How Accessible Boarding Works
Enroll in the Ride Accessibility Program at Guest Relations first. You receive a sheet listing the rides you can ride, then you request a boarding time at each ride entrance. Where you come back to differs by ride, which trips up more families than anything else here: some rides send you to the queue entrance, some to the ride exit, and SheiKra to a marked disabled entrance. Every detail below comes from the park's official Accessibility Guide.
Two things decide more rides than height does. First, extremity requirements: Iron Gwazi needs two functioning legs with feet and three functioning limbs, and Tigris needs two functioning legs and two functioning arms with the ability to grasp. Second, restraint fit: test seats sit at ten rides and the park says riders of larger size may not be accommodated on seven of them. Use the test seats early, before you spend a return time.
Full program details are in our Busch Gardens Tampa accessibility guide.
The Major Rides
1. Iron Gwazi
Type: Hybrid coaster with a 91-degree drop | Height: 48" | Transfer: Yes
The headline ride and the most restrictive one in the park. See the team member at the ride entrance for a return time, then come back to the queue entrance to board. Everyone passes through a metal detector because loose articles are strictly prohibited, so empty your pockets before you get in line. You need the ability to sit upright and hold the riding position, appropriate weight distribution for the restraint, control of the upper torso including head and neck, two functioning legs with feet, and three functioning limbs. Any cast that encompasses a joint rules you out, and arm casts are permitted. All prosthetics must be removed before riding, which is stricter than any other coaster here. Test seat available. Service animals not permitted.
2. SheiKra
Type: Floorless dive coaster | Height: 54" | Transfer: Yes
A slow climb, a hold at the edge, then a 90-degree plunge with your feet dangling, plus a water splash finish. See the team member at the entrance for a return time, then board through the marked disabled entrance rather than the exit. You need one functioning hand plus the ability to brace with two legs, or two functioning hands if your lower body is strong enough to hold the riding posture. Amputation must be at the knee or below. Guests with an above-knee amputation may ride using a separate three-point harness if they have at least one functioning hand, one functioning leg to the knee or below, and enough leg remnant to secure. Leg prostheses are not permitted. Arm and hand prostheses must be secured. Broken collarbone, neck brace, or any hard cast rules you out. Test seat available. Service animals not permitted.
3. Montu
Type: Inverted roller coaster | Height: 54" | Transfer: Yes
An inverted coaster in Egypt with seven inversions and the smoothest big ride in the park. See the team member at the entrance for a return time, then board at the ride exit. The requirements match SheiKra: one functioning hand plus two bracing legs, or two functioning hands with lower extremities strong enough for the riding posture, amputation at the knee or below, and a separate three-point harness option for an above-knee amputation. Leg prostheses are not permitted. Broken collarbone, neck brace, or any hard cast rules you out. Test seat available. Service animals not permitted.
4. Kumba
Type: Looping steel coaster | Height: 54" | Transfer: Yes
The 1993 sit-down looper in Congo, loud and forceful and still one of the best rides here. See the team member at the entrance for a return time, then board at the ride exit. Requirements are the same family as Montu and SheiKra: one functioning hand plus two bracing legs, or two functioning hands with strong enough lower extremities, amputation at the knee or below, and the separate three-point harness option for an above-knee amputation. Leg prostheses are not permitted. Broken collarbone, neck brace, or any hard cast rules you out. Test seat available. Service animals not permitted.
5. Cheetah Hunt
Type: High-speed launch coaster | Height: 48" | Transfer: Yes
Three launches across the Serengeti edge with a low, fast layout and one heartline roll. See the team member at the entrance for a return time, then come back to the queue entrance to board. You need two functioning hands plus one bracing leg, or two functioning hands if your center of gravity is normal and your lower extremities are strong enough for the riding posture, with amputation at the knee or below. Full leg plaster casts, cervical collars, neck braces, braced arm casts, and broken collarbones rule you out. Test seat available. Service animals not permitted.
6. Tigris
Type: Triple launch coaster | Height: 54" | Transfer: Yes
A triple-launch coaster in Stanleyville that sends you forward and backward through a heartline roll and an inverted top hat. See the team member at the entrance for a return time, then come back to the queue entrance. This one asks for the most: two functioning legs and feet, two functioning arms and hands, and the ability to grasp the handholds. Amputation must be at the knee or below. A guest with an amputated leg or arm may ride using a full body harness given at least one functioning hand, one functioning leg to the knee or below, and enough leg remnant to secure. Casts must fit comfortably inside the ride unit and not interfere with the lap bar or shin bar. Leg prostheses are not permitted, and arm or hand prostheses must be secured. Test seat available. Service animals not permitted.
7. Cobra's Curse
Type: Spinning family coaster | Height: 48" alone; 42" with a responsible person 14 or older | Transfer: Yes
A vertical lift into a free-spinning layout through Egypt, and the best bridge between the family rides and the big four. See the team member at the entrance for a return time, then board at the ride exit. You need three functioning extremities with the ability to hold on with at least one functioning hand and brace with one functioning leg, plus weight distribution that lets the restraint work. Broken collarbone, cervical collar, neck brace, or any hard cast rules you out. Test seat available. Service animals not permitted.
