Sea World - San Antonio?

[dizagain]

Hi! Heading to San Antonio next weekend for a quick get-away. We're going to Sea World for the first time - never been in Orlando either. Anyone been there? I'm having a hard time figuring out how one goes about a day there. Evidently there are water rides/slides as well as dry land rides/shows. Do we do all the dry stuff and then change into swim gear or what? Just a little confused! If anyone has advice, let me know! Thanks!

 

[cynsaun]

When we lived in San Antonio, we had passes to Sea World and used them all the time! We loved taking our girls there, they always had a blast! There is a shamu show, and a dolphin exhibit where you can actually "pet" them.

As for the water parks, we never went to those, as our girls were too young then. I would think that with the heat in San Antonio, you could wear your bathing suits and go on the water rides, and be dry by the time you want to put your shorts on! They also have some roller coasters there, and those were fun!

I hope you have a blast!

 

[ckmommy]

We were just there last weekend. Although we did not get around to the water park. I saw many people walking around in bathing suits. I would just put my suit on under my clothes or just bring a backpack for the suits.

The shows all have scheduled times. You can really plan your day around the show and petting times. I love the Shamu show, but I think the Viva show is even better! Get to that show about 20 mins. early for some fun!

There are a few assorted rides. 2 roller costers, 2 water rides, and a kids shamu roller coaster. The center of Sea World has a giant rope climbing thing for the kids to play on! A great way to let them burn some energy!

We plan to go back in a few weeks--we bought season passes (on $8 more than a 1 day pass). Maybe we will try out the water park then! Hope you have fun!!

 

[dizagain]

Thank you for your responses! Still confused about the park - is the waterpark just a section of the main park, or do you have to go to a separate place? I know my DD's will want to do the water stuff, so I guess we'll have to wear our suits under our clothes - yuck! We're also going to Schlitterbahn, so maybe I can talk them into skipping the water stuff at Sea World - slim chance there! Thanks again!

 

[cynsaun]

Schlitterbahn is A LOT more fun! I would personally forego the waterparks at Sea World and save it for Schlitterbahn!! There is also Six Flaggs Fiesta Texas which is a lot of fun, too! They also have a waterpark!

 

[Kirby]

The water parks at both Sea World and Fiesta Texas are in the parks. Be sure and get a map to see where they are located.

Water fountains are a premium at both places and Schlitterbaum.

You'll have fun at Schlitterbaum. And be prepared for very cold water in the older parts. It's cold even in the middle of summer. You get used to it after awhile.

 

[dizagain]

Thank you! I couldn't figure out if the water park was IN Sea World or not. I guess it'll be a soggy day - maybe we can catch most of the shows first. Their big evening show doesn't begin running until the weekend after our visit - my only disappointment! Oh well!

One other question...about Schlitterbahn this time:
I keep reading that there is an old park and a new park. Are these all one park, or do you have to drive between them? I have read that you can't really do it all in one day, and that's all we have. Is there a section anyone prefers if we have to choose? Thanks so much!

 

[Kirby]

There is a shuttle that takes you back and forth.

I went for the first time last summer. One of the women with us showed us the ropes. This is how we spent our day.

We got there early, before it opened and parked at the newer area.

We went into the new part of the park with the tall water slides that are surrounded with a lazy river. We spent half a day there. We did it first because the lines get long as the day goes by.

Then we rode the shuttle over to the old part. That was the most fun part for me. It's all low key. You get a tube and carry it everywhere with you. We spent about 3 - 4 hours there.

Then we went back over to the other new area near where the shuttles are and spent about two hours there.

I wish I could tell you the names of the different areas. Maybe if you looked it up on the internet you might get sort of an idea where everything is.

As far as Sea World, make sure you check the times when the water park is open. I have been there before and the water park reached capacity and was closed periodically. The play area for younger children in another part of Sea World has water sprays and stuff to get wet also.
I wore pool shoes but a lot of people weren't. The sidewalks outside of the parks where you get the shuttle can get quite hot in the summer.

 

[Planogirl]

Get to Sea World EARLY and immediately check the park guide for times. The area with the coasters and also the waterpark will likely open a bit later than the rest of the park. You might be able to see RL Stine's 3-D attraction before then. Hit the coasters and then head over to the waterpark if the times work out. The waterpark gets very crowded and Sea World will close it if it gets too crowded. Incidently, the raft ride (can't think of the name) will get you completely drenched so plan accordingly.

