Help me!!

[LimoFam5]

Need some help. Me and my family will be in Orlando Jan 2011, we hav two nights to spend in the area before our 15 night Disney Cruise leaves. We have been to Disneyworld coutless times but are wanting to try something a bit different. We plan on going to Discovery Cove one day but are going to pick another park to see while we are there. So here are our choices, Sea World or Bush Gardens???? You input and advise is greatly appreciated. We will be staying at the Contemp Resort right outside Magic Kingdom would be good to know how far these places are from where we are staying.

 

[tarrbear]

I'm not sure of the Distance each park is from Disney, but I'll give a estimate. I might be wrong though, I'd say Sea World is about 20 min out of Disney and Busch Gardens can be anywhere from a 1 hour to 1.5 hours. Now both parks are fabulous parks to visit, I'm a annual passholder to both. Now of your into thrill rides I would pick Busch Gardens, they have great roller coasters as well as many African animals. Now if your more of a show person and less thrills more animals then I recommend Sea World. Sea World has fantastic shows as well as many animal exhibits. If you have any questions about any of the parks, I should be able to answer them for you!

 

[nexttrip4us]

We did both last year and enjoyed them both. Busch Gardens is definitely a bit of a trip, compared to Sea World. It was about 3 hours of round-trip driving to get there and back. Just made for a long day but we are glad we went. I would agree with the pp's assessment about the rides vs. shows. See what interests you more and if you have time in your day for the longer drive to Busch Gardens.

Have fun!

 

[KBF]

Need some help. Me and my family will be in Orlando Jan 2011, we hav two nights to spend in the area before our 15 night Disney Cruise leaves. We have been to Disneyworld coutless times but are wanting to try something a bit different. We plan on going to Discovery Cove one day but are going to pick another park to see while we are there. So here are our choices, Sea World or Bush Gardens???? You input and advise is greatly appreciated. We will be staying at the Contemp Resort right outside Magic Kingdom would be good to know how far these places are from where we are staying.

Bush Gardens is about an hours drive from Seaworld. Seaworld is a 15-20 minute drive from the Cont Resort depending on traffic. Which shouldnt be an issue because January is a slow month.

Ive been to Bush Gardens a few times. Ive been to Seaworld alot. Each park is somewhat similar. You have your rides, I think Bush Gardens wins on rides. But "Manta" at Seaworld is pretty amazing. I think Seaworld wins in Animal interactions and animal shows. So either one would be a good bet. I think you would get more if you went to Seaworld only because the hour plus drive out to Bush Gardens and then another hour plus drive back can get exhausting.

 

[SandrA9810]

I've done the drive a few times myself, and have used the shuttle service offered by sea world. You don't get there when the park opens, and depending on how late the park is opened, will depend if you're there till park closing. In Jan, I think the park will close at like 5-6pm and the shuttle leaves at like 5:30. So even if you do drive, you won't be driving late into the night.

Manta really is above any of the Busch Rollercoasters at the moment. So if you want a one of a kind experience, Manta is top priority.

What kind of family are you?? adventure thrill seeker kind or the kind to people watch. Not saying sea world is boring by any means, but more laid back and less waiting in line for a 30 second thrill ride.