Theme Park Discussion / BGT Trip Report

Busch Gardens Trip Report
CedarPoint6 and Kumba
June 5th 2010

Ever since re-starting my old Kumba rec. I have been really wanting to visit BGT and figure out areas like the Q and ending break run. When I got to talking about the rec. with CP6 I found out he'd be working at Sea World this summer and front there we decided to try and have a NE meet at BGT.

Helping me decide to go was my family on the west coast of Florida. My aunt and some five cousins (all on my dad's side of the family) live in Ft. Myers and my uncle (on my moms side) and aunt live in St. Pete. After checking with them I found out they had room for me to stay and the trip was a go for me.

As the planning topic showed we had a lot of people from NE live in Florida and had the possibility of going. When the trip date came only me and Brian (CP6) were in for sure. Hulkpower was a maybe.

I got up early Saturday and got to the park at about 9:30 am. CP6 called just as I was going to park and was just about to leave Orlando, so I knew id be on my own for a while. The good news was some of my more distant cousins (by marriage) on my mom's side told me that they were planning to go to the park and we could meet up; however, they were running late.

Gwazi was tops on my list since I had not been on it in a really long time. It was actually the first coaster I ever rode at BGT. The ride was a lot more bumpy them I remembered it, so even thought the Q was short I went to find a good way to kill time. I decided not to head to Kumba because I wanted to pick Brian's brain on it. Instead I watch the 3-Point shootout game eagerly awaiting my chance to try it later when I would be on my way out and able to carry out the dozens of huge prizes I would surely win. After that I used my phone to text my sister pics of the zoo animals that looked like our pets, including a Lemur that looked a lot like one of our cats



After a couple of hours of doing a whole lot of nothing I got a text from from Brain and was on the Q for Gwazi Lion, which was broken down. I found him and his friend Ashley, from Sea World, there. We all introduced ourselves and as soon as the ride was fixed we went for a ride. I enjoyed this one better since I forgot that on some woodies you sometimes mean to lean with the to avoid getting tossed around.

We split up after that since my cousins were on the way. I meet up with them at the entrance. It was my uncle's granddaughter, Leslie, her three young children (ages 5, 4 and 6 months) and ex-husband/baby daddy Ron. We talked, grabbed some food and them I saw my chance to do the 3-point shootout early since I could just give the prizes to her kids. Thanks to a crooked rim, large fans, a 40 second shoot-clock and bunch of people watching I only hit 4 of 12 shots, which for me is really weak, I mean I have won three-point shootouts before. After that I could see they we're in for a day of kids stuff so I said I was going on Montu. Ron said he was going too, so we both went on Montu a few times.



Some people might be uncomfortable around Ron. I did not like the amount he smoked and drank in the short time we hung out. I also was unsure how he's the father of only the oldest and youngest of my cousin's three kids. Still when I talked to my aunt she said while she does not like some things about him, he is a good father to his kids which imo is the most important thing. Following Montu Ron and me headed over to Kumba.

We went on a couple of rides and then I decided it was time to do what I came to do and take a shitload of pictures. When I came back to the entrance I noticed the most ironic thing ever. The height checker guy standing at the entrance was also named Darren! I mean what are the odds of that and the coaster having the same name as the one I use at NE, AND that I named my cat!?



I talked to a lot of staff members about Kumba stuff. I showed most of them a print out of my RCT rec of it. While taking pictures Ron vanished somewhere. Brain never got to meet him or my cousins, but I think that you have been a little odd. Ron was kinda ghetto and Brian is a bit like 22-year-old kindly grandpa kinda fellow. Good thing I get along with all types

Brain text'ed me saying he was on the Q for Montu, but would be there soon. I kinda got a laught out of that since Montu and Kumba are as far apart as you can get, but he was clearly having a good time with his female company. I must have been walking around Kumba's area for three or more hours. Would not have been bad if every bench in the area was not seemingly taken. Also the heat that day was scorching. A number of times I sweated so much it looked like I had been on a water ride. I guess rather then wondering around the area I should have just kept riding my coaster, but riding coasters has never done that much for me.

Was happy to see Brain and Ashley again as we crossed the bridge to Kumba. My cell phone was fully charged coming to the park, but it died around this time (thanks to taking about 100 pics I suppose). Also I guess that ended the chances of Hulkpower being able to join us since he did not have Brain's number.

Knowing we'd need a picture to post here to make the trip official we decided to wait on a front row seat and use the on-ride photo. Before the three of could take our seats we noticed something spilled on the front row seat. Someone puked all over the middle left seat in the front row... right where I was going to be sitting...



It's always great to learn new things. That day I learned how you clean puke off a roller coaster. First you hose it all off, then you hose down the other parts of the seat near it and finally you send it hurtling around the Congo section of a theme park going at top speeds of 60 mph. As we all know bacteria can't survive at these speeds



We went on the train after the puke covered one as it went around rider-free a few times. After our second ride I took my time on the Q taking pictures I knew I could only get from that area. After buying our on-ride photo (big thanks to Brian for the 25% off!) we headed to Rino Rally. I had never been on it before, but it was a nice family ride even if that would-be awesome removable bridge part was gone.

After Rino Rally I was beat. I had been in the park about 10 hours and could take no more of the sunburns, sweat and walking. I guess working for a themepark had toughed up Brian and Ashley as they seemed up for more and went on to ride more things after that. After a long walk and a short tram ride I concluded an awesome day at Busch Gardens

Hope you guys enjoyed the read. I think CP6 might post his own version too.

Here is our on-ride photo:

Your uncle's granddaughter with three young children. That is a weird family construction!

You have something going on like my dad (or me, somewhat), his uncle is only a couple of years older than him :)

Sounded like a good day though!

Would be cool if CP6 wrote his perspective of things down as well!

Would like to visit BGT someday, too..

Man, that sounds fun.. I've always wanted to go to BGT, what did the ride ops think about your Kumba rec, anyways?

Hey, Ron's black. Awesome!

Glad you guys had a good time.

Well I guess I'm pretty late getting this up...

I don't have too much to say since Darren took care of it pretty well. It was good to get back to Busch since it's such a good park. I wasn't sure how it was going to work out with having work, but Ashley and I were able to get over there to meet up with Darren for some of the day.

Thankfully the lines weren't bad, especially for a Saturday, so we were able to get pretty much all the rides. Kumba looks great with the new paint job and cleaning, although Montu is still the best thing in the park.

I think Darren pretty much took care of writing about the day, but here's a few more shots and all that...

Aw, no pictures of Project 2011 construction?!

Great trip report, I enjoyed reading!

Well ok.

Please enjoy this dirt.




There are many things I wish I could talk about, but enjoy the groundwork...since it's incredibly exciting.

Will the tractors be part of the theme?