How long Needed at Sea World???

[cmsesq]

Hi!
Wanted to get the boards opinion on how long really needed for sea world? We like the roller coasters mainly. We wanted to try to fit it in before we head to a MVMCP around 5pm that same day.
thanks !

 

[bearzabout]

If you go to Sea World just for roller coasters, you are missing the best and unique things the park has to offer. What makes the park unique is its animal exhibits. The best is the new penguin exhibit. The ride is just a way to cool people off so when they hit the nearly freezing temperatures of the open exhibit, they won't go into shock. It is amazing.

We love the small aquarium near Manta. This may also be your last chance to see the shamu show since they are discontinuing the shows in the future. The walrus exhibit in wild arctic is cool along with the manatees, sea lions, rays and sharks at various exhibits around the park.

Expect to get wet on atlantis. Bring a $1.00 Walmart rain poncho and keep your feet off the floor of the coaster near the water part if you want to stay dry.

I'd start with the coasters in the morning and see the other exhibits/shows the rest of the day before you have to leave. The shows are ok, not great, but are a great way to relax and rest your feet. My favorite is pets ahoy. I'd stay the day and experience it at a relaxed pace just enjoying the sights at this beautiful park. I enjoy the Sea World Christmas decorations and shows more than at Disney.

 

[DOOM1001]

Christmas at Sea World is way better than what you get at the Disney parks,Seriously!!!Once the lights turn on and you start seeing the amount of lights amd decorations throughout the park and all the Christmas shows like O Wondrous Night you realize just how much you're getting shortchanged at Disney,especially with the Osborne lights now gone and the lights of winter gone for years now at Epcot.As far as time needed at Sea World on a non Christmas day,if you want to see the shows you definitely need a full day as they are held at different times through the day.Since you also want to do the coasters and since by summer there will be three major coasters with Mako opening sometime in the middle of the year you have to totally expect this coaster to have some decent wait times with it being the tallest coaster in town.

 

[glassslippergirl]

I was unimpressed with the Sea World shows when I went last summer. But based on PP, I'm going to have to check out the holiday display this year.

Sea World sells front of the line access pretty reasonably, if I'm not mistaken. May be worthwhile to look into if you have a deadline for leaving the park.

 

[eyehartdisney]

We went to seaworld twice during the christmas season, and we still didn't see all the specialty shows, they are many steps above the average shows there. Also, you can get the rides knocked out very quickly, there are only 4 major ones, or depending on the time of the year, get an front of the line pass for 20-30 dollars a piece. I highly suggest you go do the dolphin tour- the short one, it's only 15 dollars a person, but you get to pet a dolphin, and do tricks with them. It's great. You might also want to buy one person an annual pass, this year you get 20% off christmas village purchases during december. You also get 10% off food, drink, and purchases, and only ends up being about 60 bucks more than the regular pass. I believe you can also get half off regular tickets, but I'm not certain you can do that on the first visit. You might want to check on that.

 

[mickeyfino]

Christmas at Sea World is way better than what you get at the Disney parks,Seriously!!!Once the lights turn on and you start seeing the amount of lights amd decorations throughout the park and all the Christmas shows like O Wondrous Night you realize just how much you're getting shortchanged at Disney,especially with the Osborne lights now gone and the lights of winter gone for years now at Epcot.

Agree! The Christmas decorations are AMAZING! Much better than Disney.

I think a full day at Sea World is enough for rides (roller coasters, Atlantis, and Antarctica). There aren't that many rides. You should have enough time to squeeze in a show or two too.

 

[cmsesq]

thank you everyone!

 

[nacho113]

Seaworld at Christmas is quite magical (sorry don't mean to steal a Disney phrase), it deserves a whole day or more.
You're paying extra for MVMCP, we prefer to have a nice relaxing day before attending this (or MNSSHP).
I wouldn't want to run out of steam part way through the evening because I'd tried to squeeze in another park before the party.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We did a full day (literally from park opening to park close) at SeaWorld this past Christmas, with Quick Queue *and* reserved show seating for the holiday shows, and we STILL didn't see and do it all.

SeaWorld at Christmas is almost too special to describe. If you were to leave before 5 pm, you would be missing the most wonderful aspects of their Christmas Celebration (as those special events, while included with your park admission, don't kick off until the sun goes down).

We have done SeaWorld twice in December: check out the December 2012 & 2015 trip reports in my signature if you want to see lots of photos of the park during the holiday season. Honestly, I would devote two full days to SeaWorld on a first timer's itinerary, and there'd be lots to keep you busy.