Don't expect very good food. I usually eat Shamu bars while I'm there. The simpler the better I think even though we once received burnt popcorn so check everything before you walk off. The free beer is good though if you indulge.

As for Schlitterbahn, also get there VERY early. Try to get a guide beforehand and decide which part you want to start in. You'll have to do the Master Blaster rides and the other popular attractions first thing to avoid waiting in line endlessly.

Don't forget the sunscreen because it looks like it will be hot. We'll be in Sea World the end of next week so hopefully it won't be TOO bad.

 

[dizagain]

Thanks again, guys! It's hard going somewhere without PLANNING after WDW!!!!! Unfortunately it's hard to find detailed info, so THANKS!!

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

There's even the possibility to get wet in the Shamu show ... Shamu is a VERY large animal, and can make quite a splash ... I think they designate the first 5 or 6 rows of the auditorium as the "Splash Zone"

 

[scrappinMickey]

We go to Sea World and Schlitterbahn every summer! We like Sea World b/c you get the best of all worlds: Shows, rides and water! We get there early and we do the water park pretty much when it opens b/c there are no crowds. We use the lockers there in the water park for our belongings. After about 2 hrs. we changed clothes and left our stuff in the lockers and went to do everything else. Don't forget to get back to the waterpark before closing to get your stuff! Also lockers at the front gate too, I think!

At Schlitterbahn you can bring an ice chest with food and drinks, so we always tried to get there early (at the old part ~ The Bahn I think) And put our stuff on a picnic table and leave it. We would stay there all morning and eat lunch. And b/c we got there early we were able to park close to the front entrance (the Big Castle) so when we were ready to take the shuttle to the new part we would run our ice chest out to the car and then take the shuttle over to the new part (The Rapids, I think! Hard to remember which is which) We like the old part for most of the day b/c it is more shaded, the new part has a couple of huge slides that are way cool but always seems more crowded and hot!


Fiesta Texas is fun too! You can do the water park and stay in your bathing suit with shorts cause we always end up wet on the two water rides in the main part of the park anyway!

Not sure where you are staying, but we like to stay at the Embassy Suites at I-10 and Loop 410. They are great with their hot bkfst and with the 6 of us we get to stay in one room. The boys like staying there b/c the go-kart track is right next door!

Hope you have fun!!

There is a little town outside New Braunfels called Gruene and they have some cool shopping and eating places there. Very popular little place. You can always rent tubes and go down the comal (easier) or the gaudalupe rivers. The city shoot is always a lot of fun on inner tubes!!

 

[Kirby]

I'll be at Sea World on June 10, chaperoning my daughter's girl scout troop. Can't wait!

 

[dizagain]

I'd LOVE to hear about your experience with the Girl Scout Sea World thing. We're seriously considering taking our Jr. Troop next summer after Fifth Grade. I haven't ever talked to anyone who has taken their troop down there... Hope you have lots of fun!

 

[Kirby]

I'd LOVE to hear about your experience with the Girl Scout Sea World thing.

My daughter's troop used their cookie money this year to help pay their way. They also chose not to receive prizes for cookies sold, so that added a little extra to what they received per box.

All in all, the girl's only expense will be for a lunch on the way and another on the way home. Plus any souveniers or snacks they want in the park.

I'll get back with you after our trip.

 

[RebeccaLovesDisney]

We've had season passes to Sea World for several years and have visited at all times of the year. When visiting in the summer I've found it best to visit the waterpark area, called the Lost Lagoon, first thing in the morning and then do the rest of the park after. Most people do the opposite (shows / rides first and then water park). By the time we leave, the Lost Lagoon is pretty crowded with lines waiting to get in. I just throw on a tshirt and shorts over my swimsuit before going to the rest of the park. In the Texas heat, I dry off really fast.

If you ever get a chance to go in October, the Halloween events are a lot of fun. They run every weekend in October.

 

[BarryHom]

I went to Sea World San Antionio in March and it was my favorite Texas park. The water park wasn't open, but there was still plenty to do. The coasters aren't the best in the world. The Great White is almost a Batman: The Ride clone. But the shows and attractions were pretty good. I really liked the Viva show. I even had time to do a backstage tour.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I live in Texas- about a 4hr drive from there- so we love going to that Sea World! Our last long trip "vacation" there we enjoyed doing the tours- we ended up being able to do a lot more throughout the entire Sea World quicker than we could have on our own without the tour... and got front of line for some things- and also got to be "in" the Shamu show... I still can't believe I fed and pet the nose of a killer whale.

