On Nov. 10, the Coral Gables Senior High School Class of 2027 participated in their annual class trip to Busch Gardens in Tampa, Fl. All 130 Cavaliers were excited to continue the Gables tradition by enjoying the thrill of roller coasters, explore the park’s wildlife exhibits and spend time with one another in a setting known for its adventure and excitement.
Departing Gables’ campus at 5 a.m., juniors packed into three buses and began their five-hour trip to Tampa. Students settled into their seats with friends, listening to music, chatting and catching up on sleep they lost the night before. The extra rest helped them recharge and prepare for the nine hours they would spend walking through Busch Gardens.
“The out of state tour made me really tired, but I was still excited to visit Busch Gardens. It had been a while since I had went and I remembered the rides being really intense so that made me want to go even more. Being with my friends made the experience even better and I had an opportunity to rest on the bus both on the way there and back which helped make it through the day,” junior Mateo Schiffer said.
Halfway through the drive, students stopped at a rest area for a short break. They were offered a complimentary bagel and given time to use the restroom before continuing their journey. Although brief, the stop re-energized everyone for the final stretch.
As they arrived at Busch Gardens, excitement surged. Students filed out quickly, eager to head through the gates and make the most of their day. Groups hurried toward their favorite attractions, hoping to reach popular attractions before lines formed. However, many rides, such as SheiKra, opened relatively late due to delayed testing of the rides. Even through these delays, students still managed to enjoy some of Busch Gardens’ biggest rides and took advantage of these lines to talk with friends and make memories.
“I was pretty annoyed when we first got there since some of the rides weren’t open but after about an hour most were open and we were able to go on some of the intense rides at the park. It could have been more enjoyable if the rides were open once we got there but the lines didn’t really affect our group since we made a lot of jokes that entertained us until we got into the coaster,” junior Francisco Faria said.
Throughout the day, students explored Busch Gardens’ themed areas, each offering unique rides and experiences. Jungala featured animal habitats and family-friendly attractions. Pantopia, one of the most colorful sections, housed major thrill rides like Falcon’s Fury. The Egypt and Morocco areas immersed visitors in high-speed roller coasters such as Montu and Cobra’s Curse. Further out, the Serengeti Plain provided views of giraffes, zebras and other wildlife, connecting the park’s animal-focused mission with its rides.Many students headed straight for Busch Gardens’ most iconic coasters, including Iron Gwazi, SheiKra and Montu, which typically draw the longest lines. Iron Gwazi, a hybrid coaster, is known for its towering drops and extreme speed. SheiKra is a floorless dive coaster featuring a dramatic 90-degree vertical plunge, while Montu is an inverted coaster famous for its intense loops and fast-paced twists.
As students made their way through the park, they saw a variety of animals reflecting Busch Gardens’ origins as a zoo. Throughout the day, shows gave Cavaliers an opportunity to rest and watch impressive animals that they don’t see often. The biggest show, “Animal Tales”, allowed students to learn about some of the park’s animals while watching them on stage.
“After my group had done a few rides we had gotten really hungry and needed some rest. We found the show and decided to eat while watching the show and it really refreshed us to continue our day in the theme park and go on some more rides before we had to leave,” junior Cristina Carcamo said.
As the day came to an end, students made their way back to the buses at 6 p.m. The Class of 2027 enjoyed an unforgettable day filled with excitement, laughter and experiences at Busch Gardens. With this year’s trip a success, students are already looking forward to Grad Bash and the chance to build more lasting high school memories.
“I overall had a great time even with some delays. I really hope I go to Grad Bash next year because I have gone to every class trip since freshman year and every year has been funner than the last. These trips help me create some of the best memories of my life and I hope to continue it next year at Grad Bash and other school events,” junior Jessica Kapxhiu said.
