Sea World - hotels and quick queue

[dancer72]

Having a difficult time with the Sea World website, as it isn't the best for getting quick and clear information...

Seems like there are about 25 hotels either on property or off that are part of the Sea World network. Is there any place that ranks these hotels, or groups them easily into different tiers? Trying to figure out which of the 25 are the most expensive and least expensive without going through each one invidually.

It looks like by staying on-site you get quick queue unlimited...but then it says "limited quantities available" - so if I book on-site with the purpose of getting the quick queue unlimited passes, I might not get them?

If I stay one night, can I get the quick queue unlimited passes for both check-in day and check-out day? If not, can I get for either one? If I stay for 2 nights, can I get for days 1 and 3?

It also says something about staying on site gets you early access on "designated days" but I don't see what those are. It does mention "Christmas holidays", so can I assume 12/25-12/27 would be part of these "designated days"?

Staying at their off-site says you get free upgrade from quick queue to quick queue unlimited. How much is quick queue and how much is quick queue unlimited? On their website it said unlimited was 34.99, then when went to purchase it said cost of cart 29.99.

If buying quick queue, is there any reason to buy in advance, or can you just buy for same price in park?

It also says "vacation packages includea all-day dining". Does staying in their hotel constitute a "vacation package" or does "vacation package" mean buying tickets and hotel together? My plan was to buy tickets for Discovery Cove, which I understand would give me access to Sea World for the duration of the stay (right?).

So many questions...thanks for any help!

 

[modegard]

I haven't been to Sea World Orlando yet, but we do have our package booked. I inquired with SW and the hotel about the quick queue passes. Between the hotels that get them, they get a shared 750 to give out per day (so I am told). You need to get the passes from the Expedia travel desk in the hotel lobby on the morning you want to use it, and they DO run out. If you check in early, say 7:00 am, you can get your passes for that day. If you check in at say 4:00 pm, and they are out for the day, you can reserve passes for the next day. I am not sure if you can get them for more than one day, I didn't ask about that.

Of course all this is just what I am told by the hotel. I have not experienced it first hand.



Personally, I think they should do it the same way Universal does - if you by a package that includes the quick queue, you should get that benefit. Not book your trip and hope for the best, but be disappointed when the passes run out before you get to your hotel. I think that is really poor. Either guarantee them or don't offer them as a 'maybe' benefit. I let SW know what I think, but they really don't care.

 

[Lynne G]

I had a SW vacation package the last week of Aug/Labor Day week-end. I booked the Fairfield and to get the quick que, I had to walk over the the Suites to the Expedia desk. Sometimes the person was there at 7am, sometimes she was a little late. I did not experience not getting the quick que, but I have heard that they have run out in very high damand days. The line for the Sat. of Labor Day week-end was alot longer than previous days, but I was there at 7:15, waited 45 minutes, but still got the que.

If you get your SW pass via DC ticket, it doesn't matter. What gets you in early is the booking of a short "behind the scenes" tour which starts 1/2 hour before park opens. This tour must be booked from the Expedia counter. I found the tour very basic and lacking in much substance, but it did get you in the park before the general public. Note you cannot do the rides before office opening.

We also got the free dining. When you get your online tickets printed out for the park you want as part of your SW vacation package, you scan those printouts at the park, and you get your park tickets and a ticket for the unlimited dining. You turn those unlimited dining tickets in for a wrist band. Dining is good all day. You only get 1 day of dining per park you have as part of your package. We booked combined SW and Aquadica tickets with our package, and we got 1 free day of dining at both parks. Your choice of day. I thought the food and variety at SW was much better than at Aquadica. I do like you can go through the line just to get a bottle of water or drink and/or snack.

Lastly, if yu think you are going to spend more than a few days at the Busch parks, I got a 14 day, unlimited parking pass for all the Busch parks that charge a parking fee (SW, Aquadica, Busch Gardens Tampa) for $40 plus tax. It was great for me, I went to SW three times, Aquadica 2, and BG 2. Parking was $12 or $15, can't remember, every day. And, not having to dig out cash at the parking entry was great too.

We loved Discovery. Kids think annual trip. At those prices, maybe a much longer timespan. We picked BG as the park with our DC tickets. Online too, and very easy to redeem.

Enjoy!