busch gardens tampa Archives - The Mom Maven

Our Visit to the 2017 Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival

cindy — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 10:00:47 +0000

A few weeks ago I told you about the 2017 Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival. On Sunday, Ron and I were guests of Busch Gardens at the Festival. It was our first time attending this event and we had a wonderful time! When we arrived at the park we picked up our 2017 Festival Guide and we stopped by the Adventurer’s Outpost to pick up our lanyards. I love the concept of the lanyards, it makes budgeting easy. There are 3 different sampler lanyards available. The 5 item sampler is $29.99 + tax, the 8 item sampler is $37.99 + tax, and the 12 item sampler is $54.99 + tax. As you can see in the picture, these are punch card lanyards and you just walk up, place your order and the cashier punches however many item you ordered. Each punch is good for 1 food, wine, brew, or cocktail option. Items range in price from about $4-$9 with most being in the $6-$8 range. So basing your math on the lower $6.00 price you break even on the 5 sampler, and you save money with the 8 and 12 item samplers.

When we arrived we wandered through Busch Gardens checking out the animals and watching some of the rides. Ron has been dealing with a head cold that makes his head “swimmy” so we didn’t ride any rides on this visit. Due to the way we wandered the park, we arrived at the back end of the Food and Wine Festival area first. Ron’s first dish was the Pan-Seared Hangar Steak with Chimichurri & Roasted Poblano Hash from #29 Coast to Coast Cookery. The steak and chimichurri were delicious, the hash was basically flavorless. My first stop was at #24 Field House Eatery for the Grilled Lamb Chops with Tabouleh & Tzatziki. I love a good lamb chop and here I got 2! The tzatziki was a nice addition to the lamb and the tabouleh was fresh and tasty. My next stop was at #22 Cooking with Coke Pavilion where I had the Baked Brie with Strawberry Fanta Syrup. Yum! I love a good baked brie and this was done in a small puff pastry with chopped strawberries in the strawberry Fanta syrup, it was delicious. As we were exiting the park, I stopped back by this booth to get the Coke-infused Chocolate Pop Rocks Cupcake for dessert. This cupcake was moist and flavorful with a fudge frosting and pop rocks on top. It was delicious and fun. I got the recipe and I hope to make it soon!

Ron stopped at the other Coca-Cola booth, #21 Coke Fusion booth where he got the Jerk Chicken Empanadas with Curry Coke or Cherry Coke Dipping Sauce. Ron got both sauces to try and he said the Curry Coke sauce had a spicier flavor, which he liked better. At #18 Comfort Kitchen Ron got the Bacon Mac & Cheese, which he liked so much I didn’t even get a bite! At #15 Tasty Taqueria Ron got the Grilled Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp which he said was delicious. I got the Short Rib Taco with BBQ Demi-Glace. This taco was the only letdown of the day. The meat had no flavor, nor did the sauce. The tortillas were extra crisp in some areas and flaccid in others. It wasn’t worth eating and I threw one of my tacos away. My Korean Gochujang Ribs from #12 Chef’s Plantation were flavorful in their soy sauce based BBQ sauce. My favorite food of the day came from #10 Gourmet Lodge. The Smoked Beef Brisket on a Spiced Corn Waffle with Amber Bock BBQ was AMAZING! The waffle was delicious, the brisket was cooked perfectly and the tang of the BBQ sauce was divine. I could eat that anytime. After eating ourselves silly we headed to Gwazi Park for an awesome Kool & the Gang concert. They were my first concert back in 1984 and I truly felt like a kid again dancing to their music. You can see my concert videos on my Instagram page.

We have been to other food and wine festivals and we both though that the portions at the Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival were larger that at others we have attended. Our only complaint was that there aren’t enough garbage pails around. We would get our food and eat it while walking around looking at the animals and topiary. When we were done there was never a garbage can close by so we often had to carry dirty plates, napkins, and utensils until we came across a garbage can. We are already looking forward to next year’s festival and even contemplating a trip back once more this year.

The post Our Visit to the 2017 Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Busch Gardens Red Carpet Series Comes to Tampa

cindy — Mon, 01 Aug 2016 10:00:24 +0000

Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay, a leading Florida destination for all ages, announced an evolution of entertainment with its all-new second-gate, premiere event offering, the Busch Gardens Red Carpet Series. Held in the Moroccan Palace Theatre, kicking off the series is award-winning comedian and musician Wayne Brady, and legendary Latin jazz artist and ten-time Grammy winner Arturo Sandoval.

