Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s Wild Oasis opening delayed for a second time, pushing back the launch of its new rainforest-themed area in the Jungala section of the theme park.
Things are not going as planned with the newly revitalized Wild Oasis area at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Theme park enthusiasts have learned that Wild Oasis is facing a second delay in its opening. For the second time, the night before Busch Gardens Tampa Bay annual pass members were scheduled to have previews of Wild Oasis, the previews were cancelled.
The original planned opening date for Wild Oasis for all guests was June 6. However, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay pass members were supposed to receive a few special preview days, starting on May 30 and running through June 5. However, May 30 did not function as the first day that guests could enter this new theme park area. Sure, new animals have arrived for Wild Oasis. The brand-new TOMA at Orang Cafe quick service restaurant opened up a few weeks ago. TOMA at Orang Cafe resides near Wild Oasis in the Jungala area of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
Wild Oasis at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Many preparations have been made for this day. So, how did it go? However, it did not happen, as on the night of May 29, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay fans received notification that the previews had been cancelled. In fairness, the Busch Gardens Tampa Bay pass member previews knew these were technical previews. That means not everything would be open and operating. For example, we did not expect the Tree Top Drop attraction to be ready for this preview. In fact, we doubted it would be open on June 6. Nevertheless, nothing opened on May 30, as the previews had failed to happen.
Wild Oasis Opening Delayed: Part One
The Wild Oasis opening delayed notice came just hours before its anticipated debut.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay sent out this message about the cancelled previews: “As a valued Pass Member, we know how much you’re looking forward to previewing our all-new Wild Oasis realm. We had planned to start Pass Member Previews tomorrow, but we have made the difficult decision to postpone the start of our preview days.
Our teams have been working around the clock to get the realm ready for you and your family to enjoy, and despite everyone’s best efforts, we need more time. There are so many exciting elements coming together to make this North America’s most immersive kid-friendly adventure realm, and we want to make sure that when we finally open the gates to you that we’re able to deliver on that incredible experience.
We understand that many of you have already made plans to visit the park for the previews, and we sincerely apologize for this last minute change and any inconvenience this may cause. We hope that you’ll be able to take advantage of our new preview dates, which we’ll share as soon as possible over the next few days.” The official statement concluded by saying, “We are grateful for your continued support and thank you for being part of the Busch Gardens family.”
Wild Oasis Opening Delayed: New Opening Date and Previews Scheduled
Soon after this cancellation, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay announced a new timeline for previews and the official opening. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay announced that Wild Oasis would open to all guests on June 11. A new preview schedule was released that looked like this:
- Friday, June 6: Media & Platinum Pass Member Previews (includes special Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 10:30 a.m.)
- Saturday, June 7: Platinum & Gold Pass Member Previews
- Sunday, June 8: Platinum, Gold & Silver Pass Member Previews
- Monday, June 9 & Tuesday, June 10: Platinum, Gold, Silver & Bronze Pass Member Previews.
Wild Oasis Delayed – Yes, Again
On June 5, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay fans received word that the second set of previews had been cancelled. Busch Gardens confirmed the Wild Oasis opening delayed for the second time this year. The official statement read: “
POSTPONED: PASS MEMBER PREVIEWS FOR WILD OASIS
Tomorrow, June 6 – Tuesday, June 10, 2025
We know many of you have been counting down the days to step into the adventure at Wild Oasis, and we’re just as excited to welcome you. The anticipation has been building, and we’re so close. However, we are asking for your continued understanding as we share that we’ve made the very difficult decision to postpone our planned opening of the realm on Friday, June 6.
While this is not the news we hoped to share, our team remains committed to bringing Wild Oasis to life in a way that fully delivers on our promise of it being North America’s most immersive kid-friendly adventure realm. Every detail matters, and we are taking the necessary time to ensure that this new realm is everything we all want it to be.
A new opening timeline is on the way, and as always, Pass Members will be the first to know. In the meantime, as a thank you for your patience, starting tomorrow Pass Members and Fun Card holders will receive one free ticket for use through June 30, 2025.
We’ll continue to provide updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the progress of this exciting addition to Busch Gardens. Thank you for your support and for being part of our Busch Gardens family. We can’t wait to welcome you to Wild Oasis this summer.”
Now, we assume that the reference to one free ticket means one free guest ticket. Busch Gardens offers guests tickets with its passes. This one would be an additional one to bring a guest.
What is Wild Oasis?
Wild Oasis offers guests an immersive rainforest-themed experience designed to entertain, educate, and inspire visitors of all ages.
Located within the park’s Jungala area, Wild Oasis features a variety of attractions:tampabay.com+6behindthethrills.com+6blooloop.com+6
- Tree Top Drop: A 35-foot drop tower ride enhanced with immersive multimedia effects, simulating a plunge into a cenote.
- Canopy Climb: An expansive climbing structure with four levels, 200 feet of horizontal trails, and vertical climbs reaching 45 feet, allowing guests to explore the treetop canopy.
- Enchanted Falls: An interactive splash pad featuring fountains and spray towers, providing a refreshing play area for younger visitors.
- Rainforest Quest: A self-guided educational scavenger hunt that highlights the interconnected wonders of the rainforest ecosystem.
- Habitat Hideaway: A multi-species animal habitat offering up-close encounters with capybaras, giant anteaters, squirrel monkeys, and tropical birds, with viewing perspectives from both ground-level and aerial viewpoints.
Wild Oasis is part of a larger $40 million transformation project at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, aimed at enhancing guest experiences with new rides, restaurants, and animal attractions.
However, Wild Oasis continues to face challenges in its opening. Park officials have yet to provide a new date after the Wild Oasis opening delayed announcement. For more theme park-related news and information, visit MSM News.
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