Busch Gardens New Weather Policy for 2023

Weekdays 3-7PM

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There’s nothing worse than planning a day at one of the Florida theme parks and weather forces you to change your plans. When the downpours move through Tampa, it shuts down rollercoasters. And when the heat gets extreme, the last place you want to be this time of year is outside. Busch Gardens realizes this and has updated its policy when it comes to extreme heat and wild weather.

Busch Gardens calls it the “Weather-or-Not Assurance program.” If bad weather causes them to close the park early or messes up your day during operating hours, you can ask for another visit on another day. The policy even includes heat now too. If the heat index gets to 110 or higher, come back some other time within a year and you won’t pay a thing.

Today might end up being one of those days. The heat index forecast for Tampa today is about 106, according to weather.gov. The difference between temperature and heat index can vary. The National Weather Service says the heat index is “what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature.”

To get the “re-do,” you need to do a couple things. First, you actually must be present in the park on the day stamped on your ticket. They’ll have you fill out an online form. You’ll need to use your return visit within a year of the date that was on your ticket.

The same weather policy applies for SeaWorld in Orlando too. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Marisa Thalberg called the Weather-or-Not Assurance program “the most generous inclement weather policy in the industry.”

While there were a lot of enticing beer and alcoholic beverage choices, it was 95 degrees today. Water seemed like a better choice so we stuck with that. Instead we used our Bier Fest 5 punch card to try out some of the food options Busch Gardens is offering this month.

There are loads of German classics to try, but there were 2 standouts for me you should keep an eye out if you visit during Bier Fest, going on Fridays through Sundays until Labor Day Weekend.

You can catch live local bands while you sip on beer from local brewers. There’s a Frost Proof Belgian-style White Ale from Cigar City in Tampa, Coppertail’s Sun Runner, Orange Wheat from Leaven Brewing out of Riverview and “You’re My Boy, Blue!” from Florida Avenue Brewing Co. out of Wesley Chapel.

But let’s eat. Here were the 5 things we tried. One item was just “OK”. There were 2 we thought were GOOD. And there were two “Wow, you’ve gotta try this” menu items you really should keep an eye out for.

So Apple Strudel was a no brainer for me. Apple strudel, ice cream ... and it's 95 degrees out. I couldn't order this one fast enough.

This one just didn't do much for me. It was too simple. It was a tasty but tiny apple pastry with some vanilla soft serve on the side. I'd have liked it more maybe if had a caramel drizzle or maybe something just a little more eye popping. German desserts are usually a work of art.

German meatballs sounded good.

German Meatballs with White Wine Caper Sauce... didn't end up trying this one but looked good.

This item is new on the menu this year. Producer Andrew tried it. It's Beer Braised and Slow Cooked Tender Pork Shank glazed in a Stout BBQ. He dug the flavor and liked the portion size.

Didn't try anything from this one but considered the Sauerbraten.

But that Space Grass IPA from Angry Chair in Tampa was tempting.

A seared pork sausage served on an Artisan Pretzel Roll. I liked it, but the color kind of threw me off a little.

Win #1: this is an air conditioned bar. I wish I'd tried the pretzels and beer cheese. It looked good.

But I ended up going with a Bier Fest staple. And no regrets. I don't know if it photographs well, but it was fantastic. Lots of flavor!

That kielbasa was perfectly prepared. So good.

Busch Gardens cupcakes are always phenomenal. They have 4 great choices right now.

I like gingerbread anything. So this was a no-brainer choice for me. But the Caramel Popcorn Cupcake was tempting.

That frosting is really light and the gingerbread has that kick I love.

I've been to Germany 2 or 3 times. Busch Gardens definitely creates the vibe with the live music and German cuisine.