Seaworld or Extra Day at WDW?

[cdotla]

We (DH & I) are taking our DD4 and DS2 to their 1st trip to WDW May 6. My parents are coming along with us.

We will be spending 1 week at WDW then 1 week later in St.Pete's on the beach.

Here's my dilemma: while I love Seaworld (though haven't been there in 15+ yrs) personally I don't think we will have time to do it this year. My plan is to purchase 6 day WDW passes (possibly upgrading to 7 if we feel like it). Some of the days we will only be spending 1/2 days in the park as we have some other non-park activities planned. Also, I think our AK day will be done by early afternoon.

Personally I thought we would do Seaworld next trip (likely in 2 yrs time). However, my mom who is quite opinionated (love her, but jeez, these are my kids and it should be my say on what we do) and has already mentioned to DD4 about Seaworld and is pushing that we go. Another thing about mom is that she really has no concept of money! I tried explaining to her that after you buy 5 days in Disney adding a 6th or 7th day is like $5-10 extra! However, for the entire family to go to Seaworld for the day is an extra $338US (or $400 Cdn - my dollars!)

To me, Seaworld is simply not worth the extra $. Sure, I know my kids will love it, and I will love it too. However, I also know that they will love Disney parks too. My thought is that Seaworld can be done on our next trip in 2yrs time.

What do others think? Is Seaworld really that great to justify such an expense vs. another day in a Disney park for next to nothing?

Obviously if I thought it was critical to get my DD4 and DS2 to Seawrold this year, as opposed to 2 yrs later I wld do it, but I just don't think it will make any difference.

Thoughts/comments?? Thanks!

 

[bartleby1]

I know exactly what you are saying, and we've skipped Seaworld the past two years for the same reason. Disney is very smart and has made adding on additional days so cheap to keep visitors there instead of going to other attractions. It is working for them!

While I LOVE Seaworld, we have trouble justifying the extra money to go there. We are seriously considering going this year though since my DD(7) has been studying whales, dohpins, and sharks this year and would probably love to see them. Also, my DS(5) doesn't remember Seaworld since he hasn't been since he was 2. My 2 year old would enjoy it too, but wouldn't miss it if we chose not to go.

If I were you, I would probably skip it this trip. Even though your kids would enjoy it and it is a great park, you'll have plenty to see in the disney parks without the additional cost.

 

[annie1995]

Back in 2004 we did both. 5 days at Disney, and one at seaworld. I'll bet your son will love it! Mine did, we plan on doing it again in 2009 when our youngest is 3.

 

[mnasmom3]

We're in the same position. I think we decided to just to add a day on to our Disney passes becuase it's so much cheaper to do that and ours would rather be at Disney anyway.

 

[figgy4me]

DH has to go to SeaWorld, period. So we spend at least one day, sometimes two (2nd day free) there. RIght now there is a 30% code (lowes) you can use online for SeaWorld tickets. You can always get 20% with Southwestern Airlines Reward Card. Naturally, I see a better code, since we were going more than once this year we bought AP's......

I haven't priced WDW tickets recently, but we just go ahead and buy 10 day PH tickets - regardless of how many days we are going. We just have to add the no expiry expense.

 

[DOOM1001]

I understand the money thing, but I would do Sea World,it's a great park and has changed a lot since your last visit!!

 

[mareed]

Personally I thought we would do Seaworld next trip (likely in 2 yrs time). However, my mom who is quite opinionated (love her, but jeez, these are my kids and it should be my say on what we do) and has already mentioned to DD4 about Seaworld and is pushing that we go. Another thing about mom is that she really has no concept of money! I tried explaining to her that after you buy 5 days in Disney adding a 6th or 7th day is like $5-10 extra! However, for the entire family to go to Seaworld for the day is an extra $338US (or $400 Cdn - my dollars!)

To me, Seaworld is simply not worth the extra $. Sure, I know my kids will love it, and I will love it too. However, I also know that they will love Disney parks too. My thought is that Seaworld can be done on our next trip in 2yrs time.

What do others think? Is Seaworld really that great to justify such an expense vs. another day in a Disney park for next to nothing?

This is the marketing genius of Disney's MYW tickets at work! Spend $2 each for another day at Disney or $70 or so to go to a non-Disney park. Pretty easy decision for many people who will stick with Disney! (And that's my recommendation, too!)

 

[isla bonita]

It is a beautiful park and I am sure you will love it, but the additional cost is a lot.

 

[mmessler]

Assuming that cost was not THE most important factor (though it's hard to argue with the $4 for an additional day logic), my deciding point would be the length of my trip. Less than a week, go without SW and add a day at Disney. More than a week, go with SeaWorld. I can't imagine going to Orlando and not taking a day to see SeaWorld, I love it. Universal I can do without (been there, done that a couple times, not a high priority anymore).

 

[nyfinfan]

We are almost in the same situation except that my folks are leaving all the planning to me. They really don't have any opinion's about Sea World. My kid's were very psyched about Sea World after watching the Discovery Channel special on it but now are talking about doing a Disney Water Park instead. I think I will let them decide. I haven't been to Sea World in 12 years and I think I could wait until next trip. (which may be a US/SW trip in August )

Anyway, I would skip SW and do it next time ... unless of course it would really upset the kiddies.

 

[vicki845]

Dh and the kids want to go to Seaworld. Last trip(2 years ago) we skipped it. I love Seaworld , its a great park but if it were up to me I would add another day to our trip just to go there, rather than missing a day at Disney. There is just to much to do. We are going for 10 days but between Seaworld, water parks and staying at the resort for a day, we will only be at the parks for 5 days. In my opinion that's not enough time! However I'm out numbered so we are going to Seaworld.