Differences: SW San Antonio vs SW Orlando

[kmbrandon]

My family has been to SW San Antonio several times over the past few years. We are going to Universal Orlando next week. Since we are there for 7 days, we are considering SW Orlando. My problem with it is the higher price which I don't want to pay if it is basically the same park as San Antonio. Can someone tell me the differences (especially the ones to justify the higher cost)?

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[bapvoeller]

I think SW SA is a better value. There are more rides at SA and your admission includes a water park. I haven't been to SW SA in a couple of years so some things may have changed since the last time I went. These parks are fairly similar. I personally like the SA park a little better. If the extra cost is a concern, it probably isn’t worth going since you have been to SW SA several times. Here are some of things Orlando has that SA didn't have when we went. If you have a season pass to SA, you use to be able to get 50% off a single day ticket at Orlando.

Orlando
Roller Coaster - Kraken
Journey to Atlantis - ride
Odyssea Acrobat show - really liked this show
Blue Horizon show is a little different (I liked the VIVA show at SA better)
Feeding of stingrays
Manatees
Sesame street characters
Mistify night time show
Pets Ahoy – Dog and cat show thought it was cute

 

[kend58]

OP Check the Seaworld offical site www.4adenture.com - prepurchased {7 day in advance minimum} unlimted rest of 2007 season tickets are under $55 IMHO a pretty good deal (print the evoucher and turn into fun-card pass at the front ticket booth).

My family has been to both (and SD and consider SW SA to be superior but they each have their unique features. SW Orlando is something we do when in Orlando and "tired of WDW" we also mix in KSC and DC (Love Discovery Cove but it is pricey). We did a SW SD when BIP was their but not anywhere else (pre DC). My DD is a SW nut and has doen all 4 types of interaction programs now - she has loved SW since we took her when SW SA was new and she was 4 ... she is now 20 and she and I are going this weekend just for the shows and the animal interactions (we live in Houston area so 4 hours away roughly for us) Our prejudice in favor of SW SA may be partly familiarity but it just has a special feel that Orlando and SD don't IMHO it is better themed for touring (more shade and rest areas and a little better overall park plan).

Never been to SW Orlando before I highly recommend going at least once.

 

[kmbrandon]

Check the Seaworld offical site (won't let me include the link since my post count is too low) - prepurchased {7 day in advance minimum} unlimted rest of 2007 season tickets are under $55 IMHO a pretty good deal (print the evoucher and turn into fun-card pass at the front ticket booth).

Where did you see that? Is that the Passport? If so, it shows $65 for adults. Do I need a promo code for the $55 price? Also, the url is wrong in your post, but I knew what you meant.

If the Passport included Busch Gardens (doesn't look like it does at that price), then we would definitely do that. Our main destination will be Universal Orlando using the $86 7-day unlimited tickets. I know we will go to Gatorland one day (or half day) since I'm going to do their "trainer for a day" program. Definitely want to go to Busch Gardens as I've wanted to go there since I was a kid & have never been. I've never been very impressed with SW though. My kids (6 yr old twin boys) love SeaWorld, but they'll be fine going to SW San Antonio forever (especially when there appear to be no major differences).

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[kend58]

Where did you see that? Is that the Passport? If so, it shows $65 for adults.

Our main destination will be Universal Orlando using the $86 7-day unlimited tickets. I know we will go to Gatorland one day (or half day) since I'm going to do their "trainer for a day" program. Definitely want to go to Busch Gardens as I've wanted to go there since I was a kid & have never been. I've never been very impressed with SW though. My kids (6 yr old twin boys) love SeaWorld, but they'll be fine going to SW San Antonio forever (especially when there appear to be no major differences).

Thanks,
Kevin

This is where I did see and book the tickets for DW DS and his bud over the weekend (June 2nd) I got the $53.95 single day price cross wired with the passport price $65 in my head sorry for my confusion.
http://commerce.4adventure.com/store/dept_tickets.asp?dept_id=203#TC_BP

Looks like for SW and BG the best price is the $85 two park unlimited. Lots of other even more expensive combos available though.


I don't think you really have a "must see" at Seworld Orlando it's just that I have managed to get my kids to all three SW parks and that part had some value for me. But it was definitely more Dad's than the kids accomplishment. A long time ago the Shark Encounter at Orlando was signifigantly different from elsewhere plexiglass walk through tube inside the aquarium tanks but now they do that sort of thing at about any major aquarium and some restaurants. I know the night shamu show is different in SA than it is in SD or Orlando after and sometimes the otehr shows are different as well.

Rides well Orlando had Journey to atlantis first but that just opened in SA so no unique experiences there in Orlando any longer.

 

[kmbrandon]

Well, just to followup, we decided on the $85 combo for both SW & BG. I've always wanted to go to Busch Gardens & by itself it is like $50-60/person + the bus fare. The combo ticket even includes the bus fare which is $10/person.

Thanks for the input everyone!
Kevin

 

[kend58]

We love SW and we consider SA the best of their parks (except for DC) but I am very glad we have seen them all see anyone who is an experienced SW visitor disliking the Orlando park the combo ticket makes it pretty resonable

Maybe you can post a trip report upon return and give us a recent 1st time Orlando visitors viewpoint

Enjoy