Are you missing out on your Busch Gardens Florida Resident deals?
Cheetahs, giraffes, roller coasters… oh my! If a day filled with all that sounds a little scary but a whole LOT exciting, then I’ve got great news for you.
You can find it ALL at Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay!
This 335 acre theme park has been a fan favorite among ThemeParkHipsters for a while now, because it really does have it all!
Exotic animals, thrilling rides, and amazing live entertainment for a reasonable price…especially if you’re a Florida Resident!
You see, like many Florida theme parks, Busch Gardens and its brother and sister parks of SeaWorld, Adventure Island, Aquatica, and Discovery Cove offer great deals for their biggest guest population: Florida Residents.
So, if you live in the Sunshine State, get excited- because we’ve got the insider info you need to enjoy all this amazing theme park has to offer for a fraction of the price!
Ready to find out how you can pounce on these amazing Busch Gardens Florida Resident deals? Then keep reading for our ThemeParkHipster Exclusive tips and tricks below!
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Busch Gardens Tampa Tickets at a Glance:
- Groupon is my favorite place to get discounted tickets for Busch Gardens Tampa
- With the money you’ve saved from your cheap Busch Gardens tickets above, you can buy some other ticket add-ons to make the most of your park visit!
- For a LIMITED TIME, tickets for Busch Gardens Tampa start at $99
- Upgrade your ticket to a Fun Card where you PAY FOR A DAY & GET ALL OF 2024 FREE!
Keep reading to get a full guide on how to choose the best tickets for Busch Gardens like a pro!
How to Find Busch Gardens Florida Resident Deals?
You can Florida resident deals online easily. Below are my top recommend places to find the top Busch Gardens deals.
1. BuschGardens.com
Sometimes, the best way to find a Busch Gardens Florida Resident deal is to go straight to the source; and in this case that’s BuschGardens.com!
Here you’ll find options to purchase single day passes, multi-day passes, Annual Passes, and Fun Cards, with the occasional deal for Florida residents.
Yes, you read that right, “occasional.”
Unfortunately, a Busch Gardens Florida Resident deal is not always guaranteed through the park itself, but I can guarantee you that this is the most reliable place to find out if a Florida Resident deal is active right now.
In fact just type “Florida Resident” into the website search bar to keep up to date with their latest offerings!
And while maybe that wasn’t exactly what you wanted to hear, I do have some good news. Busch Gardens does have some permanent year round perks for Florida residents!
Including “Florida” Resident Annual Passes, a “home state benefit” that gets you up to 40% off of Discovery Cove.
Additionally, Florida residents are the only ones who can take advantage of the EZpay Program, which lets you pay the cost of your Annual Pass over 12 months.
This is a super reasonable investment starting at as little as $13.50 per month!
Get Your Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Tickets Today! CLICK HERE.
2. Viator.com
Viator.com is also a great site to add to your Theme Park Hipster arsenal because it stays up to date with the latest park savings.
And I’m not just talking about Busch Gardens Florida Resident savings here…I’m talking about ALL Sunshine State theme parks!
Anywho, linked above is the page that discusses Busch Gardens savings specifically, including Busch Gardens Florida Resident savings.
I personally love Viator because no matter what major (and sometimes minor) city I go to, you can always find a local tour through Viator that will show you a spectacular side of the city.
So, before you buy admission to Busch Gardens, or any Florida theme park really, give this page a visit to make sure you’re getting the best and most up to date deal!
3. UndercoverTourist.com
Another one of our favorite websites for Busch Gardens Florida Resident savings and more, Undercover Tourist is a trusted direct seller of theme park tickets.
So, if Busch Gardens itself doesn’t seem to be running any Florida resident deals or steals when you’re looking to buy; don’t sweat it!
We’re sure that Undercover Tourist can still hook you up with the best price around!
4. Search Your Local News/Radio Stations’ Websites
Sometimes, there’s no better source of news than your local news…and that applies for Busch Gardens Florida Resident savings as well!
So, whatever your favorite local Florida news or radio station is, go check out the “Local Deals” tab of their website.
Sometimes you’ll find savings and events that are exclusive to your city or county, but more often than not you’ll also find some BIG savings on your favorite home state theme parks that are only available to, you guessed it, Florida state residents!
Ready to plan your theme park trip? Watch the best vacation planning tips on YouTube. Get started here!
5. Tampa Bay CityPASS
If in addition to being a ThemeParkHipster you are also a city hopping enthusiast, then you’ve probably heard of CityPASS before.
But, just in case you haven’t, I’m happy to give you a brief overview.
Basically, think of CityPASS like a park hopper ticket, but for various attractions in big cities. Places like New York City, Chicago, and OF COURSE, Tampa apply!
You simply pay a flat fee, and then have access to multiple excursions, usually saving you big bucks in the long run by bundling multiple attraction tickets together into one purchase.
And of course, we’re happy to report that Tampa Bay’s CityPASS includes admission into Busch Gardens. What does that mean for you?
If you’re looking to do multiple attractions in the Tampa area, including The Florida Aquarium, Museum of Industry and Science, and more, you’ll save 51% on all of those admission tickets in the long run.
6. Publix
If you’re a true Florida state resident, then this tip doesn’t need much explaining! But, in case you’re new to the Sunshine State, I’ll break it down for you.
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Many Publix locations aka: one of the South’s favorite grocery store chains, sell Busch Gardens Tampa Bay passes for discounted prices.
However, the deals and availability vary by store location, so if you want more deets, go give your local Publix a call!
Nevertheless, at most Publix stores you can find these passes in the area stocked with other big brand name gift cards.
With the most popular being a two day, two park Busch Gardens ticket for $99.99 (price subject to change at anytime).
