Advice of Planning SeaWorld Parks only mini trip

[kathy884]

Looking at a March four night / three day trip

Loved it that Discovery Cove pricing includes admission to Aquatica and SeaWorld for even multiple times, within a 14 day period makes doing Discovery Cove seem like a decent deal. Will get Dolphin swim Discovery Cove package for DS 19 and regular non-dolphin for me and DH.

We often do an offsite condo with rental car on Orlando trips, but doing just SeaWorld Parks, I'm thinking a SeaWorld hotel with shuttle to change things up a bit and not even drive.

It looks like, though, instead of booking a SeaWorld package, as those just include hotel and SeaWorld park stuff my best bet is to book Discovery Cove packages and hotel separately?? Let me know if you have other suggestions.

Here's what I'm thinking:
Four nights Residence Inn SeaWorld -- breakfast included and shuttles to SeaWorld parks so will be cab from and to airport instead of rental car. Has anyone stayed here and if so, how did the shuttle service work?

Day 1 - SeaWorld
Day 2 - Discovery Cove
Day 3 - Aquatica 10-2, change at hotel and relax a little, back to SeaWorld for evening including Dine with Shamu dinner

 

[monarchsfan16]

My only caution is that it can be difficult to take a break and return using the shuttle. The shuttles are scheduled, unlike at Disney. I'm at a different partner hotel right now. Departure and return times are always changing and differ based on hotel but right now at this hotel, departures for SW and aquatica are 8:20 am, 9:10 am, 11:00 am, 11:50!am, 1:30 pm, and 3:35 pm. Returns from Aquatica are at 1:10 pm, 2:50 pm, 3:50 pm and 5:30 pm.

And yes, if you want Discovery Cove book the hotel and parks separately.

 

[kathy884]

Thanks Monarchsfan. As long as we know the schedule, I think we could work with that, but that's really good to know. I could always get a car too, as they usually have great deals and it wouldn't really cost me that much more than the transportation to and from the airport. I am tempted not to get a car for once though, just for something different.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I, personally, would make your Aquatica day longer if you can.....there's lots to keep you busy for more than 4 hours. But to be fair, we are waterpark people ....which definitely slants our opinion!!

 

[kathy884]

Thanks Gina. I'll keep an open mind on that and play it by ear for when we leave Aquatica. I have a feeling DS will want to just spend a few hours there, so we have more time at SeaWorld on our last day, but March usually is really nice for a place like this. DS has been to Aquatica quite a few times, but I've only been to Blizzard Beach and Wet and Wild. Our Dine with Shamu dinner will be for dinner time, so that gives us a lot of flexibility.

Sidebar: I appreciate all your thoughtful posts on these forums. It looks like we have a lot in common: Our family just loves the Sheraton Vistana resort and we stay there a lot, SeaWorld is our favorite park, and we have a 19 year old son (I think I saw that you had a 19 year old son too.)

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Sidebar: I appreciate all your thoughtful posts on these forums. It looks like we have a lot in common: Our family just loves the Sheraton Vistana resort and we stay there a lot, SeaWorld is our favorite park, and we have a 19 year old son (I think I saw that you had a 19 year old son too.)

Thank you, Kathy! And yes, I would say we do share many similarities!!!

Our son will turn 19 on January 11th, so our families are very similar. Nice that your kiddo is still travelling with you as a young man as well . Our boy has taken a pass on our May trip (so DH and I can have some special alone time for our anniversary, and so he doesn't miss any shifts at work....college and vehicle ownership are expensive!!) but I expect he will come along in October.

Your upcoming Seaworld parks getaway sounds marvelous! I hope you have a spectacular time!

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Hi, If you are staying at the Residence Inn SeaWorld, you can skip the shuttle to SeaWorld and walk. Or take the shuttle TO Seaworld, but skip the shuttle on the way back to your hotel and just walk it.

We stayed at the Hilton Grand Vacations, which is a farther walk than the Residence Inn SeaWorld to/from SeaWorld and after dealing with the shuttle two or three times, my family refused to use it anymore. We instead chose to walk, even in the heat and pouring rain, lol, rather than take the shuttle. Just know that you will be walking through the SeaWorld parking lot and it is not pedestrian friendly and has no walking path, so be cautious when dodging cars at opening or closing times or other busy times.

 

[kathy884]

Hi, If you are staying at the Residence Inn SeaWorld, you can skip the shuttle to SeaWorld and walk. Or take the shuttle TO Seaworld, but skip the shuttle on the way back to your hotel and just walk it.

We stayed at the Hilton Grand Vacations, which is a farther walk than the Residence Inn SeaWorld to/from SeaWorld and after dealing with the shuttle two or three times, my family refused to use it anymore. We instead chose to walk, even in the heat and pouring rain, lol, rather than take the shuttle. Just know that you will be walking through the SeaWorld parking lot and it is not pedestrian friendly and has no walking path, so be cautious when dodging cars at opening or closing times or other busy times.

Thanks so much for the tip. DS said that the Residence Inn would be walking distance to SeaWorld too. So maybe our only shuttle will be to Aquatica and back. Sounds great!