Clearwater Marine Aquarium: worth the price?

[emksmama]

We are planning to spend a day in Clearwater after our 4 days in Disney next month, driving over Friday morning. We'll have all day Friday there, before heading back home Saturday morning. My girls loved the movie Dolphin Tale, and they know Winter lives at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

However, after spending 4 days at WDW, the thought of spending another $70 for the four of us to go to an aquarium just makes me queasy. The main point in going to Clearwater is to have a beach day before we come home...I can't see being in Florida and NOT dipping my toes in the ocean!

On the CMA website, they offer a "Winter Dolphin Tale Adventure" package for only $26 for a family of 4, but nowhere in the description does it say we get to SEE Winter...it's all movie prop stuff. After digging further on the website, Winter is in the CMA, and the cheaper package option is in a different building completely.

Looking for some advice from experienced travelers who have been there! In reading some older threads, it sounds like it's more of a rescue center and can be toured in 2-3 hours. That doesn't seem like a good deal for the money to me.

 

[loricdietzel]

We went last year and I was not impressed. If we didn't stop and watch some of the animals for awhile, I think we could have done it in an hour or less. It was neat to see Winter, but not that great in my opinion. Of course, we hadn't seen the movie yet so maybe I would have been more impressed if i had? I wouldn't go back again. I was actually quite bored.

 

[orlandohints]

If you're planning on spending the day in Clearwater and your girls like dolphins, I'd take a dolphin tour instead. I've been on four and we've always had great luck seeing dolphins splashing around in the waves. The one I remember having the most dolphins was the Little Toot--dolphins would come in groups of 4-5 right up to the boat! I can't post a direct link (too few posts), but the website is littletoot.us

Good luck and have fun!

 

[infopurposesonly]

We were there last month. We didn't bother with the movie stuff, just went straight to the aquarium. I don't think we spend more than an hour and a half there, and some of that was spent waiting for our time to have a picture with one of the dolphins. If you want to do that, you need to book in advance for a time slot, because they only sell so many slots. We thought it was all quite expensive for what little there was to see and do, but I guess it benefits the rescue program. It was fun to actually see Winter. We went early in the afternoon, then headed right over to Clearwater Beach. Almost all of the beach parking lots were full by that time. If you want to see the aquarium and the beach, my advice would be to go first thing in the morning.

 

[emksmama]

Thanks for the insight...I'm 99% sure we're going to skip the whole aquarium thing. DH and I both feel that's a TON of money to drop, especially after going to Disney, and my mom (who usually is eager to spend money on her only grandchildren) agreed. I really want to see Clearwater for the beaches anyway, and since we only have one day for it, I want to spend as much time at the beach as we can.

Even though the girls are only 8 & 9, they've already commented that things in commercials and movies are often better than real life, and it sounds like this is another example...and an expensive one at that!

 

[infopurposesonly]

Clearwater Beach is beautiful, but very commercial with new hotels. There are attractions on the beach, like a giant water slide, bungee thing, etc. Plenty of restaurants nearby. If you want a quieter beach, and just as beautiful, Sand Key Park is just south of Clearwater beach.

 

[infopurposesonly]

http://www.seewinter.com/winter/media/webcam-3 The girls can still see Winter.

 

[kathy884]

We just did a two night stay in Clearwater last week to see Winter and go to the beach. Regular admission to the rescue facility (a converted sewer treatment plant where Winter is) includes the other building with all kinds of movie props and information). Worth it or not I think depends on how big a fan you are of the movie and if your kids really want to see Winter (DS who is 16 really did). There are trollys that take you between the two sites. // Everything I heard said to just expect to spend two to three hours which made me think we'd have quite a bit of the time at the beach too, but between the two places and the behind the scenes tour we did, our party spent five hours there. We are, though, huge marine mammal fans and big enthusiasts of the movie. Still I was surprised that our time there was double what most people seem to spend from trip reports.

We arrived Thursday around 3 -- checked into the Sea Captain resort, had a late lunch at the marina, did a swim in the pool, and then took a one of the little 6 p.m. boat tours to see mansions and dolphins (about $20 pp -- a one hour tour). // big hit with DS and my cousin from Tampa.) Lol DH did not come on this trip. He avoids Florida in the summer if possible. We just loved the little resort and in the evening ordered pizza that we ate on the common balconies, did more swimming and sitting out watching boats at the marina and visiting. And then we watched the Dolphin Tale again on a portable blue ray player we brought along. Friday I got a few groceries in the morning (little kitchette at the place), others slept in, we ate lunch in, and then we spent the hours between noon and 5 p.m. at the the Clearwater Marine Aquarium and air conditioned facility with movie props (be aware that most of the aquarium is not air conditioned). This time included a 45 minute behind the scenes tour too that we spent an extra $15 pp to do. Two tickets to the aquarium were included for free with our accomodations as we booked a Winter package and when we asked to buy another -- they sell tickets at a discount, they just gave us another one for free. DS who is a huge marine mammal fan just loved both places (was so enthusiastic about the whole experience). My cousin loved it too. It was a pleasant little place doing good work -- not a world class aquarium or theme park -- lots of more impressive facilities all over -- so it's really more if you like little places like this and/or are gaga over Winter and really want to see Winter. Both of these apply to us. That evening we took a quick walk on the beach and pier, had a nice little dinner out at Crabby Bills (right there), took a swim at our resort, and then watched the true story of Winter (documentary we bought at the gift shop). I loved the activities so far, but was crushed that we really hadn't spent any time at Clearwater beach (which I love by the way) as we needed to take DS to Busch Gardens the next day for a Zookeeping 101 camp. Well we decided to arrive at the camp later and get up early and swim at Clearwater Beach Saturday morning. We went to the beach at 8 a.m. -- boy is it beautiful that time of day, and we were there for about an hour. We even -- magical for us -- had a dolphin swim by while we were swimming at the beach (just one of those magical perfect seeming vacation moments) // We had such a wonderful time in this little two night get-a-way.

It was a delightful stay -- just loved it. Would have liked to have more time at beautiful Clearwater beach though. // Note: This trip did not include anything at all in Orlando. Dropped DS off at Busch Gardnes camp. Did Busch Gardens with my cousin on Saturday and again Sunday (2nd day free pricing) and then look an evening flight back home from Tampa International. DS fllew back Thurday morning. (Side note: Busch Gardens is nice, but I like the Orlando theme parks better - SeaWorld being my favorite followed by WDW parks which I love too. For some reason -- not really sure -- We're not as big fans of Universal but do think their parks are world class too.) Busch Gardens to me is a fancy zoo -- better than the best public zoos, with beautiful landscaping, some good shows, and a bunch of coasters.