Help with where to stay for Seaworld/Discovery Cove?!

[mommycrawford]

Most helpful Dis friends, I once again seek your assistance!

I am determined to have a relaxing trip, (have done Disney every year because of the ease of travel, free dining, etc.,) and I do not drive.

This will be my first time to Discovery Cove/Sea World, and need something that allows easy access to these parks and won't break the (barely existent) bank!

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and experiences!...planning an end of August trip if that matters!

Thanks again!

 

[Lynne G]

I'd check the SW website. All the specifically desginated neighbor hotels get free shuttles to SW and DC. I stayed at the Fairfield at SW (on I Drive, at the intersection of the Central Parkway) (on its same grounds is the Springhill Suites - both owned by Mariott) and it was a 5 minute drive to SW and DC. We were there this past August at the end of the month. Great time to visit. Most crowded time we had at SW was the Saturday of Labor Day week-end. Much more crowded than in the prior week.

If I can remember, the free shuttle from those favored hotels takes you to SW. At the same SW bus stop as the SW shuttle from the hotel, there is a DC bus that will take you to DC and back to SW for free.

From the Renaissance at SW people have said you can walk a short walk to SW. They may also have a shuttle to DC, or just walk to SW and catch the free DC bus. I didn't stay there, so I can't say. That hotel is right on the back side of SW, so it would be an easy walk.

Have fun! We love to travel that time of year (school kids in this family). We spent 5 days at Universal and 9 days at the Fairfield, taking 2 days in SW, 2 days in Aquadica, DC one day, and 2 days at BGT. A very relaxing trip. Fairfield was the cheapest hotel package SW had with the tickets and free one day dining at the 2 parks the tickets we bought as a package using the SW website.

 

[mommycrawford]

Lynee G., Thanks for your thoughts!

Waitin for the others!

 

[IslandAdventure4]

We are staying at the Renaissance, we like the idea of being able to walk to SW, we check in January 20th and are staying 2 nights. I dont know when your trip is but I can give you my thoughts upon or return home. Just let me know. Mabey shoot me a PM to remind me... lol

 

[IACATS]

Springhill Suites at SeaWorld was great - Free Breakfast, Free Shuttle, CVS and TGIFridays in the same parking Lot. Across the street from SW and DC

 

[mommycrawford]

We are staying at the Renaissance, we like the idea of being able to walk to SW, we check in January 20th and are staying 2 nights. I dont know when your trip is but I can give you my thoughts upon or return home. Just let me know. Mabey shoot me a PM to remind me... lol

I would love to hear about your experience!...Have a wonderful time!

 

[mommycrawford]

Springhill Suites at SeaWorld was great - Free Breakfast, Free Shuttle, CVS and TGIFridays in the same parking Lot. Across the street from SW and DC

Thanks for the details!

 

[kathy884]

I love the Hilton Garden Inn right next to the Renaissance -- wonderful staff, super clean/comfortable rooms -- you can get a Sea World view, can walk to the parks easily (they have shuttles too), great little pool area and hot tub, yummy inexpensive room service available for dinner or you can go to their resturant. and good prices on rooms (found a great deal on Expedia on one stay) / They have ticket packages and packages that include breakfast too. I've stayed here twice for a little three night / two day SeaWorld escape (SeaWorld is my favorite park in Orlando by the way.).

 

[mommycrawford]

I love the Hilton Garden Inn right next to the Renaissance -- wonderful staff, super clean/comfortable rooms -- you can get a Sea World view, can walk to the parks easily (they have shuttles too), great little pool area and hot tub, yummy inexpensive room service available for dinner or you can go to their resturant. and good prices on rooms (found a great deal on Expedia on one stay) / They have ticket packages and packages that include breakfast too. I've stayed here twice for a little three night / two day SeaWorld escape (SeaWorld is my favorite park in Orlando by the way.).

Thanks Kathy884!...Seaworld is your favorite park, so I'll ask, do you think a 13 year old Disney diehard will enjoy it? We are going to Discovery Cove, and you have a ticket to SW or Aquatica included in your ticket to DC....I am hoping to have a relaxing vacation, but I'm second guessing it, as she always says she's not interested (but she loved watching Adventiure Camp on Discovery Kids.)TIA!

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

Thanks Kathy884!...Seaworld is your favorite park, so I'll ask, do you think a 13 year old Disney diehard will enjoy it? We are going to Discovery Cove, and you have a ticket to SW or Aquatica included in your ticket to DC....I am hoping to have a relaxing vacation, but I'm second guessing it, as she always says she's not interested (but she loved watching Adventiure Camp on Discovery Kids.)TIA!

I am in a similar situation as you and also really like the idea of having a relaxed, unrushed vacation this summer . We went to WDW last August and we had a really fun and memorable trip, but it seems like at the Disney parks we were always up early and on the go, rushing around throughout the day. So as much as I would love to go back to WDW this year, DH says he would prefer to wait another year or two to go back to WDW (we've agreed to 2013 or 2014) and is fine with planning a Sea World trip for this year (he is a Sea World fan and went there several times throughout his childhood and as a young adult when it was in Ohio). Since our two youngest children aren't old enough to swim with the dolphins at Discovery Cove, we are going to hold off on visiting Discovery Cove this time around and combine a couple days at Sea World with a visit to either Legoland or Aquatica for this trip. To keep costs low, we would prefer to not have to rent a minivan and are also looking at "official" Sea World hotels that can both accommodate our family size and offer shuttle service to Sea World. Hope you have a fun, relaxing trip. Discovery Cove looks awesome, can't wait until we get to go there

 

[HLAuburn]

We stayed at the SeaWorld Doubletree when we went in October. The rooms was very nice/ up to date and the hotel is walking distance to SeaWorld. There's also a shuttle, but we walked twice roundtrip and had no problems at all. It's also a SW "partner hotel" so you get quick queue passes. We found a good rate through bookit.com.

http://doubletreeorlandoseaworld.com/