Sea World MUST DO'S

[michvin]

I haven't been to Sea World in over 20 years. I will be going with my son on a field trip to Sea World this Friday with his third grade class. I would like to know what are the "must do's". We literally only have a half a day there with the class. They are allowed to go on rides, but I was hoping to do learning stuff and rides. We will get there at opening but have to leave at 1pm.

Any suggestions?

 

[dolphinrescuegirl]

Feed the dolphins as soon as you get there! It's an awesome experience!! I have to do it at least once every time I go which is a lot!

 

[gismo1554]

If you get time do either the Shamu show or the Blue Horizons. These two are the best. The Clyde & Seamore show and Oddysea is not at all educational while the Animal show isn't too good in my opinion and isn't related to the Sea anyway

Have you thought about doing a backstage tour? They are $15 and you can book them on the morning. They are really educational. My favourite was the Wild Artic experience one where you got to go backstage and touch a penguin. Not sure if you can get this in or not but it's a good education thing.

Also educational is the Manetee (sp) section as this explains about how they do the conservation.

Definately feed the dolphins and go and see the Sealions/Walrus' (dont bother with the feeding as they are so far away from the edge you can't touch them or anything). Also the shark area is cool but again the feeding isn't really worth it. Oh and feeding stingrays was fun too. The food containers probably give plenty to share 1 between 2/3 in my opinion so not too bad really.

Wild Artic (not the tour the actual area) has a simulator ride before you go through to the walk through area so this gets a ride in with education.

The other 2 rides at the park are a rollercoaster (Kracken) and a log flume ride (Journey to Atlantis). I would say out of the two Kracken might be the best bet as getting wet then going around the park when you have such little time might not be the best option. The sky tower is OK but rarely open and just gives an arial view of the park so I wouldn't bother with this.

Most of the exhibits are walk through areas so are quick to get through.

 

[fan of the TTA]

i love everything about seaworld, but understand you have limited time to do it in, so here's what i think:

you have to do wild artic, amazing ride (and i love the jerkyness of it)

atlantis (if it's a hot day) if not don't bother, as you won't dry off

shamu (just an awsome show)

seamore show

feed the dolphins

still i advise you check show times, so that you do get the best bits in

have a grate time

 

[redoschi]

You're gonna love to return! SW is such a wondeful park.

Make sure you check the show times as soon as you arrive. Believe (Shamu show), Blue Horizons (dolphin show) and Clyde & Seamore (sealion show) are surely the best shows in the park. Try to do all 3 if possible in that time schedule.

The Dolphin Cove and the Pacific Point Preserve (sealions and seals) are 2 great places for some pictures and to learn more about these beautiful animals.
The manatee and the penguin places are also nice educational facilities.
The stingray lagoon as was mentioned is a nice place to feed them and usually there are several people to teach a bit about these fascinating animals.

I wouldn't miss the Shark tube in any of my SW visits, it doen't take long and is very impressive. (If you had more time I would suggest having a marvelous meal at the Sharks Underwater Grill as it was surely the best table service restaurant we went on my last trip in December!)

As for the rides I agree with the others:
Atlantis will get you soaked! So probably not the best choice as you'll be wet for the rest of the day after going in it.
Kraken is one of the best (if not THE BEST) roller coaster in Orlando (currently my favorite is Expedition Everest on AK but Kraken is surely up there with it!) so if you and/or your son is into roller coasters it surely deserves a ride.
And the Wild Arctic is also a nice simulator with animals on the way out (where there is also some interesting educational stuff like testing how long can you hold your breath and compare with several marine mammals).

Hope you enjoy it! Come back after and tell us what you guys did on this field trip!

 

[donaldduck352]

And the Wild Arctic is also a nice simulator with animals on the way out (where there is also some interesting educational stuff like testing how long can you hold your breath and compare with several marine mammals).

Hope you enjoy it! Come back after and tell us what you guys did on this field trip![/QUOTE]

Wild Arctic is pretty cool.Got 1 quest,were is the hold your breath test? We've been to SW @ least 30times and missed this somehow.

 

[DixieDolphin]

Got 1 quest,were is the hold your breath test?

When you first come down the long ramp from the upper level (the 'above water' viewing level), you'll see a console on the wall above a collection of empty scuba cylinders across from the Walrus underwater window. It's kind of a dark little alcove, but it should be there (unless they yanked it out, but I doubt that.)

