Sea World - 1st Time - How to plan?

[Liisa]

My next Disney trip (in December) is going to include a day at Sea World. I'm trying to do a bit of pre-planning for this and I'm lost. The Sea World website has a park map - but it doesn't list the attractions on the map and I'm finding it very confusing . Is there a good guide book out there or does anyone know where I can get a clear (and well labeled) park map? Any first timer tips would also be appreciated! Thank you!

Liisa

 

[CapeCodDoug]

SeaWorld is less crowded, more relaxed, and more show-driven than the Disney parks. Unfortunately, you can't get the exact show schedules now; you might get them a couple of days beforehand online, but that's it. But here are some tips:

1. Immediately on entering the park, grab a map. The show schedule is on the back. You can plan from there.

2. Arrive early, bang a left towards Key West, and visit the dolphins and rays first. They are more active and less jaded for the first feeding. You can queue up to feed the dolphins ($5 for 3 fish) or just watch others feed them for free.

3. From the dolphins, its easy to do the two big thrill rides, Kraken and Journey to Atlantis, before they get too crowded. Front left seat on Atlantis gets you soaked!

4. Wild Arctic is directly across from Shamu's main entrance; so do Wild Arctic during a Shamu show, don't even think about it after one.

5. For Believe! (Shamu), you have a choice-- getting completely soaked with cold saltwater or not. For a soaking, sit 1/2 way between the center and edge of the stage arc, on either side, in the first 10 rows. To stay dry anywhere in the top deck will do.

6. If you have little kids, you can kill time waiting for Shamu at the Happy Harbor area.

7. Arrive early for the Clyde and Seamore sea lion show -- the mime who works the crowd beforehand is half the fun!

8. Pets Ahoy is in an air-conditioned theater. This and Wild Arctic are good places to beat the heat in the middle of the afternoon.

Have a good trip!

 

[wwessing]

My next Disney trip (in December) is going to include a day at Sea World. I'm trying to do a bit of pre-planning for this and I'm lost. The Sea World website has a park map - but it doesn't list the attractions on the map and I'm finding it very confusing . Is there a good guide book out there or does anyone know where I can get a clear (and well labeled) park map? Any first timer tips would also be appreciated! Thank you!

Liisa

For a guidebook, try "The Other Orlando" by Kelly Monahan (sp?) Here's a link
http://www.theotherorlando.com/index.html

Contact Sea World through their website and ask them to mail a park map and any other information available.

 

[Liisa]

CapeCodDoug - Thank you very much. That information looks very helpful. I've already included your advice in my helpful tip cards I plan on bringing to the parks.

Wwessing - I'll pick up that guidebook and contact Seaworld for the park maps (I hadn't realized you could do that).

It's funny - I've gotten so accustomed to touring WDW, I don't know where to start on "other" parks!

Thank you both!

Liisa

 

[jcemom]

It's funny - I've gotten so accustomed to touring WDW, I don't know where to start on "other" parks!

Liisa

Same here.

Can someone tell me how many hours I need to allow for Sea World with a small for her age 4 year old? She won't meet the height requirement on the big rides. I don't know if Wild Arctic has a height requirement or not, does it?

She'll definitely want to play in Shamu's Harbour, see the Shamu and sea lion shows, maybe the pet show. She wants to see the dolphins and sharks. If we arrive at opening, 9:00 when we're there in September, I think, will we need an entire day? More than one day?

TIA

 

[CapeCodDoug]

The height limit for Wild Arctic is 42". But there is a non-motion option to the left of the regular entrance. They call it the "Land" route to the Arctic. You just sit on benches while they show the movie that goes with the motion ride.

Kids love Wild Arctic. There are 3 beluga whales, 2 walrus and a polar bear in there. I've seen kids from Florida spend fifteen minutes just touching the ice that leads up to the belugas.

 

[jcemom]

Great! Thank you! We'll be sure to plan on doing it then, the Land route.

 

[citymouse]

We are going to Sea World in Oct and are staying at the board walk villas. Can you help answer some questions so i can plan? Thanks!
Does anyone know?
About how long will it take me by bus to get to Sea World.
Is sea world going to take a whole day or should i plan dinner back at disney?
I was thinking about eating dinner at Sea World with the whale Yes or no?
Has anyone ever eatin there before Good or bad?
Thanks for any comments!

 

[kend58]

I checked their web-site looks like tentative show schedules get posted about 2 weeks in advance. Planning for touring Seaworld is more like planning for MGM or WS than other parts of WDW IMHO as it is all slanted towards the shows and they make it less than easy to get them all in just like Disney Anhauser Bush wants your $$$$s.

Certainly with some planning a "quick SW day" is doable but unless you are only going for the rides and not the animals I would plan on a full day to get it all in if traveling in anything like a busy season. Off peak with no lines for the rides then fitting in the shows get easier because of the huge venues (for Shamu think of the Fantasmic show arena at MGM but in a 3/4 Oval instead of a 1/3 crescent around the pool/tank.

Pretty good data available here:
http://4adventure.com/swf/dp_show_s...onth=6&sDay=3&sYear=2007&image.x=66&image.y=9

 

[BettyCv]

I asked for a park map on this board and a very nice diser sent one to me! If you are not going until September, I would be happy to pick one up for you - just let me know!

Betty

 

[wwessing]

It's nice to hear that at DISer sent a park map and another is willing to pay it forward! You can also get maps, brochures and other information by contacting Sea World and/or Busch Gardens and ask for whatever you want. Send e-mail via the websites and you should receive a nice packet in a couple weeks.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[canwegoagain]

We are going to Sea World in Oct and are staying at the board walk villas. Can you help answer some questions so i can plan? Thanks!
Does anyone know?
About how long will it take me by bus to get to Sea World.
Is sea world going to take a whole day or should i plan dinner back at disney?
I was thinking about eating dinner at Sea World with the whale Yes or no?
Has anyone ever eatin there before Good or bad?
Thanks for any comments!

First off, SeaWorld is easily a full day. In fact, more if you really want to see everything. But with a single well planned day, you can get in most of the best stuff.
Next, there is no bus that runs a direct route between SeaWorld and BWV. The WDW transportation that we all take for granted is just that, WDW. There is public transportation that services SeaWorld including a bus/Trolley that travels up and down I-Drive, but not WDW. Your best bet would be a taxi since I assume you were not planning on renting a car. The SeaWorld property is only a few miles down Interstate 4 from WDW at the intersection of state road 528. A taxi can be met at any resort entrance.
Lastly: Definitely plan on eating at SeaWorld. But also plan on eating CS meals. Many of these are actually very good. We like the Spice Mill and the A-B Hospitality House. The few full service dining options are OK, but I would pass unless you really feel the need to eat with Shamu for the experience....that's the only reason we did it.

 

[U2_rocks!]

A tip that we forgot when we were recently there: most kids who enter Shamu's Happy Harbor immediately see the waterplay area and want to play in it! Unless you plan to stand firm and say "no", bring a swimsuit and towel for your child! They do sell swimsuits and towels very near by, but obviously there is a limited selection, and I'm sure they aren't cheap (I didn't actually look at the prices though).

 

[citymouse]

Thanks sooo much ill plan accordingly!