Busch Raises Admission by $3

Theme park owner Anheuser-Busch Cos. on Friday bumped up full-price admission to its bigger Florida parks by $3 but unveiled a variety of discounts to cushion the blow.

Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa now cost adults $64.95 plus tax and Sea World pricing will get closer to its crosstown rival parks in Orlando at $67.95. Walt Disney Wolrld's four theme parks are $71 each.

Busch will make permanent what had been a periodic offer of a $10 discount on tickets purchased in advance, either online by Florida residents or seven days in advance among out-of-state vacationers. The popular Florida Fun Card, also promoted as "Pay for a Day, Come Back All Year," will return for its eighth year in 2008. That ticket allows Florida residents to visit one Busch park all year for the price of one day's admission. Those tickets go on sale online and at Publix Super Markets Nov. 26.

Busch also extended its multi-day and multi-park discount ticket options to include Aquatica, a new water park Busch will open near Sea World in March.

-- Mark Albright, Times Staff Writer