If you had to choose: San Diego Zoo or Seaworld?

[ZoZo]

I'm going on a quick trip to San Diego in October. We may only have one day to do either San Diego Zoo or Seaworld. Which would you choose, and why?

(Note: It will be two adults going, no kids.)

TIA!

 

[skiingfast]

Have you been to either? There are more Seaworlds. And of course more zoos, but the SD zoo is the zoo all the other ones want to be.

 

[sonnyjane]

The zoo will be less expensive than Sea World ($40 per person vs. $70). Parking is also free at the zoo while it is $14 per car at SW. Food is also more expensive at SW. I know you don't have any kids, but for anyone else that might read, October is Kids Free Month at the zoo, so all kids 11 and under get free admission.

Other than that, it really depends on what you're into. If you are big on marine life, than obviously SW beats the zoo as they have whales, dolphins, sea lions, seals, walrus, and tons and tons of aquariums that the zoo doesn't have. If you're more into terrestrial animals, the zoo has everything under the sun - lions, tigers, bears, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, kangaroos, polar bears, tons of aviaries, etc. etc. The zoo is HUGE and you could spend a full day there open to close and not see everything. Sea World I find that if you follow the recommended schedule printed in their map (also from open to close), you can see all the shows in that one day. That's another good point - depends what you'd rather do - see several animal shows and follow a rigid schedule, or meander at your own pace taking in animal exhibits. Honestly both places are fun, you just have to decide what you're in the mood for.

 

[ZoZo]

Cool - thanks for the input! I've actually been to both the SD Zoo and Seaworld, but that was about 10 years ago. Enjoyed them both!

 

[skiingfast]

Cool - thanks for the input! I've actually been to both the SD Zoo and Seaworld, but that was about 10 years ago. Enjoyed them both!

If it were me, The sea lion show is pretty good, but I'd rather wander the zoo at a slow pace taking time to watch the animals.

 

[llump41]

ZOOOOO would be my choice. I have passes to both and go more time to the zoo than SW. The zoo is laid back, not rushed. SW is more of a theme park IMHO.

 

[flying kiwi]

We have just been to both SeaWorld and San Deigo Zoo...
I loved the zoo: pandas, elephants, hippos (my personal favourite), polar bears, so many fantastic animals.

SD Zoo is on a difficult site - we went with grandma, and she was struggling with the hills (it is on a site shaped like an ice cream cone (or a volcano crater)... a rim around the edge, and the centre lower down... So, if you are pushing a stroller, or aren't very fit - then SD Zoo will be a struggle...

Personally, if you had to choose, I would pick SeaWorld - there are exhibits there which I couldn't see elsewhere (not easily)... LOVE LOVED LOVED the killer whales; dolphin show was great, really enjoyed the sea lions...
plus turtles, white whales, polar bears, sharks, etc etc

Except for the pandas, I had seen all the animals at the zoo before... So, I would pick SeaWorld...

Either way, you are going to have a great day; so you have the advantage of having two great choices

 

[starshine514]

...
SD Zoo is on a difficult site - we went with grandma, and she was struggling with the hills (it is on a site shaped like an ice cream cone (or a volcano crater)... a rim around the edge, and the centre lower down... So, if you are pushing a stroller, or aren't very fit - then SD Zoo will be a struggle...

...

This was my experience with the zoo as well. We struggled through less than half of it; it was too much to push a wheelchair around all those ups and downs... I think we would have liked it a lot if it had been level - and not as crowded (the wait to see the pandas was huge during Spring Break).

 

[quikah]

Just another point to consider. The area where the rays were is closed at SW until 2012 while they build the Manta coaster. If you really wanted to see rays, there is a tank of them at Journey into Atlantis.

 

[GenGen22]

Definately Seaworld. Seaworld has alot of really cool shows and animals too. The zoo has a lot of walking up hill. I went to the zoo the first time when my daughter was 3 and wont go back it was just too much for us. I've been to Seaworld 2 times and loved it and am going to Seaworld in Florida this December. Have a Great vacation.

 

[SailorsWife]

Been to both. No kids, I would hit the zoo for a nice quite day and a great lunch. The restaurant in the "Treehouse" is rated very well.

If I knew my husband would do the roller coasters, I would do Sea World. But I found the place louder and more fast paced. Can't put my thumb on why.

I don't know, Pandas are pretty cool and not found everywhere and some of the animals at the zoo are more "rare' than a standard zoo . The sea animals seem to be everywhere. We have Discovery Kingdom in Northern California and it pretty much has the same animals and shows. Sea Worlds Killer Whale show is a ton better of course.

 

[It'sKim]

We just had to make this choice and ended up choosing SeaWorld. The main factor was that we have nothing else like that near us. We do have a zoo, granted it can't even compare to the SD zoo, but at least we can see a lot of those animals etc. The shows at SeaWorld are things we only see if we go there.

 

[mom2aredhead]

I would choose the zoo...but not the regular zoo. The Wild Animal Park in Escondido. Absolutely spectacular. And splurge on one of the "caravans" for a special experience.
One of the best days of our last trip to So Cal.

 

[GrumpyGoat]

I would choose the zoo as I can get in there for free, while Seaworld would cost me almost $70. Of course, my choice might have something to do with the fact my wife works at the zoo.

 

[sonnyjane]

I would choose the zoo as I can get in there for free, while Seaworld would cost me almost $70. Of course, my choice might have something to do with the fact my wife works at the zoo.

Hey! You don't have to say, but what does your wife do? You can PM me if you want. I work at the zoo too. I'm in the behavior department - I do the bird shows/presentations

 

[Camonkeygirl]

This was my experience with the zoo as well. We struggled through less than half of it; it was too much to push a wheelchair around all those ups and downs... I think we would have liked it a lot if it had been level - and not as crowded (the wait to see the pandas was huge during Spring Break).

If you do come back to the Zoo or for other posters that may have a hard time walking, wheelchair or ECV, there are ways to get around a little easier. We have the Express Bus that is included with almost all of our admission tickets that have 5 stops that you can get on and off at (and is unlimited rides), You can stop at Guest Services at the entrance and pick up an "Easy Access Pass" that will limit your wait in line for the Buses, Skyfari, and the Pandas. Last but not least, there is a shuttle bus with a wheelchair lift. To get the shuttle, you only need to find an employee with a radio (and almost all employees will have one) or stop in a restaurant or gift shop and ask the employees to call for you. The only down side to this is that with the shuttle, on an busy period, the wait can be up to 30 minutes. When they are up and running, there are also two speedramps (flat escalators) that can take you from the canyon by the pandas to either the entrance area (and primates) or to the new elephant exhibit (the speedramps are more than 30 years old, and are prone to breaking down at times)

Hey! You don't have to say, but what does your wife do? You can PM me if you want. I work at the zoo too. I'm in the behavior department - I do the bird shows/presentations

HI. I am Heather from Guest Services.

 

[sonnyjane]

HI. I am Heather from Guest Services.

Hey Heather! Such a small world! I PM'ed your husband but I'll PM you as well