Not disneyland...sorry.??parking San Diego Zoo and Sea World???

[colbybug]

Does anyone happen to know how much it costs to park in either place and if you come and go without having to pay again??? Thanks for any helpful info or tips on either place!!!!!

Bug's Mom

 

[LuvTigger]

Parking at the Zoo is free. You have to pay at Sea World (sorry, I don't know how much). I'm not sure about in and out privileges, but I'm pretty sure most places will let you do it as long as you keep the receipt/parking ticket they give you.

 

[caimakale]

I think Sea World was $7

 

[LucyKate]

The Sea World Website says it is now $8 for parking. Sorry, don't know about in and out as we just stayed there all day.

The Zoo website confirms parking is still free there.

The Zoo Home Page contains good information on ticket packages, driving directions and hotels.

Mixing up your threads - we stayed at Humphreys Half Moon Inn on Shelter island which was a nice location about 10 minutes from Seaworld. They also had an attractive seaworld and accommodation package and just up the street was a great kid friendly seafood restaurant, Fiddlers Green.

 

[Califgirl]

Parking at the Zoo is free (as has been mentioned) but you are right in Balboa Park. So if you can tear yourself away from the zoo, there are lots of other things to do within a 10 min. walk. Outside the Prado (the 10 min walk) there is a Park Trolley (free) that will take you to the other areas of Balboa Park. Worth a look is the Ruben H Fleet Space Museum and IMax theatre, the San Diego Museum of Nautral History. and... well there are lots and lots of museums and the Old Globe Theater. So there should be plenty for you to do there without ever having to move your car.

(I think I'm rambling...It's early... I need coffee...)

 

[LuvTigger]

Sorry, a couple more thoughts regardin strategies:

For the Zoo, we like to go on the bus tour before we do anything else. That way we can determine what we want to see on foot. We buy the deluxe ticket that includes the bus tour and aerial tram. My first time there, our bus driver gave us good advice: "Ride up, walk down." There are a lot of hills, so they installed escalators. We ride up the escalators and walk down the hills. They also have a bus that can take you around that stops, but we don't use it.

For Sea World, I like to plan around the shows. It's been a while, but the map used to have show times. I would circle the times of the shows I wanted to see, then we would plan to view other exhibits around the show times.

 

[LucyKate]

Agree with everything LT says.

Get the deluxe ticket - it works out cheaper in the end and the bus tour to start with is a super orientation for the park.

I would add - get to the Pandas early - they are the number one attraction at the zoo and lines can be long, and sometimes the pandas won't show. So check them out early - if you see them great, if not, organise to come back.

Check your map and info sheet when you arrive as some exhibits close early -plan your visit round the ones you want to see. The Pandas, Mountain Gorillas and hippos would be my top three. Polar bears have a much better display at Sea World so don't stress if they are hiding (as they were for us).

Yes - walk down and take escalators, buses, aerial tram etc down.

And good advice about Sea World too - plan your day around the Dolphin and Orca shows (there are two of each) and get there early for both. After that take the rides etc as you want.

 

[cmwade77]

I will list the So. Cal. theme parks that I know of for anyone who is interested in other parks as well:

Sea World: General $8 Prefered: $12 (Last I checked, I hae a Platinum Pass so I get Prefered anyway) (Current)
San Diego Zoo: Free (Current)
San Diego Wild Animal Park: $6.00 (As of August '05)
Universal Studios: General $10, Prefered: $15 (Current)
Knott's Berry Farm: $8.00 (As of March '05)
Magic Mountain: $7.00 (As of June '05)

Well, that covers all of the theme parks that I know the prices for parking of.