Calling All Seaworld Experts

[MrsMud]

My family and I will be doing a combination Universal/ Seaworld and possible Aquatica trip next month. While I have obsessively planned our WDW trips in the past, I haven't felt the need to plan that precisely for Seaworld... until now! I know there are only 3 rides at SW, and we will want to ride them all multiple times (at least Kracken and JTA). Many of the shows are new to us, as well as many of the animal exhibits. Our last (and only) trip to Seaworld was about 6 years ago.

We are staying onsite at Universal and plan to devote 2 morning/ early afternoons to SW, then return to Universal for the afternoon /evenings. So what I'm wondering is, what is the best plan for touring the park? I would assume we should hit the 2 big rides first thing, then what? How long does it take for those rides to build up long lines in the morning? Also I understand it's best to visit and feed the dolphins early, so should we do the rides first, then the dolphins, then the rides again? Are they in close proximity to each other?

As far as the shows, what time do they usually start? I figure we can try for 2 shows each day if we time them right. I think we'd like to see Believe, Blue Horizons, and Pets Ahoy. What else? We saw Oddyssea once before and aren't looking to do it again. Also Clyde and Seamore is not a priority, is there a Shamu Rocks show every day? Is it only at the end of the day/nightime?
Lastly, we will be in Orlando Sun - Thurs April 20 - 24. Sunday and Th we will stick to the Universal parks as they are traveling days. So that leaves us with Mon, Tues, and Wed. Are any of these days better than another, crowd-wise? Also if we do Aquatica it would be on one of those days as well.

I would love any input you "experts" can provide! Thanks a bunch!

 

[jdragr]

Wow! All great questions and I want the answers too.

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

As far as seeing the shows at Sea World, you really can only grab a schedule for the day and try to plan around it. We usually are able to see 3 or 4 shows, go on the rides and see the exhibits all in one day. Just plan it as you go around the park and it will all work out

 

[MrsMud]

Thanks. Actually we will not being doing a whole day at SW, but 2 half-days.
We are a big ride family, so we will want to do the rides both days, probably see 2 shows each day, and fit in the exhibits/feedings around them. I was just hoping someone could give me some advice as to what order we should put things to minimize our wait times. We are so spoiled, between having FOTL at Universal, and knowing how to maximize WDW's FastPass, that I hate the idea of standing in line for 30 minutes for anything! Am I being unrealistic?

 

[MontanaZoo]

What I would do with 2 half days is this.

Head to the left when you get in the entrance when it opens and go through Key West to see if the Dolphin Feeding Times are posted. It's on the way to JTA and Kraken (which are pretty much next to each other). If you have time before the first feeding, go to JTA and Kraken, I'd do JTA first so Kraken will dry you off. If you have bags, you'll need to get a locker if everyone's riding. There's lockers by the entrances of both rides.

When we went on the rides at opening, it was walk on (first week of March).

Then I'd head back if there's an early feeding and do that at the dolphins. Are you planning on skipping feeding the stingrays? We did this both days we were there, definitely a fun and interesting experience and right by the dolphins.

Since you are ride enthusiasts, I'd head back towards the rides and check wait times. Ride again if they're short enough for you then head to your first show. If you don't care about being in the soak zone, you can probably cut the time waiting for the show to start down a bit. The Arctic ride is over in the Shamu area (we always skip this, the one time I went just to see the animals they made me sit in the non moving movie part and the line took forever). We went on the Polar Expedition tour to see the polar animals but skip the line and the ride. I've heard that they'll just let you in without the movie, but that wasn't true for me and I tried and you still have to wait in line.

Our favorite show is Believe followed closely by Clyde and Seamore and then Blue Horizons. Pets Ahoy and Odyssea didn't really interest us so we skipped them.

 

[MrsMud]

Thank you so much. This is just what I was looking for!

 

[jdragr]

Great answer!

 

[kiwi707]

My suggestion is head straight to dolphin feeding, if that's really important to you. There's usually one around 9:15 - 9:30, and the line to buy fish fills up very fast and will get cut off once enough people are in line. Feeding is the best way to get interaction with the dolphins, but if you don't want to wait for it, then I'd suggest waiting for a non-feeding time to go to Dolphin Cove. Otherwise, most of the dolphins will be crowded on the feeding side of the tank, and very few will come to the non-feeding area. The first morning feeding time is also the best time to feed -- the dolphins will be very active, playful, and hungry. As the day progresses, they tend to become slightly less enthused -- plus, if you're going at a busy time, you'll have to get there very early to get into line, then wait for quite a while to buy fish.

For the rides, I can't give too much advice, as lately I've always been in off-season. Just last weekend I went, and the rides were walk-ons during the afternoon. But it also wasn't that busy, and a little chilly for Atlantis anyway.

The rides are relatively close to the dolphins, so if you're concerned about lines, you could easily do that after feeding. I'd definitely suggest dolphins first, rides second.

When it comes to shows, Believe is easily my favorite. It does fill up fast, so definitely get there early. Since it's one of the only main attractions on that side of the park, plan to hit Wild Arctic before or after. Shamu Rocks, as far as I know, is only an evening show, so you're probably not going to be able to hit that one. It's a very high energy, fun show, but I don't think it's enough to decide to come back in the evening, as long as you've seen Believe.

