Just booked our Sea World Extravaganza!!!! I have a few Questions!

[annabug]

Hi All!!
I just booked our Sea World trip!! WHOOOOHOOOOO!

I am so excited for my children, I can hardly wait.

April 2014!! LOL

Anyway, I recently read a trip report, (THANK YOU GINA) (You're family is awesome, and I was so thankful you took the time to detail your experience!!)

I narrowed it down to 2 resorts, Residence Inn, and Spring Hill Suites. Both Marriott properties, one has bigger rooms, and a kitchen, one has newer rooms, splash zone for kids, and a better rate. That was SPring Hill suites. I think it should be ok.

Anyone with an experience staying there?? would love to hear about it!

I also got the tickets for Discovery cove, sea world, and aquatic. Seemed like the best all around "value" I use the word "value" very loosely.

We will be there for Easter Sunday. Has anyone ever attended the Sunrise Easter Worship at Sea World??

Any other advice or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Annabug

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Hi All!!
I just booked our Sea World trip!! WHOOOOHOOOOO!

I am so excited for my children, I can hardly wait.

April 2014!! LOL

Anyway, I recently read a trip report, (THANK YOU GINA) (You're family is awesome, and I was so thankful you took the time to detail your experience!!)

I narrowed it down to 2 resorts, Residence Inn, and Spring Hill Suites. Both Marriott properties, one has bigger rooms, and a kitchen, one has newer rooms, splash zone for kids, and a better rate. That was SPring Hill suites. I think it should be ok.

Yay for making your reservation!!! And a big thanks for the lovely compliment .

 

[2girlsmom]

We have stayed twice at Springhill Suites. We have 2 children ages 13 and 15 who refuse to share a bed, so really need a place with a pullout couch to avoid that at the bare minimum. We find the breakfast to be tasty and filling, pretty standard hotel breakfast fare (waffles, biscuits, sausage, bacon, usually eggs, plus muffins, cereal, fruit). We like the QQ pass, though we liked it better the first time we stayed when it was the unlimited QQ, now it is a one time use per ride and doesn't include Antarctica in it, which was frustrating to me. The room is a nice size, and we love the seperate room for the toilet/sink instead of all in with the tub/shower, like having two sink areas to get everyone ready in the morning.

 

[annabug]

2girls mom thanks!! I am glad you like spring hill. How was the shuttle? convenient or a hassle?? Im debating on renting a car. Was concierge helpful? What were the local places to eat?
TIA!

 

[2girlsmom]

We never actually took the shuttle, with platinum passes I get free preferred parking, and also have the car. But they appeared to run approx every 30 minutes in the morning until about 2pm and then returns every 30 minutes starting about noon or so, from the chart I had. I think I still have in the car, if so I will try to post the times listing from the past weekend. Nearby restaurants: TGI Fridays and Panera are right in front of the hotel, (also there is a CVS right out front which was handy for snacks as well as the spare "essentials") Down I drive towards the west there is a Denny's, a Cicis Pizza, a chocolate restaurant fairly close. Down I drive to the east, well, within probably 5 miles is virtually every type of restaurant imaginable as International Drive is it's own destination. There is a city "trolley" that runs International Drive, I don't know what the rates are, sorry. We usually do the all day dine at Seaworld when we are there as we love the ability to get drinks and snacks throughout the day there quickly, and generally have meals at the bbq restaurant (Voyagers), SeaFire Inn, etc. Snacks throughout the day are in the same CS restaurants, as you can go in as often as you want for entree, side/dessert, and drink or any of those peices. Often for sides we get fruit, though at least once each trip I have to have the chocolate cake, yummy! We have eaten at the Panera and the TGIFridays though, and both were good and fairly quick.

 

[DisMama3]

2girls mom thanks!! I am glad you like spring hill. How was the shuttle? convenient or a hassle?? Im debating on renting a car. Was concierge helpful? What were the local places to eat?
TIA!

I'm here now and all of the Marriott resorts share one shuttle. Rent.a.car. Worth every penny. I will never ever complain about Disney transportation again lol.

Also, if you are between springhill and residence inn, I would do springhill. We are at the residence inn now. Cons, so poorly outdated, it feels dirty though it is relatively clean. The hall carpets are nasty though. The breakfast buffet is like a feeding frenzy. People are nasty and it is crazy. The selection is pretty decent and there are two sides for the buffet. If you have older kids the pool is nice, but the springhill one is nicer for younger kids. The springhill is just separated by the shared pool with the other Marriott resort (name is eluding me right now). I think they share a breakfast buffet as well. If you want modern, go with springhill...if you don't care about the updated conditions AND want a separate sleeping area then try residence inn. I just know we will be looking elsewhere if we come back.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

The breakfast buffet is like a feeding frenzy. People are nasty and it is crazy. The selection is pretty decent and there are two sides for the buffet.

We didn't find that at all during our Christmas stay. And it was sold out the entire week . Perhaps it was all the "peace on earth, goodwill to men" of the holiday season, but we never had a problem getting a seat, the buffet was very well run and the guests were well behaved.

Between Christmas and New Years, there were several little league baseball teams there for a tournament, and even with all the youngsters (all boys, maybe 10 years old or so) the breakfast hours were very civilized.

