Needs advice on Sea World/Legoland/San Diego zoo

[mickeytai]

Dear all, we will be arriving SD on June 16th (Sat) and will have three days (17-19) in the area before we head to Anaheim on 19th night. We are planning to visit the three parks (San Diego Zoo, Seaworld, Legoland). Any advice on which park on which day? We are going to hit the Father's crowd but if we can avoid the biggest crowd that would be fantastic.

Also, just a thought, can one do both san Diego Zoo and Safari Park in one day? We have a San Diego Go pass and we can as many attraction as we want in 3 days.

Any suggestion is appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

mickeytai

 

[sonnyjane]

Dear all, we will be arriving SD on June 16th (Sat) and will have three days (17-19) in the area before we head to Anaheim on 19th night. We are planning to visit the three parks (San Diego Zoo, Seaworld, Legoland). Any advice on which park on which day? We are going to hit the Father's crowd but if we can avoid the biggest crowd that would be fantastic.

Also, just a thought, can one do both san Diego Zoo and Safari Park in one day? We have a San Diego Go pass and we can as many attraction as we want in 3 days.

In two words? No way!!! The San Diego Zoo is huge and requires a full day. The Safari Park is also huge and requires at LEAST several hours. Plus, they are about 45 minutes to an hour apart, so there's really no way you can do them in the same day and have a worthwhile experience at either.

I would recommend doing the zoo on Sunday, since the zoo doesn't "feel" weekend crowds as much as Sea World or Legoland. I would do do Sea World on Monday, and I would do Legoland on Tuesday, since it's located about half way between San Diego and Anaheim, so by the time you left for the day, you'd already be half way to Disneyland!

 

[Huff]

I'm somewhat mixed on this but here's my experience.

On a packed day the Zoo is bad for these items:
Tour bus: 45-60 minute wait especially if you want lower level of bus.
Sky Tram: 25-35 minute wait to board each way.
Pandas: 20-30 minute wait to enter exhibit.
Giraffe feeding: 20-25 minute wait to feed.

The rest of zoo is walkable and not that bad of an issue on crowded days. Tour bus line is usually short right after zoo opening.

Seaworld on a packed day is bad for these items:
Shipwreck Rapids ride: 45-90 minute wait on sunny day (walk on after dark).
Arctic Wild: 20-30 minutes midday, walk on mornings or evenings.
Sky Tower: 20-30 minutes at night, walk on mornings or afternoons.

Check Seaworlds hours for your stay. Its often open late on the weekends and holidays. If so its tons of fun to see the night shows and fireworks if they have it.

The shows at Seaworld are not a problem on crowded days as long as you arrive a bit earlier to get a seat. We grab a drink and a snack and get there early. For the sea lion show note that it actually starts 15 minutes before posted times because there is a preshow and stadium will fill early.

 

[Camonkeygirl]

Dear all, we will be arriving SD on June 16th (Sat) and will have three days (17-19) in the area before we head to Anaheim on 19th night. We are planning to visit the three parks (San Diego Zoo, Seaworld, Legoland). Any advice on which park on which day? We are going to hit the Father's crowd but if we can avoid the biggest crowd that would be fantastic.

Also, just a thought, can one do both san Diego Zoo and Safari Park in one day? We have a San Diego Go pass and we can as many attraction as we want in 3 days.

Any suggestion is appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

mickeytai

The Zoo will be having a LARGE fundraiser on the 16th, and will close at 5 that night. Sunday's are not too bad at the Zoo, as we start slow with most of the crowds starting to arriving at 11 or so. I would get there as close to 9 as possible. I would not plan on doing the Zoo and Safari Park on the same day, as it takes 4 - 6 hours to do both parks, we will not be on Summer hours (9-6 for the Zoo and 9-5(I think) for the Safari Park, with a 45 minute drive between the two. Seaworld does get crowded, so you may want to do that on a weekday. I have not been to Legoland since it opened, and was only there once for a private party, I can't comment on it.

 

[mickeytai]

This is very helpful, thanks a million!
mickeytai