Sea World Advice for Newbie

[aero99]

Hello,

I've been reading the posts on this board and they have been really helpful so first let me say thank you.

My family plans on going to Sea World for a day the Monday or Tuesday before Christmas. We are two roller coaster loving adults and one incredibly curious 8 month old (almost 11 when we are there). We have taken little one to the aquarium and he loved the shows and the penguins. He also LOVES Elmo so we plan on doing that breakfast.

I debated doing the vip tour because of the time of year we are going to be there but I think the lunch will be a big waster to our little one. Do you think we should get quick queue? What shows do they have a Christmas? I read about the polar express so we will definitely do that.

Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[KBF]

Originally Posted by aero99

Hello,

I've been reading the posts on this board and they have been really helpful so first let me say thank you.

My family plans on going to Sea World for a day the Monday or Tuesday before Christmas. We are two roller coaster loving adults and one incredibly curious 8 month old (almost 11 when we are there). We have taken little one to the aquarium and he loved the shows and the penguins. He also LOVES Elmo so we plan on doing that breakfast.

I debated doing the vip tour because of the time of year we are going to be there but I think the lunch will be a big waster to our little one. Do you think we should get quick queue? What shows do they have a Christmas? I read about the polar express so we will definitely do that.

Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

The week your going is busy, BUT its not as busy as the week after christmas. The week after is nuts. There were something like 40,000 people in the park a day for the week following christmas last year. So dont change your plans to go after. The coasters are awesome. But im not sure there is much a young child of that age can ride. I dont have a child that age, so Ive never looked. There might be because they have a kids play area with kiddie rides. Ive never gone in there myself. But anyway, youll be able to catch special christmas shows during that time which are obviously only available to be seen during the christmas season. Overall, you should have a great time! Get there early if you can, and maybe plan for a 2nd day incase you dont get to see all the shows. Because you and your little one will enjoy going around to the many awesome exhibits! Have Fun!

[bazzanoid]

Which tour were you considering? Seaworld offer several, all catered to different attractions / tastes.

You're in the right place for some of Orlando's best coasters - the Kraken and Manta are both amazing, especially after dark. Be sure to do Journey to Atlantis as well, and be prepared to get wet.

Polar Express is brilliant, i'm going on 30 and it gave me a real christmass buzz combined with goosebumps the whole time, it's amazing how magical they've been able to make it.

[aero99]

Originally Posted by bazzanoid

Which tour were you considering? Seaworld offer several, all catered to different attractions / tastes.

You're in the right place for some of Orlando's best coasters - the Kraken and Manta are both amazing, especially after dark. Be sure to do Journey to Atlantis as well, and be prepared to get wet.

Polar Express is brilliant, i'm going on 30 and it gave me a real christmass buzz combined with goosebumps the whole time, it's amazing how magical they've been able to make it.

Thank you so much for your help and input!

I was considering the VIP tour where you its 7 hours and $100/person. Includes lunch with Shamu. But I don't think the lunch with Shamu will be that impressive to my little one. I do want to make sure he sees the shows. How early should I get to these?

Thanks!
Melissa

[bazzanoid]

That week can be very busy, particularly if the weather's warmer than average (not likely this year).

The VIP tour may be a bit much for the little one, since it is effectively an all-day tour with a full itinerary planned in advance. It may be better to do them in your own time at your pace - remember when you're on a tour you are with a group and you have to go at their speed. This can also lead to waiting around if you don't want to do the rides, or if you want to do one more than once this may not be possible as part of the tour, so your day can become very restricted.

IMO the shows have excellent views no matter where you sit, so reserved seating is not an issue as long as you arrive in plenty of time, i would think 30 mins would be enough that time of year, i dare say someone will say otherwise if they disagree!

We did the Animal Adventure tour down at Busch a couple of years back, and while we felt it was a truly unique experience and glad we did it, we were left racing around the park to do the other attractions we wanted to do, and had to drop one or two from our hit-list because of the time.

Hope that helps!

[bazzanoid]

oops double post

[RabFlmom]

My advice would be to wait and do special tours for another time in the park. I think it is better to tour the park and find out what is there and what you would like to do another time. There is so much to see and do in a day that a tour eats into it too much.