Help with Sea World itinerary

[LoveMyLAP-BAND]

Hi all,

Just looking for a little advice on our upcoming trip to Sea World. We plan to spend two days there-- Wednesday, Jan. 20 and Saturday, Jan. 23. On Saturday, I have the Penguin Spotlight Tour booked as well as Dine with Shamu dinner so I really need help with Wednesday.

Those travelling are myself, my mom, my son and his friend (both age 12), my other son (age 8) and my daughter (age 7). We definitely plan to arrive by park opening and we are not rollercoaster riders.

The only shows offered on Wednesday are Blue Horizons, Clyde & Seamore, A'Lure and Pets Ahoy!

Please give me some advice on where to start (feeding the dolphins?) and where to go from there.

I appreciate all your help. We have never been to Sea World before!

 

[LoveMyLAP-BAND]

Here's a schedule I came up with. What do you think?

Wednesday
9:00-10:00= Dolphin Feeding, Dolphin Cove, Stingray Lagoon, Garden of Discovery
10:15-11:15= Pets Ahoy Show at 10:45
11:15-12:00= Lunch at Voyagers Smokehouse
12:00-1:00= Turtle Point, Stingray Undewater, Manta Aquarium
1:00-2:00= Blue Horizons Show at 1:30
2:00-4:15= Alligators, Manatee Rescue, Jewel of the Sea Aquarium, Pacific Point Reserve, SkyTower
4:15-5:15= Clyde & Seamore Show at 4:45

Saturday
9:00-9:30= Dolphin Nursery
10:00-11:00= Penguin Spotlight Tour
11:00-11:30= Penguin Encounter
11:30-12:15= Lunch at Antartic Market
12:15-12:30= Shark Encounter
12:45-1:45= A’lure Show at 1:15
1:45-5:00= Clydesdale, Shamu’s Happy Harbor, Wild Arctic
5:00-6:30= Dine with Shamu

 

[kathy884]

Please note that Dine with Shamu is a dinner experience with a 1/2 hour talk with trainers and a chance to see one of the Orcas a little closer, but this by no means is a replacement for the Believe Show. Make sure to see the Believe Orca show. I didn't see this on your list. It is fabulous (my favorite show at Sea World and a must do)! It runs at 12:30 and 5:30 on Jan. 20th and at 12:30, 2:30, and 5:30 on Jan. 23rd per the Sea World website.

With two days (I love Sea World and do two days on every trip), you should be able to see all the shows and all the animal exhibits without any problem. All the shows and animal exhibits are very good and worth seeing. January is not high season, and you'll be able to see much more than you have listed.

If you aren't into coasters, I think your idea of feeding the dolphins first thing is a great plan, as this is a popular activity (the most popular and crowded of the animal exhibits). If you want to ride the coasters do the Manta (the newest one) first thing one morning and then the Kraken. The coaster lines get longer later in the day, so it's great to do these early. These are good coasters if you like that sort of thing. After doing the dolphin feeding or coasters in the morning, plan the rest of your day around the shows and special experiences that you booked. Visit the animal attractions around the next special event/show that you plan to see and just get to the venue 20 minutes or so before the event/show starts. See what you didn't get to see before the event/show after the event/show.

The one exception is the Wild Artic near the Shamu Stadium. Do not go to this after the Believe show as it will be packed. Definately, though, plan to see this (very worthwhile). During a Believe show (if that happens to work with your scheudule) is a great time to go to this -- no line at all. Anytime, though, except right after the Believe show is fine for this.

If you have any elementary age or younger children, Shamu's Happy Harbor is a great play area to visit (a kid's dream play area). If you have adults only in your party, you can skip this.

With the exception of the midway rides (you can find these anywhere), everything else at Sea World is worth doing.

I've been to the park more than 20 times and even sent my son for a week stay there last summer (Junior High Sea World Overnight Career Camp). It's my family's favorite out of all the terriffic world class theme parks in Orlando. Our last visit was October of 2009, and I'm going again for two days in March of 2010. You can tell we love this place.

 

[kathy884]

See the link below. http://www.seaworld.com/ParkHours.aspx?locID=1

Here are the show listing and time I saw on the site for Wed. Jan, 20th

Believe: The Spectacular Shamu Show
12:30, 5:30
Shamu Stadium

Dine With Shamu
12:30, 5:30
The Cove at Shamu Stadium

Blue Horizons
10:00, 1:30, 3:00

Whale & Dolphin Theater
Clyde & Seamore Take Pirate Island 10:45, 2:15, 4:45
Sea Lion & Otter Stadium

A'Lure, The Call of The Ocean
1:15, 4:00
Nautilus Theater

Pets Ahoy!
10:45, 12:15, 3:15
Seaport Theatre

*Show Schedules Subject to Change. Please check show times at Park on the day of your visit.

 

[LoveMyLAP-BAND]

Oh, thanks! I did not know that the show and dinner were separate. I have revised my schedule a little. What do you think? Did I leave enough time to see everything? Too rushed?

Saturday
9:00-10:00= Dolphin Feeding, Dolphin Cove, Stingray Lagoon, Garden of Discovery
10:15-11:15= Pets Ahoy Show at 10:45
11:15-12:00= Lunch at Voyagers Smokehouse
12:00-1:00= Turtle Point, Stingray Undewater, Manta Aquarium
1:00-2:00= Blue Horizons Show at 1:30
2:00-4:15= Alligators, Manatee Rescue, Jewel of the Sea Aquarium, Pacific Point Reserve, SkyTower
4:15-5:15= Clyde & Seamore Show at 4:45
5:30-6:00= Dolphin Nursery

Sunday
9:00-10:00= Penguin Encounter
10:00-11:00= Penguin Spotlight Tour
11:00-11:45= Lunch at Antarctic Market
12:00-1:00= Believe Show at 12:30
1:00-3:30= Shamu’s Happy Harbor, Wild Arctic, Shark Encounter
3:30-4:30= A’lure Show at 4:00
4:30-5:00= Clydesdale
5:00-6:30= Dine with Shamu

 

[kathy884]

Your plan looks good -- basically planning to catch the animal exhibits/attractions around shows you want to see / special experiences that you signed up for. Do pick up a show schedule when you get to the park, just in case show times changed. They usually stay pretty close to what's posted on the net, but check to make sure.

Enjoy your day / take your time -- just head to the shows and special experiences when you need to. Don't worry if you don't fit everything in you have listed at a particular time. Linger if you want to linger. It's a beautiful park -- I love the landscaping too. You can always go back and catch anything you missed. And you'll definately get the in must dos -- the shows and special experiences.

I hope you and your family really enjoy the park. You'll have to let us know what you thought.

 

[LoveMyLAP-BAND]

Thanks!

I am really looking forward to Sea World.

Kirsten