Finally decided to go...now I have a few questions....

[Krisshay13]

We were going, then we weren't....and now we are. So back to planning.....days before Thanksgiving (Sat-Tues)
It's only going to be me & DGD (she's 17).....I'm doing this for a Sr Year gift!! Just us 2.

We are spending 2 days at Epic Universe & looking at 2 days at Seaworld.

Questions:

1. With 2 days, if I purchase the Reserved Seating, Quick Queue Unlimited Plus........do I need that for both days? If I only do it for 1 day, are there enough things that don't need it to push to the 2nd day?
2. The different Penquin encounters.....is the Ultimate Penguin on Ice Experience worth $199? if so, how long does it last?
3. If I purchase the QQPlus for both of us....& she doesn't want to ride Pipeline, can I use her 1-time access to ride twice?

TIA!!

 

[Average Joes]

Since no one has answered you yet I will provide some very limited information. Hopefully someone with more experience can respond. I can only marginally help with #1.

We went the first week of April this year. It was supposed to have slightly more than moderate crowds with some schools having their March break. It might be roughly similar crowd wise to when you go but who knows.

Perhaps we were lucky but we found Seaworld to have mostly 5-20 minute ride times on a Tuesday. Penguin Trek was about 45 minutes by the late afternoon. We did almost everything. Most of the rides twice. Orca Encounter was the only show that it was useful to arrive 30 minutes pre-show. It would have been a waste of money to have Reserved Seating and Quick Queue Unlimited Plus. We went back on a Friday. Penguin Trek was about 50-60 minutes by 3:00 if I recall. Crowds were still good for the other rides and the dolphin show.

The cost of QQ for Nov 15 is $63.99 (Saturday) and $39.99 for Monday and Tuesday. I am not certain but that seems to be similar or less to what it was if we had paid in April. That might be a sign that the crowds could be similar. Your Monday or Tuesday might be similar to what we had on our Tuesday. Personally I might consider QQ (not RS) for the weekend so I could leave earlier to relax. 4 days of parks in a row can be tiring.

 

[Krisshay13]

Since no one has answered you yet I will provide some very limited information. Hopefully someone with more experience can respond. I can only marginally help with #1.

We went the first week of April this year. It was supposed to have slightly more than moderate crowds with some schools having their March break. It might be roughly similar crowd wise to when you go but who knows.

Perhaps we were lucky but we found Seaworld to have mostly 5-20 minute ride times on a Tuesday. Penguin Trek was about 45 minutes by the late afternoon. We did almost everything. Most of the rides twice. Orca Encounter was the only show that it was useful to arrive 30 minutes pre-show. It would have been a waste of money to have Reserved Seating and Quick Queue Unlimited Plus. We went back on a Friday. Penguin Trek was about 50-60 minutes by 3:00 if I recall. Crowds were still good for the other rides and the dolphin show.

The cost of QQ for Nov 15 is $63.99 (Saturday) and $39.99 for Monday and Tuesday. I am not certain but that seems to be similar or less to what it was if we had paid in April. That might be a sign that the crowds could be similar. Your Monday or Tuesday might be similar to what we had on our Tuesday. Personally I might consider QQ (not RS) for the weekend so I could leave earlier to relax. 4 days of parks in a row can be tiring.

Thanks for your reply. I knew this board doesn't get the activity Disney & Universal gets.
I actually went ahead & purchased QQ & RS for both Mon & Tues........mainly because I can't make myself pay $500 per day for Universal (for 2) so, I know if we are at Universal Sat & Sun....Mon & Tues, we can take our time at Seaworld. I know 4 days straight will be rough.

Thanks again for the reply. I do think it may be moderate level crowds but, this way, I don't have to worry about those days.

Never been to Epic or Seaworld so, we are really excited!!

 

[Average Joes]

We were pleasantly surprised by Seaworld. I am not sure it is possible but if they let you switch (or cancel) a Seaworld day for Discovery Cove consider it. You can easily get everything done at Seaworld in a day with your QQ and RS. If your 17 year old enjoys snorkeling with tropical fish she will love DC. My 17 and 13 year old girls did.