We had such a great time at Busch Gardens Tampa! The park was super quiet when we visited, which made the experience even better - we were able to go on all the rides multiple times without waiting in long lines. It felt like we had the park almost to ourselves. The highlight of the day was definitely the newest coaster, Iron Gwazi. It’s an absolute must-ride - fast, smooth, and full of thrills from start to finish. We couldn’t get enough of it and rode it several times! Overall, the park was clean, well-run, and offered a perfect mix of excitement and relaxation. If you get the chance to visit on a quieter day, you’re in for an unforgettable experience.

A great place for families, with plenty of entertainment options even for very young children, and many places to eat. I recommend getting a pass; the annual pass is very convenient. The integration of the animals and their habitats within the park is incredible. It's all one cohesive whole, and the animals are truly thriving and are treated very, very well.

Oct 2025 We visited busch gardens while holidaying in Orlando for 2 weeks ..It's been 6 years since we last visited, so were very much looking forward to it and the weather was also a lot better than last time...We used the free transport service supplied from SeaWorld Orlando👍. As it was free can't complain .we did have a couple of pic ups on the way , which slowed the journey a bit..We arrived there about 45mins after park open ...The main thing I liked was the coach didn't leave till after park closed , so we were able to make a good full day of it ... Only 2 rides were not operational on the day , cobras curse and the log flume which is now permanently close ...The main attraction for us was going to be iron gwasi ..!!🫣 They hadn't finished it on our last visit,so was very much looking forward to it and it didn't disappoint..The ride is mental from start to finish , Awesome..😁 Apart from a couple of new additions to the park, everything was exactly the same . Although it was a Tuesday and the park was quiet..we didn't have time to check out the animal parts ..But everything else we managed to do more than once...We did have the all day dine , which was ok..kids got more from it than mum and dad did..Food was ok ..Only down side was I couldn't find open and closing times for restaurants on the app (same as SeaWorld)..so a restaurant I did fancy was closed 1 hour before park closed ..Which was disappointing...Overal we had a great day and would return again if we came back to Florida 👍👍

I had a blast at Howl o scream!!! I went to all the haunted houses and loved them. There was also a live show that I caught a part of. Lots of drinks and refreshments available, ample restroom access, and I only waited in line for quite a while for 2 of 5 haunted houses, which was fine because its not like I had someplace to be lol. Overall really enjoyed the scare zones in between the haunted houses and will go again.

Busch Gardens Tampa is absolutely amazing! The experience was incredible I managed to ride almost every attraction in a single day, and each one was thrilling in its own way. The park is clean, well-organized, and full of energy. September was the perfect time to visit, great weather and shorter lines. I totally recommend it for anyone looking for an unforgettable adventure!

I'm writing this review after just leaving Busch Gardens in Tampa. I didn't want to wait since it is still fresh on my mind. For the short version, WOW! The Holw-O- Scream was done awesome. I would like to say I haven't visited Busch Gardens since I was real little and I didn't remember it being anything like this. Every single ride we rode was absolutely amazing. And they all felt completely unique. The twist and turns are insane! I highly recommend this event and this park. I didn't do any research prior to attending so I really didn't know what to expect. I am glad I came. I am truly blown away. Unfortunately I didn't get to ride everything but I will be back! Great job Busch Gardens! I will definitely make a vlog about my experience. Keep up the great work!

Hard to rate. Good start with getting a quick parking place and getting a nice ride to the entrance. Tickets also got quick an easy, for my taste is the regular price quied too high. We were lucky and got black Friday tickets, but also this ones too high. Rides are fine in the park, the Zoo is for my taste to old school and not state of the art. Fore every single service like animals food some rides you have to pay. It feels very commercial and not fair espescialy with the current ticket price. I understand tickets for animal visits but not for the safari However some people like Mathew who made the tortoise tour with us are very great.

Great place to spend the day with the family even on a budget you can take your own snacks and spend the days with the kiddos. There’s fun activities for everybody in the family. There’s lockers to put away your belongings and if you forget any of the essentials, they have a store with everything you may need . There’s plenty of spaces just for the little ones . There is alcohol and delicious treats. . Plenty of free setting areas and Reserved spaces for purchase. Clean friendly, please to have a fun day and go home to plan the next trip back to adventure island.

We love this place so much that came back the same week! We rent a cabana both time and was peaceful y convenient for the kids to relax and eat after attractions. Mango Joe's food was great 20/20 the personal beautiful from the chef to the cashier. Great customer service and the bar drink was a plus! The kids had a blast and we enjoyed every part of it. Definitely coming back!

