Seaworld Trip Report

[janinca]

This was our first visit to Florida as a family. The kids weren't interested in Disney at all but were very fascinated by Discovery Cove. We bought the tickets planning on making full use of all the parks included.

After two full days of driving we finally reached Florida. We didn't actually make it to Seaworld until the third day. On our second day we went orange picking (an exciting experience to us Canadians who have never seen oranges growing) and then to Beaches and Cream to order the Kitchen Sink which was a very fun experience!

Finally we made it to Seaworld and within a very few minutes I knew why some of my friends loved it. We ended up there 3 times on our vacation and I would have been happy to go back more!! First thing we did was head over to Kraken which was a huge hit.



From there we went to see Blue Horizons. We found we didn't need to get to the shows early as we went on a weekday in October and the park did not seem crowded at all. We all really enjoyed Blue Horizons. We loved the acrobats and the dolphins and the parrots. It was a surprise to us to have the parrots flying over our heads the way they did. We enjoyed the show enough to go see it a second time a few days later.

[janinca]

The kids informed us since we had just watched a show that a ride was next on the agenda so we went to Journey to Atlantis since it was close by. There was no line up and we got on right away. We really enjoyed it and loved the steep drop. My daughter grabbed the back seat thinking it would be the driest but she ended up the wettest which was quite funny. A few days later when my husband went on he lost his hat and it turned out that I without realizing it caught that moment with my camera. I posted the pic on another thread but will post it again here.



Turtle Trek was next on our list and I had heard mixed reviews about it. I loved it. I thought it was really well done and very interesting. I loved seeing all the turtles and manatees in the aquariums before the actual 3D show.

[tchrchgo]

Originally Posted by janinca

The kids informed us since we had just watched a show that a ride was next on the agenda so we went to Journey to Atlantis since it was close by. There was no line up and we got on right away. We really enjoyed it and loved the steep drop. My daughter grabbed the back seat thinking it would be the driest but she ended up the wettest which was quite funny. A few days later when my husband went on he lost his hat and it turned out that I without realizing it caught that moment with my camera. I posted the pic on another thread but will post it again here.



Turtle Trek was next on our list and I had heard mixed reviews about it. I loved it. I thought it was really well done and very interesting. I loved seeing all the turtles and manatees in the aquariums before the actual 3D show.

LOVE the photo- priceless! and thanks for reports- we're going to universal in december and my son has been asking to go to sea world!

[janinca]

We decided it was time to try out Manta. This was the kids favourite ride in the park. They went on it many times. I went on it two or 3 times. I loved all the aquariums along the waiting area and also next to the ride. So many interesting fish and sea animals to look at. The rollercoaster is fun to ride and fun to watch as well.

Shark Encounter is an exhibit I wish I had gone to see a second time. I loved the tunnel with sharks swimming above and on either side of us. For some reason we only went through it once. We went to the wild Artic after that and it was interesting. I always love seeing Belugas and the simulated helicopter ride was interesting and fun.

One thing we took advantage of was the refillable cups. We bought two for our family to share as one cup seemed enough for 3 of us at one time. We got several refills throughout the day. I think if we were there when it was really hot maybe we would need more. I loved that we could take these cups to Busch Gardens and Aquatic as well.

The Pets Ahoy show was really cute and well worth seeing. Our friends ended up missing it because they stopped to buy a drink on the way to it and got closed out of it. They missed a great show.

One Ocean was fantastic. This was the first Shamu show I had ever seen and I loved it. We went back to see it a second time on another visit and again I would have enjoyed seeing it a third time.

[janinca]

We went to see the dolphins but decided not to feed them as we knew we would be spending time with dolphins later at Discovery Cove. That is something I would like to do next time though. Somehow we missed seeing the underwater viewing area of the dolphins and need to go back and see that. We touched the sting rays and looked at the aquariums some more including the shamu underwater viewing tank.



