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.

 

[Krisshay13]

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.

Thanks, I'll asked her what she wants to do. We will probably stick with Seaworld so we can take breaks & rest during those 2 days. I would like to take all 3 grandkids for that. I've heard it's a great place to go to.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

SW is a lot of walking but it is also a lot of shows for longer sit down breaks. I really don't think you can do everything in a day at SW, even with the quick queue. The spacing/timing of the shows, and the number of animal exhibits, make that a challenge.

I highly recommend the Dine with Orcas meal, it's about the only way to see the orcas doing anything other than their normal show. The trainers come around to answer questions, and the tables are right against the edge of the pool so it's a very close view (with no splashing). Price wise it's not all that much more than a normal meal, considering it includes drink & dessert too. Plus it's a good long sit down break.

 

[Krisshay13]

SW is a lot of walking but it is also a lot of shows for longer sit down breaks. I really don't think you can do everything in a day at SW, even with the quick queue. The spacing/timing of the shows, and the number of animal exhibits, make that a challenge.

I highly recommend the Dine with Orcas meal, it's about the only way to see the orcas doing anything other than their normal show. The trainers come around to answer questions, and the tables are right against the edge of the pool so it's a very close view (with no splashing). Price wise it's not all that much more than a normal meal, considering it includes drink & dessert too. Plus it's a good long sit down break.

thanks...yes, I am looking at Dine with Orcas. I've watched a few Youtubers & it looks really good for the price.

Any chance anyone knows the difference in all the Penguin tickets? The pricing difference, I am guessing the only one that you go out on the "snow/ice" with them, is the highest $$. I know my 17 DGD would love to be up close to them but, not sure how much I'm willing to pay....but, trying to figure out the different tours.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

If you haven't been to SW before, you will be surprised how up close you can get to the penguins without any special access. The exhibit is designed very well, you are very close to them. Remember also that it is literally freezing in there, so plan/mentally prepare accordingly if you intend to spend extra time with the penguins.

You might hit it right with black friday specials, depending on how long you're willing to wait to book stuff. Seaworld releases their Black Friday deals a bit early, last year it was {checks e-mails} Wed Nov 20 (Thanksgiving was Thur Nov 28th), so you could theoretically buy in time. Stuff like the all-day-dine doesn't sell out and you're probably not risking anything to wait to purchase (if desired - because of how overpriced their food is, the all-day-dine is a pretty good bargain, especially when purchased on sale. I like to do one day with Dine w/ orcas & one day with the all-day-dine). But stuff like tours or Dine w/ Orcas can sell out, so waiting until so close could be more risky, when your heart is set on something specific. If you sign up for their e-newsletter-update thingys, you'll get early access to the Black Friday deals.

 

[Yoshi]

I visited on Monday of Thanksgiving week a few years ago. I didn't realize most (all?) of the schools in the Orlando and Tampa area get the entire week off for Thanksgiving and it was way more crowded than I was expecting. I ended up using my Quick Queue (I get a 1 time use one with my annual pass each visit) for Journey To Atlantis, rode Mako a few times since that was the only ride with a somewhat shorter wait and left.

 

[Krisshay13]

If you haven't been to SW before, you will be surprised how up close you can get to the penguins without any special access. The exhibit is designed very well, you are very close to them. Remember also that it is literally freezing in there, so plan/mentally prepare accordingly if you intend to spend extra time with the penguins.

You might hit it right with black friday specials, depending on how long you're willing to wait to book stuff. Seaworld releases their Black Friday deals a bit early, last year it was {checks e-mails} Wed Nov 20 (Thanksgiving was Thur Nov 28th), so you could theoretically buy in time. Stuff like the all-day-dine doesn't sell out and you're probably not risking anything to wait to purchase (if desired - because of how overpriced their food is, the all-day-dine is a pretty good bargain, especially when purchased on sale. I like to do one day with Dine w/ orcas & one day with the all-day-dine). But stuff like tours or Dine w/ Orcas can sell out, so waiting until so close could be more risky, when your heart is set on something specific. If you sign up for their e-newsletter-update thingys, you'll get early access to the Black Friday deals.

I can't wait til Black Friday deals......that would drive me crazy not having things planned/purchased...LOL. The years of Disney did that to me
The Summer Sale @ $80 a day w/dining (for 2 days), I thought was wonderful after purchasing 2 single day tickets for Epic.
I am still deciding on the Orca Meal & Penguin Up/close. This is DGD's Sr Year.....I may splurge to get her to where she can get a picture with a penguin. I've been taking her to Orlando parks since she was 5.....so, this is a special trip for her. Once she's in college, I don't think I'll get her as much

 

[Krisshay13]

I visited on Monday of Thanksgiving week a few years ago. I didn't realize most (all?) of the schools in the Orlando and Tampa area get the entire week off for Thanksgiving and it was way more crowded than I was expecting. I ended up using my Quick Queue (I get a 1 time use one with my annual pass each visit) for Journey To Atlantis, rode Mako a few times since that was the only ride with a somewhat shorter wait and left.

yes, I'm expecting it to be busy. Seaworld days will be after my days at Epic so, maybe it will feel light to me.
I've always used whatever type of express pass/fast pass the parks have. I just can't justify the price of Epic's for my 2 days. So, after standing in those lines, I'm sure QQ will be awesome!!
Can't wait!!

 

[CAPSLOCK]

The Summer Sale @ $80 a day w/dining (for 2 days)

Good deal!

I can't wait til Black Friday deals......that would drive me crazy not having things planned/purchased...LOL.

I'm with you there! You can always book the must-dos, and then just take a peek once they post the deals and see if there's anything you want to add as an unexpected bonus. One year they had a deal on the little feeding trays of fish, you never know what little enhancements you might decide to do once they're dirt cheap.