Trip to BGT at the end of July, RIP Kumba

[Master of Puppets]

I know I don't post here a lot and I hadn't ridden a rollercoaster since 2014 but when instagram informed me in mid July of Kumba's August 2 permanent closure I was devastated. Kumba has always been my favorite, since I live a long ways from Florida but still managed to see it getting built, riding it when it was new, then riding it hundreds of times over the years every time we'd go to Tampa to visit my grandparents.

Needless to say on a farm in Canada in July I thought there was a zero percent chance I'd ever get to ride it again. But my wife had other plans.

She basically threw me out the door with a "you're going to Florida and that's it"

So I did. I got on a plane on July 27, flew into Orlando, got a rental vehicle, got a room next to Sea World and in the morning of July 28 I drove to Tampa and went into a park I hadn't seen in 12 years.

I skipped everything upon entering, I just went straight to the roped off area where you have to wait an additional 30 minutes to get to the back of the park. This Canadian in Florida in late July was already soaked in sweat and wondering if he'd survive the day. (Although my brother texted me and said it was like 110 degrees F with the humidity back home too, so basically the same.. lol)

Me and a handful of other people all had the same plan. We got on Kumba right when they allowed us in, I was on the first occupied train of the day in the front row. It was every bit as good as I remembered it. Then got to ride it another 9 times without even leaving the station.

I meandered around the park, ducking in and out of air conditioning and stuff througout the day, I rode all the coasters a few times, Iron Gwazi is something to behold, I'd never been on an RMC before and that thing is something else.

But I kept going back to Kumba. I rode it 33 times that day, one for every year of it's existence. I left the park completely wiped at 8:30 or so and got back to my hotel around 9:45.

So, you may wonder why I'm an idiot and flying into Orlando instead of Tampa, well it used less of my points for some reason and I booked 2 days there in case of weather or mechanical issues or something to make sure I could get on Kumba. Because I accomplished this on day one, I went to Sea World on day 2.

Rode all the coasters there a few times, Mako the most but by about 4:30 I was done with the heat and the people and everything.

My original plan had me leaving Sea World mid afternoon and darting up to IOA to check out Velocicoaster but I just didn't have the energy. Plus that one is relatively new so when my kids get bigger I'll go back and they can ride that one with me. Plus by then Kumba's Revenge should be built. I did go to Universal Citywalk though, had to hit up the Hard Rock Cafe... Haha.

Then on the 30 I jumped on a plane and came home. Back to work on the 31.

This was quite the experience, I just don't do stuff like that. First time I've ever gone to a theme park solo as well, which honestly was a lot of fun. Being able to do whatever I wanted was something I hadn't experienced in awhile. No way anyone I know woulda ridden 50+ coasters in 110 degree heat/humidity with me. At least I highly doubt it.

I can always say I got to go give Kumba the send off I felt I owed it. Hoping Kumba's revenge doesn't suck.

Cheers!