts in the parks (the Fish & Chips enjoyed by my daughter was the best I have tasted..)
Dependant on what time of the year you go, it may be worth investing in the additional 'Express Pass' which gets you to the front of line on all the top rides. (i think we paid about $30 each for both parks and managed to do all rides in both parks on one day..)
Nostromo
01-11-2004, 10:38
If it HAS to be a choice between Busch Gardens & IoA (and if you're certain that you cannot do both), then go to IoA because you say that you have not been there while you have visited Busch before. IoA is certainly a 'must do' park now while visiting Orlando, while (to us at least), Busch Gardens remains in the 'if possible' list.
What a difficult choice, I could`nt stand not doing both but if I had to choose, probably IOA, great rides, good atmospere.
For me it would have to be both. With 3 daughters age 15, 12 and 9 plus a husband who go on everything and me who does not like to be dropped from great heights or go upsidedown we find there is things for everyone at both. If you can manage to fit them both in then go.
Hi Karen,
You didn't mention whether you were doing any of the Disney parks. Had you planned to do Animal Kingdom? Busch Gardens and Animal Kingdom are both based on the "safari type" park, and although I like AK for different reasons, for me Busch Gardens has a bigger attraction. So rather than do two quite similar parks, perhaps you could leave AK for another time and do Busch and IOA this time?
If I had to choose between IOA and Busch, I think I would go for IOA as it is close to most of the villa and hotel areas whereas Busch is 1.5 to 2 hours round trip. The time you would spend travelling could be used having 3 goes on Spiderman or the Hulk instead of one!! [clap][clap]
I would also say IOA, however there is a new ride opening at Busch Gardens next May. It's a tough call but as Kevin said you have not mentioned the Disney parks. Personally I would drop a day at Disney and go to Busch especially if you like rides.
Daybreak
01-11-2004, 17:30
Hi
I would also visit IOA if you haven't been before, brilliant park
Visited Busch Gardens for the first time this year and enjoyed this also. We bought the 5 day flexi ticket
:):):)
Dawn
djdigitald
01-11-2004, 17:41
I would do both, i am when i go later this month thanks to [url]http://www.park-tickets.com/url] [clap]
Thanks everyone.
Yes we do have Disney tickets (4 day hopper). It was more a case of should we spend 3 days at IOA/Universal and miss out Busch Gardens, however think we have now decided to get the 2 day ticket to IOA/Universal and spend one day at Busch Gardens - otherwise we will only feel as though we have missed out on something[msnsad]. I think we will be needing anothe holiday when we get back.:D
When we were there at Easter we managed to do most of IOA in one evening because of it staying open until late. I think you can still buy the 2 day Universal tickets which includes a 3rd day free which you could use the free part just for one evening.
Madabouttigger
01-11-2004, 22:56
We found IOA the most disappointing park we visited on our trip in 2002. Loved Busch gardens and will be going back for another visit, likewise with universal studios, but IOA, no thanks. Felt it was aimed at the younger age group and we managed to get around it in half a day easily.
[msnsad]
I imagine we won't be able to do it in half a day as we are going in June/July so expecting the parks to be busy. Not too bothered about IOA myself as I hate rollercoasters, but 4 out of the 6 in our party love them - they must be mad.
Have now decided on 1 day at each of IOA/Universal (which I love) and Busch Gardens.
Thanks for all the advice[catinhat]
heathercobbett
02-11-2004, 12:10
If you are planning to go again soon,save Busch for another occasion otherwise do all.
Also,it depends when you are going;out of peak,you could easily fit all in as there are no queues
pieman790
02-11-2004, 14:06
We were at Busch gardens yesterday. We walked onto all the rides. I love the place. It cleans and never has queues like the parks in Orlando. (Never been at weekends) The only draw back is the drive from Orlando. Looks like they are putting a further lane in on I4 and it was busy. Took us 1.5 hours to get there.
The park has something for everybody and is a mixture of animal kingdom and IOA.