Newly renovated, the intimate 1,100-seat Moroccan Palace offers three tiers of comfortable seating with stellar sight lines and state-of-the-art acoustics. Boasting a unique personality all its own, the Moroccan Palace is the perfect venue to experience the top artists in entertainment.

“We are excited to offer Central Florida a new intimate way to enjoy their favorite artists,” said Jim Dean, President of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. “The classic style of the Moroccan Palace along with impeccable site lines and beautiful sound, make for a truly special night out. Guests will experience some of the biggest names in entertainment, including some who rarely play in our area.”

Busch Gardens Red Carpet Series

Ticket prices range from $30.00-$99.00 (taxes not included) and can be purchased through BuschGardens.com/RedCarpetSeries. A limited number of VIP Packages will also be available that include premium seating, culinary offerings and more. Gates open at 6:30 and theatre doors open at 7:15 p.m.

Wayne Brady – Friday, August 26 at 8:00 p.m., Moroccan Palace

For Wayne Brady, music and comedy has been at the center of his wildly successful and diverse career. Wayne has been entertaining audiences with his singing, acting and unmatched improvisational skills for well over a decade. This diversity has led to a career that goes beyond the term “triple threat.”

In 1998, his career took off with Whose Line is it Anyway? for which he won a 2003 Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety, Musical or Comedy Series. Wayne went on to host his own award-winning talk show, The Wayne Brady Show, for which he won two Emmys for Outstanding Talk Show Host. His award-winning talent has led him to hosting opportunities for high-profile shows including the NAACP Awards, BET Honors, The Late Late Show and the Emmy-nominated Let’s Make A Deal.

Arturo Sandoval – Saturday, September 17 at 8:00 p.m., Moroccan Palace

A protégé of the legendary jazz master Dizzy Gillespie, Arturo Sandoval was born in Artemisa, a small town on the outskirts of Havana, Cuba in 1949. Sandoval began studying classical trumpet at the age of twelve, and it didn’t take him long to catch the excitement of the jazz world. He has since evolved into one of the world’s most acknowledged guardians of jazz trumpet and flugelhorn, as well as a renowned classical artist, pianist and composer.

Sandoval has been seen by millions at the Billboard Awards, Grammy Awards, and the Oscars. He is the recipient of 10 Grammy Awards, in addition to six Billboard Awards and an Emmy, and is one of the most dynamic and vivacious live performers of our time. His latest Grammy award-winning albums, Dear Diz, Every Day I Think of You as well as Live at Yoshi’s are now available worldwide.

Be the first to know about new events, special deals and future announcements by following the park’s blog at BuschGardensTampaBlog.com, or stay connected and join the conversation using #NightatthePalace on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The post Busch Gardens Red Carpet Series Comes to Tampa appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Cobra’s Curse Now Open at Busch Gardens

cindy — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 10:00:27 +0000

On Thursday I headed up to Tampa to check out the new family spin coaster, Cobra’s Curse. I’m not a huge roller coaster fan but I had watched the POV video that Busch Gardens had put out of the water dummies riding it and I was pretty sure I could handle it. It has been 6 years since the last time I rode a roller coaster with a camera on me. Last time it was the Air Grover kiddie coaster in the Sesame Street Safari of Fun area of Busch Gardens. Jordan was 15 in that video, he has changed so much! Anyway, I had a wonderful time at Busch Gardens yesterday and I even had some fun joking around with Park President, Jim Dean. He is a very down to earth guy and he watched my ride video as it happened. He said he loved that I screamed a little and laughed a lot. He also gave me a hard time, jokingly, when I came back to ride for a second time.

Inside the air conditioned Cobra’s Curse queue line there is a 400-cubic-foot snake exhibit which will include Jameson’s mambas, Angolan pythons and rhinoceros and gaboon vipers. The design of the multi-level exhibit not only reflects the theme of the ride, but also features several animal husbandry and enrichment components designed with the snakes’ welfare in mind, including naturalistic design elements, controlled heat sources and humidity control. This snake habitat is really cool! I found all 5 snakes that are in the exhibit.

Cobra’s Curse Facts

Hear about Cobra’s Curse from Brian the VP of Theme Park Design at Busch Gardens.

