1st time to SW & a few ???s

[welovedis]

Ok, I've checked out the Seaworld site (man is some of that type small!!!) and we've watched the ride videos, tried to read as much as we could. Our trip to WDW is from 12/9-12/16 and on the 11th we'll be at WDW for sure for MVMCP that night-also my son's 10th b-day.

When do the show schedules get posted for December?

Do you get soaked on the Atlantis ride?

There are 3 main rides (Kraken, Atlantis & Wild Arctic) plus the Happy Harbour area, correct? Is the HH for younger kids, DS is a roller coaster kind of kid so I assume this area is too young for him, right?

Do most people see all the shows (or try to) or mix up shows with animal attractions?

Is there a best day of the week to try to go?

Thanks in advance!

 

[mtrak17]

Do they list the show schedules in advance on their website?

In any event, if you're going to be at Sea World for a full day, I don't think you need to know the show schedules in advance (and that advice is coming from a planner!!). There really is enough time to see and do everything at Sea World in a full day. If the park opens at 9 a.m., you can grab a map in advance which lists all the day's show times. We just sit for a few minutes and figure out our day's schedule based around the show times. As there are 5-6 shows, you'll probably want to start the shows as soon as possible in the morning, so that you can finish all of them. (You might have to choose between a few smaller-type items which show at the same time; i.e. Budweiser horse parade)

Before the shows begin (usually after 10), however, you should be able to see Kraken (first) and Atlantis (second), because those lines will be long all day. We got soaked on Atlantis once (entire lower body soaked) and not wet at all the second time, so there's no way of knowing whether you'll get soaked

Once you plan your show schedules, you'll see that there will be plenty of time to do the other activities (i.e. dolphins, feed stingrays) in between the shows.

I would recommend making sure you're there when the park opens; grab a map before entering from guest relations; figure out the show schedules while you're in line, head to Kraken, then Atlantis, and then you can relax for the day.

It's really not a "stressful" park. I love it! Have a great time

 

[mtrak17]

Oh - Wild Arctic (my favorite) does get quite a line at some points during the day. Be aware that (at least on the days we've been there), Wild Arctic did not open until 10 a.m. If you can stomach motion simulation that early in the morning, I would head to Wild Arctic after Kraken and Atlantis (at about 10 a.m.) Otherwise, I'd go to Wild Arctic late afternoon. If you didn't want to sit through the motion simulation, they have a non-movement "movie" prior to entering "Space Station Wild Arctic" (i.e. polar bears, etc.) and I haven't seen that line get too bad, so you could probably head there anytime during the day...

 

[lbarnes]

I printed the map from the SW website and familiarized myself with the park layout before we went. We tried twice to go to the Pets Ahoy show, and it was full both times, so it must be a popular one. Be sure to go early to the Clyde & Seamore show as the mime beforehand is just as fun as the show. My DD13's favorite was the underwater viewing area for the dolphins. She said she could've stayed there all day! We got some great pictures (without using a flash ... thru the glass) of the dolphins. One in particular kept blowing air rings! Have fun!

 

[welovedis]

They had a spot to enter your date and supposedly a schedule would appear but we didn't see one.

We will probably ride the Kraken, and maybe the Atlantis, but DH really doesn't want to sit around soaked all day so we'll have to see. I cannot stomach motion simulators so they may ride that one all on their own!

Thanks for the tip about the Pets Ahoy show, I can imagine it would be interesting to watch based on the online description. Are there some shows that you all would consider a "don't miss" and others that are a "if you have the time" ?

We've visited Marineland in Niagara Falls Canada a number of times because we live so close. We enjoy the rides there but the shows are ho-hum. We go because the passes are cheap for the whole season but wonder if these will be similar or more interesting? Anyone been to ML that could compare the two? And no, I don't think ML is even in the same category as SW, just trying to spot any similarities or differences.

