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Gwazi Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay
Busch Gardens at Tampa Bay with its many different styles of roller coaster has one quite unusual offering – Gwazi.
As you enter Busch Garden, bear left through some of its prettiest gardens with beautiful flowers and plants, towards Stanleyville . Here you see a magnificent structure made up from a maze of metal, wooden lattice and diamond patterns. This is Gwazi, an awsome rollercoaster that stands out from the crowd – a structure that will definitely stay in your mind. Quite deceptive to think that this rollercoaster was built in 1999 when it gives the illusion of being much older than that!
Gwazi gets its name after a mythical creature which consists of the head of a tiger and the body of a lion. This name, or link, is appropriate as Gwazi is a ‘dueling’ rollercoaster with two tracks – one called yellow and the other blue. In addition, the two trains that ride each track match the colour of the track the train rides on. This amazing structure covers over 7, 000 feet with the trains reaching speeds of 50 miles per hour. However, the two tracks are similar but not exactly the same.
Wooden roller coasters, often called woodies, have steel running rails overlaid on a wooden track. Despite the metal content this style of rollercoaster is still thought of as a wood rollercoaster due to the track design. Most woodies do not have inversions, where the train goes upside down, steep drops or banked turns but they give their own form of enjoyment unique to them.
The yellow and blue Gwazi trains run on this duelling rollercoaster passing each other in opposite direction at high speeds. In fact Gwazi holds the record for the most fly-bys – six in total giving the riders the impression that the two will collide – but of course they do not! Just part of the thrill! Wooden rollercoasters can give a jostling, bumping feeling so take care but for many, this is what makes Gwazi different, hence it is one of Busch Gardens most popular rides.
If you enjoy rollercoasters and want to try an unusual ride give Gwazi a go and enjoy! The ride lasts two minutes and a half minutes and has a height restriction of forty eight inches.
Busch Gardens is approximately an hour from the main vacation homes in Orlando and is open most days of the year. Opening hours may vary so check for your day. Tickets are available through the Orlando Villas website at completive prices.
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