There's a possibility of me going down to Florida during February Break 2011, but only three days are allotted. I definitely want IOA and Sea World (the latter I have not gone to before.) However, I have a bit of a debacle:

I'm trying to choose between BGA and Universal Studios.

I already went to both before, but Universal Studios has opened HRRRRRRRRRRR, which I have not been on yet. But, BGA is fantastic, and I want to get back on Montu again.

So, what do you guys recommend? Is adding HRRRRRRRRR (and the rest of the park, but it is the parks' main selling point for me) better of an idea than going back to BGA, and although I went on almost everything, I still have the other side of Gwazi to go on (which I enjoyed it btw)

HRRR or Montu... so hard to choose.

Having just been on HRRR twice during my 3-day trip to Orlando, it is mainly just a promotional tool and a below-average coaster. If you're looking to ride coasters then go to Busch Gardens instead.

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Unfortunately, it's going to have to stay in the Orlando area only. At least I have IOA and Sea World as well.

I wish you could excuse IOA this time since Harry land is not fully done and get both USO and BGA.

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^ Leo, do you see the date? February 2011. I think you really need to wait and decide when it gets closer as BGA is supposedly going to have a new coaster by then, but maybe not. I think ti just really depends and sicne this is a long time away, you should wait. As of now, I would recommend IOA over BGA as the WWOHP will be PHENOMENAL!

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^It's going to be Universal Studios Orlando or BGA. Sea World Orlando and Islands of Adventure are definite.

You also might want to look at package deals for both parks. I was able to go to BGT and Sea World for $100. Both parks alone are $70.

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^I looked up package deals. I included every expense on the trip except for souvenirs, seeing as those are so hard to predict. Apparently, even with the extra gas money, the BGA/SWO+IOA is $40 cheaper than the IOA/USO+SWO option, even with gas.

I have already factored in costs of literally everything except souvenirs (they are so hard to predict) for me and my mom (I messed up reading the ToS four or five years ago, and I'm really 16, not 24) and I have the figures at $1,910 for the BGA option and $1,950 for the USO option.

Obviously, at these prices, the difference of $40 is negligible.

So, the real question is:

What do you recommend from a coaster standpoint?

1: Should I go to SWO and get two new credits, or should I go to BGA again, and get only one new credit? (One side of Gwazi was closed, and frankly I loved the other side.)


2: Are The Mummy and HRRR worth going on instead of a re-visit to BGA, if you've never gone to SWO since before both coasters were there? (2001) (Remember that I freaking love Montu, and it's my #4 steel coaster.)

3: Markham2020, you say that BGA might get a new coaster for 2011. Can you substantiate your claim? Can anyone else?

Regarding the new coaster for BGT, here is the screamscape article.

Busch Gardens Tampa

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Well from a coaster standpoint, I would recommend the Orlando area. But if you only want to go to Universal Studios, then you are missing out big time. Mummy and HRRR are two really good coasters. No, they are not in my top 75, but I would still recommend riding them whenever you can. However, just minutes away you also have FIVE B&M coasters with Hulk, the Dragons, and of course SeaWorlds two stellar coasters which by the way house my favorite floorless and favorite flying. If you are only going for credits, then it is time to question your love of coasters. I don't go for the credits, I go for the enjoyment and thrill. I think Orlando has a better set of coasters than Tampa. Sure Montu is my all time favorite Inverter and Sheikra is an awesome coaster too. But after that, coaster wise, there is nothing to boost about. Kumba has gotten VERY rough over the years and so has Gwazi. No I am not saying BGA is a bad amusement park, because I absolutely love the place, but we are talking about coasters only. Orlando is clearly superior when it comes to only that. You may have just a few days, but you can do a lot in Orlando with those few days. Don't just stick with Universal Studios though.

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^I don't think you quite understand, therefore I will clarify.

Now, for all the future people who may reply to this topic or are confused of what I'm looking at, here is the itinerary for my two options:




Option one:

Day 1: Fly from Syracuse to Orlando.
Day 2: Sea World Orlando
Day 3: Islands of Adventure
Day 4: The Universal Studios Orlando (the "other" park.)
Day 5: Fy home.