Construction Timeline: Construction started in January 2015, and Cobra’s Curse will debut in summer 2016
Ride Length: More than 2,100 feet of track, 70 total track segments
Maximum Speed: 40 mph
Seats: Up to 8 trains at a time, with 8 riders per train
Guest Capacity: Moving walkway for loading and unloading will allow just for over 1,000 riders per hour.
Ride Duration: More than three and a half minutes
Height Requirement: 48 inches to ride alone, 42 inches with parent/guardian
Queue Line: Air-conditioned queue line features a snake exhibit with snakes, interactive elements and projection mapping technology to tell the story of the Snake King.
Snakes: Angolan Python, Gaboon Viper, Jameson’s Mambas, Rhinoceros Vipers
Location: Egypt area
Snake Icon: 30,000 lb., 80 ft tall, 4 Ft long Fangs, 3 ft wide eyes, Constructed of nine stackable pieces with an internal steel spine and an outer shell composed of carved foam and fiberglass.
Vertical Lift: 70-foot vertical lift. Functions similar to an outdoor elevator taking riders up in their coaster car and putting them face- to-fang with the snake icon’s mouth.
The three-and-a-half-minute ride will also feature a second inclined lift that sets up for the free-spin finale of the ride.

The Mom Maven rides Cobra’s Curse

I truly loved this ride! I did have the opportunity to ride a second time later in the afternoon. I enjoyed that ride just as much. It is truly a ride that is fun for all ages. My favorite part is the spinning! Are you looking forward to riding Cobra’s Curse on your next visit to Busch Gardens Tampa? If you need help planning your Florida vacation, or any vacation please Email Me. I am a full service travel agent.

The post Cobra’s Curse Now Open at Busch Gardens appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Tons of Fun Coming to Busch Gardens Tampa in 2016

cindy — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 11:00:25 +0000

From world-class rollercoasters and Broadway-style entertainment to one-of-a-kind, up-close animal encounters, Busch Gardens® Tampa continues to deliver some of the biggest thrills anywhere. Next year will be no exception. Busch Gardens announces a line-up of exciting events scheduled to run now through 2016, along with a special offer that expands the value of the popular Florida Fun Card.

The 2016 Fun Card now is available for purchase. With the 2016 Fun Card, guests pay for one day and get all of 2016 free. Plus, as a special offer commemorating the Fun Card launch, guests who purchase their 2016 Fun Card now also can visit Busch Gardens for the remainder of 2015 for no additional cost, including the popular Christmas Town event. The 2016 Busch Gardens Fun Card is $99 and is valid from the date of purchase through Dec. 31, 2016. Fun Cards, annual passes and single-day tickets are available online at buschgardens.com, at the Busch Gardens’ front gate or by calling (888) 800-5447.

Busch Gardens Tampa 2016 Events

Real Music: Jan. 4-March 5
Busch Gardens’ longest-running concert series returns Mondays through Fridays from Jan. 4 to March 5 with live music that spans six decades, from the 1950s to today. Musical fare includes swing, blues, pop, jazz and rock ‘n roll.

January 4-9 Ricky Nelson Remembered featuring Matthew & Gunnar Nelson
January 11-16 Jay and The Americans
January 18-23 Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
January 25-30 The Drifters
February 1-6 Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals
February 8-13 The Diamonds
February 15-20 Strawberry Fields
February 22-27 The Glenn Miller Orchestra
February 29 – March 5 Chubby Checker

Food & Wine Festival: Saturdays and Sundays March 5-April 24
Next spring, Busch Gardens’ Food & Wine Festival returns with wild flavors and concerts for every taste. The park will be tempting guests with a variety of cuisine, wine, craft beer and live entertainment on Saturdays and Sundays from March 5 through April 24. Food and beverage is not included, but is available for an extra fee. Guests must be 21 or older to purchase alcoholic beverages.

Summer Nights: Select dates June – Aug.
Summer Nights at Busch Gardens is returns with more heat, featuring an end-of-night show packed with live musicians, singers, dancers and artists from around the world. Their thrilling performance – along with modern music and fire effects – will pump up the crowd every night. Plus, summer nights are a great time to cool off with the rush of Busch Gardens’ world-class thrill rides, including Falcon’s Fury, North America’s tallest freestanding drop tower.

Jack Hanna Weekend: Sept. 10 & 11 (dates subject to change)
Join “Jungle Jack” Hanna for two days of wild animal shows, autograph signings and special meet-and-greets when he visits Busch Gardens. The internationally-known animal expert will share animal facts and his travel tales during animal shows at the Stanleyville Theater.

