AK vs Busch Gardens

[JimboJones123]

Really, they're kinda similar parks. Overall -- which would you rank higher. Based on the park itself. Not where it is or how long it takes to get there. If they were to build a replica of one that was 10 minutes from your home and you had to choose, which would it be????

 

[SpongeScott]

AK, hands down. I've been to BG once since we've lived in Florida now for three years and BG did nothing for me. There was nothing I could ride (too intense for this old man) and I just didn't enjoy myself there. The food quality was low and expensive. Once again, Disney gets it right.

 

[tigsmom]

I like both parks, but I would say that AK has the edge. I really don't do thrill rides so there are only 2 rides that I normally ride and they have a couple of decent shows. :shrug:

 

[SeanC]

BG is about thrill rides, with some animals and other attractions thrown in for the whole family. AK for theming, immersion, and overall quality. 10 minutes from my house? BG, but I love coasters.

 

[ChrisFL]

BG, sorry guys, there's just so many more things to do there, it's much easier to see all of the animals, there's plenty of walkthrough exhibits and some of the best coasters made.

AK has 2 big rides (or 3 if you count the safari), and one that I don't enjoy very much.

I know this will seem like sacriledge to some fo you, but I used to work as a contractor at Disney, walking the parks daily. AK was the worst, no one wanted to work there, due to the bad layout of the park and the narrow walkways. Plus there (was) hardly any place to sit inside to have a meal. That's brutal in the summertime.

 

[mickey&me]

I'd have to go with Busch Gardens as well. AK is my least favorite Disney park anyway. Our analysis was "A lot of walking for a little payoff." We really enjoy the Busch Gardens parks, though.

 

[Adventure]

I have to pick AK. We flew into Tampa in October just to do Busch Gardens before our 10 day Disney trip. I was surprised to see the animals right next to or under some pretty intense attractions. I felt bad for them with all the screaming coming from the coasters and there was trash thrown into their exhibits. The safari ride at AK seems to keep the animals in a more natural environment but still allow for great viewing for the guests. We were a group of six and pretty much agreed that going to Busch once was enough for us. Most likely won't be back.

 

[mitchk]

AK hands down!!!

 

[BwanaBob]

Not a fair comparison.

I voted 'Like both Equal'...but I DON'T. I like both for very different reasons.

Employees? Goes to AK (Disneyfied makes a difference)
Animals - BG.
Food - AK
Big/thrill attractions - BG
Shows - AK

I don't like BG's layout. One big circle and difficult to navigate vs. the 'hub' concept Disney embraces. Missing the ambiance that Disney has (music and feel).

AK seems 'slower' in my mind...and not because it has few thrill rides. Unlike Epcot and MK, AK just feels slower and slightly out-of-touch. Hard to explain, but I guess it's because AK is still an infant in theme-parks age (if you call 10 years an infant).

(Disclaimer: I grew up in Tampa/St. Pete/Clearwater so BG was in my backyard long before AK came along)

 

[Laura]

Busch Gardens is a beautiful park, but it doesn't compare to Animal Kingdom. Everything Busch has done Disney has done better. Though I think Busch has a better rapids ride, doesn't it? Maybe I'm thinking of another park.

 

[DisneyMusician2]

Busch is really just a different experience, but AK is really the prettier park from a nature standpoint.

 

[Sil]

hello

yo, animal kingdom for me has, its tough to be a bug, dinosaur, everest and the rubbishier primeval whirl, kilimanjaro safaris and kali river rapids (which is nowhere near as good as ioa's bildge barges ride), busch gardens for me has montu, kumba, gwazi, sheikra and the rubbishier rhino rally and other low key rides. i enjoy myself at b oth parks, i think animal kingdom has the edge in terms of atmosphere, but busch does in terms of queuing times and such, so i say i enjoy myself at both equally.

 

[hcphish]

I live 45 minutes outside of Williamsburg. I've never been to the BG in Tampa, but do have season passes to BG in Williamsburg.

You certainly cannot compare BG Europe to AK, so I like them equally for different reasons. Now if you compared BG Europe to say Epcot then hands down Epcot gets my vote.

 

[Fun2BFree]

With the exception of animals and a fairly similar theme, the two are like apples and oranges. AK is a family park, with a little of something for everyone and some brilliant theming thrown in, whereas BG is an amusement park with lots of big thrills and some decent theming. You definitely need to do both if you are a thrill-seeker and someone who appreciates quality.

The bottom line: In Animal Kingdom, patience is rewarded and the attractions aren't always rides but the thousands of unique animal encounters and the gems of simply looking, listening and learning. Busch Gardens is better for high-octane adrenaline-packed rollercoaster fury, but some of the ambiance is lost because of this. Though both parks are completely different, I'd tend to side with Animal Kingdom's quality over Busch Gardens' quantity.

*steps off soapbox*

 

[MichWolv]

Wish due respect to the OP, I don't think they're that much alike, other than they both mix rides and animals.

But Disney rides are immersive (except for Chester n. Hester), while BG's are not. Disney has character tie-ins -- BG doesn't. But BG has more to do.

I like both of them. I rated them equal, but I think AK will surpass BG once it gets it's next expansion/addition.

 

[dr_teeth90210]

Nobody's mentioned the free beer at Busch Gardens?

 

[sandicinderelli]

It's AK for me, simply because everything at BG seems disconnected to me. Although the thrill factor at BG is much more than AK, I enjoy the theming and ambience of AK way better. IMO, Everest's thrill factor is just as good as Sheikra's. AK is better as a complete package.

 

[MythBuster]

AK wasn't designed to be a thrill ride park. It was designed to be about exploration and discovery. WDI designed it to be like actual Africa and Asia. You had a map and tried to explore around, just like a real adventure or safari. If you go to Kenya, there are not a lot of signs directing you everywhere. But most people want to run from one attraction to another and they would get lost and confused. They never took their time to truly enjoy the park. So they put up signage everywhere to help them. Then they ran to attraction to attraction and then said it was only a half-day park?

 

[dandaman]

I voted 'Like both Equal'...but I DON'T. I like both for very different reasons.

Bingo. I was pleasantly surprised when I first went to BGA in August 2006. Katonga seems right on par with Lion King for me (didn't even know they had a show 'till I walked in the theatre :lol: ) and the park integrated world-class thrills with themeing and ambience (not as far as music goes, maybe, but I digress).

I wonder if there'll be some "Universal-hatred" style responses later on in the thread. :lol:

"I hate Busch Gardens."

"Ever been?"

"Nooooo..."

 

[sknydave]

Everyone is forgetting the one attraction which sets Busch Gardens far beyond anything Disney will ever be able to achieve with AK...

PIRATES 4D!


I like the Animal exhibits a lot more at Busch Gardens + the good coasters and flume plus rapids rides... Though Kilimanjaro Safari is superb. I enjoy both!