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3 Busch Gardens Rides Ranked Among Nation's Top 50

Busch Gardens file photo

Montu ranked 10th in trade journal Amusement Today's 2008 Golden Ticket Awards.

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By TED JACKOVICS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 10, 2008

TAMPA - Busch Gardens Tampa Bay placed three rides among the top 50 nationwide in trade journal Amusement Today's 2008 Golden Ticket Awards.

Montu ranked 10th, SheiKra 19th and Kumba 27th.

Orlando's Islands of Adventures placed Dueling Dragons 14th and the Incredible Hulk Coaster 26th, and Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista ranked 35th. Kraken at SeaWorld Orlando ranked 42nd.

SeaWorld Orlando ranked as the best marine life park, Universal Orlando was the top pick for best Halloween event and the Disney's Magic Kingdom ranked second for best Christmas event.

The Golden Ticket Awards are selected by a panel of international amusement park enthusiasts, 84 percent of whom have been to more than 50 parks and 88 percent of whom have visited parks outside their home country. The trade journal released the report in its September publication.

Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg, Va., ranked first in best landscaping; Disney's Epcot park was fifth.

"It is the opportunity to tell people they've done a good job," said Tim Baldwin, who coordinates the awards for Amusement Today.

Other winners:

Best amusement park: Cedar Point; Sandusky, Ohio.

Best children's park: Legoland California; Carsbad, Calif.

Best seaside park: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk; Santa Cruz, Calif.

Best outdoor night show production, IllumiNations; Epcot

Best dark ride: The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman, Universal's Islands of Adventure, Orlando

Best water ride: Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls, Universal's Islands of Adventure, Orlando

Best indoor roller coaster: Revenge of the Mummy, Universal Studios Florida, Orlando.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

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