Your guide to Central Florida’s theme parks and attractions
Florida Thrills is an independent media site covering theme parks, attractions, seasonal events, and entertainment destinations across Central Florida and beyond. Through original photos, videos, news, and on-location reporting, we bring readers closer to the parks and experiences they love.
Our History
Florida Thrills began in 2002 as BGTGuide, a fan site focused on news, rumors, and construction updates at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
Over time, coverage expanded to include Universal’s Islands of Adventure and, while the owner attended Georgia Tech, Six Flags Over Georgia. In its early years, the site documented major Busch Gardens milestones, including the opening of SheiKra, its later floorless conversion, the closure of Python, and the additions of Jungala and Sesame Street Safari of Fun.
As the project grew, a sister site called RCTMarket helped broaden the scope, eventually leading to the creation of Florida Thrills — a dedicated platform covering theme parks and attractions throughout Florida.
Theme Parks We Cover
We regularly feature coverage from:
- Universal Orlando Resort
- Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
- SeaWorld Orlando
- Walt Disney World
- LEGOLAND Florida Resort
Our reporting includes attraction updates, construction progress, seasonal events, and unique park experiences.
Halloween Event Coverage
One of our strongest passions is haunt season. Over the years we have extensively covered major Halloween events such as Howl-O-Scream and Halloween Horror Nights — from haunted houses and scare zones to shows and overall park atmosphere. Haunt season remains one of the most exciting times of year for theme park fans, and one of our favorite periods to document.
The Return of Florida Thrills
After several years away due to career and family commitments, Florida Thrills returned in 2024 with a renewed focus on capturing theme park experiences firsthand. Armed with cameras, GoPros, and a lasting passion for the parks, we resumed visiting attractions across Central Florida to share photos, videos, and on-the-ground reporting.
What You’ll Find on Florida Thrills
- Theme park news and updates
- Attraction and construction progress reports
- Photo and video coverage from the parks
- Halloween and seasonal event coverage
- Travel experiences and the occasional cruise adventure
Our goal is simple: share the excitement of Florida’s theme parks and entertainment destinations with fellow fans and travelers.
Social Media
Florida Thrills shares photos, videos, and updates across several social media platforms, giving fans even more ways to stay connected with the latest Central Florida theme park news, attractions, and events.
From new roller coasters and construction updates to seasonal events and conventions, our social media channels provide a behind-the-scenes look at the parks and experiences we cover.
Staff and Owner
Owner
Florida Thrills is owned by its original founder, who launched the site in 2002 as BGTGuide. While he now spends most of his time with his family, he remains connected to the theme park community and currently operates Thrill-Data.com, a site dedicated to ride statistics and coaster data for enthusiasts.
Webmaster & Lead Reporter
Robert Ashburn serves as webmaster and lead reporter. He has been involved with the project since its early years, originally contributing reports and updates from Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
Today, Robert lives in Central Florida and frequently visits local parks to capture photos, videos, and updates from SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, and Walt Disney World. Through Florida Thrills, he shares firsthand coverage of theme parks, attractions, and seasonal events across the region.
Assistant Reporter
Katherine Partridge brings firsthand theme park operations experience from her time in a supervisor role. In the site’s early years, she assisted Robert with reporting while he was in the field.
Today, Katherine lives in Central Florida and regularly visits LEGOLAND Florida, Universal Orlando, and Walt Disney World. Through Florida Thrills, she shares her perspective on the parks, attractions, and experiences she covers.
Contact
📧 Webmaster@floridathrills.com