Benjsh
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
So after spending a week at Universal and 4 days at Disney......we left Sea World and Busch Gardens till last and I was probably more excited about these parks than most others despite visiting them before. Why? So many new big coasters to experience after a 12 year gap.
Thursday 28th August - Sea World
Caught the 3 main shows (Orca, Dolphin n Sealion) however the day was very much about coasters for us.
Mako x 6
Kraken x 1
Atlantis x 1
Pipeline Surf Coaster x 2
Penguin Trek x 1
Ice Breaker x 1
Manta x 1
Infinity falls x 1
Highlights:
Mako is now a top 5 coaster for me. I know im very late to the party on this one and hearing you all tell me how good it was I simply had to rope drop it. First ride was front row and second was backrow. Loved both. The airtime is incredible and the layout is great too. Exactly what you want from a hyper coaster. Had 4 further goes during the day and it kept getting better.
Kraken was a 1 and done. Its now showing its age and very very jolty. One of the coasters at the park I had ridden plenty of times before so 1 ride was enough. Dont think it will be around much longer.
Pipeline coaster. Maybe the sleeper hit of the park. Id almost forgot all about it leading up to our day at Sea World but I think it was comfortably my 2nd favorite coaster by the end of the day. Loved the bounce you get and it was very smooth.
Ice Breaker - great little coaster but sadly ruined by the worst restraints in the history of theme parks. Genuinely dont know how I fit into the carriage as Im 6ft 5. There is literally no space between the restraints and seats. Awful design which ruined a fun little launch coaster.
Journey to Atlantis needs a massive refurbishment. Showing its age and its sad to see. The boat was jolty as hell getting onto the left hills. Theming falls to bits everywhere too. Sad sight.
Infinity falls is probably the best rapids I have done. Absolutely insane how drenched I got. Laughed so much though.
Friday 29th August - Busch Gardens
Again very minimal queues. Most coasters were rode back to back and then moved on to the next.
Iron Gwazi x 2
Sheikra x 2
Tigris x 1
Montu x 2
Cobra curse x 1
Falcons Fury x 2
Serengeti Flyer x 3
Phoenix Rising x 1
Serengeti Express x 1
Stanley Falls Log flume x 1
Congo Rapids x 1
Kumba and Cheetah Hunt were down all day for Maintenance however as I had ridden both before plenty of times I wasn't too disappointed.
Highlights:
Did Iron Gwazi live up the hype and top SteVe? Not quite. Very good coaster and incredibly intense but I genuinely preferred SteVe. Definitely in my top 10 but a bit lower down than I was expecting.
Sheikra - Genuinely forgot how amazing that thing is. My 11 year old son absolutely loved it. He said that and Serengeti Flyer were his two favourite rides of the day.
Falcons Fury. My son and wife didn't fancy it so I rode alone. OMG what an experience. The climb to the top is really something and then the tilt is obviously the deal Breaker for many and given there was no queue all day and most rides wete half empty I think a lot of people were perhaps a bit too afraid. The thing makes a hell of an ugly and loud noise as it drops but on rode you dont notice it as much. Loved it. Best drop tower in the world.
Serengeti Flyer - the real sleeper hit of the park. My God that thing is a lot of fun. As I said on the Busch Gardens thread Im not really a flat ride fanatic but this thing could make me a convert. The height and speed is insane and the airtime is genuinely amazing. Adored it.
Only negatives of the day was Tigris (same damn uncomfortable restraints as Ice Breaker) and the fact Iron Gwazi was on one train all day. The only ride we queued for really. 35 mins and 30 mins.
Busch Gardens and Sea World are my favourite parks in Florida. IOA not far behind in 3rd and Epic Universe will get there eventually with some more additions but I think the combination of animals and huge thrill rides is what swings it for me.
My top 10 coaster list still to come......
Thursday 28th August - Sea World
Caught the 3 main shows (Orca, Dolphin n Sealion) however the day was very much about coasters for us.
Mako x 6
Kraken x 1
Atlantis x 1
Pipeline Surf Coaster x 2
Penguin Trek x 1
Ice Breaker x 1
Manta x 1
Infinity falls x 1
Highlights:
Mako is now a top 5 coaster for me. I know im very late to the party on this one and hearing you all tell me how good it was I simply had to rope drop it. First ride was front row and second was backrow. Loved both. The airtime is incredible and the layout is great too. Exactly what you want from a hyper coaster. Had 4 further goes during the day and it kept getting better.
Kraken was a 1 and done. Its now showing its age and very very jolty. One of the coasters at the park I had ridden plenty of times before so 1 ride was enough. Dont think it will be around much longer.
Pipeline coaster. Maybe the sleeper hit of the park. Id almost forgot all about it leading up to our day at Sea World but I think it was comfortably my 2nd favorite coaster by the end of the day. Loved the bounce you get and it was very smooth.
Ice Breaker - great little coaster but sadly ruined by the worst restraints in the history of theme parks. Genuinely dont know how I fit into the carriage as Im 6ft 5. There is literally no space between the restraints and seats. Awful design which ruined a fun little launch coaster.
Journey to Atlantis needs a massive refurbishment. Showing its age and its sad to see. The boat was jolty as hell getting onto the left hills. Theming falls to bits everywhere too. Sad sight.
Infinity falls is probably the best rapids I have done. Absolutely insane how drenched I got. Laughed so much though.
Friday 29th August - Busch Gardens
Again very minimal queues. Most coasters were rode back to back and then moved on to the next.
Iron Gwazi x 2
Sheikra x 2
Tigris x 1
Montu x 2
Cobra curse x 1
Falcons Fury x 2
Serengeti Flyer x 3
Phoenix Rising x 1
Serengeti Express x 1
Stanley Falls Log flume x 1
Congo Rapids x 1
Kumba and Cheetah Hunt were down all day for Maintenance however as I had ridden both before plenty of times I wasn't too disappointed.
Highlights:
Did Iron Gwazi live up the hype and top SteVe? Not quite. Very good coaster and incredibly intense but I genuinely preferred SteVe. Definitely in my top 10 but a bit lower down than I was expecting.
Sheikra - Genuinely forgot how amazing that thing is. My 11 year old son absolutely loved it. He said that and Serengeti Flyer were his two favourite rides of the day.
Falcons Fury. My son and wife didn't fancy it so I rode alone. OMG what an experience. The climb to the top is really something and then the tilt is obviously the deal Breaker for many and given there was no queue all day and most rides wete half empty I think a lot of people were perhaps a bit too afraid. The thing makes a hell of an ugly and loud noise as it drops but on rode you dont notice it as much. Loved it. Best drop tower in the world.
Serengeti Flyer - the real sleeper hit of the park. My God that thing is a lot of fun. As I said on the Busch Gardens thread Im not really a flat ride fanatic but this thing could make me a convert. The height and speed is insane and the airtime is genuinely amazing. Adored it.
Only negatives of the day was Tigris (same damn uncomfortable restraints as Ice Breaker) and the fact Iron Gwazi was on one train all day. The only ride we queued for really. 35 mins and 30 mins.
Busch Gardens and Sea World are my favourite parks in Florida. IOA not far behind in 3rd and Epic Universe will get there eventually with some more additions but I think the combination of animals and huge thrill rides is what swings it for me.
My top 10 coaster list still to come......