San Diego zoo or Sea World?

[CrazyMe]

Ok, trying to figure out what tickets we will need and what not...

At first I was thinking we would do one day at the Zoo and one day at Sea World but now with drive time and 3 days at Disney then stopping by to see the grandparents on the way home, I think we will only be able to do one or the other.

San Diego Zoo VS. Sea World...

Kids are going to be 7, 9, 14 and 17. We will be going from Disney to SD spending one night there before heading home...

 

[Huff]

It really depends on what your family enjoys. They are both fun, as is the Safari park (owned by the Zoo). For us, we'd easily pick Sea World. Just a fun day with very well done shows and a few fun rides as well. Depending on when you go the night time shows at Sea World are worth staying for.

 

[JaxsonsMom]

As the previous poster said, it depends on your family. I would say at the Zoo you get more bang for your buck as it's basically half the price. But if you need to entertain some anxious kids, Sea World has a few rides to keep them going.

I don't think SeaWorld is worth the money and even being a local I haven't been in a few years, but I still frequent the zoo about every other month. There is always something to see and learn - never a dull moment.

 

[AprilRenee]

I vote San Diego Zoo. Though I've never been to Sea World. However, when I was 13 (with 9, 6, and 3 yr old brothers) we took a trip down Route 66 to San Diego. We also hit Legoland, the beach, the grand canyon, and several Colorado Springs attractions on the way home. The zoo was the highlight of the trip for me at least. All of us still talk about it periodically! And I come from STL where we have a world class zoo that rivals San Diego. It was amazing. I remember getting teary eyed leaving that night because it was such a great day!

So I vote zoo!

 

[GenGen22]

I vote for SeaWorld. I have been to the zoo and SeaWorld and I loved SW. They have a lot of really cool shows and animals too. The zoo has a lot of hills and there is just way too much walking. I won't do the SD Zoo again. I don't mind walking but the hilly part was just too much. I went when my DD was 3 so I had to push her in a stroller. Your kids are older but I think all the hilly walking wont be a plus for the kids. Like the other pp's said it just depends on your family.

 

[llump41]

Part of my answer depends on what time of year you are going. SW to me just isn't worth the cost when park hours are only 10-5. If you are going to be there during the Christmas season then SW hands down. The park is well decorated and the holiday shows are outstanding. I do have passes to both but usually end up at the zoo more often than SW. IMHO do the Zoo if you are only going to have a few hours and SW if you have a full, more than 8 hrs, day.

 

[mjmcnns]

Due to our schedule, we're going to try and do both in one day. I realize this is somewhat madness. We'll be at the Zoo for 9am opening. SeaWorld is open until 7:30 I believe the day we are going. Advice for the best way to split the time? And how long will it take us to drive from the Zoo to SeaWorld? For the Zoo we really just want to catch the main features and a few personal favs (probably Lost Forest, Africa Rocks, Pandas and Polar Bears) and then duck out to catch the top SeaWorld shows/fav exhibits. Advice?

 

[llump41]

It's a ten minute drive between the two give or take. It's do able but it will make for a full day and you wont get a full taste of either place.

 

[sonnyjane]

Due to our schedule, we're going to try and do both in one day. I realize this is somewhat madness. We'll be at the Zoo for 9am opening. SeaWorld is open until 7:30 I believe the day we are going. Advice for the best way to split the time? And how long will it take us to drive from the Zoo to SeaWorld? For the Zoo we really just want to catch the main features and a few personal favs (probably Lost Forest, Africa Rocks, Pandas and Polar Bears) and then duck out to catch the top SeaWorld shows/fav exhibits. Advice?

Seems like a real waste of money to me. I'd rather devote one day to either SW or the zoo and get my money's worth than pay to go to both places and leave so much unseen.

 

[mjmcnns]

Seems like a real waste of money to me. I'd rather devote one day to either SW or the zoo and get my money's worth than pay to go to both places and leave so much unseen.

Because we have the CityPASS there is no change in terms of $.

 

[sonnyjane]

Because we have the CityPASS there is no change in terms of $.

Ahh. I see. Well, I would go online and confirm the SW show times to make sure you catch the ones you really like, but otherwise I would do the zoo starting at opening - take the 40 minute tour to see most of the animals - then walk to places like pandas and anything else you may have missed that you want to go back and see. Then I'd head to SW for the afternoon. It will really only take you 20 minutes to get from the zoo to SW.

 

[DebKR]

Wondering how you made out doing both in one day? Thinking of doing the same......