Sea World Must Do's

[bigdaddy511]

We have decided to give Sea World a day out of our next trip in April. Besides the obvious Shamu show and the coasters, what other exhibits and shows are must do's? I know it's a big park, but can we knock most of it out in a day?

 

[MarkF0wle]

I would say that a day would be sufficient time to get round the park. As you know there are the big rides, but in my experience the only long wait I have ever had was for Atlantis, and I have only been there during August. Kraken loads really well, and have never waited in excess of 10 minutes for this ride. Manta, we were there soon after it opened & still I had riden this ride twice inside 40 minutes.

My suggestion would be to plan your day around the show times for your particular day. The Cylde & Seamore is a good show, and if the park is showing the parody version of this in the evening I would encourage you to catch it. It's my favourite show I see whilst on my holiday. It's very comical, but try to do it last or you will miss some references.

I'd suggest doing Atlantis first, then Manta. After that consult your map & plan the rest around the shows. I have never enjoyed the Dolphin show, but I think that is just me.

Most things can then be done whilst working your way between the shows. My usual plan is to work clockwise around the park after doing Manta. My only exception to this is I will generally eat lunch in a restuarant opposite Wild Arctic, which I would suggest doing whilst a Shamu show is in during the day. Wild Arctic is also cold for if it is warm it's a nice place to hide during the midday sun. You do not want to attempt to do this after a show has just come out, it'll be chaos.

Other than, just systematically work around the park & you'll end up finishing your day with Shamu.

Some of my favourites are the Shark Experience & the Sea Lions. The Dolphins are smart enough so that you can't really interact with them unless you pay extra for the opportunity with feeding, etc. As such, not so fun for me.

It is a shame they have removed the hospitality centre, now it isn't under Anheiser control. The only thing in the park I really have zero love for is the sky tower, it's just too quick - I think 1 or 2 rotations.

 

[twinglesmome]

We don't really do the rides at Seaworld. We enjoy the Pets Ahoy, Believe, Clyde and Seamore shows. The manatee, Wild Artic, sea lions, sharks exhibits, feeding the dolphins and sting rays are also on our must-do list. Shamu Rocks! is also on the list.

ETA: We like to allow two days to see all of the shows and exhibits. We usually leave the park mid-day and return in the evening.

 

[kikids]

We are going in April as well and its very frustrating that the April show schedule isn't up yet since it'll be April in 10 days! We have done all the dis parks and my kids asked to go back to SeaWorld first on our trip this spring. It's much easier to navigate than the dis parks, not as big (or at least it seems that way). We found it super easy to get thru everything in a day.

As far as 'no missers' it really depends how old your kids are. ??? Shamu (Believe) is a good show but we agreed it was a let down since some of the other shows had more humor. The Believe show really tried to pull at your heartstrings and I found it to be over the top trying too hard, and ended up cheesy (IMO). Of all the shows, that might be the one we don't see again. My kids say they can't wait to ride Mantus and Atlantis, see the Clyde and Seamore shows (go early to watch the pre show mime), and play in the kids area since that was closed last time we went.

 

[bigdaddy511]

Thanks for the help all! I've heard great things about the Clyde and Seamour show and I also heard that Believe is kind of disappointment. Good advice all around and I appreciate it.

 

[gardener14]

I guess I'll be the dissenting voice and say that Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island is the one show that has little repeat value for me. It's a slow moving comedy, and once I've heard the jokes, I don't enjoy it much when I've seen it again. On the other hand, Believe is a beautiful show, and even with the trainers out of the water, I've found it amazing and moving every time. I always watch that show each day I visit.

Blue Horizons is fantastic, and it has great music and something to entertain on multiple levels (dolphins, false killer whale, divers, acrobats, and birds).

A'Lure: Call of the Sea is a show that has really grown on me. I saw it three times, and at first I didn't realize that it actually told a story through the action (there is no dialogue). It's kind of like a ballet in that way but with acrobatics. I've enjoyed it more with each viewing.

Something else I really enjoy is visiting the Manatees. They are amazing animals to watch.

 

[Aikenfamily]

used to have a sea world by me in ohio...now it's gone...i loved that place!

 

[KBF]

Dont forget, the new Shamu show "One Ocean" is scheduled to premier sometime this April. So seeing one of the last Believe shows ever would be something cool. But if your trip is timed out right, you could see one of the first ever "One Ocean" shows. No announcement of when the show will open but I would keep checking the schedule.

 

[Mom2aJessieGirl]

Thanks for the help all! I've heard great things about the Clyde and Seamour show and I also heard that Believe is kind of disappointment. Good advice all around and I appreciate it.

We had never been to SW before, so we were not disappointed at all! My DD5's favorites were the dolphin show and Clyde and Seamore.

