Sea World San Diego question-

[gavsmom]

Sorry, I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask. I'm wondering if anyone has used their all day dining deal recently? I'm looking for more info than I can find on their website. Does it include snacks? Extra drinks? Was it a good value? thanks so much

 

[abbie13_15]

Try looking in the Southern CA Forum. Should find it there.

 

[jilld11]

I can't remember how much it was, but we went last Sept. w/2 adults and a 8 & 6 year old and it was totally not worth it. We like to eat and snack and we didn't think it would even come close to paying for itself, but just my opinion. We did enjoy their food though, just paid as we went

 

[Camonkeygirl]

It includes 1 entree, one side OR dessert, and one nonalcoholic beverage per trip through the line.

 

[llump41]

The value depends on how long you will be staying. During summer hours when the park is open 9-11 it's pretty easy to eat the 2+ times you need to break even. Snacks aren't included. The wrist band is only good at 4 different eateries but do include a soda with every meal.

 

[Huff]

Its well worth it if spending a long day from morning till late night. We've done this and had breakfast, lunch and dinner and saved considerably. It includes 1 entree, 1 dessert and 1 drink each time through the line. There is no limit to how many times through the line and there are several restaurants to choose from. You can also just go through the line to only get a drink, or a dessert item. It may not be a good deal if only at the park from 10am-6pm depending on how much you eat and drink.

Sea World also sells refillable mugs. They can save quite a bit if people share a drink rather than buy several individual drinks. They can also be used multiple days (I've still bring a mug I bought at SW 10 years ago).

 

[Huff]

The value depends on how long you will be staying. During summer hours when the park is open 9-11 it's pretty easy to eat the 2+ times you need to break even. Snacks aren't included. The wrist band is only good at 4 different eateries but do include a soda with every meal.

I'm thinking 5 as there is a snack walk up window near Shamu Stadium that has sandwiches, drinks, chips etc. that allows the all you can eat plan. We use this to get a hot chocolate and to take to the night Shamu show.

 

[Keyser]

A different but related question to the OP: Does anyone know of a place where the prices for Seaworld food are posted? Trying to figure out if the eat-all-day (or even the dine with Shamu) prices are worth it, it would help to know what we would be spending for lunch and dinner, otherwise.

 

[Wilsonfamily4]

With the bracelet what breakfast places did you eat at?

 

[Huff]

For breakfast we've eaten at the Seaport Market. They have a breakfast sandwich, bacon or sausage and egg skillets and fruit, yogurt. All were good. I have not tried breakfast anywhere else.

For lunch we usually go to Calypso Smokehouse. While it notes that ribs are extra you can get them without paying extra. The extra charge was only on the large order of baby backs. They have other rib choices as well as a combo platter that includes ribs, chicken and tri tip at no additional charge. We usually get this combo platter which is a ton of food and very good.

Also note that you can go through the line and just get a drink or dessert at any time.

 

[Wilsonfamily4]

For breakfast we've eaten at the Seaport Market. They have a breakfast sandwich, bacon or sausage and egg skillets and fruit, yogurt. All were good. I have not tried breakfast anywhere else.

For lunch we usually go to Calypso Smokehouse. While it notes that ribs are extra you can get them without paying extra. The extra charge was only on the large order of baby backs. They have other rib choices as well as a combo platter that includes ribs, chicken and tri tip at no additional charge. We usually get this combo platter which is a ton of food and very good.

Also note that you can go through the line and just get a drink or dessert at any time.

Thank you. They don't make that clear on their website about going through the line for a dessert or drink. I was thinking about not getting it because we may want a snack or drink but that may sway me back. We plan to be there from opening to closing so should work for us.

 

[theparsons]

One of the problems I had about the dining plan was that 3 of the 4 restaurants CLOSED at 5pm. This was not mentioned to us when we bought it, and the park was open until I think it was 8 or 9pm.......so we went to a late show and then planned to eat only to find everything but the marketplace closed. To ME, 5pm is dinner, so to have everything suddenly closed was quite annoying (the restaurants and kiosk NOT on the dining plan were still open though...go figure). I went and complained because we'd only used the dining plan for lunch so far (at the marketplace so we really didn't want to be forced to eat dinner there also!) and ended up going up to a supervisor and got a refund. I offered to pay for the meal we had actually eaten, but they declined.


