Off Disney topic....

[Dsnymouse]

My family and I are trying to plan a summer vacation. Has anyone been to Sea World in San Antonio, Texas? How does it compare to the California one. Is there anything else around to visit?? And last, what is the weather like in July??

Any help/suggestions would be helpful.
Thanks

 

[BikeFan]

San Antonio also has the Alamo, and the Riverwalk downtown is quite nice.

 

[mydisneykids]

It has been about 10 years since we went to San Antonio, but we loved it. My husband used to get conventions there quite often and we would bring our daughter, then 3.
The Sea World was great. The San Antonio Zoo was one of our favorites. The riverwalk was fun for her, she loved the boat ride. There was also a place near there that had an arcade, and I think there was mini golf.
It has been a while, and there may have been changes, but we always had a great time in San Antonio and haved talked about going back so our other children can experience it.

 

[gottagodisney]

I live just outside of Austin,TX so SW San Antonio is about 1 1/2 hr. trip for us. We have purchased season passes over the last several years so I know it pretty well. I have not been to SW orlando or california.

Disclaimer...my opinion is spoiled by having experienced WDW and all of its wonders.

The park has a good days worth of entertainment if you are going to partake of the waterpark portion. The waterpark is included in admission and IMO is the best part of the park. Texas is HOT, HOT, HOT in July (did I mention hot?) and the park is like one big piece of asphalt. There is a lot of walking to do in the theme park section and not so much to do between major attractions. There really isn't that much to do it seems (unless you are a major show person).

I would say it is worth it to go with the expectation of a day of fun, but as we would say in TX ...." it ain't no Disney World". Lines are very long for all of the rides (where is fastpass when you need it?) The park is very clean though (like Disney)and the landscaping is beautiful with all of the flowers.

If you plan on getting wet at waterpark-
Plan on renting a locker at the water park section. There are lockers just inside the entry gates when you come in to the park- don't use those. Go into waterpark and get your locker that way you can come and go as you with. I usually just wear my swimsuit under shorts or a long wrap or coverup that way I can easily come and go. Take some dry clothes for the ride home.

There is also a Six Flags relatively close by. I am not a big fan of those parks though.

 

[luvmy3jewels]

I took my daughter (5 at the time) and mother there last spring (my trip was partly on business) during Fiesta week. It was a wonderful place to visit, and I highly recommend staying at a hotel on the Riverwalk (we stayed at the Marriott Rivercenter and it was beautiful). It was so nice to stroll in the evenings along the Riverwalk and eat at the outdoor cafes. El Mercado was also an interesting place to visit for cheap souveniers. I also thought the Alamo was interesting, but found the Buckhorn Saloon a bit disturbing (my daughter hated it).

We visited SeaWorld for the day and had "breakfast with the dolphins." This ended up being breakfast in an aquarium like room and then feeding dolphins fish for their breakfast. SeaWorld was pretty neat, but appeared to be something you can do in just one day and be through with it.

If you go, I highly recommend a restaurant called The County Line. I think it must be a local chain because I saw a couple of different ones throughout San Antonio. Their food was wonderful!!

I'm hoping to go back sometime with the rest of my family (my dh and two younger kids did not make the trip with me). However, I think I would try to go back during Fiesta week if at all possible.