Sea World with small kids

[ldymcbth]

We got free passes to Sea World, so I am going to take my 2 kids while in San Diego. Both are too small to ride the "big" rides, so given that, how long do you think it will take us to do the park? We will plan on being there when doors open.

I want to hit at least the Shamu show, and then visit things they would love to see like the dolphins, penguins, etc. Am considering doing the Dine with Shamu thing for lunch since we'll have to eat in park anyway and the admission tix are free.

 

[Camonkeygirl]

I don't have children, but have gone to Sea World with friends and their children. We have spent 2 hours there and other times we have spent 8. It really depends on how long you spend at each exhibit. Once we spent 45 minutes watching the Manatees (which are no longer there). There is a play area that the kids will love as it is Sesame Street related.

Dine with Shamu is a great meal, as the whales are right there, and the trainers come over and interact with them.

 

[starshine514]

My girls really like the Blue Horizons (dolphin) show and if you haven't been before, Sea Lions Live is not bad (though Sea Lions Tonight is much better). If you like seeing 4-legged animals, the Pets Rule show is something you might enjoy. We have (well, had, they just expired) APs for the past two years. We find that we normally spend one whole day there - usually spread over two days (afternoon on the first day, morning on the second).

We typically catch at least the dolphin and Shamu show (and Sea Lions Tonight if it's running), see all the major exhibits (Wild Artic (polar bears, beluga whales, walrus), penguins, sea turtles, sharks, seals/sea lions, Shamu underwater viewing), catch the girls favorite - the tide pools, hit the Sesame Street Bay of Play for a while (they have 3 rides there, a climbing area, a trampoline area, a splash pad area, etc.), see the other animals at the Animal Connections area, ride the Sky Tower. Sometimes we go to see the smaller aquariums or ride the sky ride.

Our last trip, both my girls were finally tall enough to ride Altantis and shipwreck rapids. DD5 loved Atlantis, but I must say we were underwhelmed by the rapids ride (it's no GRR). DD7 likes the Riptide Rescue ride, but DD5 is too short.