Sea World- where do I start???
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karibritt01
Happiest when I'm planning a trip...!
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2006
* Feed the dolphins first thing in the AM. They are hungrier, and more responsive. It was $7/person, but worth every penny! We really got a chance to see and touch the dolphins, which just doesn't happen when standing by the touch pool.
* Plan your day around the shows. Believe, Blue Horizons, Pets Ahoy, and Clyde and Seamore are all wonderful. (Odyssey was closed for rehab on our visit.) My kids (10 and 6) enjoyed Believe and Clyde and Seamore the most. Arrive at Clyde and Seamore a little early for the pre-show entertainment! For those visiting on more than 1 day: split the shows up so you will have more time to relax.
* Free beer at the hospitality center!
* We ate lunch twice at the little CS place under the lighthouse. Both times we were the only ones there. It is a $5 hot dog, but we sat right by the lake and had a peaceful lunch. (I think it is a little hard to find, which may be why it is empty.)
* Big rides and Shamu's Happy Harbor are slowest early AM. Happy Harbor (kiddie rides) was also slow by late afternoon.
Hope that helps!
* Plan your day around the shows. Believe, Blue Horizons, Pets Ahoy, and Clyde and Seamore are all wonderful. (Odyssey was closed for rehab on our visit.) My kids (10 and 6) enjoyed Believe and Clyde and Seamore the most. Arrive at Clyde and Seamore a little early for the pre-show entertainment! For those visiting on more than 1 day: split the shows up so you will have more time to relax.
* Free beer at the hospitality center!
* We ate lunch twice at the little CS place under the lighthouse. Both times we were the only ones there. It is a $5 hot dog, but we sat right by the lake and had a peaceful lunch. (I think it is a little hard to find, which may be why it is empty.)
* Big rides and Shamu's Happy Harbor are slowest early AM. Happy Harbor (kiddie rides) was also slow by late afternoon.
Hope that helps!
deelovesdis
city by the sea dee
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2004
I have been to Seaworld so many times, its our favorite park, and of course you can plan your day.
Go to the website and check out the schedules for the shows and park hours. January the park may close by 6 PM. Seaworld website has descriptions of the shows and show schedules, usually as you get closer to your arrival date you can see all the times of the shows for the date you are arriving.
I love to see Shamu Show, also Pets Ahoy is cute. Clyde and Seamore.
I have done every buffet, Dine with Shamu, Backstage at Believe and Shamu Rocks. I have done the Luau.
You can book any of these dining experiences right on the seaworld website. You would be making a reservation and prepaying for the meals.
You can also book a tour. I like the tour where you get to pet a penguin, about $18 pp . OR the dolphin spotlight, but its expensive, about $50 PP. THe great thng is you can prepay for these items.
Each buffet is exactly the same. THe food is the same, sliced turkey and the trimmings, seafood gumbo, pot roast, salad.
At Dine with Shamu there is some interaction with a trainer. One of the trainers speaks a bit about SHamu, maybe does some tricks . My daughter got to talk to a trainer and get an autograph! But mostly the whales just swim around behind you. But who wouldnt want to dine looking at Shamu!
As for food in the parks, other than the buffet, yuck! I agree with the others, CS in the parks is slow, and the food really is awful. Nothing worse than smoked pizza.
Go to the website and check out the schedules for the shows and park hours. January the park may close by 6 PM. Seaworld website has descriptions of the shows and show schedules, usually as you get closer to your arrival date you can see all the times of the shows for the date you are arriving.
I love to see Shamu Show, also Pets Ahoy is cute. Clyde and Seamore.
I have done every buffet, Dine with Shamu, Backstage at Believe and Shamu Rocks. I have done the Luau.
You can book any of these dining experiences right on the seaworld website. You would be making a reservation and prepaying for the meals.
You can also book a tour. I like the tour where you get to pet a penguin, about $18 pp . OR the dolphin spotlight, but its expensive, about $50 PP. THe great thng is you can prepay for these items.
Each buffet is exactly the same. THe food is the same, sliced turkey and the trimmings, seafood gumbo, pot roast, salad.
At Dine with Shamu there is some interaction with a trainer. One of the trainers speaks a bit about SHamu, maybe does some tricks . My daughter got to talk to a trainer and get an autograph! But mostly the whales just swim around behind you. But who wouldnt want to dine looking at Shamu!
As for food in the parks, other than the buffet, yuck! I agree with the others, CS in the parks is slow, and the food really is awful. Nothing worse than smoked pizza.
TanCharLeo
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Oct 31, 2008
Some of my tips as someone who has "spent a lot of time" at SeaWorld:
If you are looking for a quiet spot the Sand Bar is a good place. It is right next to the SkyTower (a nice 6 minute ride and you can see Manta being built (new coaster) along with Aquatica (new waterpark) and the immediate area, even the Swan and Dolphin) and sometimes does not open so most people do not bother to go into the Island. There you can watch the water show that starts on the hour. You will hear "Opa, Opa, Oyster!" a lot on that side though, hehe. Another area is the Bayside Pathway when there isn't a show.
