Are we doing our DD an injustice by not going to Sea World?

[slo]

Our Family consists of DH, myself (mom & wife), and our two DD's ages 6 and 13 months.

We have been to WDW many, many times and we originally decided to visit Sea World because I thought our DD#1 would enjoy it. We recently decided to not visit Sea World because we purchased a Silver Package and we are going to be in the World for 6 days. Going to Sea World wastes a day we paid for to be at WDW, and I can't justify that. But, I am afraid that I am keeping my DD#1 from seeing other things.

Am I being a bad parent??? I figured we can go to Sea World in a couple years when DD#2 is older so she can enjoy it. I don't enjoy Sea World nearly as much as WDW and I don't plan on returning every year like we return to WDW every year.

Any of you skip other vacation locations (Univeral, Sea World, etc.), and do you feel quilty for this??? Please help me feel better for not wanting to visit Shamu (did I spell this right ?). Thanks

 

[jctwizzer]

Based on our experience, you can skip Seaworld without feeling you missed something. For one thing, there's virtually no attractions that appeal to small kids....unless they would enjoy feeding a $3 sardine to a dolphin.
The dolphin show might hold their attention, but then they go the Shamu show...which, to a small child, is nothing more than another fish swimming around...the five year old we were with fell asleep. I don't remember one ride where the 5 year old met the height requirement.
Again, walking thru the penguin house might entertain them, but that's about 10 minutes and your out.
JMHO

 

[cobbler]

You are just fine. I haven't been to any of the other parks around there and I don't feel guilty in the least or feel my kids are missing out.

I would however feel they were missing out if we didn't go to Disney

 

[Serenity]

My husband loves SeaWorld and we try to do it every couple of trips. But if you are doing it for the children, I say wait a few years. The shows are GREAT but my kids didn't seem to enjoy them as much as we did. My 7 yr old loved feeding the Dolphins the last time we went (he was 6 then) but he got very bored at all the shows. There is a great play area for the kids but not something that is worth missing Disney for. Just my opinion.

Good luck.

 

[wannabee princess]

We used to go to SeaWorld every trip to Orlando, but last year on both of our two trips we skipped it. We had so much fun, and kept so busy at THE World that I didn't feel guilty.

Part of the reason I didn't feel so bad may be that we spent more time at AK (probably would have not done this if we had spent a day at SW) and even stayed at AKL! So, I felt like I was giving my animal-loving ds plenty of animal exposure.

That being said, we will most likely plan a SeaWorld day for this December. I think it is much more of a every other year park than Disney, or a good option for those spending longer than a week in Orlando.

 

[jcemom]

I think you will all enjoy it more if you wait a couple of years to go to Sea World. Go to Disney, enjoy it, and don't feel guilty for one minute! You're taking your children to Disney World, after all, what's to feel guilty about?!

 

[Gluman11]

Actually, my wife and I don't understand why anyone would leave DW to go somewhere else during a WDW vacation........

But that's just us........we feel more guilty when we leave WDW property and "waste" valuable time elsewhere.....

 

[maciec]

I think that you are fine staying with Disney and not taking your girls to SW. As another poster said, there aren't that many attractions that are kid oriented. I personally would wait for them to be a little older before going.

We took our dd at 13months and while it was nice it just wasn't for her. I think that you can do SW in a 1/2 of a day. It reminds me of a really nice zoo with a couple of bonuses.

Put it this way, been there done that and not going back anytime soon. We'll stick with WDW

 

[mobes_jk]

I'm sure you will be fine skipping Sea World, but I just have to say that there is just something about each park that is appealing in a different way than the others. My family has been to Disney several times and we all love it (of course), but last year we went to Universal/IOA and Sea World and had about as good a time as we would WDW. I don't know...it seems that Disney gets the magic and the show aspect, while Universal focuses more on rides (for kids). Our daughter actually loved Sea World so much that she wants to be a dolphin trainer when she grows up! Our 1 and 2-year-olds seemed to have a good time there, too, but probably not as much as the other parks. This year we are going to be at Disney for 5 days, Universal/IOA for 2, and Sea World for 1. We are just lucky this time that we can stay for so long so that we could get everything in. Have fun!

 

[Deb & Bill]

We went to SW for the first time last summer (it was our 13th trip). Our son was 10 and was 4 when we went the first time. We enjoyed SW for the two days that we did it and our son was big enough to enjoy doing things kind of by himself. If you will only be there for 6 days, stick with WDW and do SW in a few years.

