I won tickets to ride Sheikra from the radio the day before it officially opened (Friday, May 20). They let me into the park at 8:00 and stayed open to 11:00 after the park was closed. When I got there they gave everyone a ticket to ride Sheikra once and when I finally got to the ride, they estimated the weight was about 3 hours long. Instead of waiting, I took rode the rest of the rides that were open a whole bunch of times since they had no wait at all when the park opened. I rode Kumba 8 times, 2 of the times in the front row, and also went on the water rides many times. I got on the Python, and the only thing that was open that I didnt go on were some kiddie rides. About 10:30 I went to wait on line for Sheikra and the line was much shorter than it was earlier in the night, but was still wraping way around the theatre in Stanleyville. I was told that the wait was still about 2 hours. Just as I got in line, the live band playing finished up, so I didnt have much entertainment, and then just as I was going into the building for Sheikras actual line, a second band came on, so I missed the entertainment. Inside of Shekras building was hardly finished and I dont think there was any way for them to finish it for the grand opening the next day. A lot of places, the walls were pieces of plywood, and the floor wasnt paved.
Finally, I got on the actual ride itself and got in the middle of the second row (they wouldnt let me wait for the front). The lift hill was great how you were almost lieing down. I havent been on a coaster with a lift hill like that anywhere. Once on top of the hill where you were held for four seconds, I looked for the nice view of downtown tampa that I had heard about, but didnt see it (it was cloudy out), and then was dropped. Out of all free fall rides that I have been on, Sheikra gave the best free fall experience that I have had even though it wasnt even a freefall. It was actually long enough to realize you are floating as you are falling straight down. The drop didnt compare to the height of the drop of Millenium Force at Cedar Point though, even though that coaster is not straight down. The loop was fun, but nothing special, and then at the second drop my car stopped and hung over the edge. The cars in the station must have been backed up because as I was watching as I was waiting on line they werent doing this. Then the car went over the drop into the tunnel and then splashed down into the water. It wasnt noticeable that you were making a wake or splash of any kind. And then after that the ride was basically over.
Sheikra was a great ride, but it was way too short. Its a must if you go to Busch Gardens, but there are other rides out there that are a lot better. Kumba is still my favorite at the park. Hulk and Kracken are better outside of Busch Gardens. On the way out, they gave everyone a gift bag with a Sheikra t-shirt and a busch gardens fan in it. It was nice of Busch Gardens to give out 5,000 free tickets into the park plus t-shirts to radio winners.
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