Busch Gardens will offer guests additional events and festivals throughout 2016, so stay tuned for more details.

NEW in 2016 Cobra’s Curse
Busch Gardens puts a spin on family thrills in 2016 with Cobra’s Curse. This one-of-a-kind spin coaster features a 70-foot vertical lift and takes riders on a whirlwind adventure of exciting explorations. Come face-to-face with an 80-foot snake icon, trek over the park’s Serengeti Plain and discover the mysteries of an Egyptian archeological excavation.

I am not a huge coaster enthusiast but I am so excited for Cobra’s Curse! I cannot wait to ride this rollercoaster!

The post Tons of Fun Coming to Busch Gardens Tampa in 2016 appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Celebrate Summer with a Busch Gardens Deal

cindy — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 10:00:38 +0000

The weather here in Florida has been crazy this summer. June and the first half of July were the hottest most of us can remember. Then the second half of July and the beginning of August were the wettest! We had 18 days of measurable rain in a row. August 3rd we had so much rain in Tampa Bay that it surpassed many tropical storm rain totals. A lot of summer plans have been canceled due to weather and Busch Gardens Tampa is giving us all a great reason to visit before Labor Day…BOGO tickets!

Busch Gardens® Tampa is giving guests a reason to keep the summer celebration going just a little bit longer. For a limited time, visitors can get a FREE Busch Gardens Tampa single-day admission with the purchase of a full-price single-day ticket, a savings of $97 for adults and $92 for children.

This is an opportunity for Busch Gardens’ visitors to extend their summer vacation and experience Florida’s top thrill rides, Broadway-style entertainment, up-close animal encounters and much more. The Busch Gardens Summer BOGO offer is available now through Aug. 24, and tickets must be used by Labor Day on Sept. 7, 2015. Restrictions apply. Advance purchase is required and must be made online at buschgardens.com.

Visit buschgardens.com for more information and details. Or, be the first to know about new events, special deals and future announcements by following the park’s blog at BuschGardensTampaBlog.com, or “Like” the Busch Gardens Facebook page and follow @buschgardens on Twitter and Instagram.

The post Celebrate Summer with a Busch Gardens Deal appeared first on The Mom Maven.

New Events and Ticket Deals at Busch Gardens for 2015

cindy — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 11:00:26 +0000

Out with the old and in with the new seems to be the theme at Busch Gardens Tampa for 2015. Gwazi, Florida’s first dueling wooden roller coaster, which opened in 1999, will take its last trip on February 1, 2015. “No decisions have been made about what lies ahead for Gwazi or for the future plans of that area of Busch Gardens,” said Park President Jim Dean. “But, we are always looking for ways to enhance guests’ experiences, so stay tuned for more news.”

Ticket Deals

Adventure Island Fun Card FREE, with a Busch Gardens Fun Card Purchase

For a limited time, guests can receive an Adventure Island® Fun Card FREE with the purchase of a Busch Gardens Fun Card, which lets guests pay for a day and visit both parks now through 2015. Enjoy the thrills of Busch Gardens through Dec. 31, 2015 and all the water-soaked fun of Adventure Island’s 2015 season, including the park’s newest family thrill slide, Colossal Curl.

The two-park Fun Card includes admission to an incredible lineup of events including Busch Gardens Tampa’s Real Music Series, the inaugural Food & Wine Festival, Summer Nights, Christmas Town and Adventure Island’s Island Nights. Price does not include tax and service fees. Visit buschgardens.com for more information.

FREE 2015 SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Preschool Pass

Busch Gardens is commemorating five years of family-friendly experiences with Sesame Street® Safari of Fun by bringing back a limited-time offer. With Preschool Pass, kids 5 and younger can enjoy all the excitement of Busch Gardens Tampa and SeaWorld® Orlando for FREE from Jan. 5 through Dec. 31.

Join everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends at Busch Gardens’ Sesame Street Safari of Fun for a family-friendly African adventure filled with kid-size rides and cool water fun. This is a limited-time offer and online registration is required. The Preschool Pass does not include daily parking, separate-ticketed events or other Pass Member discounts.

To learn more about Preschool Pass, and to register, visit buschgardens.com.