I took my youngest son here for his 13th birthday. We had a BLAST! The staff was excellent, which has been my experience at all parks owned and operated by Busch Gardens/SeaWorld. The dining pass was easy to use. Our cabana had a fridge and water in it, as well as a ceiling fan. At one slide, I was struggling to get the heavy raft up the stairs. Due to it being slow at the time, the lifeguard at the top, came down and carried the raft the rest of the way for me. Sebastian was our favorite. The lifeguards rotate ever 30ish minutes or so, so you get to see them at different attractions throughout the day. Sebastian was so pleasant and seemed like he enjoyed being there. He took the time to introduce himself and interact with us wherever we saw him. What a gem!

We had a blast at Adventure Island Water Park! The thrill rides and attractions were a hit with our family. However, our experience was slightly marred by the All-Day Dining option. Only three restaurants participated, and the food quality was subpar, especially at Surfside Cafe. We ordered four meals, but one was missing, and we had to wait over 20 minutes for it to arrive. To make matters worse, the burger patty was frozen solid. Despite this, we still had a great time and would recommend the park to others. Hopefully, they'll work on improving their dining options.

We came on a Saturday over Memorial Day weekend and it was super hot and quite busy. Arrived around 11am and it was relatively quick to get in for a weekend. The park and bathrooms seemed pretty clean for how busy it was. We have a 2 y/o and 5 y/o so stuck mostly to kids areas and avoided the large slides that seemed to have very long lines. There was still plenty to do for young kids. There is a toddler size splash area along with a larger kids area that seems more suited for preschool-elementary ages, though some parts were okay for little ones. Finding somewhere to sit was nearly impossible and you could forget about sitting in the shade altogether. Bringing a blanket to maybe throw down in the grass somewhere might be a good option for busy weekends. Though 90% of the chairs are only occupied with people stuff. The park provides life jackets, though the smallest sizes were more scarce. If your kiddos have swim vests (with or without the arm floats), they can be brought in as long as they are coast guard approved (though I'm not sure anyone was checking). They are necessary for using the wave pool or lazy river if kids are not very strong swimmers. The walkways are also VERY hot in the sun, so I strongly recommend water shoes for all! Food options were mediocre. The app wasn't working at the time of our visit (some update happening) so we couldn't check menus or order food ahead. Lines were very long, and limited options. Overall, it's a great way to have fun in the Florida heat, but maybe not worth it on busy weekends.

Always loved Adventure Island but haven't been in a few years, today was amazing, weather was great and it wasn't super packed so we got to enjoy all the slides without long lines! Only negative is the ground, so many people walk barefoot and the concrete/ stone walkways really hurt our feet after a couple of hours

Adventure Island was a lot of fun for the whole family, I definitely recommend purchasing the all day dining plan as a family of 4 costs over $130 to eat. The cheapest way to get tickets is to become a member of CertifiKID and you can purchase regular weekday entry for $36.95 or weekday entry with the all day dining for $59.95. You're welcome.

Food was decent and service was fast. The atmosphere could be improved with better seating arrangements

I've been eating at Zeko's since they opened up Tampa! Glad it's expanding! Everything was delicious as always!

Honestly they have one of the best Greek salads I've ever had. You can get it customized however you like but here recently I've been pretty much vegetarian. I also did have a Greek salad with grilled chicken and their grilled chicken tasted like it was cooked to Perfection as well. The cashiers are very nice. The environment is usually pretty quiet I normally do take out and when I order a salad they normally have it made for me in less than 5 minutes. If you haven't already give this place a shot.

This is the best place and a "must-visit" if you're in Tampa for any reason. The ladies were very friendly and helpful. The portion sizes are perfect and, most importantly, the food was delicious and utterly fantastic. I don't throw around the word "perfect" very often but they served me and my girl a perfectly prepared meal. We tried a few different things and I can't say enough about how great it was. We tried a beef skewer and I don't know what seasoning they use but it was the most delicious piece of meat I've ever eaten. Their gyros were great, the pita bread was soft and delicious. They have these breaded mushrooms where they fry the entire mushroom. I've only ever seen one place (Wow Diner in Milan, NM) do that aside from my own home and I always enjoy when I find a place that does it as well. If you couldn't tell from my gushing review, I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant. I'll definitely be back again next time I visit the city or Busch Gardens.

