Is Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Fat Friendly? – The Best and Worst Rides for Plus-Size People!

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is the number one attraction in the Tampa area, but for plus size riders, it may also be an anxiety-inducing one. After all, no one wants to queue up for a roller coaster only to be denied a seat on the ride!

It’s nice to have an idea of what to expect before you ever set foot in the park. So, let’s take a look – is Busch Gardens Tampa Bay fat friendly?

Is Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Fat Friendly?

When looking at theme park accessibility and inclusivity, it’s hard not to compare other places to Walt Disney World, which is one of the best parks for plus size riders. There are only a few attractions there that are unsuited for larger people, so you can usually hop on a ride without thinking twice.

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for other parks like Universal Studios or even today’s contender, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. There are definitely some rides to avoid, which is a bit of a shame, considering how those thrill rides are a huge part of the park’s appeal.

Busch Gardens Test Seats

One thing we do appreciate is that Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has test seats at the entrance of each roller coaster. These test seats include the seat belts and harnesses you would experience on the actual ride. A green light will come on if the buckle or harness is properly in place, and a red light will flash if safety precautions are not met. Rather than weight restrictions, it’s the harnesses that really determine whether or not you can ride.

If you have any doubts about fitting comfortably on a ride, the test seats are a great option that can save you a lot of time and discomfort. If you ever have questions or concerns, don’t feel shy about asking a nearby staff member what they would advise for a particular ride.

You may notice that some rides at Busch Gardens don’t have test seats. As a general rule, that means anybody can safely enjoy that experience. But again, if you have doubts, don’t feel awkward about double-checking with a staff member! They are there to help!

What Are My BEST Ride Options?

The river rafting rides and less intense rides at Busch Gardens Tampa are some of the best plus side rides as they don’t have such stringent safety constraints. Most folks don’t encounter a problem on Congo River Rapids or Stanley Falls Flume.

That being said, many of the thrilling roller coasters do have select seats with larger seat belts to accommodate riders of varying sizes. (These seats are usually located in the middle of the coaster.) Simply request one of these seats from a staff member!

A Busch Gardens Tampa ride representative on Tripadvisor explained, “Seats can typically accommodate guests of up to 52″ chest size. We do have specific seats with larger seat belts; however, the seats and harnesses are not modified.”

While that still doesn’t guarantee every thrill ride will be a great fit, we’re glad it provides a better opportunity for some plus-size riders!

Which Rides Should I Be Cautious About?

Unfortunately, the Busch Gardens Tampa Bay rides that cause the most trouble for plus-size folks are usually their signature roller coasters.

Folks of varying weights, shapes, and sizes have talked about their experiences online, and there doesn’t seem to be a “magic number” that determines whether or not these coasters will be a comfortable fit. It’s truly different for everyone.

In the Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Accessibility Guide, it gives this list of rides that may not be suitable for larger guests (the safety restraint descriptions have been added by us for your convenience):

• Kumba. Over-the-shoulder harness and molded seats.
• Montu. Over-the-shoulder harness with tight seating.
• SheiKra. Over-the-shoulder harness.
• Falcon’s Fury. Over-the-shoulder harness.
• Cheetah Hunt. Over-the-shoulder harness.
• Tigris. Over-the-shoulder buckling straps.
• Iron Gwazi. Tight seating with a lap bar restraint.

While that’s a majority of the roller coasters, we’d like to point out that some, such as Cheetah Hunt and Iron Gwazi, consistently pop up in forums for not being a comfortable fit, while the others seem to be more hit-or-miss. We wouldn’t necessarily rule out any rides without giving the test seats a try!

We should also note that while some of these rides have larger seats/seat belts, some of the molded seats may still feel uncomfortable, even if you technically fit. (While not listed in the Accessibility Guide, we think this could be true of the new Serengeti Flyer ride, which has molded spaces for your legs and a lap bar restraint.)

Other Things To Do At Busch Gardens Tampa

Let’s say you’re unable to ride any of the roller coasters. Can you still have fun at Busch Gardens Tampa? Is it even worth going?

Thankfully, there’s more to this theme park than just the thrill rides. It’s also one of the best zoos in the country!

If you love animals, you can totally lean into that side of Busch Gardens and just prioritize the zoo over the “amusement section” of the park. (Heck, with so many animals to see, would you really even have time for those roller coasters anyway??)

There are safaris to go on and special animal encounters you can book (for an extra fee), as well as some exciting shows in the theatres throughout the park. While the thrill rides are a big draw, there are still plenty of fun things to do that make a visit with friends worthwhile and enjoyable.

Verdict: Is Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Plus Size Friendly?

Compared to other theme parks, we’d have to say Busch Gardens Tampa Bay isn’t plus-size friendly.

The number of rides that pose potential problems make up a large majority of the rides in the park (and nearly all of the “thrill” ones). While the roller coasters do have some modified seating that has worked well for larger guests, other folks have found such a solution to be lacking.

We understand the safety precautions of thrill rides, and we’re glad they’re in place, but the harnesses used here tend to put a damper on the number of fat friendly rides at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

However, the zoo portion of Busch Gardens is great for everyone, so it is possible to fill your day with fun and entertainment, even if you cut the roller coasters from your itinerary.

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What have your experiences at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay been like? Share your experiences in the comments below, and let us know if you’d add (or subtract) any rides from our cautionary list!

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