Any 2 Parks for $99

For a limited time, enjoy any two parks for any two days for $99! Choose between SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica®, Busch Gardens Tampa, and Adventure Island. Choose SeaWorld Orlando and you’ll soar like a ray on Manta, visit Busch Gardens Tampa and dive face-down at 60mph on North America’s tallest freestanding drop tower Falcon’s Fury®, take the plunge down Ihu’s Breakaway Falls at Aquatica, or hurtle high on Colossal Curl, Adventure Island’s newest family thrill slide.

Valid for two visits to SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa, Aquatica Orlando, or Adventure Island.
Visits do not need to occur at the same park.
Visits must be used by May 22, 2015.
Advance purchase only. Not available at park.
Restricted to residents for United States and its territories, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

There are no blackout dates, visits do not need to occur at the same park and visits must be redeemed by May 22, 2015. Visit buschgardens.com for more information.

Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival

Busch Gardens® Tampa keeps the hits coming during the Food & Wine Festival this spring with concerts for every taste. The Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival takes place on Saturdays and Sundays from March 7 through April 26 and is included with any Pass, Fun Card or daily admission. Food and beverage is not included with park admission and is available for an extra fee. Guests must be 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages. For more information, visit buschgardens.com.

Entertainment Line-up

Saturday, March 7-Gavin DeGraw
Sunday, March 8-Fifth Harmony
Saturday, March 14-Kool & The Gang
Sunday, March 15-Boys Like Girls
Saturday, March 21-Kenny Rogers
Sunday, March 22-Pentatonix
Saturday, March 28-Steven Curtis Chapman
Sunday, March 29-El Gran Combo
8 more acts to be announced

It has been over a year since I have been to Busch Gardens. I’d love to go and see Pentatonix in concert! Which concert would you choose?

The post New Events and Ticket Deals at Busch Gardens for 2015 appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Summer Nights Returns to Busch Gardens

cindy — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 18:00:17 +0000

It has been a few years since we have visited the Summer Nights events at Busch Gardens in Tampa. I love watching the Kinetix show, those acrobats amaze me! This summer the award-winning Kinetix show returns to Summer Nights with its rock-fueled blast of music and acrobatics. The show’s energizing performances include live musicians, singers, dancers and artists from around the world. Their thrilling performance, along with modern music and pyrotechnic effects, will pump up the crowd every Sunday through Friday in Gwazi Park at 9 p.m. Gates open at 8 p.m., so arrive early to ensure a good spot and enjoy the Party Starters’ pre-show interactive games and dancing.

From June 28 through Aug. 17, guests can take advantage of extended park hours, special entertainment, high-energy DJs and the thrill of riding world-class coasters in the dark.

NEW! Summer Nights Concerts

Gwazi Park heats up with Saturday-night concerts during Summer Nights. In addition to pop, R&B, alternative and Latino music artists, guests can indulge in summer-favorite grilled food items and a selection of craft beers. Concerts are included with daily admission or any annual pass. The full concert area is open to guests and located just behind the Gwazi rollercoaster. Concerts will take place at 8:30 p.m., immediately followed by a grand fireworks finale. Note: concerts will take the place of Kinetix on Saturday nights only.

NEW! Opening Night Critters

Starting this summer, this theatrical “tail” haphazardly finds a couple of stage hands in the spotlight as the human stars in an all-animal production that features both domestic and exotic animals in the newly-renovated Pantopia Theater.

Fireworks Light Up the Sky Every Night

Celebrate the perfect end to the evening with an amazing fireworks finale. Busch Gardens lights up the sky every night of the event with an incredible aerial display set to popular music. The best views are in Gwazi Park, right after the nightly Kinetix show, but the fireworks are visible from all over the park.

Pantopia After Dark!

Set in the heart of Busch Gardens, Pantopia gets even hotter at night with exciting entertainment, and fan-favorite rides, including Scorpion, Phoenix and the Grand Caravan Carousel. Sensational new dining options satisfy sweet-and-salty cravings with a variety of fresh-rolled pretzels and craft beer selections at Twisted Tails Pretzels, and delicious snow cones and smoothies at Lynx Frozen Treats. For mouth-watering, savory selections stop by the all-new Dragon Fire, Pantopia’s open-fire grill showcasing ribs, sausages and kabobs.

We haven’t visited Busch Gardens Tampa Bay since Christmas time and I am ready to spend a day checking out Pantopia and a night in Gwazi Park enjoying all of the entertainment.

The post Summer Nights Returns to Busch Gardens appeared first on The Mom Maven.