Busch Gardens Tampa Bay had to send guests home early on Thursday, August 27, after severe thunderstorms swept through the Tampa area. Local authorities issued a weather alert that afternoon as strong storms moved in, bringing wind gusts up to 40 mph and prompting park leadership to close for the safety of everyone on the grounds.
The park announced the closure via its Instagram story, letting guests know the facility would be shut for the remainder of the day. It reopened on its regular schedule the following morning, Friday, August 28, and operated normally through the weekend.
Guests whose visits were cut short have a path to recourse through Busch Gardens' "Weather-or-Not Assurance" policy, which falls under the park's broader "Worry-Free Fun" umbrella. The policy entitles guests to a complimentary return visit when inclement weather causes an early closure, disrupts normal hours, shuts down rides for more than 60 minutes, or pushes the heat index to 110 degrees Fahrenheit or above inside the park. Affected guests can request a replacement ticket at Guest Services or through the park's online form, but the submission deadline is one week from the affected visit date. Nearly all ticket types are eligible, with the exception of certain promotional admissions.
Looking ahead, the park is gearing up for its popular annual Howl-O-Scream event, running select nights from September 11 through October 31, 2026, from 7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Many of those weekends will also feature the daytime Halloween Spooktacular, a family-friendly option for younger guests. The park is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, August 31.
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This story was first reported by Disney Fanatic.