Another thing to keep in mind....if you just want a drink or a dessert/snack, you have to stand in the same line as those wanting a full meal. Your dining plan is NOT valid at the drink/snack kiosks scattered around the park that have shorter lines because they only do drinks/snacks. So...if you are there at a busy time you could end up having to wait in line 20+ minutes just to get your drink. The dining plan allows you to get one entree, one drink and EITHER a side OR a dessert (not both)....so if you want a side to go with your entree and then a dessert, you have to go stand in line AGAIN to get your dessert.

As for prices....generally similiar to DL....so figure easily $12-15 for an adult meal with drink...more for their nicer meals. So basically if you do two full meals and desserts it's about break even. Since it costs $33 per person, if you are there all day, breakfast, lunch, dinner and throw in a few drinks/snacks it will likely be a value. If you would usually only eat lunch/dinner it may be a wash. Of course, you have to decide if that is how you would normally eat or if you're spending a lot of time in line and eating just to be sure you get your money's worth, lol.

We're going again in November and won't be doing the dining plan. We are staying at a Holiday Inn Express which has a hot breakfast, we'll pay out of pocket for lunch and the park closes at dinner time, so we'll just hold out and leave when they close and have dinner offsite. We will probably also have a few snacks in the fridge in our car....since we have the silver passport and we arrive at opening we have always been very very close to the entrance.

 

[Huff]

One of the problems I had about the dining plan was that 3 of the 4 restaurants CLOSED at 5pm.

Another thing to keep in mind....if you just want a drink or a dessert/snack, you have to stand in the same line as those wanting a full meal.

Some restaurants close 1 hour before park closing which would be 5pm on a 6pm park close night. The Italian restaurant is always open right up until park closing and I believe the Market Place is as well.

You do not have to wait through the entire line to get a drink. We always just tell the CM at the register and they wave us on by to grab a drink. Never an issue. On our last trip we have 5 of us. We were in the park from 10am-10pm and ate 3 meals plus a few snacks and drinks. It easily saved us money from having to feed 3 hungry kids!!

 

[theparsons]

You do not have to wait through the entire line to get a drink. We always just tell the CM at the register and they wave us on by to grab a drink. Never an issue. On our last trip we have 5 of us. We were in the park from 10am-10pm and ate 3 meals plus a few snacks and drinks. It easily saved us money from having to feed 3 hungry kids!!

That might work if there was a CM available, but the register line gets backed up just as much as the ordering line....so I've never been one to cut into a line to ask for a drink. Since they have to be rung up just as everyone else's meal/drink (just with a zero balance)....why should I be allowed to cut in?

I've never gone when it's open until 10pm, but yeah, if the restaurants were actually OPEN at dinner time (which is not before 5pm) then it might be a good thing.

So....long and short of it....know what times the resturants close and the park closes to see whether you can fit enough meals in to make it worth the cost. Doesn't work for us.

 

[Huff]

That might work if there was a CM available, but the register line gets backed up just as much as the ordering line....so I've never been one to cut into a line to ask for a drink. Since they have to be rung up just as everyone else's meal/drink (just with a zero balance)....why should I be allowed to cut in?

I've never gone when it's open until 10pm, but yeah, if the restaurants were actually OPEN at dinner time (which is not before 5pm) then it might be a good thing.

So....long and short of it....know what times the resturants close and the park closes to see whether you can fit enough meals in to make it worth the cost. Doesn't work for us.

All of the restaurants have registers at the exits. The CM's running the registers do not mind if you come in through the exit and just grab a drink. You wave your wristband and they wave on back and you're on your way. Next to the registers are usually bottled drink coolers. Very quick to just grab a bottle and go.

As far as open/close times I can only assume you have been there when the park closes at 6pm. In that case 2 of the restaurants close at 5. The others are open until 6. This is much the same as at Disneyland or other parks.

I do agree, the dining plan is not a good value on a 10am-6pm day. It is if going on a full day where you'll be eating 3 meals plus drinks and snacks.