How essential is Polar Express?

[MatzoRella]

We're doing an all-day Seaworld tour during the holiday season, and the one experience it does not include is the Polar Express (dressed up Wild Arctic) ride and accompanying exhibit. I'm trying to decide whether we should arrive well in advance of the tour to make time for the ride and/or exhibit. One member of the party enjoys thrill rides. Thanks for your opinions!

 

[floridianer]

I wouldn´t call it essential...
It is a ride. Did it once. Enough
I don´t think it´s a great ride!

Wouldn´t change any plans to go on it.

ALLTHOU the Wild Arctic exhibit is nice! Skip the ride and have a look!

 

[chiamarie]

I personally HATE Wild Arctic; and motion simulator rides in general.

I LOVE Polar Express. The theming is amazing. I love Christmas and I love all the smells the pump through the building, and just everything about it. I, personally, wouldn't miss it, even if you did the non-motion (non simulator) ride to expirence the theming and the HUGE christmas tree and Santa inside. But then again, like I said, I maybe bias. I love watching the Arctic animals, and I love the Christmas theming.

Just keep in mind, I don't know when your tour starts; but that side of the park; where Wild Arctic/Polar Express is located; doesn't open until 10am. So, for you to go early and enjoy it, your tour would probably have to start sometime after 11 to have time to get over to ride the ride, ride it, walk through the animal parts, and walk to wherever your tour begins.

 

[MatzoRella]

Thank you both for your responses! I didn't realize that Polar Express doesn't open until 10. The tour starts at 11, and I want to show up early for that. The Christmassy stuff does appeal, though, so maybe we can do it quickly.

One more question: Are the simulator movements for the Polar Express ride gentler than those for Wild Arctic?

Thanks again (very much).

 

[floridianer]

There is only one ride

One with movement and one without... But same film.

I don´t have to see it again. I´m fine with the walking tour bypassing the ride!!

 

[aprile]

The ride already had long lines this past weekend, and it's not worth the wait IMO. I love the animals in the exhibit and have bypassed the Artic ride in the past to see them and would bypass Polar Express to see them if I ever go again while it's there.

If you are a big fan of the movie then you probably should see it, but without a quick pass you probably won't fit it in (since you are obviously going when the other holiday events are happening, when they aren't happening it's an easy ride to get on since the park isn't crowded).

 

[It'sOffToDisneyWeGo]

When we were there this past week I was so surprised how long the lines were for the Polar Express. The lines were much quicker for Manta or Kraken.
We ended up doing both the ride and the walking tour. If I was limited on time I would just do the walking tour. We walked straight in for that one.

 

[MatzoRella]

Thanks for your replies. Was either of you there on a Sunday? I'm trying to gauge crowds.

 

[aprile]

I was there on Sunday and the only reason I went on polar express was because my hotel had given me the quick pass. The regular line was very long.

 

[MatzoRella]

Thanks, aprile. We may spring for Quick Queue depending on the lines.

Any other advice for navigating holiday crowds? Did you arrive at shows very early? Any best spots for watching skaters, etc.? Don't worry if you don't have the time to keep responding.

 

[RabFlmom]

The really great thing about Polar Express.....is the short time that they redo the whole Wild Arctic ride area for this ride. It is done very well. If it doesn't start till 10 and you have a tour at 11 I would skip it. Ity actually is longer than Wild Arctic because you go to a room and watch an intro and then you go to the "train " for the ride. Santa is in the Arctic area where the Beluga whales are which is a great photo op-usually a really good Santa. Also there is an area with trees and Christmas packages that is another good area to take Christmas pics of the family.

We go to SW every year at Christmas mainly because of this ride. It isd not really a thrill ride but if you remember the scene from the movie of the train going very fast sort of out of control with up and down shots it could possibly make some people feel queasy. There is also a sort of long segment of a bell bouncing which also might bother some people. I just tell my husband to shut his eyes. LOL

 

[MatzoRella]

I'm getting really excited, RabFlmom. We've added a half day to Seaworld to be able to ride Polar Express and see all the holiday doings.

 

[RabFlmom]

I'm getting really excited, RabFlmom. We've added a half day to Seaworld to be able to ride Polar Express and see all the holiday doings.

Hoping to get there next weekend, but my husband had surgery last month and may not be up to it yet. We avoid Christmas week at SW because it is very over crowded that week. Living here we try to avoid all parks on holidays. LOL

 

[MatzoRella]

Good luck. I hope you can make it.

 

[It'sOffToDisneyWeGo]

Thanks for your replies. Was either of you there on a Sunday? I'm trying to gauge crowds.

We were there the Wed. before Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving day and the following Monday. The crowds were much lighter on the Monday but the line for Polar Express was the longest we encountered in the park.

 

[MatzoRella]

Thanks for posting. 'Tis the season...for long Polar Express waits.