I ordered Kufta Kebob, Shawarma without bread and they put extra tomatoes, parsley and onion I love it, and my partner got the Zburger it was also delish! Definitely coming back here whenever we go to busch garden. Place is also clean and I feel safe dining here. Plus+++ They have drive thru and clean restrooms

We came with the kids because Mom wanted some Mediterranean food. We were expecting so-so food but instead got surprised. Except for the fish that was kinda sweet (fresh water fish?) the shrimp was crunchy and pretty good, the fries were amazing but needed some extra salt for our taste (a sachet solved the issue) the shawarma was very tasty but too much wrap for little filling and they pressed it on a toaster (unnecessary but if you do so, press with some butter) nevertheless the taste was there and to sum it up, the kufka was spot on, seasoning wasn't overpowering but we could use some dipping (hummus?). The rice and beans were cooked to perfection and the veggies made it a perfect combination. We asked for chocolate and strawberry milkshake. The kids liked it but because the chocolate was made with syrup (also strawberry) I give strawberry the edge but it is not the same as Costco. We spent about $68, and we all were filled giving it an average of $17pp for real food instead of MCD. They have room to improve but overall it was a great experience and we would come back anytime. Nothing changed from our last visit. The fries are still crispy and salty. The shawarma is still great and better than any food in the park. Love it.

The most unseasoned Greek food we have ever had. The fried mushrooms were good and worth it. But I think they only use salt and pepper and a tiny bit of garlic for everything else. Gyro needed more flavor as did everything else we ate.

Excellent service and friendly staff in a very fun retro atmosphere. Plenty of seating and wide selection of Chicago favorites. Especially appreciate their attention to safe gluten free options for Celiacs. Thank you, Mel's is a treasure!

Stopped into Mel’s Hot Dogs today, and wow — what a gem! This place has been around for a long time, creating countless magical memories for people over the years. I had only been here once when I first moved to the Tampa area, and honestly, I’m not sure why I never came back sooner, because today’s visit was simply amazing. From the moment my girlfriend and I walked in, it felt like stepping back in time — an old-school diner vibe that brings you right back to when life felt simpler and happier. As soon as we got to the counter, we were greeted by Jessica, who is absolutely wonderful — beautiful inside and out, with a huge smile and a warm, genuine personality. She’s the perfect example of someone who truly loves what they do. Her energy and kindness made our visit even more special. Now, the food — it speaks for itself. There’s a reason this place has stood the test of time. The ingredients are top-notch, the portions are great, and the prices are very fair for the quality you get. My girlfriend had the Fire Dog, and it was exactly that — hot, spicy, and delicious! It’s a beef sausage made with cayenne peppers, served on a steamed hoagie bun with brown mustard. I went with the Bacon Cheddar Dog, featuring Mel’s famous all-beef natural casing hot dog on a steamed poppy seed bun, topped with melted cheddar and crispy bacon. Absolute perfection. This stop truly made my day — great food, great service, and a wonderful dose of nostalgia. Jessica, you’re a shining star! 🌟

Mel’s Hot Dogs is a Tampa classic and an absolute must-visit if you love a good, all-American hot dog! From the moment you walk in, there’s a nostalgic, old-school charm that makes you feel right at home. The hot dogs are next level—snappy, juicy, and loaded with flavor. I went with the classic Chicago Dog and it was perfect: poppy seed bun, bright green relish, sport peppers, and just the right kick of mustard. You can tell they care about quality, and every topping is fresh and well-balanced. The fries are hot, crispy, and seasoned just right—great for sharing (or not). The vibe is casual and fun, with friendly staff and fast service. Whether you’re grabbing a quick bite or bringing the whole family, Mel’s delivers every time. If you’re in Tampa and craving something delicious, simple, and satisfying, Mel’s Hot Dogs hits the spot. You’ll leave full, happy, and planning your next visit!

Great hot dog place with a great story behind it. Located really close to Busch Gardens, which pretty affordable and a great place to take the kids. Lots of options on the menu, which also includes burgers, chicken sandwiches, and desserts. There’s lots of indoor seating with a retro look. It’s a must try.

Literally it's been probably 30 years since I've been here. I don't live in the area but I live close so today I was driving down Busch boulevard and decided to stop and get me a nice juicy hot dog. Definitely was delicious and I'm taking my wife back.

Honestly the best hotdogs I have ever ate. I had a chili dog and a corn dog and they were the best! I should have gotten more than one because they were that good. I highly recommend, and I will certainly be back.

Mel’s Hot Dogs has long been a staple for comfort food in Tampa. Located on Busch Boulevard, quite close to Busch Gardens, the restaurant serves Vienna hot dogs and sausages on freshly baked buns and the finest french fries in Tampa Bay!