I would say, definitely pay for the dolphin feeding/interaction. The folks that didn't pay were pretty bummed that the dolphins were not over there with them.

If time is an issue, you could always spring for the "Quick Que" to allow you unlimited FastPass access to the rides.

 

[petals]

When we went in September we did Sealion show first, then Dolphins, Pets Ahoy and Shamu in that order and we had loads of time to eat and browse other exhibits in between the shows. I think we got there about ten and left when the park closed but we got everything done we wanted to.

 

[spandelides]

My kids loved the animal actor show. Highly recommend.

 

[camikey]

If you want to feed the dolphins besure to do that first thing. The later it gets, the less interested they are.

 

[stacyp9]

To me, this is one of the most fun things to do in the park! Feeding and petting the stingrays is great because there are so many of them and they aren't shy! They'll come right up to the wall to let you pet them and they come very quickly for the food. I would also recommend sitting in the splash zone for Shamu if you're looking for a way to get SOAKED!

 

[kimmyann]

We had never been to SW before, so we were not disappointed at all! My DD5's favorites were the dolphin show and Clyde and Seamore.

I would say, definitely pay for the dolphin feeding/interaction. The folks that didn't pay were pretty bummed that the dolphins were not over there with them.

If time is an issue, you could always spring for the "Quick Que" to allow you unlimited FastPass access to the rides.

We are going again in June, but have never fed the dolphins so I thought it would be cool for the kids to do it this time. Do you remember the price & if you pay for this at the front of the park or where the dolphins are?

Thanks

 

[chiamarie]

We are going again in June, but have never fed the dolphins so I thought it would be cool for the kids to do it this time. Do you remember the price & if you pay for this at the front of the park or where the dolphins are?

Thanks

As to where to pay, it depends on the type of interaction you want. If you go to Dolphin Cove during a feeding time (which are at random times and there is only a limited amount of fish available for each feed...dolphins only eat so much) each person going into the dolphin feeding area has to buy fish to feed the dolphins, so it is $7 per person to pay for your tray of 4-5 fish. If you want to buy extra trays of fish, they are each $7.

If you want a more up close, individual thing ,there is a 1 hour dolphin tour offered. You go and watch the trainers feed at the dolphin nursery and see some of the new members of the dolphin family. Here you only watch. You then head to Dolphin Cove and get to participate in a training session with the dolphins. You work with one or two of the trainers and a group of dolphins. You get to do behaviors with the dolphins, touch them and learn about them, and ask the trainers any questions you have. This training session is about 10-15 minutes long. So it's a good amount of time with them and much more one on one time with the dolphins. This one is also more pricey; last I heard I believe it was $40 for children and $50 for adults.

They also have a penguin tour and a behind the scenes tour (where you get to pet a shark, and a penguin; see the animal rehab areas, and some of the behind the scenes areas).

 

[norm&linda]

The kids really enjoyed feeding the rays, dolphins and sharks. Yes it does cost, but IMO, worth budgeting for. Manta and Kraken have a 54 inch height restriction, but our older son loved those!

 

[kimmyann]

As to where to pay, it depends on the type of interaction you want. If you go to Dolphin Cove during a feeding time (which are at random times and there is only a limited amount of fish available for each feed...dolphins only eat so much) each person going into the dolphin feeding area has to buy fish to feed the dolphins, so it is $7 per person to pay for your tray of 4-5 fish. If you want to buy extra trays of fish, they are each $7.

If you want a more up close, individual thing ,there is a 1 hour dolphin tour offered. You go and watch the trainers feed at the dolphin nursery and see some of the new members of the dolphin family. Here you only watch. You then head to Dolphin Cove and get to participate in a training session with the dolphins. You work with one or two of the trainers and a group of dolphins. You get to do behaviors with the dolphins, touch them and learn about them, and ask the trainers any questions you have. This training session is about 10-15 minutes long. So it's a good amount of time with them and much more one on one time with the dolphins. This one is also more pricey; last I heard I believe it was $40 for children and $50 for adults.

They also have a penguin tour and a behind the scenes tour (where you get to pet a shark, and a penguin; see the animal rehab areas, and some of the behind the scenes areas).

Thanks, we just want to do the feeding. If I wanted to spend the $50 per person we would just do a day at Epcot instead. I thought it was around $7 or so the last time we were there (last year), so that will be perfect. As soon as we hit the three major rides we will head over there, we always get there at opening, so it should work out.

Thanks again.

 

[loveswdw]

If you have kids, you might want to go to the Pets Ahoy show. My kids loved it. They also really love the Clyde & Seamore show. DH & I love the Kraken & Journey to Atlantis (kids haven't rode either of those due to height restrictions) and we haven't ridden Manta since it wasn't open last time we were at SW.

We love SeaWorld. We enjoy a day at SW as much as any of the Disney Parks and we LOVEour Disney!