Option two:

Day 1: Fly from Syracuse to Orlando. (Same as option one.)
Day 2: Sea World Orlando. (Same as option one.)
Day 3: Islands of Adventure. (Same as option one.)
Day 4: Busch Gardens Africa. This is the ONLY place where the itineraries differ.
Day 5: Fly home. (Same as option one.)

Aso, Nitro Luvr, I guess it's more of an opinion of which coasters are better, and going on a new experience, rather than credits. Here's an updated way of saying it:

Should I do Option One, where I experience two roller coasters I have never gone on before, that have had mixed reviews, or re-visit a park that I think is freaking awesome, with only one missed credit to go back to? (The new coaster is only a kiddie coaster. I'll try to go on it if there's no height maximum, seeing as I actually enjoyed SFGADV's Blackbeard, but I won't shell out money for a five year old.)

Now, even though people say Gwazi is crap, I thought it was very good (albeit underthemed), so opinions differ there, which is also why I'm still a little hesitant to go with people's opinions. But, it will help if enough people reply to this thread. (I am much less biased than most enthusiasts.)

Tank I understood completely what you were saying and like I said the best way to exercise your time there is to spend it in Orlando or as you put it Option 1. There is a lot more to do there. However, and I just thought of this one too. Here is option 3 and it is very much doable if your schedule permits. Day 1 you fly into Orlando very early and you go to SeaWorld for the day. Seaworld can be covered in about 6 hours, especially since you are going in February, a time when most people are working or in school. Less crowds. I have done it before, so I know it can be done. Day 2 is IOA. Day 3 is Universal Studios. Day 4 is BGA and Day 5 you fly home. That way you cover it all in a few days time. Question is can you fly into Orlando real early?

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Since you are going that time of the year, it may even be possible for you to do both Islands and Studios in the same day. I've done it.

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Yeah, that is another good point there. I have done both amusement parks in the same day a number of times before and was able to ride everything in each park.

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Flying in early isn't really an option... as much I love roller coasters, I love sleep. Plus, we always let the first day of the trip to be purely for travel and some other miniscule fun things, to give plenty of buffer time to allow for delays, etc. and we usually can't get a direct flight from Syracuse to Florida, we usually have to transfer (it's commonly been Philly, DC, and Charlotte)

And the thing is, I don't necessarily like doing credit runs. I did Darien Lake and MFI in one day in 2008, and it felt a little rushed. I like to relax, go on the good stuff multiple times, and I also roam the park for filming and photography (I have a good eye for photography, I find a new photo or video vantage point every couple of minutes or less.)

I just bought some passes that will work at both parks for 14 days for $100. I thought it was a great deal.

^I found package deals on the main websites. Are there any other less obvious places to find discounted packages?

Well, you could always join the military and get into every last one of these amusement parks for free like I do.

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^I think I'll stick with a certain company who I don't think they'd like it if they'd name me who happens to take serious interest in my ideas. I've always considered the military (specifically small arms development) but amusement rides are my dream.

Anyway, does anyone else have an opinion?

Last time I went to Orlando I did US and IOA in one day in March and got all the rides done in both parks plus re-rides on IOA's coasters so doing those two in one day is definitely an option in the off-season type times. If I had to choose I would go with US just for the new credit, but its a tough choice since BGA is a great park with awesome rides.

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I thought February was a high point of the season... a lot of the Northern US is on vacation.

I'd say go to BGA. The Mummy certainly was awesome, and HRRR looks pretty decent though I haven't ridden it, but Kumba, Montu, Sheikra, and probably even Gwazi will be better than HRRR. Overall I bet you would have a better time at BGA. I'd save USO for a trip when you can do both USO and BGA, or save it for a trip where you do USO and IOA in the same day.

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I'd do USF and IOA in a day over BGA, but in a perfect world you could do all three.

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I dunno about that, in my experiences February and March are very light in terms of crowds.

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