Summer Nights Returns To Busch Gardens

 

 

For the 2014 year Summer Nights returns to Busch Gardens for its best season yet. It all starts tonight June 28 and goes through the summer to end on August 17. Like previous years, the park will have extended hours and be open until 9:00pm daily with fireworks lighting up the landscape to end the night. Your favorite roller coasters like Cheetah Hunt will be open in the evening to give you the thrill of the hunt during the night in speeds that can only be experienced. There will also be your favorite foods and craft beers available to consume as you experience Busch Gardens in a unique way at this time of year.

 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Of course Summer Nights cannot be talked about without the mention of Kinetix, the award winning show fueled by its live modern music and acrobatic feats during the show. Kinetic performs Sunday through Friday in Gwazi Field at 9:00pm. Fireworks will start promptly after the show. Throughout the evening there are also DJ's pumping the music for your enjoyment as I am certain the infamous partystarters will return to dance, party, and teach young and old the latest dance movies. 




One addition this year to the Summer Nights fun is the addition of a mainstream live performance of an artist on Saturday nights at 8:30 pm. Kicking it off on June 28th will be Hot Chelle Rae. The Billboard 100 Top 10 artists will be at Busch Gardens performing hits such as "Tonight, Tonight", "I Like It Like That", and "Dont Sat Goodnight."  They also have Bridgit Mendler, a Disney Channel actress and singer known for her hit "Ready Or Not" on July 5th. In two weeks, El Gran Combo, a 16-piece salsa music orchestra will be performing. Please note that Saturday nights Kinetix will not be performing.


There will also be a debut of the new animal show in Pantopia Theater called "Opening Night Critters" at a point this summer. Also, what we are all waiting for, Falcons Fury should be opening sometime later this summer for a unique thrill ride from a drop tower unprecedented in theme parks anywhere. While in Pantopia, be sure to visit Twisted Tails Pretzels and try my favorite pretzel, The Bacon Pretzel Fury. Or have your favorite frozen treat at Lynx Frozen Treats. Other shows you will be able to see will be Iceploration, Madagascar: Operation Vacation, and Soundsational.

You can enjoy all of this at Busch Gardens with an annual pass starting as low as $13/month with EZ pay. You can also try the new "select your day, select your savings" ticket option which puts you in the driver's seat and save up to $30 on a single day admission. For more detailed information be sure to visit BuschGardensTampa.com.

I look forward to seeing you all at this great event. Be sure to tweet your pics and stories to me @TampaAmazeMe and follow me for live in park updates and tweets throughout the year You can also contact me at tampathrillme@gmail.com or on twitter for any further questions you may have on Summer Nights, Busch gardens, or Tampa in general.

David Thrills
@TampaAmazeMe
tampathrillme@gmail.com

Busch Gardens Member Appreciation Night

Starting tonight Busch Gardens is kicking off its Sidewalk Safari Nights Exclusively for passmembers and fun card holders. As long time passmembers remember, something like this was tried before with Coke and Coasters Night for passmembers only. Busch Gardens decided to up the ante on that event with its Sidewalk Safari Nights by including fun card holders and holding some special events that can only be enjoyed those evenings.

Sidewalk Safari Nights will be from 7:30pm-11:00pm on Friday and Saturday June 13-14 and 20-21. When you arrive, make sure you enter through the Nairobi Gates. Those gates are to the right across from where the trams drop you off on a very crowded day by the Moroccan Palace. 






 
 
Upon arrival you may want to head to the newly imagined Pantopia and head to the Pantopia Grill. At 8:00pm you will have the opportunity to meet the cast from the amazing show Burn The Floor: Untapped. You will also be able to learn some of the dancing moves and get a glimpse of the show in a way you have never seen before. If you have yet to see this show, a perfect time to see it for the first time is during this event.
 

 At 9:00pm there is a very special treat at the Moroccan Theater where fan favorite Iceploration takes place. At that time production managers will share show puppets, talk about the tricks, and share backstage stories and talk of the behind-the-curtain efforts to run this production multiple times during the day. Iceploration was honored by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) with a prestigious Brass Ring Award for Live Entertainment Excellence. The show also was also presented with the special Heartbeat Award recognizing the show that demonstrates the most "heart" in their production and performance.




As you are wandering around the park do not forget to visit the Animal Care Center where you can meet the cast of the hit TV show : Wildlife Docs, and meet some of the parks more famous animal ambassadors. I for one would love to see Kasi and Mtani, the most popular and famous of all theme park animal ambassadors.








Throughout the night the passmembers will see the walkways lined up with Busch Gardens special offerings, including craft beers and grilled summer favorites. Premium passmembers will even enjoy a 20% discount on these offerings starting at 7:30pm. You can also ride your favorite roller coaster at night. If you never tried Cheetah Hunt or Shiekra in the dark of the night, you honestly cannot say you experienced Busch Gardens to completion (so says this writer).

Not a passmember yet? It is not too late. Annual passes start as low as $13/month. As a 5 year passmember myself, that is a bargain. There are also options of getting a fun pass which allows free admittance through the end of the year.

When are you going? I myself will be there tonight, Friday, June 13th and look forward to retweeting your pictures and fun for the evening as I do mine. Be sure to follow me on twitter @TampaAmazeMe and say hi. You will also get exclusive updates and opinions on Busch Gardens and other happenings in the Tampa Bay area. Questions, feel free to contact me through Twitter or at tampathrillme@gmail.com
David Thrills
@TampaAmazeMe
tampathrillme@gmail.com

 

Busch Gardens Tampa June Passholder Promotion

For the month of June Busch Gardens Tampa presented a first time for the monthly passholder promotions. They are giving a free $10 to a passholder to use for food, tours, or gifts. I decided to try it out recently and see how it worked out. Recently I visited the park and decided I was going to eat at the All You Can Eat Pizza and Pasta Buffet and use the $10 towards that.

There is a method to claim this. First you must log into your account with your email and password. If you are like me and cannot figure out how to use that to log in, there is a place below it you can click to enter your passholder ID number and zip code. The ID number is the one over the barcode that has a letter and a lot of numbers. Once in your account, click in to order the $10. There is no charge to order it, just the process. You then check out and print the voucher to take to the park.

Once arrived at the park, you must take the voucher to one of the machines near the entrance of the park and press redeem and scan it. Out will come two separate $5 cards. NOTE: THE CARDS ARE GOOD ONLY ON THE DAY YOU REDEEM THEM!!!!  If you buy a $4 item, you will not get back change, it is better you find an item or activity that will use the full value.

When all was said and done, I spent about $3 for my dinner. It was a satisfying experience. I applaud Busch Gardens Tampa for their monthly passholder promtions and their attempts at coming up with something new each month. I cannot say I am a fan of everything that has been in the past, but have met many guests that are happy about everything each month.

If you do not have a pass, remember, it is easy to get one for only $13 a month. Year round, no blackout dates, and 10% off your food and the gift shops. The biggest perk for a frequent goer over the fun pass is.................you do not have to pay the $17 parking fee.

In my opinion, the free $10 promotion is a hit. I look forward to July's offer as well as the opening of Falcon's Fury (please).

David Thrills

@TampaAmazeMe

tampathrillme@gmail.com