Half day agenda for Sea World? Enough time?

[mshanson3121]

We plan on spending a Saturday at Sea World at the end of June (party of 6, children ages 8 & 5). Originally we planned on going from 10-6ish. However, I really want to surprise my son with the dinner with an animal specialist at Animal Kingdom. It only runs Saturday and Wednesday which means we have to do it that day. It runs 12-1:30, so I imagine it would be 2:00 before we got to SW, and we would probably plan on leaving around 7:00.

What will we be able to see, realistically? My son will care less about the rides (other than the penguin one). Other than that, all we really want to see are the shows and animal exhibits. Are there suggestions for half day agendas?

Also, what do you do when it rains at SW? Do shows still go on?

 

[Woodview]

Change your Plan.

Why......... Sea World is much better than you think ...... The Shows do NOT run continuously .. so you would miss a few.

You might / will fail to leave Animal Kingdom at 1.30 pm & unlikely to reach Sea World by 2pm . Then There is also the long walk

from Sea World car park to entrance .

AND Just Maybe (--------- ) Children in tow. ......????

SO On The Saturday instead of Sea World swap it with say A Water Park Day ( If you have one )

Then have the dinner at Animal Kingdom & Then go to A Water Park.

Then HAVE a Full Day in Sea World ...... Re member it is All your Familys Vacation ... not just your son's

 

[mshanson3121]

Re member it is All your Familys Vacation ... not just your son's

OMG. Thanks for telling me. I had NO idea!

 

[johde]

Seeing all the shows, animal exhibits, and Antarctica (penguins) in 1/2 a day is going to be tough. Unless you go first thing in the morning, you're easily looking at an hour+ wait for Antarctica. Also, being the summer, there will be 2 sets of show at many of the areas i.e. One Ocean and Shamu's Summer Nights. Also, by the time you lease DAK, get to your car, get to Sea World, get parked, and get into somewhere, you're probably looking at hitting a 2:30 or 3:00 show to start with at the earliest.

Instead of doing the dinner with an Animal Specialist, maybe plan one of the shorter tours at Sea World as the surprise. Maybe someone with an animal interaction.

 

[mshanson3121]

Which show do you think is better? One Ocean or Shamu's Summer Nights? What time does Summer Nights start?
We have changed the day we're going to do this, and we'll do Sea World our first day. Still not a "full" day, but likely either 9-3 type thing or 12-6.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I don't think you'll be able to see all the shows if you get there after 2pm - just looking at the Easter weekend schedule, you could just barely see the 3 shows running (and this does not include the Sea Lion show which will be open by June) and that would be only if you'd stay til 8pm for the last One Ocean show. I would say if you get there after 2pm and the park is open until 8 or 9pm, you could realistically see 2 shows, ride Penguin with a pretty long wait (45 min+), and see most of your desired animal exhibits. But you probably would miss 2 shows (or more if they have an extra one running), most of Shamu's Happy Harbor attractions (which the 5 year old might like) and all the other rides. It really takes all day to be able to plan a schedule that does every show. To hit rides and animal exhibits and meals on top becomes difficult even if you have a full day - even when we go all day, we normally skip a show and most animal exhibits, so we can do the rides we like (and we don't do the 2 roller coasters)...so I know you don't love the answer, but I would probably plan an all day Sea World schedule with an animal lover child and a younger one, and if I didn't have all day, I would skip all rides and try to hit the most shows and animal exhibits I could on a shortened day...

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Which show do you think is better? One Ocean or Shamu's Summer Nights? What time does Summer Nights start?
We have changed the day we're going to do this, and we'll do Sea World our first day. Still not a "full" day, but likely either 9-3 type thing or 12-6.

One Ocean is an awesome show, but Shamu's Light Up the Night was incredible. We were blown away by how amazing that show was, complete with a small display of fireworks at the end. The DJ was fantastic, the lighting was awesome, and it was just very upbeat and fun.

We went on Labour Day weekend, and I think Light Up the Night started at 8. I am pretty sure the show times all depend on the park hours for that day.