8. Phoenix Rising
Type: Family suspended coaster | Height: 42" min, 77" max; under 8 years old or under 48" must be accompanied | Transfer: Yes
The newest coaster in Pantopia and the right first big-kid ride for most families, with legs dangling and no inversions. The supervising adult must sit in the seat next to the child. See the team member at the entrance for a return time, then come back to the queue entrance. You need to sit upright and hold the riding position, with control of the upper torso, head, and neck. A guest with one or two legs amputated below the knee must be able to hold on with two functioning hands. A guest with an above-knee leg amputation may not ride, with or without a prosthesis, and prosthetics are not permitted. Full leg plaster casts, cervical collars, neck braces, braced arm casts, and broken collarbones rule you out. Full body restraints may be used for guests who do not otherwise meet the restrictions, so ask at the entrance. Test seat available. Service animals not permitted.
9. Falcon's Fury
Type: Face-down drop tower | Height: 54" min, 77" max | Transfer: Yes
A 335-foot tower that tilts you face-down before it drops, and the tallest thing in Pantopia. See the team member at the entrance for a return time, then come back to the queue entrance. The physical requirement is lighter than the coasters: sit upright and hold the riding position, appropriate weight distribution, control of the upper torso including head and neck, and the ability to hold on with one functioning arm. Leg amputations must be below the knee. Full leg plaster casts, cervical collars, neck braces, and broken collarbones rule you out. Test seat available. Service animals not permitted.
10. Congo River Rapids
Type: White water raft ride | Height: 42" | Transfer: Yes
A round raft through rapids, and everyone gets wet. See the team member at the entrance for a return time, then come back to the queue entrance to board. You need to hold on with one functioning hand and brace with one functioning leg, or two functioning hands if your center of gravity is normal and your lower extremities are strong enough for the riding posture, with amputation at the knee or below. Broken collarbone, neck brace, cervical collar, or a braced arm cast rules you out. This is the one major ride where service animals are permitted, which makes it the natural pick when your group is splitting up for the coasters.
11. Serengeti Flyer
Type: Screamin' Swing | Height: 48" | Transfer: Yes
Two arms swinging out over the Serengeti Plain, higher and more intense than it looks from the path. See the team member at the entrance for a return time, then come back to the queue entrance. You need two functioning legs and one fully functioning arm with the ability to grip using at least three fingers. Any leg amputation above the knee rules you out. Leg prostheses are not permitted. Arm prostheses must be secured. Test seat available. Service animals not permitted.
12. Air Grover
Type: Family coaster in Sesame Street Safari of Fun | Height: 38"; 38" to 41" must be accompanied by a supervising companion | Transfer: Yes
The lowest coaster height requirement in the park and the right first coaster for a small rider. See the team member at the entrance for a return time, then come back to the queue entrance to board. A supervising companion here means someone who meets all the ride requirements and is at least 14 years old. Service animals not permitted.
13. Skyride, Serengeti Express, and the Sesame Street rides
Type: Transport and family rides | Height: Varies, mostly none or accompanied | Transfer: Varies
These are the calm half of the park and the reason a RAP day works here. Service animals are permitted on the Skyride, the Serengeti Express train, Ubanga-Banga Bumper Cars, the Grand Caravan Carousel, Elmo's Safari Go-Round, The Count's Zambezi Rally, Snuffy's Elephant Romp, Zoe-Patra and the Hippos of the Nile, and Big Bird's Whirly Ride. At the smaller attractions there is no return time: go to the exit or the entrance marked with the disabled access sign and you may be asked to wait one or two cycles when the posted wait is ten minutes or more. The Skyride runs one way only, so plan the walk back before you board with a tired party.
Accessibility Quick Reference
- Lowest coaster height requirement: Air Grover at 38 inches accompanied, then Phoenix Rising and Cobra's Curse at 42 inches accompanied.
- Best first big coaster: Cobra's Curse at 48 inches, then Cheetah Hunt at 48 inches.
- Test seats: Cheetah Hunt, Cobra's Curse, Falcon's Fury, Iron Gwazi, Kumba, Montu, Phoenix Rising, Serengeti Flyer, SheiKra, Tigris.
- Riders of larger size may not be accommodated: Cheetah Hunt, Falcon's Fury, Iron Gwazi, Kumba, Montu, SheiKra, Tigris.
- Prosthetics not permitted: all prosthetics must be removed for Iron Gwazi. Leg prostheses are not permitted on Kumba, Montu, SheiKra, Tigris, Phoenix Rising, or Serengeti Flyer.
- Board at the ride exit: Montu, Kumba, Cobra's Curse. Board at the queue entrance: Iron Gwazi, Cheetah Hunt, Tigris, Falcon's Fury, Phoenix Rising, Serengeti Flyer, Congo River Rapids, Air Grover. Marked disabled entrance: SheiKra.
- Service animals permitted: Congo River Rapids, Skyride, Serengeti Express and the train, Ubanga-Banga Bumper Cars, Grand Caravan Carousel, Elmo's Safari Go-Round, The Count's Zambezi Rally, Snuffy's Elephant Romp, Zoe-Patra and the Hippos of the Nile, Big Bird's Whirly Ride.
- Soakers: Congo River Rapids and the SheiKra splash zone.
- No transfer, no height check: the Serengeti Plain overlooks, the Nairobi and Edge of Africa animal habitats, and the presentations at the Moroccan Palace, Pantopia, and Stanleyville theaters.