Just wanted to see if I anyone knows what parking is like at SWO right now? I remember a while ago there was a discussion about shifting prices or something. My family and I are going in September and have platinum passes. We have always gotten free preferred in the past. Thanks in advance!
Current parking situation?
- Thread starter tursiops
- Start date
If I recall correctly their pricing was restructured so that the pricing varies based on attendance. If I recall correctly Platinum passes do not get preferred parking away from their home park. They night make exceptions based on the day but I believe generally they don't. It's the same as most if the member benefits. The ones listed only apply to your home park.
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All I remember about parking at SWO is that leaving at the end of the night is a nightmare.
Its been a little under a year since our last visit but we have always gotten preferred parking and show seating at SWO and BGT with our BGW platinum passes. Last visit also got ride again privileges at SWO also.
Edit out to our platinum passes.
Edit out to our platinum passes.
I got free preferred parking when I went last year, and I didn’t even ask.
About two months ago I got preferred for free at SWO with my grandfathered Premier membership—no action needed on my part.
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Busch Gardens said:
This is the current terms for a 2019 Platinum Membership (which is different from legacy Platinum Passes and 2018 issued Premier Memberships) and is also billed as their 11 park pass. They specifically used different language when talking about free preferred parking, which (to me) indicates that this is a perk that would apply to other parks as well. As for the legacy Platinum Passes (pre 2018), from my previous understanding it wasn’t a guaranteed benefit but done as a courtesy.
Every time i go with my leagacy BGW platinum pass, i get preferred parking for free. Also, if you plan on going until park close, especially on a busy night like during Electric Ocean, park near the back of the parking close to one of the exits, it may be a bit more of a walk to the entrance, but can save you more than an hour when leaving the parking lot.
We have been to SWO in January, April, and July of this year and have always received free preferred parking, free reserved show seating, and our enhanced discount. Please be aware, they no longer give preferred parking (as of our last visit in April) at Aquatica. This is what the parking attendant advised us.
The discount you should always be getting at all parks. @Gavin is correct based on reading that the platinum members should get preferred parking at all parks. However I would not expect to get preferred seating or ride again privileges at other parks.
I only reported the parking for Aquatica because since our trip in April, they have not given us preferred parking. We visited Aquatica in April and July and was denied preferred parking. We were told, both times, that no pass gets preferred parking anymore.
I realize this is the quote for SWO, but the parking attendant each time scanned our pass and the receipt said general parking. We're not arguers, so we kept it moving.
Also, we never expect, but have never been turned down, for preferred seating. In April, BGT did not turn us down for ride again privileges for any ride it was available on. However, we didn't try at SWO because the lines for the coasters were manageable. I always recommend to ask for it. The worst they can say is no.
To be fair on the BGW pass it does say as available. I haven't been to aquatica to know but perhaps they don't have very much preferred parking.
I agree about asking. I was just saying no one should be expecting it. Ask and if you get it then it is a bonus but don't be upset if you don't get it.
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@BGWnut you're absolutely right. The first time my partner was going to argue because our benefit says we get it, since we aren’t a Florida pass, but I just drove off. Aquatica isn’t that far of a walk.
I've gone to SeaWorld, Aquatica, Adventure Island and Busch Gardens Tampa in the last 3 days and have gotten preferred parking at all four. Without asking or saying a word. So while I don't think you're supposed to get preferred at the other Parks, I've gotten it pretty much every time.
As a local I don’t go to Aquatica often but i think that they still give it on slower days. Sea world I always get, and bgt I get until it fills up (very quickly) every day.