Busch Gardens offers free meal plan with admission

July 8, 2010, 8:29 AM · Busch Gardens Tampa has announced that for every single-day admission into its park... you can eat and drink for free. Here are the details. The offer is good through September 6, 2010.

This offer applies only for full-price admission and does not apply for the season passes or the "Fun Card." What about the food? Participants can get a main course, side dish, and a drink at any of the participating, cafeteria-style restaurants, but does not include baby back ribs or beer (darn!). On hot days, you can just go in to the restaurant, grab a cool water bottle, and leave. (niiiiice)

I think this news comes rather late in terms of summer deals, but it's a great freebie nonetheless. At the same time, one has to wonder how attendance is at Busch Gardens that the park is feeling the need to offer to free meals.

Replies (10)

July 8, 2010 at 8:43 AM · It's a nice thought, but they should have something for the Season Pass holders, too. Maybe free fountain drinks or something like that.

Seaworld sent me an email the other day where passholders can get in one person free and others for only $20. Hopefully BG will match this deal.

July 8, 2010 at 9:13 AM · You cant get crazy with offers like this, otherwise people will come to expect it. Obviously season pass and fun card holders are more likely to visit the park, so they do not need as much incentive.
July 8, 2010 at 9:46 AM · BGE has something where for $27, you get a bracelet and can get an entree and a drink, I am guessing there is no limit to this? I called and tried to get the lady to nail down what exactly you get for the $27, and apparently this is it. No snacks and I believe no sides. The sadistic part of me is thinking about buying one of these and just seeing how much food I can stuff down in one day.
July 8, 2010 at 10:49 AM · Hey Scott, that sounds like the meal deal. BGT has that too. And it IS unlimited. Just like the above offer it's good at all the cafeteria-style dining areas and covers all the drinks (minus beer). Of course, there's no sharing and some foods aren't covered.

I personally think it's a great deal if you're planning on eating 3 or more times in the park. Problems I've seen with it are the long lines of people waiting to eat... so it can be a hassle.

With BGT's meal offer, you don't get the 2nd day free anymore. So when you think about it, the meal deal is a much cheaper lure than offering a free $70-plus admission.

July 8, 2010 at 10:49 AM · This is like made for my family as we were just getting ready to purchase a Meal Deal there for our vacation! Talk about timing!
July 8, 2010 at 3:50 PM · Another public rip off from these overpriced parks... They need to take care of the folks who have always been there.. "Season Pass" holders... Why cant these big corporate giants ever do the right thing from the start?? it always takes a BP "oil Spill" problem for them to turn around and do right....

It should be free Drinks all day to all and free "limited items" menu for all as well.. of course even the general public will figure a way to take advantage of Busch Gardens goodwill and take advantage of something that could/should be a nice park benefit for all of us.


all in all these parks need to start lowering prices and start making a day trips ones to remember in a good way, not in a " wow.... did I get ripped off and gouged for everything I own" type way that we get now.

July 8, 2010 at 8:55 PM · The following seems like a much better deal than the all day meal plan.. eat breakfast before you get there and have a late lunch here....

from www.facebook.com/BuschGardensTampaBay
"Starting tomorrow, the Garden Gate Cafe reopens as an all-you-care-to-eat Pizza & Pasta Buffet! For only $9.99 for adults or $5.99 for kids ages 9 and younger, you can enjoy all the pasta with choice of sauces, variety of pizzas, desserts and non-alcoholic drinks you want during a visit to the Cafe. Passport member discounts apply, and the buffet is included in our All Day Dining Deal offers. Who's hungry?!"

July 9, 2010 at 12:56 AM · I was in Busch Gardens during the second week of May and it was actually busier than some of the other parks in the Orlando area.
July 9, 2010 at 10:21 AM · I have never posted here on the site before until now. Why do season pas holders feel liked they are owed something by the park, you already have a great deal... Spend some money to support your park of choice, just because you have a pass doesn't mean you are any more special than the other day visitors.
July 9, 2010 at 11:56 PM · I agree with the last comment. Just because a person isn't a season pass holder doesn't mean they aren't supporting the park. Some of us live in the area of the country where it would make no sense to have season passes just because of distance logistics. Anyone who purchases any ticket(s) to these parks is supporting it...

At any rate, I would say someone would have to do the math on it to see if it's a good deal for them or not. I've considered the all you can eat passes before at Universal parks, but I get sick just thinking about eating and riding and eating and riding.

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