ADVICE NEEDED! Sea World/Busch Gardens-1st trip in YEARS

[Gmouse]

It's been YEARS since we've been to either. We always seem to find ourselves at WDW every trip
We're planning mid January 2014. Can these 2 parks be done in a day? (1 one day, the other another) We plan on being in Orlando 6-7 days then head to Tampa. We're leaning toward the Orlando Flex Pass - SW & AQ, US & IOA, BG (we'll prob skip Wet N wild) We are going to MK for one day (daughter is OBSESSED, as am I We just had 11 days there in Jan We have passes for that already.
*Does Universal/IOA take a full 2 days? Some say 3, but they go in high season...hoping mid Jan will be a very SLOW time!
*Rides-We have a 13 yr old boy and 3 yr old girl so I'm sure there will alot of things she can't ride, so one of us will be waiting with her, then ride with the 13 yr old (he's lucky to ride everything twice!) Do they have "kid swap" or anything like Disney does? or will be we waiting in lines alot? We chose that time of year (as every year for vaca) since school is in, crowds are lighter and it's not a gazillion degrees!
*Food- what are some really good places to eat? We usually do breakfast in the room, light lunch or early supper. Hoping for prices a little better than WDW Can you take snacks/food in for the little one in a small soft side cooler? She's a picky eater. Restaurant food hurts her stomach sometimes.
*Parking-if we get the Flex Passes does that include parking to all of those parks? The flex pass we're looking at is a park "hopper" sort of ticket so that could add up to a small fortune if we do hop and have to pay each time. Can't find the answer to that on the site.
*Baggage check-do they go through your bags/cooler like DWDW does? I always put everything we need in gallon zippie bags so they don't have their hands in other ppls dirty bags, then put them all in ours! grrr We each just hold up the zippie bag and go on through the line. Keeping all our things clean Just curious to know about that before we go so I know how to get us all ready and out the door!
*City walk- is that free?
Any other suggestions for a family like ours will be much appreciated!

 

[anorman]

It's been YEARS since we've been to either. We always seem to find ourselves at WDW every trip
We're planning mid January 2014. Can these 2 parks be done in a day? (1 one day, the other another)
We usually manage it in one day each.
We plan on being in Orlando 6-7 days then head to Tampa. We're leaning toward the Orlando Flex Pass - SW & AQ, US & IOA, BG (we'll prob skip Wet N wild)
Good call....loved Aquatica but thought that WetnWild lacked theming
We are going to MK for one day (daughter is OBSESSED, as am I
We did the same thing last year!
We just had 11 days there in Jan We have passes for that already.
*Does Universal/IOA take a full 2 days? Some say 3, but they go in high season...hoping mid Jan will be a very SLOW time!
Two days will do it but three would be nice
*Rides-We have a 13 yr old boy and 3 yr old girl so I'm sure there will alot of things she can't ride, so one of us will be waiting with her, then ride with the 13 yr old (he's lucky to ride everything twice!) Do they have "kid swap" or anything like Disney does? or will be we waiting in lines alot? We chose that time of year (as every year for vaca) since school is in, crowds are lighter and it's not a gazillion degrees!
Did you consider staying onsite Universal for a couple of nights? It gets you front of the line for everything in both parks. Worth it IMHO. Not sure about the child swap.
*Food- what are some really good places to eat? We usually do breakfast in the room, light lunch or early supper. Hoping for prices a little better than WDW
Probably similar prices but lots of variety.
Can you take snacks/food in for the little one in a small soft side cooler? She's a picky eater. Restaurant food hurts her stomach sometimes.
*Parking-if we get the Flex Passes does that include parking to all of those parks? The flex pass we're looking at is a park "hopper" sort of ticket so that could add up to a small fortune if we do hop and have to pay each time. Can't find the answer to that on the site.
Yes, you do have to pay for parking each day and it does add up.
*Baggage check-do they go through your bags/cooler like DWDW does? I always put everything we need in gallon zippie bags so they don't have their hands in other ppls dirty bags, then put them all in ours! grrr We each just hold up the zippie bag and go on through the line. Keeping all our things clean Just curious to know about that before we go so I know how to get us all ready and out the door!
Yes they do.
*City walk- is that free?
It is included with the Flex Pass and has lots of great options for eating.
Any other suggestions for a family like ours will be much appreciated!
Have fun!!!!

 

[ncfamily]

BG and SeaWorld both have kid swap. Just ask the attendant at the park entrance how it works. Some rides it works differently than others.

 

[MrRomance]

I'm sure a lot of people will disagree with me but we always get the dine all day wristband when we go to SW. It probably isn't the cheapest option but we are there all day and it allows us to eat what we want when we want.

 

[Gmouse]

I'm sure a lot of people will disagree with me but we always get the dine all day wristband when we go to SW. It probably isn't the cheapest option but we are there all day and it allows us to eat what we want when we want.

 

[Gmouse]

we are looking into that! That would save us on 2-3 days of parking fees too!
Did you consider staying onsite Universal for a couple of nights? It gets you front of the line for everything in both parks. Worth it IMHO.

 

[anorman]

we are looking into that! That would save us on 2-3 days of parking fees too!
Did you consider staying onsite Universal for a couple of nights? It gets you front of the line for everything in both parks. Worth it IMHO.

We stayed at the Royal Pacific and absolutely loved it! It is a beautiful hotel. You can't beat the front of the line perk! I wouldn't even consider doing Universal without it......I am officially spoiled!

 

[Catrinabeach]

we are looking into that! That would save us on 2-3 days of parking fees too!
Did you consider staying onsite Universal for a couple of nights? It gets you front of the line for everything in both parks. Worth it IMHO.

FYI Universal does charge to park at their resorts even when you stay there. And they do have child swap.

 

[CynBeth]

We just went to Tampa for a weekend in June. We arrived late morning so we spent a few hours at the Tampa Aquarium and went to a Rays game in St. Pete that evening. We also spent a day at the Tampa Zoo and a day at BG. We do not go on the thrill rides so we were there from opening to closing seeng the animal exhibits and some shows.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

Yes those parks can each be done in one day.

Sea World will be tricky to pull off if you want to time it to where you can see all the shows and ride a few rides/exhibits.

It will take ALL DAY to do it all there.

We actually gave 2 days to Sea World but if we ever go back it will be just one day (probably)

Busch Gardens is an awesome park. IOA is my fav park then Busch gardens second. (Epcot third)

January will probably be too chilly to do any water parks at all. We have been in January and although it wasn't so cold we had to wear a jacket it was low 60"s to mid 70"s. And when you are wet that feels almost like freezing.

Crowds are great (low) in January unless you are going over a holiday weekend then it will be very crowded.