 

[HollyJoy]

My husband and I had thought about either going to Sea World or Universal Studios while we were there, but then decided against it. This will be our kids first time going to WDW, and we just know they'd rather spend all their time in WDW! We'll surely go another year though. I don't think you're being a bad parent at all!

 

[fam4jc]

I really like your concerns for your children's education That is very comendable. Sea World is wonderful and educational for older kids. Last time we were there at the underwater dolphin viewing I cried at their beauty and everyone laughed at me

Don't feel bad about not taking them to Sea World. There are plenty of ways you can add educational opportunities for your kids in WDW. Depending on their interests, how about a trip to the library before the trip to read about topiaries? or animation, or robotics? There is the conservation station at AK and lots of other ways to add a little knowledge to your family fun trip. Just look for "teachable moments".

Have a wonderful trip. Relax, enjoy and have loads of fun

 

[FayeW]

Well I guess I am the lone dissenter in the crowd, but I say, cut out a couple of days of the silver package, and just do room only so you won't feel like you are wasting your money by going elsewhere. With the silver package for all of your days, you might feel obligated to go to the parks when you might feel like having a more relaxing day at the resort, or SeaWorld. We loved SW, and there is a lot more to a vacation than being overwhelmed with rides and attractions. My children, 7 &9 at the time, enjoyed being able to view and interact with the rays, dolphins, see the shows etc. I don't understand why everybody is so against taking a day away from WDW. You are going to be there for 5 other days, if you promised the child SW, then take her to SW,you will be glad you did, and it is a nice low stress day.

 

[jcemom]

Originally posted by FayeW
Well I guess I am the lone dissenter in the crowd, but I say, cut out a couple of days of the silver package, and just do room only so you won't feel like you are wasting your money by going elsewhere. With the silver package for all of your days, you might feel obligated to go to the parks when you might feel like having a more relaxing day at the resort, or SeaWorld. We loved SW, and there is a lot more to a vacation than being overwhelmed with rides and attractions. My children, 7 &9 at the time, enjoyed being able to view and interact with the rays, dolphins, see the shows etc. I don't understand why everybody is so against taking a day away from WDW. You are going to be there for 5 other days, if you promised the child SW, then take her to SW,you will be glad you did, and it is a nice low stress day.

I'm not "so against taking a day away from WDW." I just think that the OP's DD will enjoy Sea World more at age 8 than at 6, if she is making a choice and not planning to go every trip. To me, spending 6 days at Disney (though I, too, would do without the silver package) will be much more relaxing than trying to squeeze in Sea World, especially with the baby in tow. I think Sea World is a great park, but in this situation, at this point in time, I would save it for the next trip. I do agree with dropping the silver plan because it would make me feel that I couldn't take a non-park day without wasting money, lol.

 

[forgetyourtroubles!]

I heard that child protective services investigates all parents who intentionally deprive children of Sea World.

 

[slo]

Originally posted by forgetyourtroubles!
I heard that child protective services investigates all parents who intentionally deprive children of Sea World.

This is very funny and made me laugh out loud!!

I want to thank everyone for making me feel better about not going to Sea World . I have not been there since 1997 and that was before children, so I don't have a good idea on what there is for children to do there. Thank you for telling me there isn't much for my 6yr old to do and for us to wait until she is about 8. I would have felt bad if we would have wasted a valuable WDW day on a unsuccessful Sea World day . We will just watch the shows about Sea World on the Travel Channel and plan on going there in a couple of years.

Thanks again!!!

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

We have taken our children to WDW three times in the last four years and will be going again this year. We have never left the property and will not again this year (except for the DCL cruise).

When they are older, we will venture out, now they just want Mickey, Buzz, pooh and the princesses.

Have a great time.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I think you'll be okay. Remember - the Living Seas at Epcot has Manatees and fish and I think your DD will like that.

The shows at SeaWorld can be boring to little kids.

 

[forgetyourtroubles!]

Originally posted by slo

This is very funny and made me laugh out loud!!

I want to thank everyone for making me feel better about not going to Sea World . I have not been there since 1997 and that was before children, so I don't have a good idea on what there is for children to do there. Thank you for telling me there isn't much for my 6yr old to do and for us to wait until she is about 8. I would have felt bad if we would have wasted a valuable WDW day on a unsuccessful Sea World day . We will just watch the shows about Sea World on the Travel Channel and plan on going there in a couple of years.

Thanks again!!!

I guess you'll just have to tell it to the judge. Hopefully he'll let you off easy this time.

 

[slo]

Originally posted by forgetyourtroubles!
I guess you'll just have to tell it to the judge. Hopefully he'll let you off easy this time.

I sure hope so!!! If not I'll be thrown to the whales