Lowery Park vs Busch Gardens/Adventure Island

ive never been to lowry park zoo but i know busch gardens is great!! and just to let you know you can get a A.I.pass with out getting a B.G.pass! the only thing is that A.I. is only open from like may or june till sept. but it is great at B.G. and they have really nice stuff for kids!!

Hi C.,
My family and I rotate passes on a yearly basis between Lowry and MOSI and had maintained our Busch Gardens/Adventure Island passes from 2002 until this past summer. I guess it just depends on what you like to do and how much $$$ you are willing to spend. You can get a season pass for Adventure Island only during the summer, but since it's a seasonal park, you'd be out of an activity the rest of the year. If what you are looking for is the zoo only, I recommend Lowry Park because it has a larger variety of animals even though it's smaller in size. Also, little kids, like your son, usually enjoy the zoo more than Busch Gardens, because of the water features, the petting zoo, the small kangaroos, and the fact that is won't be a major production to walk it with a toddler. However, Busch Gardens is wonderful for walking, and there is certainly always something to do there, from a show, to dinner, etc... Some things to keep in mind, if you get a Lowry Park zoo pass, you can "swap" memberships every September with MOSI and the Florida Aquarium and see all three attractions using your membership. Also, your Busch Gardens pass only works for that park, whereas the Lowry pass can give you discounts and/or free entrances at other zoos around the country.

I don't know much about the Lowery Park zoo....but the one at Busch gardens is amazing, very big in fact you could spend a day just doing that and not going on any rides. But they have other attractions for kids as well as the roller coasters and i think it is worth it. You can check out the website and see how much they have....it is a very good zoo and so much more!

It depends on what you are looking for. We love Busch Gardens and my kids love it. The animals are amazing and so many of them to see. We don't do roller coaster, and there is also a children's play area with water to get your feet wet and fun places to run and jump that you don't see in commercials. My girlfriend recently went to Africa on a safari and she commented, "Busch Gardens really did a great job recreating the African plain." We spent many days just going through to see different animals and learning all about them. But also it depends on the age of your children.

We avoided a Busch Gardens until my son was ready to ride the bigger rides (last year at age 7). Lowry Park is less crowded and has free parking. Like someone else mentioned, during Sept. Lowry Park members can go to the Aquarium and MOSI for free. You might also see if Lowry Park offers a reciprocal arrangement with other zoos (MOSI does this for science centers).

I have had both passes and would renew the zoo over the amusement park. The zoo is always less crowded and there are still a few kiddie rides if that's important. The zoo is more of a special family outing vs battling the crowds. They have a couple water areas too, although certainly not like the amusement park. The parking is free and it's leisurely to walk in most any day. The zoo has 'zoo school' classes and other special events too that don't have 5 million other people all trying to sign up for too.

The zoo pass also gives you reciprocal member benefits throughout the year so you can enjoy the Florida Aquarium for a full free month and other places like different museums and attractions.... This really gives you lots to enjoy throughout the year..

I worked at Adventure Island. You CAN get a pass to just A.I. its not offerred on the website alone, but if you wait until the park opens again this spring, you can buy an annual (seasonal) pass. A week day pass was $34.99 this year. The annual pass to include weekends was $99.99. Prices may change, but you do not need to get a 2 park pass.

I prefer Busch Gardens over the zoo. They have the animals there, a spray area for the little ones, lots of little rides for the little ones (that you don't have to ride on (I don't like rides either). You can ride the train around the preserve and get a much better view of the animals than you do at the zoo. Jungala offers close up views of some pretty neat animals. No restrictions on bring in food to the park (they do at the zoo) I suggest you get the Passort pass. It will give you free parking, plus 10% discount on any purchase at the parks. If you son is 2 and under he is free. If you buy a ticket for your husband then he is free for the rest of the year.

I asked my daughters. They said if your not into the rides then it's best to keep the zoo passes. They are 21 and 23 and both prefer the zoo over Busch Gardens as far as the animals go. You will be disappointed if you choose the Busch Garden passes for a child so young. When he gets older and into the rides then you would want the Busch Garden passes. I am also from Michigan. Lansing/Jackson area. Did you ever go to Deer Park when you lived there. If not it's a great place to take your son if you go back home for a visit.

We have passes to Busch Gardens and have also been to the zoo this year and last. I don't recall seeing an area of Busch Gardens that was set up like a zoo, but it does have TONS of animals all over the park. Our kids are 3, 2, and 1 and they LOVE it there, probably even more than the zoo. They have so many rides at Busch Gardens now for kids (though your little guy is still kinda young for some of them) and they also have a regular playground, which isn't huge, but pleasing to kids of our age (and easy for parents to watch kids on!). My youngest was born in May of 2008, so he's about 5 months older than yours, and he absolutely LOVED the rides he could go on the last time we went (July??). I'm also pregnant, so I can't go on the big rides either, but I love riding the kiddie rides with my kids!!

Maybe (since you really like Adventure Island anyway) you could go with that pass this year, and if it's not worth it to you, you could always do the zoo again next year. They always have those $5 days at the zoo anyway. I think the next one is in January. That's the only time we go to the zoo!! (But we also live 2 hours away...)

C.,

My family has purchased passes for Adventure Island only. They have changed things and they will continue to due so as the parks have been sold. They are no longer owned by Anheiser Busch. If you go onto Adventure Islands website you can buy passes, I just don't remember the number of days. Plus you don't have to do Busch Gardens, you could do Sea World if you wanted.

Good luck.

S.

I have passes to all 3 (Busch Gardens, Adv. Island & Lowry). Busch Gardens is the best! The zoo is a lot better than Lowry, but the best part is the Dragon Land for kids. We went there yesterday and my 20 month old & 4 yr old had a blast! They have so many rides for kids that age. So, my opinion is that Busch Gardens is the best out of those 3, but also the most expensive.

Have fun!
R..

Busch Gardens has always had animals.

Going with your child's age, I would get a Lowry Zoo pass. When the child is two plus, I think that is a better age for a Busch Gardens pass.