1st trip to Orlando & SeaWorld, Need Major Help in Planning!

[cleopenn]

We are planning our first visit to Orlando. Well, technically not the first as I was there as a child (30 years ago) to WDW and my husband spent his teen years in the area but this is our first family trip.

We are planning a four-night trip. SeaWorld will be our focus as our toddler son is a marine-life nut. This will be the first of many trips so we aren’t planning on trying to hit Disney this time unless three days turns out to be too much time for SeaWorld.

It will be our family of three - mom, dad and 3 year old.

Our idea is to spend all three days at SeaWorld/Discovery Cove/the Water Park and to stay somewhere close by at a hotel that provides transportation.

I have been reading this board and my head is spinning! I don’t know where to start.

Our dates aren’t set but we think we will try for November or December. Our dates are flexible and I am going to try to use FF miles to get us to Orlando. At this point, I would like to avoid renting a car unless later research/info changes my mind.

I am thinking that we will hit the park as soon as it opens, do the park thing until 4 or 5 pm and head back to the hotel for pool and relaxing time. Our son is used to traveling and lots of activity so being on the go for an eight hour day is not out of the norm for him.

I would LOVE to hear your suggestions on the following –

1. Where to stay that is convenient to SeaWorld?

We would like a hotel with a great pool and decent restaurants. We will spend all of our non-park time at the hotel so I don’t mind spending a bit $ for a good place.

2. Is it a mistake NOT to rent a car?

I have no desire to shop or drive around. (The in-laws live in FL and I am not a fan of the traffic and congestion, we will be doing enough driving when we visit them.)

This will be a park visit trip. I am thinking hotel transportation will be fine yet I am open to suggestions.

3. Is Discovery Cove worth a visit if we don’t do the dolphin swim?

Our child is too young for the dolphin swim and neither adult would do it alone. (We will wait until he is older and do it together)

Same goes for the snorkeling, the toddler can’t swim yet. Also, we go the Caribbean each winter and do a lot of snorkeling there.


4. Is food included at Discovery Cove?

What about drinks, including alcohol? I am having a hard time with their website and can’t access some of the categories.

5. I am reading about nightmare-ish food lines in SeaWorld. Is it really that bad?

Is it worth it to take our own snacks like trail mix and such to tie us over until leaving? Is that even allowed? I wouldn’t do it to be cheap; it just bothers me to think about wasting time to stand in line for icky park food.

6. November vs. December – is the weather better in either month? What about the crowds? We would likely avoid Thanksgiving week due to the air travel but would consider it if the park is likely to be less crowded.

I am open to any and all suggestions. Please share your experiences. I am really starting from nothing here and don’t know where to begin. Our typical family vacation is renting a house at the beach or going to the city so this is really out of my comfort zone.

Thanks in advance, I am really looking forward to this trip!

 

[Capt_BJ]

1. Where to stay that is convenient to SeaWorld?

We would like a hotel with a great pool and decent restaurants. We will spend all of our non-park time at the hotel so I don’t mind spending a bit $ for a good place.

You can play on the web and search for great rates.
this link (if it works) http://commerce.4adventure.com/eSto...lPackageConfigure.aspx?catalog=39&group=30504
is to SeaWorlds 'approved' places. You can easily look at possibles and see on the maps where they are in location to the park.... or, see next ?



2. Is it a mistake NOT to rent a car?

I have no desire to shop or drive around. (The in-laws live in FL and I am not a fan of the traffic and congestion, we will be doing enough driving when we visit them.)

This will be a park visit trip. I am thinking hotel transportation will be fine yet I am open to suggestions.

My feeling is limiting to the hotel rest' and the park food might be a bit too restrictive. I say, look for a cheap rental. SW to/fm Orlando airport is a piece of cake. A hotel close by, no more problem. And you then have the flex'bility to find some 'other' food without venturing too far. And should you decide you want to explore DownTown Disney, or the places over at Universal, you have the option. I don't enjoy waiting for hotel shuttles myself. You could get a car for this period for the cost of a taxi to/from the hotel probably.

3. Is Discovery Cove worth a visit if we don’t do the dolphin swim?

Our child is too young for the dolphin swim and neither adult would do it alone. (We will wait until he is older and do it together)

Same goes for the snorkeling, the toddler can’t swim yet. Also, we go the Caribbean each winter and do a lot of snorkeling there.

No dolphins...no snorkeling....don't bother with DC. You'd be spending a lot of $$ for a day at the pool, even if it does include lunch and beer.


4. Is food included at Discovery Cove?

What about drinks, including alcohol? I am having a hard time with their website and can’t access some of the categories.

Yes - Bud products and some wine cooler type things. No, it is not 'open bar'. Cont' brkfst, and a nice lunch and 'snacks' .... the food and libation ain't bad. But like I said, you won't be using what you'd pay for so I'd skip it...this time.

5. I am reading about nightmare-ish food lines in SeaWorld. Is it really that bad?

Is it worth it to take our own snacks like trail mix and such to tie us over until leaving? Is that even allowed? I wouldn’t do it to be cheap; it just bothers me to think about wasting time to stand in line for icky park food.

The lines aren't THAT bad.....there's quite a number of places to eat and line size depends on park load anyway. The standard rules apply....eat a little early, or a little late (lunch) if you can. I'm a passholder and food lines is never a concern for me. If this place is too crowded, I come back in an hour....some of the food ain't bad really. And you might spend some of the $$ saved by not doing DC on one of the 'special meals' like the Shamu backstage gig....that's reservation only...no line.

6. November vs. December – is the weather better in either month? What about the crowds? We would likely avoid Thanksgiving week due to the air travel but would consider it if the park is likely to be less crowded.

I stay away from SW and the other parks around the holidays unless forced to go cuz of visitors in town.... What's the wx like? Well, you could buy the Farmer's Almanac. It might be 80's .... it might be 50's. I doubt it will snow....but it has. Around the holidays, there is a bit of spillover but a time I will go....a week outside of the prime period is my window.

Most humble servant, aka 'the captain' sends....

 

[cleopenn]

Thats for the information, especially your opinion on DC. My gut was telling me it would be an expensive pool day and we will skip it until our son is older.

 

[bshphar]

We just got back from SeaWorld and we stayed directly across the street at the Marriott Renaiussance Hotel - a very nice place with a nice pool area - you can actually walk across the street to SeaWorld and be at the gate in 5 minutes. Only drawbacks - restaurant in hotel very expensive but they have lots of restaurants within a mile on I Drive - Denny's for breakfast was great! They have all your regular restaurants on I Drive. We drove so we did not have to rent a car. They charge you $12.00 per day to park your car at the hotel which I think is a ripoff. But the location is great and the pool is nice. You may want to check their website - Marriott Renaiussance Sea World for rates and to see the place. Good luck. We had a great time at Sea World but we only spent one day there - we have 2 teenagers and were able to do just about everything in that one day. We also ate at Shark's Underwater Grill - a little pricy but I know your son would enjoy it.

 

[chrisann]

I would suggest, the Marriott Horizons, it has a great pool for kids and is literally next door to seaworld. It's a great hotel, and we'd stay there again in a hearbeat!

 

[of2dbeach]

dont forget hurricane season run untill november.. you can always check the weather before you go. Safe bet is to get here before thanksgiving or right after but before the second week of december to avoid lines. The lines for food we have never had a problem with. The food over in the hospitality area have yummy sandwitches and it fills you up. I would rent a car unless you want to stand there with a sleeping toddler on your shoulder as you wait for the busses. I hope this helps sounds like a fun trip .