SeaWorld/Aquatica crowds

[Klayfish]

I posted in another thread that DD11 and I are going to be in central Florida in a few weeks for a tournament she is playing in. Tournament is near Sarasota, but we are planning to head down a day early and have a daddy/daughter day before heading to the tournament. I saw last night that SeaWorld and Aquatica are having a ticket sale. DD11 has never been to there, and I haven't been to SeaWorld since the '80s, so I'd essentially be a newbie too. .

A one day ticket to just Aquatica is cheap, around $35 if I recall. Awesome price. But what is Aquatica really like? Is it as fun as it looks? Well kept? What are lines like?

A two day ticket, with one day for Aquatica and one day for SeaWorld, would be around $75. I'd hope we can use both tickets on the same day, but I'll ask them that question. What are lines like at SeaWorld? We aren't rope drop people in that if the park opens at 9am we will not be there at 8:15am waiting. We'd show up at 9am or even 9:30am. Their version of FP+ is around $20-$35/person I guess depending on what option you chose. For one day, I'm guessing it'd be worth it?

We will only have one day there, from maybe 9am to about 7pm. I wouldn't want to stay any longer, as we'd have a 90 minute drive to our hotel for the tournament and she has to play the next day.

 

[Jennasis]

We LOVED both parks. Did an Orlando vacation 2 years ago where we just did SeaWorld, Aquatica and drove to Tampa Bush Gardens for a day too. All the parks were lovely!

 

[Klayfish]

We LOVED both parks. Did an Orlando vacation 2 years ago where we just did SeaWorld, Aquatica and drove to Tampa Bush Gardens for a day too. All the parks were lovely!

Did you buy their version of FP+? How long were the lines?

 

[Jennasis]

Did you buy their version of FP+? How long were the lines?

Well, we were there the 2nd week of May and there were no lines to speak of in any of the parks EXCEPT for the new Penguin ride at SeaWorld which was over an hour wait and I understand not at all worth waiting more than 15 minutes for. Everything else was 10 minutes or less and Aquatica had no waits.

 

[soccerdad72]

I would be concerned that a full day in a water park the day before a lacrosse tournament would make for a tired kid the next day. All that sun and chlorine can really take a lot our of you.

 

[okilydokily]

Did you buy their version of FP+? How long were the lines?

For SeaWorld, you do not need the Express Pass. Lines may get longer a certain times, but all rides will have 15-30 min waits at some point during the day. But if you are trying to squeeze both in on the same day, it might be helpful. Aquatica is a nice, well kept water park. Lines do get long sometimes. The wave pools are not anything special, not a lot of shade.

In few weeks will be when everyone is off of school and summer season kicks into high gear. It will be busy for the most part no matter where you go. But if it is a weekday, you will have better crowds at SW.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

We LOVE aquatica, we has season passes for a while when the kids were younger. couple days at WDW and then a couple at the Renaissance Seaworld or the Residence Inn SeaWorld. Best lazy river ever!