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Busch Amusement Parks Offer Ticket Combos For Floridians

Photo from Busch Gardens

Special discounts are available for Florida residents at Busch Gardens and its sister theme parks in Tampa and Orlando.

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By TED JACKOVICS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 1, 2008

TAMPA - TAMPA - Busch Entertainment Corp. on Monday announced price increases and a new ticket package called Pick 2 that will enable a Florida resident to visit any two of Busch Entertainment's four Florida parks for $79.95.

A similar deal called Pick 3 enables a Florida resident to visit three of the parks for $119.95. Tickets are available through Labor Day for use through year's end.

Busch Entertainment operates Busch Gardens Tampa, where the standard adult ticket price is $67.95; Adventure Island in Tampa, which costs $37.95; SeaWorld Orlando, $69.95; and Aquatica in Orlando, $41.95. That means a visitor to Busch Gardens Tampa and SeaWorld Orlando could save $57.95 with a Pick 2 discount. Those prices reflect a $2 increase that was announced Monday.

Unlike several bargain promotions that Florida hotels and attractions have created this summer to compensate for the poor economy and high gas prices, the rationale for Busch's new concept reflects an evolution of the company's pricing and packaging deals, Busch executives said.

"Of course, while we try to provide value to better meet our guests' needs, certainly this will work out for those taking trips closer to home this summer," said Joe Couceiro, corporate vice president and chief marketing officer for Busch's Worlds of Discovery, the brand name for Busch Entertainment's Orlando-based theme parks.

Theme park officials do not reveal attendance figures. But Orange County and Busch officials have said that Aquatica, a water theme park that opened in April, has been so popular that the attraction has temporarily closed its gates at certain times until the crowds inside have thinned.

Aquatica offers an early summer admission at 8 a.m. for those who purchase tickets in advance, compared with the standard 9 a.m. opening. The park remains open in the summer until 10 p.m.

The Pick 2 and Pick 3 packages are the latest concepts to incorporate combination theme park plans. Busch has created those in addition to the Florida Fun Card, which has enabled year-round park visits for the price of a daily visit since 2000.

"They have been very creative with their promotions and with things relevant to Florida residents," said Danielle Courtenay, senior vice president of global publicity and public affairs for Orlando's convention and visitors bureau.

Busch created the Worlds of Discovery brand for its theme parks in 2007 to focus on the concept that a visit to a Busch theme park includes an educational component for those interested in learning about animals and the environment along with a day's fun.

Last year, parent company Anheuser-Busch Cos. relocated Busch Entertainment from corporate headquarters in St. Louis to Orlando to be closer to the five Busch Entertainment venues in Florida, including Discovery Cove in Orlando. Busch also operates five parks in California, Texas, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Despite what appears to be more independence for Busch Entertainment given its Orlando headquarters, Anheuser-Busch has said that it intends to retain its theme park division. The news comes as the parent company restructures to contend with a hostile takeover bid by the Belgian brewing company InBev.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Saturday that Anheuser-Busch plans to cut costs by $1 billion, but would retain the theme parks that account for about 8 percent, or $1.27 billion, of the parent company's $16.7 billion annual revenue.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at tjackovics@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7817.

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