Credit: Jeremy Thompson, FlickrLast week, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay issued an immediate closure notice via its social media channels and over the loudspeaker for guests inside the theme park. Here’s what to know about the shutdown, and what to do if it impacted your visit to the Central Florida vacation destination.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Announces Closure
On Thursday, August 27, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay posted a story on its Instagram account (@buschgardens), notifying guests that the Central Florida theme park would close for the rest of the day. It read:
“Due to inclement weather, Busch Gardens is closed for the rest of today, Aug. 27.
We hope to see you soon!”
According to the Tampa Bay Times, local authorities issued a weather alert for residents and visitors in the Tampa area early on Thursday afternoon. The area experienced strong thunderstorms and wind gusts of up to 40mph on August 27, necessitating the closure of the outdoor, wildlife-themed park.
What to Do if the Closure Impacted Your Visit
As with most theme parks under the United Parks & Resorts umbrella (the parent company of SeaWorld), Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has a “Worry-Free Fun” inclement weather policy called the Weather-or-Not Assurance.
If inclement weather causes early closure or negatively impacts the park’s operating hours, forces the closure of rides for more than 60 minutes, or temperatures inside the park reach a heat index of 110 degrees farenheight or higher, guests can request a complimentary return visit at Guest Services or by filling out this online form.
Guests must request a replacement ticket within one week of their affected theme park visit. Almost all admission types are eligible, except for select promotional tickets.
Is Busch Gardens Open Now?
Good news: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay reopened as scheduled on Friday, August 28, and operated normally on Saturday, August 29, and Sunday, August 30. The Central Florida theme park is scheduled to be open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, August 31.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is gearing up for its annual Halloween event: Howl-O-Scream. Frightful fun takes over the park from 7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. on select nights from September 11 to October 31, 2026. During the day on most Howl-O-Scream weekends, guests of all ages can enjoy the family-friendly Halloween Spooktacular event.
Check the park’s official calendar for the most up-to-date event information before planning your visit.
How do you handle inclement weather during your visits to Central Florida? Share your tips with Inside the Magic in the comments!
