Our final stop was Montu, one of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay's most iconic rollercoasters. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), Montu opened on 16th May 1996 and features a 150-foot lift hill, a 128-foot first drop and seven inversions. It's an impressive attraction that has been thrilling guests for 30 years.

Montu was probably the most exciting part of the tour when it came to accessing areas that guests would never normally see. We learnt about the ride's daily operation, maintenance procedures and the amount of work involved in keeping a rollercoaster of this age running safely. Our guide explained that Montu has three trains, although it generally operates with fewer depending on demand. During our visit, trains two and four were on the track, while train three was in the maintenance shed. We were told that the park hadn't operated all three trains together for quite some time.

Another interesting detail was the staffing required to operate the attraction. According to our guide, at least two ride ambassadors are needed for normal operation, while two full-time mechanics are dedicated to maintaining Montu. Maintenance work can begin as early as 4am, long before guests arrive, with another shift continuing into the afternoon.

One of the most memorable moments of the entire tour was getting to climb partway up to one of Montu's brake-run platforms. From here, we had an incredible view across the rollercoaster and the surrounding park, giving us a completely different perspective of the attraction. We also learnt about the seven evacuation platforms positioned around the ride, which allow staff to safely reach passengers if a train becomes stopped in certain sections of the track. Seeing these platforms up close really highlighted how much planning goes into the safety and operation of a major rollercoaster.

The maintenance shed was equally fascinating. Montu uses a transfer track to move trains off the main circuit and into the workshop, where they can be inspected and maintained behind large metal doors. We were told that after approximately 75,000 cycles, a train undergoes major maintenance, involving dismantling and inspecting its components before returning it to service.

One particularly interesting discovery was an old rollercoaster train stored beneath the brake run. Our guide explained that this was Montu's former train one, which hadn't been used for a long time and was unlikely to return to service. It was amazing to see a piece of the attraction's history tucked away behind the scenes.

We also learnt more about Montu's famous batwing inversion, which dives into a trench and delivers some of the most intense forces on the ride. According to our guide, row eight, seat four is one of the most intense positions to experience it, making that a seat we'll definitely have to try on a future visit! For us, Montu was a fantastic way to finish the tour, with the maintenance facilities, old train and restricted platform access making this section particularly special.