Don't miss seaworld Christmas!

[monica9]

At the renaissance right now after two days at seaworld before heading back to Disney. So glad we decided to visit seaworld again this year and the Christmas shows are better than expected! Please consider going near Christmas time. It's very "in your face" Christmas themed, the shows are awesome and better than Disney shows IMHO and the decorations are great especially at night while all lit up! Loved the dine with shamu show tonight and was great seeing the whales up close. Well worth the money. Everything seems cheaper at seaworld than Disney for some reason and the shows are better than disneys, again, IMHO

Anyway, I just wanted to share our seaworld experience and hope this helps make anyone's decision on whether or not to visit.

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Awesome to hear!! We, too, have always found that our money goes further at SeaWorld than it did at Disney........and that quality has not been sacrificed for value.

We are down to less than a month before we arrive, and I can hardly wait!! Our first visit at Christmas, so we are very much looking forward to the holiday shows and decorations. We just missed them last year, when our visits fell on January 2nd and 5th.

Happy to know that you had a positive experience at Dine with Shamu . Recent reviews have been somewhat mixed, and this is one of the dining experiences we have planned that we are very excited about.

[monica9]

Yea, I think the problem is that people expect way too much at these animal shows. We have to remember they are just mammals. For instance I remember someone saying they were upset that the free portrait you get at the dine w shamu wasn't with shamu but how can people expect a whale to stay there for 1/2 hour and pose with people? Also I've heard it people say they don't do many tricks. I think they do just enough especially considering g they just finished a show minutes before hand. They need rest too!
Anyway, I hope you have a great experience like we did!

[angelmom27]

Thanks for the report. We are going to be going at least twice during xmas break. Might even squeeze in a few more. I do like that compared to Disney the DP is better and the price of souveniers is very reasonable. Was shocked a few yrs back when we bought one of my girls a huge Shamu whale. That thing was bigger than her at the time. Lol she sleeps with it every night.

[ExpatDisneyLover]

I was recently blown away by the Shamu Miracles Christmas show - really, really well done - and all the decorations are so beautiful!

Glad you had a great time!

[jane2073]

We went yesterday and I found their Christmas shows to be better than their regular shows. It was all so well done!

[Sehsun]

I went to SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration for the first time today. It was really nice and made you really get into the holiday spirit. I stayed for O Wondrous Night and Shamu Christmas Miracles, both of which were really great. Kind of crowded, though, but manageable.

One thing in particular I really liked was the pre-show entertainment. I sang a lot of Christmas carols as I waited for the shows to begin! It really did help to pass the time, as it is a good idea to line up 45-60 minutes before shows.

They also had a Christmas Market past the Bayside Stadium, along the water, where you could get food, merchandise, and photo opportunities. It was a nice, peaceful atmosphere (or maybe that was because it was less crowded than during the day and/or I was leaving the park before the huge crowds).

Hopefully I can go back at least one more time to catch a few more shows. I love that their holiday offerings don't require a separate ticket.

[WickedDreamer]

We will be coming over to Florida for 3 weeks in October/November next year, and I was wondering if anyone knew when Sea World put up their Christmas decorations in the parks?

We are planning 2-3 days in Sea World for this trip, as we are hoping to fit in Dine with Shamu and a few of the encounters swell.


Shan

[caribbound]

We planned on going Jan 2 or 3. Should we change plans to get there the 26th? I was avoiding the crowds going later.

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Originally Posted by WickedDreamer

We will be coming over to Florida for 3 weeks in October/November next year, and I was wondering if anyone knew when Sea World put up their Christmas decorations in the parks?

We are planning 2-3 days in Sea World for this trip, as we are hoping to fit in Dine with Shamu and a few of the encounters swell.

This year, the dates are November 17th to December 31st. My guess, from looking at next year's November calendar, is that the Christmas celebration will likely start on the 15th. I would plan for mid-November or later.

Originally Posted by caribbound

We planned on going Jan 2 or 3. Should we change plans to get there the 26th? I was avoiding the crowds going later.

If you want to see the holiday shows, then you should plan on bearing the crowds and going ont he 26th. On the 2nd and 3rd of January, you may see some of the decorations but not the special shows.

We went on the 2nd and 5th of January this year, and on the 2nd, the park was still fully decorated (last year's Christmas celebration ran until January 1st) but by the 5th, the park was largely back to normal except for the removal of the trees in the Sea of Trees (which was in progress).

[monica9]

Glad everyone is enjoying their Christmas shows! The only thing I didn't like was that they used plastic for snow in the snow globe and then the snow was going into the lake with all the fish. Wish they would use soap for snow instead.

[RabFlmom]

Originally Posted by monica9

Glad everyone is enjoying their Christmas shows! The only thing I didn't like was that they used plastic for snow in the snow globe and then the snow was going into the lake with all the fish. Wish they would use soap for snow instead.

I think that would be impossible inside the globe. It is purchased just like the ones you buy to put in yards with everything already put together. Maybe they should just move the globes away from the lake to the middle of the park somewhere. It is just what the people going inside the globe for pics bring out with them on their clothes etc. that escapes from the globes so maybe even a better way of brushing it off when people exit to catch as many flakes as they can might work
We saw it on the sidewalk and wondered about the birds, too.

[DOOM1001]

I found Sea World had more lights and decorations than any of the Orlando parks,don't get me wrong nothing beats Main Street USA at Magic Kingdom but if you're talking about the whole park of Sea World compared to the whole Magic Kingdom or any park,Sea World has the other parks beat.

[Anonny]

The singing / music in O Wondrous Night was absolutely fabulous, even though the story was a little corny. Overall, a great family show!

[PXEdust85]

I absolutely LOVED seaworld Christmas shows! The whole park was decked out MORE than Disney! The songs were both Frosty and Rudolph but also Jesus Christmas songs as well. The only thing I'll do better next year is plan my day more. This is now a MUST for December!