Critique Seaworld plans

[Average Joes]

I would appreciate advise/critique needed please on the following plan. I can handle it. Sorry about the length.

We have rented a condo at Wyndom Bonnet Creek from Koala between Sunday Dec 29 and Saturday Jan 4. Second time there. Hoping Koala does its vetting that the rental is permitted during the holidays. Driving from near Detroit. Is driving thru Atlanta manageable on the weekends around that time?

We (family of 4 with two teens) bought undercover tourist tickets to Discovery Cove and the 14 day tickets for Seaworld/Aquatica for $880 with $200 in gift cards. We have never been.

Plan is to:

a) pick up the gift cards from Discovery Cove on Dec 30. I have heard this works but does anyone have experience?

b) attend Seaworld on Dec. 31. Buy the fast Quick Queue/show and food on Black Friday. Would it sell out for Dec 31?

c) Cove on Jan 2.

d) fit in Aquatica if the weather gets at least in the high 60s. If not maybe SeaWorld AM.

e) Disney Springs Dec 29 or 30 and Jan 3. Should we avoid the evening? We can handle crowds but not insanity.

Thank you!

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I don't think Quick Queue would sell out on Black Friday, but they may not have discounts on certain busier dates. Or not deep discounts.

You might want to ask UT about upgrading one of the tickets to the version that includes Busch Gardens & free parking - the upgrade for the one ticket is cheaper than parking 2x at SW/Aquatica.

You might also consider doing an additional evening (or morning?) in SW, particularly if your party likes roller coasters. It's challenging/impossible to fit all of SW in one day. Since adding extra days would be free, you can do a few hours here and there without added expense (except parking). If you do add another jaunt into SW, I would suggest either sampling the food booths (they're really good!) or doing the Dine w/ Orcas. Dine w/ Orcas is about the best way to see the orcas not in the show, and there are normally good deals on Black Friday.

 

[BarlowFamily]

a) pick up the gift cards from Discovery Cove on Dec 30. I have heard this works but does anyone have experience?

I thought you meant you paid with $200 of gift cards, but now I understand you will receive $200 gift card. This sounds like a great deal! I haven't heard of it so I'm curious to know how it works for you. Please report back!

b) attend Seaworld on Dec. 31. Buy the fast Quick Queue/show and food on Black Friday. Would it sell out for Dec 31?

It will be so crowded. You and your teens will appreciate the QQ passes. I'm hesitant on the all-day dining (but I don't have a teen yet). The food lines have been so long and slow when we are there we can't really get the value out of the deal. A really good price for the dining though would sway me to put up with lines and eat in the park.

c) Cove on Jan 2.

I'm excited for you! We loved DC!

d) fit in Aquatica if the weather gets at least in the high 60s. If not maybe SeaWorld AM.

Yes! Even just an hour or two at Aquatica. I'm not sure what the New Year's crowds will be like, but since its not summer should be manageable. I second the idea of upgrading a ticket to include the parking.

e) Disney Springs Dec 29 or 30 and Jan 3. Should we avoid the evening? We can handle crowds but not insanity.

Crowded on all of those days. And probably more so on the 3rd. We find Fridays are so crowded at DS. Obviously the earlier the better. Crowds build throughout the day. So just for dinner? I'd skip. But morning shopping and lunch? Sure! You're staying so close to the Springs it makes sense.

 

[Average Joes]

I appreciate the responses. I tried but Undercover was unable to upgrade the tickets so no free parking for me.

It was a $50 gift card per ticket. I will update on the forum to advise if if I was successful in obtaining the gift cards pre discovery cove attendance.

I am just a bit concerned about the time to leave the park, get food and come back. However, it is a good point to consider for lunch and maybe eating at the booths later.

Morning and Lunch at DS it is!

 

[Average Joes]

We ended up going last week to SW, DC and Aquatica instead of over the holidays. The potential crowds scared us off.

We were new to Seaworld, etc. and it was much better than we anticipated. My wife feared SW would be like Cedar Point (all rides) which was not accurate at all. It was not Disney or Universal but it was fun in a much more relaxing way. A debate of superior parks with crowds vs. a lesser park with little crowds. Rides were generally 5-15 minutes except for Penguin Trek at 30. We were spoiled with the low crowds on weekdays (last Wednesday and pre 2:00 Friday). We probably wouldn't go if it was busy due to staffing issues but those issues were not much of a problem with low crowds. Discovery Cove was quasi like an all inclusive without the ocean view. Bring your own mask, it will be clearer than the ones provided. We found Aquatica superior to Disney's water parks but not Volcano Bay.

It was nice to go on a vacation that is relatively affordable. $220 a ticket.