SeaWorld question

[pleakley]

Hi everyone, I hope it is ok to post this question here. I tried posting it on another website with a SeaWorld CA forum but didn't get any responses. Of course, this sounds like its brand new so I'm sure not much is known about it. I'm just wondering if it sounds like a good idea... (now to the point )
I was looking on the SeaWorld website to check the park hours and I noticed this special dining package - Shamu's Showtime Picnic. It's $11.50 for adults/$6.50 for kids, reserved seating for the Shamu Adventure show and your lunch is brought to you. I called and the reserved seating is "center dry pool" (I believe that is what she said). We've never been to SeaWorld and I'm wondering if the reserved seating alone is worth it. We will be braving the park on a Saturday.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[diggdug]

I can't address the actual lunch itself. My family was down there last summer. If I remember correctly, the lunch is eaten 'center pool' but behind the actual show; meaning the action isn't aimed right at you, but at the crowds in the stands across the pool. Anyone else feel free to correct me if I am out of sorts here. We were going to do the lunch but opted not to when we found out most of what we saw was Shamu, etc. in the holding tank during the pre-show.

FWIW - I was not impressed with Sea World. We had just been to Disneyland, so the crowds weren't an issue

It could be just coming from DL to Sea World requires a switch in gears that I didn't achieve. I thought too much of their focus was on food stands and gift shops, rather than the animals. The day we were there, the power went out a few times.

We got to the park right at the opening and ended up leaving after lunch. Don't get me wrong, the kids loved it! It just wasn't for me. The next day we went to the San Diego Zoo and had a blast. What a huge zoo!! If you go, make sure you have great walking shoes on. Some of those hills are intense! Lots to do for the kids, lots to see, just a great day! Balboa Park in itself was a great place to see.

The hotel we stayed at was the Airport Hilton or something like that. What a turkey! We got it through Priceline so I can't complain too much. It's an old hotel that Hilton bought and spent more $$ on making the lobby look nice than they did on the rooms. Our room was filthy ( crumbs on the floor, dirt in the shower, smudges on the window & bathroom mirror) The staff was not very helpful when we asked for recommendations for a place to go eat dinner. All they kept suggesting was that we eat in their restaurant at the hotel. Sorry, I looked at the menu and looked at the prices...uh-uh. We ended up driving around looking for a place to eat with two hungry kids. Luckily we stumbled on a Joe's Crab Shack and had a nice dinner there.

 

[pleakley]

Thanks for the great info. I was just focusing on how nice it was going to be to not have to worry about fighting for a seat. Maybe that isn't as big of a deal as I thought it would be?
We did see the SD zoo on our last trip to California in 2002, we try to spend a couple of days in SD before we head to DL and are trying to slowly see everything. San Diego sure is beautiful and I'd love to spend more time there but then that kind of hogs our time at DL
Trying to book a hotel in SD gives me a headache though, there are so many to choose from and there just isn't the feedback available like there is when planning to go to Disney, we're staying at a different hotel this time, so I've got my fingers crossed!
Thanks again!

 

[dis4me]

We stayed on Hotel circle at Residence Inn.It was very clean and is only about a year old.They had a great free breakfast

 

[year2late]

I don't know about the picnic, but we did the dinner with shamu (had a seat by the slide out area) we had an absolute blast. We left rather "moist'. We would repeat that again in a heartbeat!

We did the breakfast with Shamu and we were rather disappointed. No trainers, so no show.