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Busch Gardens Guests Warned of Potential Crisis Lockdown Next Week

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Posted on by Chloe James Leave a comment
A man and a woman enjoy drinks while standing in front of a roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, a Florida theme park.

Credit: Busch Gardens

Just weeks after SeaWorld’s Aquatica went into lockdown, theme park fans are warning that Busch Gardens may meet a similar fate.

Back in 2024, Aquatica Orlando – which, like SeaWorld Orlando, is owned by United Parks & Resorts and contains an abundance of marine life – made headlines after it was forced into an abrupt early closure. A crowd of teenagers swarmed the park as part of a planned takeover event, which soon led to a fight breaking out that allegedly involved over 100 people. Police were eventually summoned to shut down the situation, and the park was locked down for the day.

Earlier this month, an extremely similar incident played out after a huge crowd of teenagers planned another takeover of Aquatica Orlando on June 12. Teenagers who planned to attend the event shared their disappointment on TikTok, with some claiming that the water park had closed before they could even arrive.

Another Teen Takeover Planned For Florida’s Theme Parks

That doesn’t seem to be the last of 2025’s summer takeovers, as theme park fans are warning of another event planned for next week.

This time, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is the planned venue. The park – which is located less than two hours away from Orlando and drew in disappointing numbers in 2024 – was previously the site of another takeover event in 2024. Like Aquatica, this takeover (which was actually cancelled ahead of time, but still seemed to trigger a mass meetup) led to a fight within the park. Videos of the incident showed several women growing violent as security tried to intervene. Guests in attendance also claimed that a gun was pulled, although this remains unverified.

The 2025 edition of the event is set to take place on June 28 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Theme park fans have already warned others off visiting the park – which is primarily known for its thrill rides, such as SheiKra, Iron Gwazi, Montu, and Cobra’s Curse – as well as encouraging Busch Gardens or local police to step in and control the situation.

“If anyone was planning on going to BGT on Saturday June 28, please be aware that a bunch of ghetto, degenerate thugs are planning on invading the park to cause violence and chaos that could injure your family,” said one X, formerly known as Twitter, user.

“Despite advertising it online heavily last year, park management did nothing to prevent it and allowed it to get way out of hand. Hey
@BuschGardens if you allow this to happen despite ample warning again this summer I’m canceling my pass, I shouldn’t have to worry about my safety at your parks bc you can’t have your security team form a plan. @TampaPD please take care of this since the park is too poorly managed to.”

Another X user also tagged the park, writing, “Please do something to prevent this from escalating before it happens. If anything happens that day, you can’t claim you haven’t been warned.”

Theme Parks Step In To Control Teen Behavior

Some theme parks have taken drastic measures to try to control young guests.

Six Flags, for example, requires all guests aged 15 years old or younger to be accompanied by a chaperone who is at least 21 years old to be admitted to or remain in the park. Rules may vary by park. “The policy will be in effect daily by 5:00 p.m. local time,” Six Flags Great Adventure says on its website, adding that it “reserves the right to begin enforcing the Chaperone Policy earlier on any given day.” It also recommends that parents or guardians remain with minors under the age of 18.

Meanwhile, Knott’s Berry Farm requires guests under the age of 15 to be accompanied by a chaperone over the age of 21 from 4 p.m. onwards on Mondays to Thursdays and from 1 p.m. onwards on Fridays to Sundays. Again, Knott’s Berry Farm states that it “reserves the right to begin enforcing the Chaperone Policy earlier on any given day.”

A family walking in front of the Knott's Marketplace
Credit: Knott’s Berry Farm

Some theme parks intermittently enforce their chaperone policies, depending on the time of year. For example, Six Flags Fiesta Texas enforced its policy over the Halloween season as attendance surged for its Fright Fest event before bringing it back again in late March ahead of the summer crowds.

What Is The Chaperone Policy at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay?

As per its website, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay currently lacks a permanent chaperone policy. “A chaperone policy may be activated on select dates,” it states, with the latest enforcement of the policy falling on May 31, 2025.

When in place, the policy sets strict rules for who can or cannot enter the park unaccompanied.

A man and a woman enjoy drinks while standing in front of a roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, a Florida theme park.
Credit: Busch Gardens

Chaperone Policy Details

  • All guests 15 years of age or younger must be accompanied by a chaperone who is at least 21 years old to be admitted to, or remain in, the park.
  • Chaperones must present a valid government-issued photo ID with date of birth upon entry.
  • One (1) chaperone may accompany no more than ten (10) guests aged 15 or younger per day.
  • Chaperones must enter the park with their group, remain inside the park for the duration of the visit, and be reachable by phone at all times.
  • Guests aged 15 or younger who are found inside the park without a chaperone present and reachable by phone will be subject to ejection without a refund.
  • Guests 16 years of age or older who are not accompanied by a chaperone must be able to present a valid government-issued photo ID with date of birth to verify their age. If proof of age cannot be verified, guests may be denied entry.
  • This policy applies to all ticket holders, Fun Card Holders and Pass Members

Whether the park will decide to enforce the same policy on June 28 remains to be seen.

What do you think of the current teen takeover theme park trend?

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Chloe James

Chloë is a theme park addict and self-proclaimed novelty hunter. She's obsessed with all things Star Wars, loves roller coasters (but hates Pixar Pal-A-Round), and lives for Disney's next Muppets project.

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