Not happy with Sea World

[Michigan]

When you buy an annual pass from Disney you get your parking for that day reimbursed but not at Sea World. I emailed them and their response was it is not their policy to refund for parking under any circumstance. Now I understand why they are always saying their customer satisfaction is low.

 

[tmarquez]

That's interesting because a couple of years ago we paid our parking then got it refunded in the form of a credit to be used anywhere at SeaWorld.

I wonder if they changed their policy or if it is just another case of a call center employee not really knowing what goes on.

 

[FLOIR]

Where did you get your annual pass? Did you get it in the park, or did you buy it online?

If you bought it online - did you have any proof of that purchase when you visited the park?

 

[mjmcca]

When you buy an annual pass from Disney you get your parking for that day reimbursed but not at Sea World. I emailed them and their response was it is not their policy to refund for parking under any circumstance. Now I understand why they are always saying their customer satisfaction is low.

Really? Is this a new policy? I have had Disney APs multiple times ( long in the past last time 5 years ago) and I never was reimbursed for the first parking fee.

 

[BonnieA]

I get my seaworld AP's online. I bring my paper receipt. No problem getting free parking with that on first visit.

 

[FLOIR]

That is the way it should work - if you have an E-Voucher you should be able to get free parking. Any pass purchased in-park will not get it reimbursed.

 

[gardener14]

I found this on the Seaworld website where you purchase a pass. After you chose a pass type and you are in the box where you chose the quantity you want to purchase there is a link that says "see details." When you click that you get details about what is included in the pass (discounts, etc.). The print is normal sized and easy to read. Below that is a paragraph that is very tiny print and faded gray making it difficult to read. Here is what it says:

EZpay available to Florida Residents only. Proof of a Florida residential address (non-PO box) is required at time of ticket pick up (Valid Florida driver's license or valid Florida state-issued ID card with a Florida address). Credit card holder must be present to redeem EZpay vouchers. Pass valid only at park(s) of membership unless otherwise specified. Parking is not included in the first visit, unless the Annual Pass is purchased online prior to visit. Pass is non-transferable and non-refundable. Some special events not included. Benefit package subject to availability, change or cancellation without notice.

Note the line about parking fees for the first visit.

I can confirm that if you print your pass at home, it is valid for parking on your first visit before you redeem it for a card.

 

[Michigan]

I upgraded a fun pass to annual pass in the park. I looked at the parking receipt and it does say parking is not refundable for pass upgrade which I think stinks.

I bought my first Disney annual pass at the TTC showed my parking receipt and the CM took the cost of parking off one pass.

 

[gardener14]

Michigan, I'm glad we could clarify the official policy, but I agree that the policy sinks. It certainly isn't customer friendly, and I find it unscrupulous to retain a parking fee on the same day someone buys a pass that includes parking.

 

[rowan555]

That stinks, Michigan, but it's probably more common than not. Even at Universal, if you purchase your annual pass online, you don't get free parking the first visit - you have to go and activate the pass first. Fortunately we arrived after 5 PM the day I activated the pass, so parking was only $5 the one time I had to pay. Still frustrating, though! Everything's a trade-off - if you take a taxi to Disney, I've read you have to pay the parking fee to be dropped off, which isn't the case at other parks. You win some, you lose some.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I can confirm that if you print your pass at home, it is valid for parking on your first visit before you redeem it for a card.

This .

Now I understand why they are always saying their customer satisfaction is low.

Where has SeaWorld reported that their customer satisfaction is low? I would be interested in a link to that data.....particularly when we've been the recipients of much "above and beyond" service from SW staff, and their profits have soared by the double digits.

 

[momof2n2]

http://c0026106.cdn1.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/bf017b3287664d9788bb371b0bb7b73b_faq-forpdf2.pdf

That is the Q&A for the Sesame Place website. They clearly state it isn't retro active.
That being said, I can't find a similar Q&A for SeaWorld!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

When you buy an annual pass from Disney you get your parking for that day reimbursed but not at Sea World.

Another thing that needs to be kept in mind are the numbers.....

A Disney AP is $609 plus tax.

A SeaWorld AP is $156 plus tax.

Even a SW Platinum Pass (9 parks) is only $336.

Wonder why Disney can afford to easily refund that initial parking fee?

(also makes SW's policy of waiving the parking charge if you have a printable voucher for your AP that much sweeter)

 

[Michigan]

Another thing that needs to be kept in mind are the numbers.....