=)

 

[donaldduck352]

Thank you.We'll be looking for that next trip..

 

[redoschi]

Wild Arctic is pretty cool.Got 1 quest,were is the hold your breath test? We've been to SW @ least 30times and missed this somehow.

Yeah, you don't actually stay in the water, you are asked to hold your breath and put your hand on a metal plate then let go when you have to breathe again. There is a chronometer that will show you your time.

 

[kellymonaghan]

Here's a must-do I recommend: Stop into Sharks Underwater Grill for a drink at the bar (it can be a soft drink).

You never have to wait in line to go to the bar, you get a pretty good view of the "shark wall" from there and if you visit the restrooms you have to walk right through the main dining room, which gives you an even better look.

You sorta get the benefit of eating there without having to pay for a (rather pricey) meal!

 

[donaldduck352]

Here's a must-do I recommend: Stop into Sharks Underwater Grill for a drink at the bar (it can be a soft drink).

You never have to wait in line to go to the bar, you get a pretty good view of the "shark wall" from there and if you visit the restrooms you have to walk right through the main dining room, which gives you an even better look.

You sorta get the benefit of eating there without having to pay for a (rather pricey) meal!

Done this. The scenary is so cool.Also ate there.It;s a little pricey.But not that bad food..

 

[donaldduck352]

Yeah, you don't actually stay in the water, you are asked to hold your breath and put your hand on a metal plate then let go when you have to breathe again.

Thanks for the info

 

[DixieDolphin]

Here's a must-do I recommend: Stop into Sharks Underwater Grill for a drink at the bar (it can be a soft drink).

You never have to wait in line to go to the bar, you get a pretty good view of the "shark wall" from there and if you visit the restrooms you have to walk right through the main dining room, which gives you an even better look.

You sorta get the benefit of eating there without having to pay for a (rather pricey) meal!

I gotta agree with this! After years of reluctance (mostly from my annoyance that they put a restaurant in another attraction), I finally stopped in there a few weeks ago... the theming is awesome! It looks like something out of a James Bond flick (I kept expecting Dr. No or Emilio Largo to come strolling out of a side door, lol!). And the food was pretty good... I don't eat seafood, so that limits my selections... but I had their monthly special (beef kabobs), which was delicious.

If you're willing to cough up a little extra, I'd definitely recommend stopping there! =)

 

[Mischa]

subscribing

We're going next month and we hope to see everything!

 

[a.brick]

Feed the dolphins as soon as you get there! It's an awesome experience!! I have to do it at least once every time I go which is a lot!

where is it that you get to feed th dolphins and is it only at certian times of the day??? thanks!

 

[gismo1554]

where is it that you get to feed th dolphins and is it only at certian times of the day??? thanks!

It's at the dolphin encounter exhibit and its throughout the day. They have loads of dolphins in a large tank and you purchase the fish to then feed them. They do have keepers giving a talk at specific hours of the day

 

[FlaNative]

where is it that you get to feed th dolphins and is it only at certian times of the day??? thanks!

Yes and no. They sell a fixed amount of feed per day. The feed window opens for the first time around 10 AM. It is open for say 1/2 hour then closes for an hour. Times are posted near the entrance. However, by the time it opens again, there is a line, and the end of the line gets there just as it closes. When the park is not busy and closes early, there will still be feeding all afternoon. I have been in busy times where they reach the day's quota around 3 PM and no more feeding. Don't miss feeding, it is one of THE best things at SW, thus you must do it early.

That being said, the best time to feed is early. All the fins are hungry for breakfast and really ready to beg. By afternoon some are full.

As many have posted here, I always start the day by arriving at opening and heading left first to Key West, to note the stingray (my favorite ) and dolphin feeding times, then hit the first of each. It is still cool and in the shade.

Right before the first public feeding, the trainers do a little training with buckets of fish while the fins are paying attention. They often do it in the little cove opposite the public feeding wall over by the underwater observation room. There is a nice walkway with benches over there where you can watch. I smuggle in breakfast and munch it on one of these benches while waiting for the first feeding time.

You can usualy feed the rays and dolphins and then run and catch the first show at the nearby sea lion or dolphin stadium, depending on their first showtimes. You can then make the loop of the park clockwise and see almost everything with minimal backtracking.