The Best Day to Go to Busch Gardens Tampa | Know Before You Go
Busch Gardens is one of the most popular theme parks in the country, which can bring in heavier crowds.
In this page we'll go over the best day to go to Busch Gardens in Tampa, the best time of the day to visit, the best season to visit & even the worst season to visit along with reasons why.
Best Days to Visit Busch Gardens
The best days to visit Busch Gardens are Monday-Tuesday. In general, almost all weekdays are always great options, as the park historically holds lower crowds in this timeframe.
This means that the lines (to wait in) for the most popular rides will be much shorter if any at all.
When this occurs, you won't have to worry about needing to invest in Quick Queue to skip the lines.
You'll be able to spend more time actually experiencing the park and riding rides, rather than waiting.
Additionally, Busch Gardens tickets are cheaper at times during the weekdays as well.
Best Time of the Day to Visit
The best time to visit will always be in the morning, as soon as the park opens. This is normally either 10 am or 12 pm, depending on the day.
You'll want to double-check the Busch Gardens park hours to make sure that you arrive at the proper time.
Ideally, you'd want to arrive 30-45 minutes before the park opening.
This will provide you with the best chance of being one of the first to enter the park, and you can head directly to your must-do activities on your bucket list.
Normally the park doesn't fill up until a few hours after opening, so don't be intimidated if there are already people waiting before you.
You'll still typically have several hours at the park at a laid-back pace that you can enjoy.
Best Season to Visit Busch Gardens
The Florida weather can be brutal for those that aren't used to the sunshine state.
There is sunshine year-round with a ton of humidity.
Spring can be a great season to visit due to the cooler weather and lighter crowds.
Specifically in the May timeframe, right before any holidays such as Spring Break and Memorial Day weekend.
There's normally a dead period in terms of crowds right before these holidays, as everyone is planning their vacation during the actual holidays.
Regardless, Busch Gardens has many areas where guests can avoid the heat temporarily and cool off. This can be from just waiting in lines (inside), or visiting the different countries in World Showcase.
Underrated Season to Visit
Fall is one of the most overlooked seasons to visit.
If you visit near Halloween, the park will go to tremendous lengths to match the Halloween spirit.
The park will be filled with Halloween decorations, the characters will be wearing Halloween-themed costumes, and there are even limited-time rides and events that pop up!
If you're not the biggest fan of Halloween, you can visit in November the week before Thanksgiving.
The Halloween celebrations will have ended by this point, and the Thanksgiving crowds will not appear for another week or two. This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the park with minimal crowds.
Worst Season to Visit
Summer is normally the season that you'd want to avoid if you're focused on not dealing with big crowds.
During the summer, most kids are out of school and on vacation, the weather is sunny and hot, which means parents will take off work to plan an amazing vacation in the Sunshine State.
This naturally will bring in larger crowds to the park, which means more lines to wait in.
On the flip side, if you're not used to the Florida heat, it may be a tad bit too hot for some time until you become accustomed to it.
Summertime is often the hottest time, so if you do decide to go at this time, you'll want to protect your skin with sunscreen and ensure you remain hydrated!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Least Busy Day at Busch Gardens?
The least busy day at Busch Gardens is typically Mondays and Tuesdays. Most guests plan their vacations around the weekends due to school & work schedules, which frees up the park during the weekdays.
Is it Worth Going to Busch Gardens?
If you enjoy thrills, animals, and sightseeing, it is absolutely worth going to Busch Gardens. There are plenty of experiences that cater to all age groups, but one of the unique features of the park is that it blends very fast coasters perfectly with beautiful wildlife.
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