A Disney AP is $609 plus tax.

A SeaWorld AP is $156 plus tax.

Even a SW Platinum Pass (9 parks) is only $336.

Wonder why Disney can afford to easily refund that initial parking fee?

(also makes SW's policy of waiving the parking charge if you have a printable voucher for your AP that much sweeter)

My annual Disney Pass is only $400 something.

Food is also more expensive at Sea World. The same 99 cent bag of chips that you can buy at the gas station is $3.87.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

My annual Disney Pass is only $400 something.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/passes/

Perhaps Disney's website is wrong?

Food is also more expensive at Sea World. The same 99 cent bag of chips that you can buy at the gas station is $3.87.

And food is value-priced at Disney?

The quick service dining plan at Disney is currently $39.64 per adult (I don't know if that includes tax, let's assume it does). You are restricted to 2 quick service meals and one snack per day. It also includes a refillable cup per stay, but refills are only permitted at your resort (not the parks).

http://www.mousesavers.com/magic-your-way-package-with-quick-service-dining-plan-for-2014/

Its only available to onsite guests, so to have the "benefit" of purchasing the plan, you are already paying inflated prices for your accomodations.

SeaWorld's all-day dining is $32.99 per adult ($35.13 tax included). Rather than restricting you to a maximum amount of food each day, it includes one entree, one side (which include other options besides dessert), and one non-alcoholic beverage each time through the line, unlimited numbers of time throughout the day. Three meals....breakfast right through to dinner and beyond (up to 30 minutes prior to park closing). Unlimited opportunities for cold waterbottles, soda, snacks (any side item from the participating restaurants, from a slice of pizza to cake to a fruit cup to a whol host of other options). Its available to EVERY guest who visits.

The SW parks also have a refillable cup that's good for the life of the cup. No paying to "reactivate" your cup on each visit. And its also useable at all the SW (including Aquatica, Busch Gardens) & both Universal parks.

Then there's the refillable popcorn bucket.....for about $5, you get a souvenir bucket full of popcorn, then you can refill it (again, for the life of the bucket) for about $1.00.

I can't fathom how eating at Disney is cheaper?

 

[mjmcca]

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/passes/

Perhaps Disney's website is wrong?



And food is value-priced at Disney?

The quick service dining plan at Disney is currently $39.64 per adult (I don't know if that includes tax, let's assume it does). You are restricted to 2 quick service meals and one snack per day. It also includes a refillable cup per stay, but refills are only permitted at your resort (not the parks).

http://www.mousesavers.com/magic-your-way-package-with-quick-service-dining-plan-for-2014/

Its only available to onsite guests, so to have the "benefit" of purchasing the plan, you are already paying inflated prices for your accomodations.

SeaWorld's all-day dining is $32.99 per adult ($35.13 tax included). Rather than restricting you to a maximum amount of food each day, it includes one entree, one side (which include other options besides dessert), and one non-alcoholic beverage each time through the line, unlimited numbers of time throughout the day. Three meals....breakfast right through to dinner and beyond (up to 30 minutes prior to park closing). Unlimited opportunities for cold waterbottles, soda, snacks (any side item from the participating restaurants, from a slice of pizza to cake to a fruit cup to a whol host of other options). Its available to EVERY guest who visits.

The SW parks also have a refillable cup that's good for the life of the cup. No paying to "reactivate" your cup on each visit. And its also useable at all the SW (including Aquatica, Busch Gardens) & both Universal parks.

Then there's the refillable popcorn bucket.....for about $5, you get a souvenir bucket full of popcorn, then you can refill it (again, for the life of the bucket) for about $1.00.

I can't fathom how eating at Disney is cheaper?

Since he is a part time Florida resident he most likely gets the the Florida rate for his AP which is significantly less than the rate for people who live in other states.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/florida-residents/passholder-program/

 

[Michigan]

Since he is a part time Florida resident he most likely gets the the Florida rate for his AP which is significantly less than the rate for people who live in other states.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/florida-residents/passholder-program/

You got it!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Since he is a part time Florida resident he most likely gets the the Florida rate for his AP which is significantly less than the rate for people who live in other states.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/florida-residents/passholder-program/

You got it!

At $494.16 taxes included for a standard adult AP with the Florida Resident discount....its still 38% more than a SW Platinum Pass, and 300% more than a regular SW AP. Makes a huge difference from the perspective of the company on whether its worth refunding parking fees.

Another thing that needs to be kept in mind are the numbers.....

