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Florida residents jam Busch Gardens on the last day to get a pass allowing unlimited visits to the park for the rest of the year.
By ANGELA MOORE
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 1, 2000
TAMPA -- Chicago natives Rachel Gianeli and Dean Urso took a Hartline bus from their hotel in downtown Tampa to Busch Gardens on Sunday morning, then waited in hour-long ticket lines before they got in the park.
Once inside, they fought record crowds of Floridians, not tourists, and left the park Sunday afternoon without riding some of the biggest attractions because the lines were too long.
They didn't know when they planned their Busch Gardens jaunt that Sunday was the last day Florida residents could buy the Florida 2000 Fun Card. For a one-time cost of $46 per adult and $37 per child, the card allows Floridians unlimited visits to the amusement park for the rest of the year. The promotion has been so successful that the park has been packed and parking lots have overflowed all month.
Would Gianeli and Urso brave the crowds again?
"We had a really good time," Gianeli said. "Standing in lines in 80 degrees and sunshine is better than sitting in 50 degrees back home anytime."
On Sunday, Florida residents hit the park in droves, filling up parking lots and inspiring some people to park along the roads leading to Busch Gardens and in the lots of banks and fast-food restaurants. Those that parked along the road, however, risked a $16 city parking ticket.
Although the park doesn't release attendance numbers, public relations director Gerard Hoeppner said April has broken all records at Busch Gardens, "and the Fun Card has clearly been a phenomenal part of that." "Then consider the great weather and all the spring breakers, lots of them in-state because of the cards," he said. "All three things taken together have really helped business."
Hoeppner said the main appeal of the card was its simplicity: pay once, come whenever you want.
"People love a value, whether it's at theme park or in retail," Hoeppner said.
The value inspired Heather Poole and Kimberly Christy to drive from Clearwater and walk a half-mile down a dusty road to buy their cards Sunday afternoon without riding a single ride. After fighting traffic and crowds for nearly an hour, Poole considered the deal.
"This wasn't that bad, considering what you get," she said. "We timed it okay."