These tickets are good for a year after they’re purchased, and even more than a Busch Gardens Florida Resident deal, these can be a great gift for any ThemeParkHipster in your life!
Get started on Your Tampa Bay Travel Plans here!
7. Go to Groupon.com
As you probably already know, the savings available at Groupon.com are seemingly endless…but did you know they have Busch Gardens coupons too?
It’s true! Simply check out this link for the most current deals they are running for Busch Garden Tampa: which as of now, is almost 40% off single day tickets, and discounted Howl O’ Scream tickets!
However, as always applies with Groupon, do be sure to read the fine print prior to purchasing.
Some deals have limitations such as specific dates the tickets can be used, when the discounted tickets expire, and how many you are allowed to purchase.
Get your discounted LEGOLAND Florida tickets here!
Top 3 Tips for Your Next Busch Gardens Florida Visit
Now that you know where to find the best discounted tickets for your Busch Gardens trip, let’s go through a few tips to make the most of your day!
1. Get the All-Day Dining Pass
For you ThemeParkHipsters that believe some of the best parts of your theme park day are exploring all the delicious meals and treats, then you’ll definitely want to hear more about Busch Gardens’ All-Day Dining Pass option.
For $50, you’ll be entitled to 1 entrée platter, side or dessert and soft drink or bottled water every ninety minutes!
And as a ThemeParkHipster that’s familiar with over priced in park meals and snack offerings – you know that’s too good to pass up!
Especially, when you consider that one average meal at Busch Gardens, with entrée, side/dessert, and drink is at least $20.
So, pair this pass with your Busch Gardens Florida Resident price, and you’ve officially maximized your in-park savings!
2. Pack Light
Unlike other Floridian theme parks, Busch Gardens does not allow for outside food or drink outside of bottled water.
Additionally, any personal item larger than a fanny pack will not be able to join you on most of the rides and attractions.
My recommendation?
Only bring the essentials to save on locker fees.
Or, if you plan on getting a locker, get one at the front of the park for the full day that also allows you to transfer your items among the lockers throughout the park for one price.
This is because an average cost of $2 to $3 lockers for every ride can really add up!
3. Come This Year (if you’re a roller coaster fanatic)
For you ThemeParkHipsters that have the 411 on all rides and attractions in the Sunshine State, then you might have heard that one of Busch Gardens’ most popular coasters, Gwazi, recently got a makeover.
Originally a dueling wooden coaster, Gwazi has been restructured and renamed Iron Gwazi, in honor of its new hybrid design: half wooden, half steel.
This groundbreaking roller coaster, to be the steepest and fastest hybrid roller coaster in the world, which was set to open in 2020. But…as you might imagine…the global crisis had other plans…
So, if you did have your heart set on riding this hybrid monster, you might want to this year, the new promised year of Iron Gwazi’s unveiling!
What to Know Before You Go to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Let’s go through a few of the most common questions regarding the Florida Resident deal.
What proof of Florida Residency do I need to qualify for the Busch Gardens Florida Resident price?
As you might have already guessed in this day and age, companies like Busch Gardens might not just “take your word for it” that you’re a Florida Resident.
Usually, some type of proof is required.
Below are some examples of the documentation you can provide to prove your residency; and we recommend having at least two on hand at the time of purchase:
- A State of Florida Driver’s License/State provided photo ID card
- Credit card linked to a Florida Address
- A utility bill i.e. water, phone, or electricity, addressed to you at a Florida residence
- Proof of mortgage/rent payment in your name for a Florida address
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What’s the better Busch Gardens Florida Resident Deal? An Annual Pass or a Fun Card?
As you might have guessed, there is no simple answer to this question. Whether an Annual Pass or Fun Card is better for you really depends on your needs, but do consider this:
An Annual Pass comes with many more perks than a Fun Card, like free parking, dining discounts, and the ability to purchase discounted tickets, depending on your Annual Pass level.
Whereas a Fun Card is solely admission based.
So…my recommendation?
If your plan is to typically not ride solo, but rather attend the park with a close friend or family member multiple times throughout the year – then get one Annual Pass, while the rest in your group get Fun Cards!
Why? Well Annual Passes are pricier, but their benefits do pay off.
So, if one person in your party has an Annual Pass, this always entitles them to free parking and in park discounts that they can use on behalf of the rest of the group…
…and that’s really a win-win if you ask me!
P.S. If you need an all-inclusive guide to make sense of the Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Annual Pass tiers and Fun Cards, check this article out!
What’s New at Busch Gardens?
I’m sure you are not a stranger to global crisis going on, and neither is Busch Gardens. By that we mean, they have taken a few precautions you may want to be aware of prior to your visit.
As all ThemeParkHipsters have become accustomed to, mask-wearing is no longer required.
Additionally, many of the pandemic modifications that were made to line queues, characters interactions, and parades are mostly back to normal.
Ready to plan your theme park trip? Watch the best vacation planning tips on YouTube. Get started here!
My Final Thoughts on Your Busch Gardens Florida Resident Deals
I hope this helped you figure out how to get some much needed Busch Gardens Florida Resident savings!
Because I understand that the previous years weren’t too kind to many of our wallets, but that doesn’t mean your ThemeParkHipster spirit should take a hit…
After all, what’s better than park hopping for a fraction of the price?! And speaking of savings, are there any great deals that we missed?
Do you know of any other Busch Gardens Florida Resident tickets or coupons that we forgot to mention? Let us know in the comments below, because the more savings, the merrier!
Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!
About the Author
Gina is a former Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Line Cast Member who enjoys reliving the magic by writing helpful tips and tricks for future guests!
Check out more about her Disney adventures and writing endeavors here on ThemeParkHipster or Florida Hipster!
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(Original Article Date: February 4, 2021/Updated by Editor on January 19, 2024)