If you get there when the park opens ride the rides first. Lines will be shorter. You WILL get wet on Journey To Atlantis. The rows where you will not get as wet are three and four, three being the driest.
When the maps tell you to arrive at the show around 45 minutes early they are serious, especially during peak times. Once the chain goes up no one will be allowed to enter even if it is 30 minutes before showtime and even if you think the stadium looks half empty or if you have to leave before the next show time because you have to catch a flight, etc. There are maximum capacity guidelines that are enforced for saftey reasons. If you have a family member that leaves to get something make sure they have a cell phone or that they remember where your party is seated as escorts into the stadium are allowed once it is closed but you will not be allowed to stay inside unless the members of your party are found.
Yes, the shows are dependent on the cooperation of the animals but show holds and cancellations are few and far between. Only during mating season do things get a little strange...Watch out for the walrus at Arctic, there is a reason for the curtain!
Speaking of Arctic, if you don't want to go by foot (watch the video) or air (the motion simulator) just go inside the gift shop. Once inside walk toward the back and take a left and go through the door where it says "Passholder Entrance". You don't have to be a passholder and it will take you to the ride exit/beginning of the exhibit (also a good place to wait for riders if you are a non rider). Say hi to my baby beluga boys for me!
Be careful when walking the pathways...if you see thick lines of water that means the Clydesdales pooped there, hehe. It will smell!
If you rent a stroller or ECV and the power dies out or if you lose it, etc. go to a gift shop right away. They can get in contact with Stroller Rental without you having to walk all the way to the entrance.
I think I have said enough for now! Happy Halloween!
If you are looking for a quiet spot the Sand Bar is a good place. It is right next to the SkyTower (a nice 6 minute ride and you can see Manta being built (new coaster) along with Aquatica (new waterpark) and the immediate area, even the Swan and Dolphin) and sometimes does not open so most people do not bother to go into the Island. There you can watch the water show that starts on the hour. You will hear "Opa, Opa, Oyster!" a lot on that side though, hehe. Another area is the Bayside Pathway when there isn't a show.
If you get there when the park opens ride the rides first. Lines will be shorter. You WILL get wet on Journey To Atlantis. The rows where you will not get as wet are three and four, three being the driest.
When the maps tell you to arrive at the show around 45 minutes early they are serious, especially during peak times. Once the chain goes up no one will be allowed to enter even if it is 30 minutes before showtime and even if you think the stadium looks half empty or if you have to leave before the next show time because you have to catch a flight, etc. There are maximum capacity guidelines that are enforced for saftey reasons. If you have a family member that leaves to get something make sure they have a cell phone or that they remember where your party is seated as escorts into the stadium are allowed once it is closed but you will not be allowed to stay inside unless the members of your party are found.
Yes, the shows are dependent on the cooperation of the animals but show holds and cancellations are few and far between. Only during mating season do things get a little strange...Watch out for the walrus at Arctic, there is a reason for the curtain!
Speaking of Arctic, if you don't want to go by foot (watch the video) or air (the motion simulator) just go inside the gift shop. Once inside walk toward the back and take a left and go through the door where it says "Passholder Entrance". You don't have to be a passholder and it will take you to the ride exit/beginning of the exhibit (also a good place to wait for riders if you are a non rider). Say hi to my baby beluga boys for me!
Be careful when walking the pathways...if you see thick lines of water that means the Clydesdales pooped there, hehe. It will smell!
If you rent a stroller or ECV and the power dies out or if you lose it, etc. go to a gift shop right away. They can get in contact with Stroller Rental without you having to walk all the way to the entrance.
I think I have said enough for now! Happy Halloween!
Metro West
On the west side of Orlando
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2005
No more free samples...that ended some time ago.
RabFlmom
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2003
Everyone thanks for all the tips.
This was an old thread, but some of the advice still is good. Park is totally different from the 1990s park days. There is the new Manta coaster that you might want to head to first because lines for new coasters are long. It has an incredible acquarium.
If you don't buy fish you do not get to get in the area where the dolphins actually interact with the people. That means if there are 4 people in your family you have to buy 4 trays of fish to all get into that area, you can't share a tray.
There is a section for people not buying fish but the dolphins rarely surface there.
More tips later but have to get to work right now<g>
simonfam76
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2004
We are heading to Orlando in 4 days too and we plan to visit seaworld. will be our first time there. we are very excited!
jagfanjosh3252
#1 fan of the Jacksonville Jaguars
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2009
Let us know how it goes!! I'm going there June 30th-July 2nd. Want to know what it is like.
I'm mainly curios how long I will have to wait for Manta, Kraken, and Journey to Atlantis
I'm mainly curios how long I will have to wait for Manta, Kraken, and Journey to Atlantis
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