Hints and Tips

[Turner8509]

any hints or tips when visiting sea world or aquatic?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

For SeaWorld....

Consider purchasing the all-day dining. Food options are excellent and it can be a great value if you are planning on spending the whole day.

Stay at one of the 7 onsite hotels if you can. Free shuttles, and free Quick Queue (front-of-the-line) passes for all registered guests are a great perk.

Don't miss the shows. One Ocean, Pets Ahoy, Blue Horizons and Cyde & Seamore are all excellent!

Get your photo taken by every park photographer you see. Collect all the cards they give you for your pictures, and take them to Adventure Photo on your way out of the park. They will put all pictures on a CD for you for $40 (with a few exceptions). This isn't an advertised item, so you'll have to ask for it. Its a much better value than paying for each individual printed picture.

Expect to spend at least one whole day, if not two. There's lots to see and do, and its best enjoyed at a leisurely pace.

Consider adding Dine With Shamu if you're not doing the all-day dining. Its a great buffet and a fun way to get up close to the whales. Book early for the best seating (along the glass).

Budget for some animal feeding opportunities. Great fun and a neat experience all around!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

For Aquatica:

Get there early. Stake out a shady spot under one of the many umbrellas 'cause you'll need the cover when the sun comes out!

Bring lots of sunscreen. Lots.

For the "cheapest" food option, consider the all-day pass at the Banana Beach Buffet. For the best food, plan to dine a la carte at the Waterstone Grill.

Find out what time the trainers are working with the Commerson Dolphins, and take the time to go watch them. The trainers will take the time to answer any questions you might have after the training session has concluded.

Consider renting a cabana. They include not only the private cabana rental, but 12 bottles of Dasani water, your own fridge, your own locker, towel rentals (8, I think) and a 20% discount on merchandise purchases at the park. Depending on the season you are visiting, you can get a cabana for as little as $99 for the day.

Don't miss Roa's Rapids. Fun, fun, FUN for every age. My favourite waterpark feature, ever. Wear a lifejacket for the best time (yup, even if you're a good swimmer).....then just pick up your feet and let the current take you away.

 

[Turner8509]

thanks for the great info Gina

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

thanks for the great info Gina

You are welcome .

If there's anything "specific" you are wondering about, feel free to ask away. If I can't help, I am sure one of the other great posters on this board can give you the answer(s) you are seeking .

 

[Wills Mom]

Some great advice there!! Haven't been to SW in a long time so trying to get as much info as I can! Can I just ask, how do we find out about the animal feeding experiences? And is it bookable? I've seen guests doing it and always wondered.

 

[Lynne G]

Some great advice there!! Haven't been to SW in a long time so trying to get as much info as I can! Can I just ask, how do we find out about the animal feeding experiences? And is it bookable? I've seen guests doing it and always wondered.

At SW, you buy the fish when the stand is open. The dolphins are the most popular, so make sure you get there early. They do run out of fish and they stop selling after a short period of time. No need to book. Check the times guide when you enter the park. All the feeding times are listed. I think the tray with 3 fish was 5 dollars. There may have been a discount for buying 3 trays.

 

[lisagirl88]

We loved feeding the dolphins and I highly recommend this. It was a very cheap way to get some up close interaction with them

I think at least 1 1/2 days at SW is a must especially if you have smaller kids. The shows are all good and if you want to ride all the rides I can't imagine fitting it all in one day. However, we were there in March when the park was only open until 7 so we had a shorter time to try to fit everything in.


I am happy to answer questions too, but Gina covered all I could think of

 

[Peter Pan's Girl]

Just back from SW with our 2 daughters (17 & 14). This was our 1st SW experience after many WDW trips. My suggestions are: Definitely plan 2 days if you have kiddos. SW is a beautiful park to savor and you will want to see every show-they are really fantastic! Do the dolphin feeding 1st thing one day (around 9am) and then head to rides first thing second day (Manta & Kraken). Dolphin feeding is not to be missed! It is $7/person but if you have little one's you can "supervise" and not pay for yourself. Definitely price out staying @ a partner hotel. We stayed only 1 night, checked in early on day one (even tho' room wasn't available) so you get QQ for both 1st and 2nd days. We also enjoyed free all day dining for one of the 2 days due to the package. After pricing out the package vs separate costs it was a no brainer! Arrange your day around the shows and always arrive 15-30min early for a good seat. If you don't want to be soaked, sit 1-2 rows up from the soak zone (or wear a poncho!)

