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Busch Gardens New Weather Policy for 2023

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…

Busch Gardens Tampa

Busch Gardens Tampa

Geno / BBGI

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."

How to get a return ticket...

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.

What about SeaWorld?

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."

It was early September so there wasn't much of a chill in the air, but the skies definitely looked creepy for opening night of Howl-O-Scream 2023. Take a look!

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If you ride solo, you might find a pale skinner passenger slide in.

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Geno found some new friends.

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There are about a half dozen haunted houses to enter.

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The haunted flamingos ...

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Even Big Bird looks a little scary at night.

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Don't miss the live stage shows!

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Some fun drink chioces...

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Went with Wheel of Misfortune!

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What's more terrifying than Iron Gwazi? Iron Gwazi in the dark!

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Selfie time before taking on Iron Gwazi.

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Riding the rides at night is extra fun.

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GenoEditor
Hear Geno on the air weekday afternoons. Geno's passions include fat guy food, concerts, sports, travel to Europe and South America. He loves 80s and 90s music, from MTV hairbands to old school freestyle, alternative rock to TRL era jams. Geno's radio career began in his hometown of Portland, Maine. Since then he's been on the air coast to coast from Boston to Las Vegas, Tampa to California.