 

[DisMama3]

We didn't find that at all during our Christmas stay. And it was sold out the entire week . Perhaps it was all the "peace on earth, goodwill to men" of the holiday season, but we never had a problem getting a seat, the buffet was very well run and the guests were well behaved.

Between Christmas and New Years, there were several little league baseball teams there for a tournament, and even with all the youngsters (all boys, maybe 10 years old or so) the breakfast hours were very civilized.

It is very unfortunate, people this morning were yelling at the poor ladies trying to keep up with the demand of refilling the hot food. They do a very good job though, I give them credit.

 

[annabug]

Dismama thanks for your input. I was thinking about the pools too, i like Spring Hills better.
So Springhill it is!!

And I know people get crazy with buffets in general, and when your on a time crunch, with kids, and the ocaissional cranky husband, things can go downhill real fast I am hoping to get there early!

I cant tell you how much I appreciate another mothers input/advice.

So THANK YOU to all of of for taking the time to respond

And Im leaning toward renting a car, almost a definite ALthough I am concerned about parking prices at SW and Aquatica. I know I park for free at DC.

2 girls mom, thank you for the insight regarding dining options on international drive. I havent been there since I was a small child. And we have always stayed on Disney property with our kids.

 

[DisMama3]

You are very welcome! I feel like it makes a difference with younger kids and I always appreciate getting input as well.

The restaurant selections around here are great! We even popped in to downtown disney last night

 

[vacation_junkie]

Hi All!!
I just booked our Sea World trip!! WHOOOOHOOOOO!

I am so excited for my children, I can hardly wait.

April 2014!! LOL

Anyway, I recently read a trip report, (THANK YOU GINA) (You're family is awesome, and I was so thankful you took the time to detail your experience!!)

I narrowed it down to 2 resorts, Residence Inn, and Spring Hill Suites. Both Marriott properties, one has bigger rooms, and a kitchen, one has newer rooms, splash zone for kids, and a better rate. That was SPring Hill suites. I think it should be ok.

Anyone with an experience staying there?? would love to hear about it!

I also got the tickets for Discovery cove, sea world, and aquatic. Seemed like the best all around "value" I use the word "value" very loosely.

We will be there for Easter Sunday. Has anyone ever attended the Sunrise Easter Worship at Sea World??

Any other advice or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Annabug

Did you book everything individually? Hotel, tickets...etc?

There are several different packages that will be available shortly for 2014. ie: 5th night free...free all day dining, kids stay or eat free.


Remember SpringHill shares a pool with Fairfield next door. Being a holiday weekend the pool may be crowded.

We're staying at Springhill in January 2014 but are waiting until the vacation packages are released in order to take advantage of the special promo's. 2 days of dining for free is a huge bonus!

We love the 2nd bedroom option at Residence inn but Springhill looks so much cleaner and modern.

How old are your kids? There is so much for kids to do in Orlando.

 

[annabug]

Oh great Vacation junkie, cant wait to hear how you like Spring hill. I agree about liking the idea of a second bedroom, and a little more room, but Spring hill looks cleaner, so that wins for me

Yes I booked the hotel air, and tickets to DC separately


Yes i am apprehensive about the crowds, but we will be there the week following Easter, arriving the day before Easter. I am hoping most children need to be back in school by then!

I didn't know about any of these promotions?? Are they trough SW?
UH oh...did I make a mistake?

I booked through Discovery Cove in order to get the SW/Aquatica for the rest of out trip. The earlier you book with DC the cheaper the tickets are.

My kids will be 9 (DD), and 5 (DS), any advice on where to go with them??
TIA!!!

 

[vacation_junkie]

Oh great Vacation junkie, cant wait to hear how you like Spring hill. I agree about liking the idea of a second bedroom, and a little more room, but Spring hill looks cleaner, so that wins for me

Yes I booked the hotel air, and tickets to DC separately

Yes i am apprehensive about the crowds, but we will be there the week following Easter, arriving the day before Easter. I am hoping most children need to be back in school by then!

I didn't know about any of these promotions?? Are they trough SW?
UH oh...did I make a mistake?

I booked through Discovery Cove in order to get the SW/Aquatica for the rest of out trip. The earlier you book with DC the cheaper the tickets are.

My kids will be 9 (DD), and 5 (DS), any advice on where to go with them??
TIA!!!

There is a fellow DIS'r there for the first time right now. I can't wait it hear what she has to say about it.
No you didn't make a mistake..you just will miss out on the "extra's.
I'm waiting for the all day free dining promo. We will get 1 day of dining in both aquatica and SW. 2 days of meals are a good bonus


I haven't booked flights yet..still to high. I usually book my January flights in October so that will be in about a month. Hotels reserved though.
We're doing Hard Rock hotel & IOA & UO first then are moving over to SH.
Will you have a rental car?

 

[annabug]

Is that promotion including a day at discovery cove?
Do you get the free dining along with discovery cove day?
Feeling confused
My tickets include a day at DC, and 14 day unlimited admission to the other 2 parks SW and aquatica

I am going to rent a car. Any suggestions on where to go for that ?

Can you update me when the dis guest returns??
Can't wait to hear!!!!!