We were there when hurricane Sandy was coming through and had canceled our plans to go to the beach on the Friday because of the storm. Not much seemed to be happening so we decided to go back to Seaworld in the late after noon to see Shamu Rocks. I was so glad we did. Just before the show the sky started getting dark and stormy but fortunately didn't amount to much.

[janinca]

Shamu Rocks was so much fun. I loved seeing all the lights. All the preshow stuff was fun too. It was definitely a good way to end a day that started out disappointing.



I found so much to do and see in Seaworld. I think it is a great park and definitely worth more than one visit.

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Awesome review and photos!!! They are getting me all excited for our trip in December!!

We are SeaWorld lovers at heart. We have now done all the major Orlando parks (all four Disney, both Universal, SW, DC) and SeaWorld and DC are our easy favourites. Its just got such a wonderful feel and is so fun for every age. With an abundance of great shows as well as rides and exhibits, its very much a "something for everyone" kind of park.

We are looking forward to seeing Turtle Trek on this trip (new since our last visits in January), riding Journey to Atlantis for the first time (it was closed for a refurb on our January holiday), and taking in the Polar Express (which is Wild Artic rethemed for the holiday season......it had just closed following the conclusion of the Christmas celebrations when we first visited last January 2).

By the way.......which part of Canada are you from? Maybe we're neighbours!

[janinca]

Originally Posted by Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina

Awesome review and photos!!! They are getting me all excited for our trip in December!!

We are SeaWorld lovers at heart. We have now done all the major Orlando parks (all four Disney, both Universal, SW, DC) and SeaWorld and DC are our easy favourites. Its just got such a wonderful feel and is so fun for every age. With an abundance of great shows as well as rides and exhibits, its very much a "something for everyone" kind of park.

We are looking forward to seeing Turtle Trek on this trip (new since our last visits in January), riding Journey to Atlantis for the first time (it was closed for a refurb on our January holiday), and taking in the Polar Express (which is Wild Artic rethemed for the holiday season......it had just closed following the conclusion of the Christmas celebrations when we first visited last January 2).

By the way.......which part of Canada are you from? Maybe we're neighbours!

Thank you. That is great that there are new things to see since your last visit. I am jealous that you will be there at Christmas time. I would love to see all the Christmas shows. We live in Ontario, east of Toronto.

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Originally Posted by janinca

Thank you. That is great that there are new things to see since your last visit. I am jealous that you will be there at Christmas time. I would love to see all the Christmas shows. We live in Ontario, east of Toronto.

Well, we may not be "neighbours", but we are in the same general area. We are about 2 hours east of Toronto, one hour west of Kingston.

We are very excited to see the Christmas shows this season!!! Its one of the things on my bucket list.....Orlando for the holidays. I also want to go back someday for the Halloween events. Unfortunately, with a child in high school, it will have to wait until he's off to college before mom can schedule an October trip.

[martinrmn]

Very nice report. We are in Discovery Cove in December and Sea World and Aquatica as part of the ticket deal. We have not been to Sea World for several visits but were wondering since the trainer was killed are they still in the water with the whale or do they stay out?

[janinca]

Originally Posted by martinrmn

Very nice report. We are in Discovery Cove in December and Sea World and Aquatica as part of the ticket deal. We have not been to Sea World for several visits but were wondering since the trainer was killed are they still in the water with the whale or do they stay out?

They are not in the water with the whales but are with the dolphins. This was my first time ever being to Seaworld so I didn't notice the lack of trainers in the water and loved the shows.

[kalimom6]

So Sea World definitely will be an all day thing for us. We want to see Blue Horizon show and One Ocean. Will we have time also for the seal show? How long are the shows?

[janinca]

Originally Posted by kalimom6

So Sea World definitely will be an all day thing for us. We want to see Blue Horizon show and One Ocean. Will we have time also for the seal show? How long are the shows?

The shows are about 30 minutes each.