Busch Gardens Tampa in March
 

We were thinking of spending our spring break which is March 14 - 19 in Tampa area, going to Busch Gardens and more. I was thinking this was an early spring break, but now I'm not sure. So two questions:
Does anyone have any experience with how crowded Busch Gardens would be in March?
What is generally spring break season in Florida?

Spring break, as in "all the kids are out of school" or Spring break as in "all the college kids are out of school"?

You can almost guarantee that anytime between President's Day week in February (when many New England public schools are off for a week) through mid April (sometimes it is Easter week, sometimes not - also when New England schools are of) that some large number of public school kids get a week off. Private schools tend to have a week, or even 2, off in mid-March. Much of the rest of the country gives kids time off in March, but week will vary by year and by location.

Colleges should not be as relevant since Tampa is not a big college-age destination.

That said, we have been to Busch Gardens during an April school break and did not find the crowds oppressive.

Gail,
While Tampa might not be a college spring break area, nearby Clearwater Beach certainly is. The roads are extrememly congested, resturants packed and there are people everywhere!

Yes, my family and I visited from Texas this past spring during the same time interval you mention. We visited midweek and it was managable. Some attractions for the younger children had no wait, while rollercoasters had waits about 30 minutes. Be aware that it was about as hot and humid there in March as it is in Houston in the summer. I am not a theme park person but did enjoy our day at Busch Gardens and you could easily spend two days there.

Thanks to all for input. I wasn't thinking college break so much. Appreciate the point about clearwater. Thanks binthair for the reminder to pack light....

But when you pack light, bring a small towel and extra shirt for each of you - if you go on the ride that is like a giant inner tube, you will get soaked (the ride is great fun and we did it several times). The exit for the ride is into a gift shop doing a great business in over-priced t-shirts for riders who are now too soaked to continue with their day. When we went several years ago there were self-store lockers in various places around park, but these may have been discontinued for security reasons.

Most public schools in Florida have spring break (K-12) March 15-19 2003 or Mar 22-26 just to give you some sort of idea but I really dont think it will be busy there that time of year. I was at busch gardens last week of March this year and it fine, really. Id say go for it and have fun...dont forget the kids 8-P