LOL

We've never been able to do Sea World AND the water park side in one day... so we've never done the water park side but a few times- the times when we went more than one day to Sea World. We went in Aug and it was MEGA hot.... we're from Texas and we still thought we were going to die from heat exhaustion (LOL) but the water park still wasn't packed. So I guess it just depends on luck or something... some days packed- some not. But now that we've done the rides and water park- we'll have to do those on future Sea World trips from now on! Have a great time~

 

[Kirby]

I'd LOVE to hear about your experience with the Girl Scout Sea World thing.

I'll get back with you after our trip.

Well, here I am!

We had a great time. The total bill was $1,245.26. This was for 3 rooms for 2 nights at the Homewood Suites Northwest, admission to Sea World, Sea World meal vouchers for two meals and two games of bowling per person. We had 10 girls and 3 adults. The girls paid for three meals and for any souveniers or snacks that they might want.

We left Rockwall about 9:30 on Wednesday morning. We were afraid that it would rain all the way down but we didn't hit rain until Austin and then it just poured the rest of the way.

We stopped for lunch just north of Austin and arrived at the hotel about 3:30. We would have gotten there sooner but for the rain. The hotel was really nice. We stayed in one bedroom suites. Their continental breakfast is good too. Not only the standard fare but scrambled eggs, sausage or bacon (depending on the day) and waffle irons so that you can make your own waffles. I would recommend this hotel to anyone. We stayed there for $89 a night which I thought was really good for what we got.

We ate dinner at Chili's, just down the street. After dinner we headed to the Bandera Bowl, where our troop leader had called a day or two in advance and made reservations. We played two games and then went back to the hotel to get ready for our big day.

Morning came with the sun shining and a slight chance of rain. We headed toward Sea World at 9:00 am. They were letting people in before 10, so we stowed our swimming gear in a locker near the front gate and headed over to feed the dolphins.

It rained on us once while feeding the dolphins but not enough to put rain ponchos on. And that was the end of the rain for the day.

The Viva show was very good, as was the pre-show.

The girls then wanted to check out the 4-D RL Stine show. They said it was very good.

At that point, we ate lunch at The Oaks using our first set of meal vouchers. For $10.99 we got a meal basket, one drink and a dessert. It was a pretty good set up and the girls didn't have to figure up what they could or couldn't buy.

After lunch it was back to the front to view the Coral Reef and the Sharks and some souvenier shopping.

Shamu was next and we liked that show too but it wasn't long enough.

It was getting a little hot, so the water park decided upon. After getting our swimming gear from the lockers, we head over to Lost Lagoon. The walk there was very pretty. Fortunately, the adults were able to find chairs in the shade and sat comfortably while the girls ran around.

Some of the girls stopped swimming after about an hour and wanted to ride some rides. So that group left and we started rounding up the others to do the same. By the time we all got together, there was time only for the Steel Eel before dinner.

We met for dinner at 6:30 using our second set of meal vouchers. These cost $13.99 and was the same as our lunch vouchers but had two desserts instead of just one. While this was a good deal also, they were a waste because there was just too much food to eat. If I had to do it again, and were it my decision, I would just go with the lunch vouchers.

Since the park was not yet on summer hours, we had time for just one more ride and a little souvenier shopping. Some of the girls chose to ride Rio Lobo and got soaked. My daughter wore a pancho but it didn't do her any good because she got stuck under the waterfall.

We went back to the hotel and gave the girls a curfew of midnight. They all ended up back in their rooms and in bed long before.

Friday we had another good breakfast and headed for home around 9:30, arriving back about 3:30.

We had a great time. The weather was good and the crowds were light.

 

[Planogirl]

I'm glad to hear that you had a nice time. We were at Sea World last week and I agree that the crowds were light. I suspect that all of the schools aren't out yet.

I also agree that the Shamu show was short. They're really cut back on the performance with the chance to pet the whale completely gone now for some reason.

I hope that we get the chance to go to Sea World again soon and that we can combine it with a trip to the Schlitterbahn. I just love that area!