HELP!!! What to expect over Christmas?

[masonsmousermom]

I am planning a surprise last minute trip to Orlando. I got a great price on a package that includes Seaworld, Aquatica, and Busch Gardens. We've never been to any of these parks (always done Disney) and I have no idea what to expect going over the Christmas holiday.

We will be there December 23, 24, and 25. I'm traveling with my husband and 8 year old son.

So..........here are my questions...

1. Is Aquatica even worth going in late December (b/c of lower temps)?
2. What kind of crowds can I expect? (sp. ride/show wait times)
3. Which park would you suggest to do on Christmas day?
4. Of the 3 parks, which should I plan to spend the most time?

Any other information and advice is MUCH appreciated!!!

Thanks!

 

[KBF]

There are alot of things happening for the Christmas season at Seaworld. Here is some information about them....
http://www.seaworld.com/sitepage.aspx?PageID=826

Seaworld is Open until 11:00pm on Christmas. So I would go to Seaworld on Christmas day so you have as much time to do things as possible. With so much to do especially because of Christmas shows and events, you will want to spend the most time at Seaworld. Christmas day should also be a better time to visit Seaworld because most people are spending time at home with family instead of going to theme parks. Christmas is busy, but not as busy as the other days you listed. Expect maybe hour waits for rides and large crowds for show times. I would get to shows atleast 45 minutes before posted show time to get the best seat. The schedule for show times should be released sometime near the end of this month.

Something you may be interested in to skip wait times for rides is quick queue. Here is some information on quick queue. Its kind of like a Disney fast pass....
http://commerce.4adventure.com/EStore/Scripts/Skins/SWF/QuickQueue.aspx

Aquatica and Busch gardens could be done the 23rd or 24th, I would plan on deciding on this once it gets closer to the date of your trip so you can see what Temperatures will be like. Florida winters are unpredictable, it could be as cool as 50 degrees all day or as warm as upper 70s to low 80s. Yes even in late December. So like I said, planning closer to your trip date would probably be best.

 

[masonsmousermom]

Something you may be interested in to skip wait times for rides is quick queue. Here is some information on quick queue. Its kind of like a Disney fast pass....
http://commerce.4adventure.com/EStore/Scripts/Skins/SWF/QuickQueue.aspx

So like I said, planning closer to your trip date would probably be best.

I found your comment of waiting to plan when it's only 5 weeks away hilarious b/c it's great advice and yet I am an obsessive planner and so I am having a hard time not putting together an hour-by-hour agenda for our trip!

Your other suggestion to use the quick queue is great; however I wonder if it's worth it for my whole family? My son, though a HUGE roller coaster enthusiast, is not quite 54" so it looks like he might miss out on some of the best rides as SW and BG. My husband won't do anything remotely dangerous or scary (big wuss! ). I would definitely benefit, though, and might consider getting one pass just for me.

Thanks for all of the links-- they will be very helpful as I plan.

Now, any help on deciding which shows? With the Christmas shows and regular shows playing, we'll focus on them but I'm sure we won't be able to catch all of them.

 

[KBF]

I found your comment of waiting to plan when it's only 5 weeks away hilarious b/c it's great advice and yet I am an obsessive planner and so I am having a hard time not putting together an hour-by-hour agenda for our trip!

Your other suggestion to use the quick queue is great; however I wonder if it's worth it for my whole family? My son, though a HUGE roller coaster enthusiast, is not quite 54" so it looks like he might miss out on some of the best rides as SW and BG. My husband won't do anything remotely dangerous or scary (big wuss! ). I would definitely benefit, though, and might consider getting one pass just for me.

Thanks for all of the links-- they will be very helpful as I plan.

Now, any help on deciding which shows? With the Christmas shows and regular shows playing, we'll focus on them but I'm sure we won't be able to catch all of them.

Unlike the disney fast pass, one of the options for quick queue is unlimited riding. So you can keep going as many times as you want.

If it comes down to having to plan now, I would look to do B.G the 23rd and then Aquatica the 24th. Since B.G is in Tampa (Im assuming your staying in Orlando) you can imagine how bad the traffic could be on Christmas eve trying to get to or from Tampa which is about a little more than an hour from Orlando. Since Aquatica is right next to Seaworld and probably close to where your staying, it would make sense to do Aquatica and Seaworld back to back days.

As far as shows go, here is a show schedule for an 11:00pm closing on a Saturday in late November, which is probably close to what the show schedule would be like for Christmas day. There may be an extra show time or two per listed show.
http://www.seaworld.com/ParkHours.aspx?LocationID=1&ScheduleID=40509

I would suggest doing.....
Pets Ahoy
Clyde And Seamore Take Pirate Island
Clyde and Seamore Countdown to Christmas
Shamu Christmas Miracles
Blue Horizons
Winter Wonderland on Ice
Holiday Reflections

I wouldnt recommend seeing the day shamu show right now. Its a shortened version of the normal show because of the birth of the new baby whale. And most of the show is the trainer talking about the baby. You can see everything in the day show plus more for Shamu Christmas Miracles. If you want to learn more about the new baby whale, then I would suggest going to the Day shamu show as well. If you really dont care either way, I would just see Miracles for now. BUT there may be a chance that they will be doing the normal shamu show on Christmas day as it will be 2 months since the baby whale was born and it is usually two months before they start doing regular shows again. Ask an employee when you come into the park if they are performing "Believe" for that day. You can also find it listed on your park map. If they are doing "Believe" during the day, then yes, I would suggest seeing that as well as Shamu Christmas Miracles.

Here is some infor about the different shows so you could decide which ones may be of interest to you and your family....

http://www.seaworld.com/sitepage.aspx?PageID=462

http://www.seaworld.com/sitepage.aspx?PageID=327


And here is a park map so you can get a better idea of where shows and exhibits are....
http://www.seaworld.com/orlando/parkmaps.html


Hope you and your family have a great time!