Is anyone here a parent of a special needs child? At WDW we use a GAC to give us a more appropriate place to with DS, do they have anything like that at SW for kids with autism or other issues that might make it hard to sit in one place for a long period of time waiting for the show? We don't want to lessen our waits, just wait in a more fitting place for him. Thought I'd ask ahead of time just in case there is something like this in place.

 

[mtrak17]

They had a spot to enter your date and supposedly a schedule would appear but we didn't see one.

We went in June and this never worked for me, so I gave up

I cannot stomach motion simulators so they may ride that one all on their own!

I love motion simulators, but I have to say Wild Arctic is very "jerky" compared to others I've been on. I love it, but you might want to skip it yourself.

Thanks for the tip about the Pets Ahoy show, I can imagine it would be interesting to watch based on the online description.

Yes, as the other poster said, you do need to show up early for most of the shows. The Pets Ahoy show (my favorite - it's VERY well done) has a smaller capacity. We showed up approximately 35 minutes early (they held us outside the theatre). I would show up for the others at least 20-30 minutes early. You may not have to, but, again, you'll still have time to see what you want, so why stress about getting a seat

Are there some shows that you all would consider a "don't miss" and others that are a "if you have the time" ?

I think the Shamu show is the definite number 1, because it is iconic Sea World. Second, I would see the dolphin show, third Pets Ahoy, fourth Clyde and Seamore (personally, I don't love the Clyde/Seamore show, but I think it's fun for kids? - It's very silly ) and then anything else would be "if you have time" (my opinion). We actually really did like the cirque-de-soleil-type show (we weren't expecting to like it).

We've visited Marineland in Niagara Falls Canada a number of times because we live so close. We enjoy the rides there but the shows are ho-hum. We go because the passes are cheap for the whole season but wonder if these will be similar or more interesting? Anyone been to ML that could compare the two? And no, I don't think ML is even in the same category as SW, just trying to spot any similarities or differences.

Yes - I have been to Marineland once (after having been to the different Sea Worlds). Although we were actually impressed with the quality of the Marineland exhibits, Marineland is in NO WAY comparable show-wise to Sea World - on totally different levels. DH and I could hardly sit through the ML "shows", because we had been spoiled by Sea World and ML seemed very amateur comparatively. (Actually, I do have to say that the there is more dolphin-jumping/leaping at Marineland than Sea World )

Is anyone here a parent of a special needs child? At WDW we use a GAC to give us a more appropriate place to with DS, do they have anything like that at SW for kids with autism or other issues that might make it hard to sit in one place for a long period of time waiting for the show? We don't want to lessen our waits, just wait in a more fitting place for him. Thought I'd ask ahead of time just in case there is something like this in place.

Sorry - I can't remember how things were set up, but I'm sure they accomodate everyone

You'll have a great time regardless of what you choose!

 

[english rose 47]

We are heading straight to feed the dolphins. DD is major OCD with dolphins anything!!!The rest of the day will depend on how soon we can drag her from the dolphins. Oh she's 32 by the way. My sw plans are total flexible noyt even worrying about rides we are ther for the oceon life !!!

 

[lbarnes]

We really enjoyed the Blue Horizons show. The acrobats and birds were great.

And, we loved the Shamu show (which has been changed since we last saw it). We went to the daytime show twice and then the nighttime show! It was a "Shamu Day"!

 

[queenmum2]

When do the show schedules get posted for December?

I'm going in October (21/22) and have wondered the same thing. I've been able to get schedules up to about October 8. So I'm thinking they post them about 3 weeks out?

This will be our first time too - or at least as a family. I went with some friends about 15 years ago...I think some things MIGHT have changed since then? I think we'll love it!

Tracie

 

[BippityBoppityBoo]

A little tidbit about whether or not you'll get wet on Atlantis.....It *is* possible to go down the big splash part and come out relatively dry, but for some reason I was always getting wet after that by an "extra" squirt of water at the bottom of the big hill. It took me a while to figure it out, BUT spectators can pay a quarter to squirt people who are on the ride. Go figure.....

RE: Happy Harbour. I'd bet a 10 yo would really think it uncool. It's geared towards preschoolers and early elementary.