A Disney AP is $609 plus tax.

A SeaWorld AP is $156 plus tax.

Even a SW Platinum Pass (9 parks) is only $336.

Wonder why Disney can afford to easily refund that initial parking fee?

(also makes SW's policy of waiving the parking charge if you have a printable voucher for your AP that much sweeter)

Thanks for the clarification on pricing, mjmcca . And for the weblink right to it, too!

 

[Michigan]

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/passes/

Perhaps Disney's website is wrong?



And food is value-priced at Disney?

The quick service dining plan at Disney is currently $39.64 per adult (I don't know if that includes tax, let's assume it does). You are restricted to 2 quick service meals and one snack per day. It also includes a refillable cup per stay, but refills are only permitted at your resort (not the parks).

http://www.mousesavers.com/magic-your-way-package-with-quick-service-dining-plan-for-2014/

Its only available to onsite guests, so to have the "benefit" of purchasing the plan, you are already paying inflated prices for your accomodations.

SeaWorld's all-day dining is $32.99 per adult ($35.13 tax included). Rather than restricting you to a maximum amount of food each day, it includes one entree, one side (which include other options besides dessert), and one non-alcoholic beverage each time through the line, unlimited numbers of time throughout the day. Three meals....breakfast right through to dinner and beyond (up to 30 minutes prior to park closing). Unlimited opportunities for cold waterbottles, soda, snacks (any side item from the participating restaurants, from a slice of pizza to cake to a fruit cup to a whol host of other options). Its available to EVERY guest who visits.

The SW parks also have a refillable cup that's good for the life of the cup. No paying to "reactivate" your cup on each visit. And its also useable at all the SW (including Aquatica, Busch Gardens) & both Universal parks.

Then there's the refillable popcorn bucket.....for about $5, you get a souvenir bucket full of popcorn, then you can refill it (again, for the life of the bucket) for about $1.00.

I can't fathom how eating at Disney is cheaper?

I'm not sure why you are so upset that I think it stinks that they don't either give you a park credit for parking or take it off the price of the annual pass when you purchase it at the park.

My Disney annual pass renewal was $1258.83 with tax for 3 adult tickets, that is $419.61 per ticket.

We don't buy meal plans because we don't eat more then $30 for all three of us together.

Disney pass includes 4 parks and discounts at other places other then Disney.

Not that it is any of your business but I bought the Sea World pass because I have Kidney Cancer and am having surgery on March 3rd and my 2 daughters are in wheelchairs and don't ride anything other then the sky tower and I thought that would give us something to do during my recovery.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I'm not sure why you are so upset that I think it stinks that they don't either give you a park credit for parking or take it off the price of the annual pass when you purchase it at the park.

My Disney annual pass renewal was $1258.83 with tax for 3 adult tickets, that is $419.61 per ticket.

We don't buy meal plans because we don't eat more then $30 for all three of us together.

Disney pass includes 4 parks and discounts at other places other then Disney.

Not that it is any of your business but I bought the Sea World pass because I have Kidney Cancer and am having surgery on March 3rd and my 2 daughters are in wheelchairs and don't ride anything other then the sky tower and I thought that would give us something to do during my recovery.

I am not upset at all. Honest . You are more than welcome to your opinion (and I'm sorry SeaWorld did not live up to your customer service expectations). They have annoyed me more than once in the recent past too....the exclusion of DC discounts to Canadians really burned by behind.

I was just putting the situation into perspective (for the benefit of others) that at least some of the reason behind the non-refund of the parking almost certainly is cost-driven. A $156 SeaWorld AP vs. a +$400 Disney AP must account for a huge amount of the difference between the two park policies. I hope that this thread serves to remind everyone to buy that AP in advance, bring your voucher to the park, and save the $14 parking charge that way .

You raised the issue that eating at SeaWorld is expensive. I simply explained why it was generally a better value than Disney (now, if you don't like the quality of the food, that's another story entirely!) . SeaWorld isn't alone in selling those inflatedly priced bag of chips. I think that's symptomatic of theme parks everywhere. Do you know what a small bottle of water is sold for at the Toronto Blue Jays game here in Ontario. $6. $6!!!!

I am so very sorry to hear about your health struggles. I am a brain tumor survivor (15 years tumor-free ) so I can totally relate to the feeling of what lies before you. I wish you a speedy and successful recovery.....and I hope that your visits to SeaWorld help bring you and your family much enjoyment.