 

[Marshay]

Gina -- for the park photos, is the $40 for one day's worth of photos only? We will be at SW for three days (Fri afternoon to Sunday morning) and would love to combine them all if we could.

Thanks!

 

[Marshay]

I'm confused. How much is the dolphin feeding? Is it $7 a person or 3 fish for $5?

Are there other feedings ( ie sting rays) and do they go quickly, too?

I'm trying to plan (roughly) our days and not sure what the morning must-dos are. Anybody have a list with a preferred order for, say, the first 2-3 hours?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Gina -- for the park photos, is the $40 for one day's worth of photos only? We will be at SW for three days (Fri afternoon to Sunday morning) and would love to combine them all if we could.

Thanks!

I believe you can combine all pics taken within a 7 day period (both SeaWorld and Aquatica). SW originally emailed me the information after I contacted them with questions about the photo CD, and while I no longer have that email (should have kept it.... d'oh! ), I am 99% sure that you could combine all pics taken over a week as long as you keep the claim cards.

 

[Marshay]

I believe you can combine all pics taken within a 7 day period (both SeaWorld and Aquatica). SW originally emailed me the information after I contacted them with questions about the photo CD, and while I no longer have that email (should have kept it.... d'oh! ), I am 99% sure that you could combine all pics taken over a week as long as you keep the claim cards.

Thanks for the info! We will try it.

 

[Lynne G]

I'm confused. How much is the dolphin feeding? Is it $7 a person or 3 fish for $5?

Are there other feedings ( ie sting rays) and do they go quickly, too?

I'm trying to plan (roughly) our days and not sure what the morning must-dos are. Anybody have a list with a preferred order for, say, the first 2-3 hours?

Thanks for your help!

Sorry if I confused you, I was not sure how much. When you say feeding, I mean, you buy one or more trays to feed. When we fed the dolphin, we had 3 fish on each tray. I had to buy 2 trays, one for each of my kids to feed. I also went 2 years ago, so the price may have gone up to $7. The prices are listed on a board in each feeding area payment window.

 

[Marshay]

Sorry if I confused you, I was not sure how much. When you say feeding, I mean, you buy one or more trays to feed. When we fed the dolphin, we had 3 fish on each tray. I had to buy 2 trays, one for each of my kids to feed. I also went 2 years ago, so the price may have gone up to $7. The prices are listed on a board in each feeding area payment window.

Ok, no prob. I don't mind getting a tray for each kid, but if we have to pay $28 for our family of four, I may rethink it. Maybe instead of souvenirs, we will use the money for feedings.

Thanks for the info!

 

[hpriamson]

For SeaWorld....

Consider purchasing the all-day dining. Food options are excellent and it can be a great value if you are planning on spending the whole day.

Just so you know, they're still offering the all day dining for $10 special - http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-orlando/Book Online/Promo/PlayAndDine

 

[dolphinrescuegirl]

At Busch gardens, you should find out when they do feedings. Check the kangaroos and birds and then you just show up when they sell the food. If you want to go out to the sereganti and feed the giraffes, you have to book it and pay an extra fee. We booked ours a hour before the tour but you should be able to book online ahead of time. Not totally sure though.

 

[angelmom27]

Ok, no prob. I don't mind getting a tray for each kid, but if we have to pay $28 for our family of four, I may rethink it. Maybe instead of souvenirs, we will use the money for feedings.

Thanks for the info!

SW new policy for the dolphin feeding is that each person entering the area must pay $7. And you will each get a tray of food. That is the reason I stopped doing it. I have 3 kids with a disability that are afraid to feed them and some who are too little to. They wanted me to pay for my family of 9. Me and maybe two of my dds would have fed the dolphins.

 

[CarolAnnB]

Just so you know, they're still offering the all day dining for $10 special - http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-orlando/Book Online/Promo/PlayAndDine

Do you need a code for this? It shows up $32.99 when I go thru your link. Thx!

 

[Marshay]

SW new policy for the dolphin feeding is that each person entering the area must pay $7. And you will each get a tray of food. That is the reason I stopped doing it. I have 3 kids with a disability that are afraid to feed them and some who are too little to. They wanted me to pay for my family of 9. Me and maybe two of my dds would have fed the dolphins.

Ah, thanks for the info on the changes. I will try the "I'm going to supervise my kids" option to see if we can only go for $14 for two kids. Otherwise, we will just skip this. It sounds like SW is being a bit greedy here, IMHO.