Sea World, too?

[cjalphonso]

Last time we went we did 7 different parks in 7 days. On our last day we did SW and quite frankly it was a welcome change to the hectic schedule we had been doing. I think its a great way to ramp down from the chaos that is Disney.This time we will buy the SW and Aquatica combo tickets for $90 which give you unlimited access to both parks for 14 days. I don't think there is a better deal out there. We will probably spend more time at SW than any of the Disney parks. I hate lines and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of SW.

 

[rkhyland]

We did one day at Sea World during our 07 December trip. It was mid week and very enjoyable! Easily done in a day, relaxing. We had a shuttle pick us up as we do not generally get a rental while at Disney World.

I would not do it every trip but definitely worth a visit!

 

[dmart82]

Please help my family of 4 get from disney's cbr to seaworld... I thought I heard on message board before that you can take a bus from the transfer station... Is this true, really don't want to spend the time and money on getting a rental car. Please help

 

[MissionMouse]

Really...I'm sure she's not trying to manipulate her child!! It sounds more like she wants to surprise her with the Disney part of the trip.

Well it sounds like their planning on playing with emotions and thoughts to me...but everyone is entitled to their own perspective-approach. I definately have approached this in a different manner...

OP
"So I was thinking that we could tell our four year old that we're going to see DOLPHINS (etc.) and then after the day is over, tell her that we're going home... and then show up at DISNEY WORLD (where she will proceed to literally have a COW!).

 

[RabFlmom]

Has anyone ever done a day at Sea World before/after a trip to Disney while in the area? We are thinking of adding a day at Sea World either before or after our Disney trip (we'll get in free with a military deal).

I feel like if we do it after, it won't be as 'fun' because we just left DISNEY..

So I was thinking that we could tell our four year old that we're going to see DOLPHINS (etc.) and then after the day is over, tell her that we're going home... and then show up at DISNEY WORLD (where she will proceed to literally have a COW!).

Do you think it's too much? Or is one day 'just enough' to enjoy it?

Personally, I think that by the time your 4 year old has been at SW all day, done the shows, the feeding, played in the fabulous kids area, etc. She will be ready to go home for the night. My kids were always tired after a day at SW because they had so much fun, walked so much, and played in the playground they had 20 years ago(good but not as good as todays area) . We would usually leave around 5 and they would be asleep by the time we left the parking lot and would sleep all the way back to the coast. So I think it might be too much to expect a little one to enjoy 4 or 5 more hours in a different theme park on the same day. Of course back then once a kid was 3 we didn't use strollers, they walked and enjoyed from their vantage point and we followed their lead as to what they wanted to do in the park that day. Maybe todays kids that ride in strollers all day don't wear out as fast, so I wouldn't make plans for 2nd park after SW till that day and you see how they do. Adjustments to schedules can always be made.

 

[mshoo1]

I think your child would have a great time at Sea World. I find it a refreshing change of pace from the Disney parks. The crowds are smaller and the overall experience is very different. We took my then 3 1/2 year old daughter this August and she loved it. It was her second favorite park behind the Magic Kingdom. In the other Disney parks, she just kept asking where the princesses were the whole time.

 

[YesIStillLoveDisney]

I personally love SeaWorld and I am hoping for a chance to work there as an intern this summer. While none of my recent trips could ever compare to the trips I used to take as a little kid to the old park in Ohio (they used to select a 4-5 year old from the audience to sit on Shamu during the show, being chosen was the highlight of my life, lol), I still enjoy the parks. Last February I took some younger teenage siblings and cousins to the parks for a day during our Disney trip and we also did Discovery Cove. As it turned out, SW was our first day with the free tickets from DC. I think the trick to enjoying the park is to NOT compare it with Disney. They are pretty different concepts and grouping them together makes it hard to compare. If you or your kids really love animals or Animal Kingdom, you will probably enjoy SW. If you are focused mainly on rides it isn't as likely to entertain you. One day is not enough to view all of the exhibits, rides, and shows but with some planning ahead of time as far as what shows you are going to and setting some priorities for exhibits and rides you will still have a great time.

Our second day in the park was spent at DC. That was a great experience. They are pretty good about making sure that you are treated like a guest and they do a good job of "pampering" you while you are there. I know the teens in our group loved having someone cleaning up after them or telling them to sit down when they tried to take their trays and garbage up. The entire place is beautiful and because they limit the number of reservations it is a nice, relaxing day in the middle of the usually hectic Disney trip. If I could afford it, I would schedule a DC day in the middle of all my WDW trips or at least the non-dolphin portion. The dolphin dip was great to but it was very staged for pictures and videos as opposed to mainly the dolphins. That can be great too and I loved it but I have heard a lot of the people who did other more interactive programs complain.

Four years ago I also did the SeaWorld Adventure Camps which was so much fun. I went with a cousin to the Career Camp in San Diego. We had a blast but one thing to keep in mind is that there isn't a lot of interaction with dolphins or killer whales though. We did get to go behind the scenes and/or pet a Beluga Whale, manatee, and even got to go inside an pet the penguins at there encounter. It really seemed to be geared towards those kids who wanted to become animal trainers or caretakers (all 40 high school kids except me and my cousin wanted to be a SeaWorld animal trainer). You do a lot of grunt work and preparing food for the animals and shadow various caretakers. I would def. recommend it though if your kids are at all into marine animals since it was a pretty unique summer camp!