Adding some fun....neve been

[XYSRUS]

We're taking the kids in March to WDW and wanted to go to Sea World and Discovery Cove...would a day each be sufficient? How would I buy tickets? Separately or a package? Very confused right now...Any suggestions for hotels? Food, I assume, would be on our own...from my siggy, we have 4 boys, 16,14,10, and 8 by the time we go....I welcome all suggestions! Thank you!

 

[Emmabean2000]

If you buy a Discovery Cove ticket, you get 14 days of unlimited admission to either Sea World, Aquatica or Busch Gardens. You get to choose one of the above, and can go before and after your trip to Discovery Cove, as long as it is within a 14 day period. Food at Discovery Cove is included in your package, but food at the other parks all run about the same as Disney food prices. Not sure about hotels in the area. Trip Advisor always helps me!

 

[KBF]

Here is a hotel that partners with Seaworld and offers special deals. Not sure what deals the hotel will have next year, but its worth keeping an eye on it.
http://www.renaissanceseaworldorlando.com/SeaWorld-Official-Hotel-Partner-Benefits-83.html

Also about days. You will need full day at both Discovery Cove and Seaworld. When in March are you going? If your going around Spring break, then I would plan for 2 days at Seaworld since the park will be more crowded. If you can't fit in a 2nd day at Seaworld, then you could (With really good planning) do everything in one day if you visit from park open until close. When planning your day, plan around show times. For example: if there is a 2:30 Shamu show that you want to see, then plan to visit exhibits, rides, restaurants, and gift shops around the Shamu show stadium from 1:00-2:00 and then again from 3:00-4:00. That way your not wasting time running back and forth all over the park. Discovery Cove only allows up to 1000 people in park total per day. So you won't have to worry about crowds there.

Like I said, crowds could be of concern. But Seaworld is the least popular of the 3 major theme parks. So Seaworld crowded is no where near what a Disney or Universal/IOA crowded would be like. Any other questions, feel free to ask! Hope you have a great visit!

 

[Lynne G]

We booked and stayed at the Fairfield at Sea World for 8 nights at end of Aug/beginning of Sept. It was a nice hotel (though my kids thought it wasn't as nice as the Portfino we had stayed at the 4 days before the Fairfield, and the pool didn't have a slide). Yes, If you book Discovery Cove through Sea World website, pick Sea World as the other park choice and you get unlimited visits to Sea World for 14 days from the first use. You can go to Sea World before or after Discovery Cove or both before and after. If you go to Discovery Cove first, your lanyard picture you get at Discovery Cove is also your ticket to Sea World.

Not sure how much time you have or how warm the weather would be, but through the Sea World website, we picked SeaWorld and Aquadica tickets with the hotel, and got a free day of dining at both parks. If you stay at a SeaWorld neighbor hotel like the Fairfield, all have a free shuttle to Sea Word (where you get a Discovery Cove bus to Discovery Cove) and Aquadica. Free parking and breakfast at the Fairfield, and best of all: While you have to walk over to the SpringHill Suites at the end of the one driveway (both hotels owned by Mariott), the specialist desk in the lobby gives you print outs for free unlimited front of the line passes for Sea World. For the three of us (2 Adults 1 Child) it was a savings of $126. It gives you front of the line for the coasters and free, unlimited access to the tower and boats.

We enjoyed Discovery Cove so much my kids think we will return next year. I told them the next time will be on their own dollar, it was expensive and there is no discount for kids!

I think you could do Sea World in one day, if not too crowded. But if you like shows, 2 days would be better. SeaWorld has many shows, so spreading them out over 2 days (which we spent) was about right. You also have to check the closing times, Sea World tends to extend days where it thinks it will have more traffic. For example, we went the last Sunday in August and they closed at 6pm. The Saturday of Labor Day week-end, it closed at 10pm. We did alot more on Saturday, saw alot more of the shows, including 3 that were offered Saturday night, but not offered the prior Sunday night.

Have fun, we did like Sea World, but kids (10 and 13) said ok if not get back there for a few years. The highlight was feeding the seals and dolphins and sharks!