Pets Ahoy is my other favorite show, but seating is very limited there. Blue Horizons is also a gorgeous show, so if you don't care about Clyde and Seamore, those will probably be your only 3 shows (although sometimes I like to catch Believe again -- it's always different).

Show times, at least lately, begin around 10:00. I like to plan my shows ahead of time, but the rest of the park I usually just do as I feel like it. The Sea World websites usually has tentative show times posted ahead of time, so keep checking that if you want to get a better idea of how to plan your trip.

Have fun!

 

[Noreen411]

Hi

I'm not a Sea World expert but reading your question got me wondering about the showtimes and fitting things in.

If you go to the Sea World website, there is a calendar for park hours. If you click on whatever day(s) you are thinking of going to Sea World it shows you the schedule of when the showtimes are.

Hope this helps. I'll try to attach the link.

http://www.seaworld.com/ParkHours.aspx?locID=1

Enjoy!
Noreen

 

[jennobrn01]

We are just starting to plan a Sea World/Universal trip. The advice and details about the shows here are great!

My 2 sons are so excited about Sea World! They will be 5 and 3 when we travel. We definitely will hit the Dolphin Feeding first thing. Is there anything else for that age group that we should hit first thing that may be crowded later?

Thanks for the input!

 

[MrsMud]

Hi

I'm not a Sea World expert but reading your question got me wondering about the showtimes and fitting things in.

If you go to the Sea World website, there is a calendar for park hours. If you click on whatever day(s) you are thinking of going to Sea World it shows you the schedule of when the showtimes are.

Hope this helps. I'll try to attach the link.

http://www.seaworld.com/ParkHours.aspx?locID=1

Enjoy!
Noreen

Yes, thank you! When I first posted, the show times for that week were not up yet, but I see that they are now. I have reviewed the show times and the park map and come up with a tentative plan. Unfortunately the Pets Ahoy show is down for refurbishment, we remember that from our last trip and were looking forward to seeing it again. Oh, well. Here's what I have:

DAY #1:
Arrive at opening, check dolphin feeding times.

Feed dolphins, or get a jump on Kracken or JTA if there's time

JTA & Kracken/ feed dolphins

Repeat Kracken and JTA if wait is not too bad

Depending on time:
BLUE HORIZONS: 11:00, and CLYDE AND SEAMORE: 12:30
with lunch either in between or after, OR*
BLUE HORIZONS: 12:30, and CLYDE AND SEAMORE: 2:00
with lunch before or between*

In between the rides and shows, we will plan to visit
Stingrays
Turtles
Manatees_________________________________________________________

DAY #2
Arrive at opening

JTA and Kracken

Visit with Penguins
Seals and Sealions

Skytower (my daughter would like to ride this)? OR
we may skip the skytower to reride Kracken, JTA if wait is not bad

Shark Encounter

Lunch at Hospitality Center

ODYSSEA: 12:45 and BELIEVE: 2:30
ORWe may decide to skip Odyssea and see BELIEVE at 1:00

In between/after
Visit Clydesdales, walk through Shamu's Happy Harbor***

Wild Arctic

BELIEVE: 2:30 (if not already seen)
_________________________________________________________________

How does it look?
A couple of questions:
*on day #1, where is a decent place to eat lunch in the area of Blue Horizons/ Clyde and Seamore?
*** My daughters are 10 and 12, is there anything in Shamu's Happy Harbor appropriate for them or should we just skip it?
## On day #1, I see there are 2 shows scheduled at 12:30 (BH and C&S), might this be a good time to reride the 2 big rides with shorter wait times, or will 12:30 be prime "ride" time regardless of the shows going on?

Thanks for any help, I'm getting really excited!

 

[kellymonaghan]

I've heard that they'll just let you in without the movie, but that wasn't true for me and I tried and you still have to wait in line.

You can "sneak in" to Wild Arctic via the exit, which is in the gift shop.

 

[MontanaZoo]

Not really, they have someone posted watching the exit. I tried.

 

[MontanaZoo]

*on day #1, where is a decent place to eat lunch in the area of Blue Horizons/ Clyde and Seamore?
*** My daughters are 10 and 12, is there anything in Shamu's Happy Harbor appropriate for them or should we just skip it?

The Spice Mill is over sort of by Clyde and Seamore and it's pretty good for counter service.
I went with my 11 year old niece and she wasn't interested in anything in Shamu's Happy Harbor over trying to ride more or petting stingrays. Anything with buttons though, she was all about it. She wanted to go through all of the educational podiums in the exhibits with touch screens. If your girls are like that, definitely allow some time. I'm remembering them especially in the Manatee and Shark areas, I think.

She also wanted to feed everything and do pressed pennies... so that's $4 a tray by the sharks, stingrays and seals I believe and $6 a tray at the dolphins.

 

[MrsMud]

Thnaks for all the advice!

The Spice Mill sounds like it is a good location for lunch the first day, does anyone know of a website that has menus for Seaworld?

 

[DixieDolphin]

No 100% guarantee that these are completely accurate... but...

http : // wdisneyw . co . uk / swmenus . html

(With the spaces removed. Apparently the board won't let me post links??)

=)

 

[MrsMud]

No 100% guarantee that these are completely accurate... but...

http : // wdisneyw . co . uk / swmenus . html

(With the spaces removed. Apparently the board won't let me post links??)

=)

Thanks.

Oh, and you probably don't have enough posts yet.