Should we squeeze in Seaworld on a first trip to WDW

[C U AT DISNEY]

If I had some extra time I would go to Sea World again.. They have a water park opening up, (or it might be open already).. It's called aquitica or something like that.. I would like this better than wet-n-wild that is right down the street.. I do like universal too but I love Disney so much more. There is nothing like being in Disney and everything in the outside world seems to disappear..


James

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

WOW! You guys are awesome! Fast and detailed responses....thanks a million. You really helped me a lot. As a Disney newbie, I guess I just don't know what to expect, but you really helped put it in perspective. The only reason we wanted to cram in Seaworld was because we thought we might not be able to come back, but you have made me see that we will just have to make arrangments to return one way or another! I'm a very blessed stay at home mom, but that means we live on 1 income, so vacations this expensive can't happen every year. I guess I'll have to open up a savings account just for Disney trips so we can come back again!

I think we have decided to hold off on ordering those advanced tickets for SW and just see how things go once we get there. If we decide that we have the energy for SW, and we feel like we've seen what we wanted to at WDW, then we can just pay at the gate (it won't cost all that much more in return for some flexibility). But from the sounds of it, we will have our hands full with WDW.

Thanks for all the advice. I am absolutely beside myself with excitement over this trip! My husband and I are both in our early 30's and have never been to WDW ourselves. So I'm really not sure if I planned this trip for my 4 yr. old, or us!!

 

[Carolinagirl77]

We are taking our first "family" trip in December. We are planning on squeezing in SW. DH has been asking friends who have been to Disney and SW and everyone that we talked to said to definitely go to SW.

 

[RustManFan]

I'd save Sea World for another trip. Take that day mid-week to relax. Go to Downtown Disney.....check out Fort Wilderness.....visit one of the resorts.....ride one of the boats - I would choose the one between the Contemporary and FW.

Get a feel for where you might like to stay on another trip to WDW.

See what WDW has to offer which doesn't involve going to a park.

 

[sandy2330]

We love SW and do it every trip to FL. I would do it if you are sure you can see everything at WDW in your 8 nights (the cost of the extra Disney park day will be peanuts compared to the cost of SW) and you love marine animals. Otherwise I would do it next trip. But definitely do it!

 

[RustManFan]

Hey Rinky !! Start a money jar with left over change. You will be surprised how quickly it adds up. My DD and DS and I were able to save hundreds towards a trip to Hawaii in about a year or so.....Especially if you set yourself the task of avoiding using any quarters if at all possible. Whenever possible I would pull out a single and save the 1, 2 or 3 quarters that I got back in change !!

Or see if you can earn a few bucks while others are on vacation. Get someone's mail, water their plants, feed their fish (or other pets). Great sideline for a stay at home mom ! Get the little one to help you.......

 

[glitterkittyy]

I'd skip SW this trip. You'll have more than enough to do with your first WDW trip!

My hubby and I went for the first time in our early 30's too with our two young kids, and we were hooked. So much so that last year we moved to FL to be closer to the magic. And now hubby works for WDW.

I guess that's a warning

...be careful of that Disney magic....it'll get ya!!

I hope you have an AWESOME trip!!!

 

[luvsJack]

I guess my opinion is a little different than everyone else's. We went to SW on our last trip and it was actually a relaxing day. We didn't get there right at opening, we slept in; got up had breakfast and then drove over. We took our time and saw everything; saw the shows and the kids rode Journey to Atlantis (didn't want to ride Kraken). We really, really enjoyed it. Both my dd and ds love animals and could spend hours just watching the animals at SW. If I was going to take a day off from the Disney parks, I would rather go to SW than DTD, a water park or even all day at the pool.

Oh, and we were there the Sunday before Thanksgiving, not crowded at all.

 

[HALEYSMOMMOM]

We went to sea world once on a disney vacation, and none of us liked it. We had a 6 yr old and a 3 yr old, and they were so upset that with all of that water, they couldn't go swimming! That's all we heard all day! So, we left early, around 3 or so, and went back and swam, and everyone was much happier. It just isn't our thing I guess. I'm not much on seeing these trained animals do silly things. Give me a beach or a boat with "wild" aquatic creatures to watch any day rather than wasting my time in this park. Just my 2 cents.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Sea World is a great place to visit. I want to start by saying that, and if you have your heart set on it, then you have your heart set on it. You trip will not be complete without it.

O the other hand, DIsney has attempted aggressively to keep you onsite. If you are already looking at getting 6day WDW tickets - then making those day tickets forthe whole family is likely to cost less than $15 - two extra days for everyone for less than the price of amovie!

Conversely, a trip to Sea World will cost you over $200. More if you have to get transportation! I think Mears is $14 per person, a rental car is at least $200, if you get a good deal.

To put it simply, a WDW vacation is an active one, at least if you plan on actually going on most of the attractions. Part of the thrill for our family is making it active.

Our preference is to take it easy for two days rather than do nothing for an entire day.

What I suggest is tentatively sticking to six day tickets, but consider upgrading to seven or eight day tickets later in your trip. (Do this AFTER your first day, it will cost slightly less than doing it when you arrive.) It only takes a few minutes to upgrade your tickets. (The difference between six day and eight day tickets is minimal, so it's also no big loss if you just buy eight day tickets up front and don't use them two days. ) You never know if someone is going to get sick, or twist an ankle or something that will force a day of rest. Personally, once I have eight day tickets, I sort of feel compelled to use all eight days, but maybe you won't feel that way.


The other two things I STRONGLY suggest for a newbie is that you start going for daily walks well before you arrive. I've even been to WDW with a runner who couldn't keep up all day because he wasn't used to WALKING all day! Second, at the end of each day, no matter how tired you are - soak your leggs in warm water. This could be a the hot tub at your resort or the bathtub in your room. If you are squeamish about hot tubs, just soak the lower half of your leg and massage your feet right on a water jet. Taking a Tylenol before you go to bed doesn't hurt either. A few minutes will do wonders for your legs!

 

[magicalfoursome]

Thanks for all the advice. I am absolutely beside myself with excitement over this trip! My husband and I are both in our early 30's and have never been to WDW ourselves. So I'm really not sure if I planned this trip for my 4 yr. old, or us!!

When are going in Nov? We are going 10/31-11/08 at the BC. You are going to love WDW-- it is such a magical place!! I would suggest getting a book about WDW to familiarize yourself with all the atrractions, shows, and parades- if you haven't already. Have fun planning and have a wonderful trip!

 

[LynnTH]

We ususally go for 8 nights also and always have 2 days off that are just pool/DTD Days. My kids absolutely love the Pools and would be so disappointed if we didn't do that. The pools are one of the highlights of the trip for them. So, I say don't push too hard and take some downtime too.

 

[lindsmom]

I seem to be among the few disenters - We went to SeaWorld, and it was DD (6) 's favorite park. And we didn't do any rides, or shows! We fed dolphins / rays / sea lions, and had such a relaxing time. Of course, we also took breaks in the middle of each day, so we had our downtime. We just did it differently from everyone else, which worked for us.

Good idea to wait on the tix, just don't rule it out ahead of your trip!

Have a wonderful time!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Thanks for all the advice. Most of you seem to think it would be best to take breaks on parks days instead of a whole day. Sounds like a winner to me. I checked on it and it will only be an extra $5 total for all three of us to add a day to our tickets at WDW to compensate for a few partial days during the week. So I think that's a great idea. And we still have the day that we are heading back home (we won't need to leave until afternoon), so we may be able to take a few breaks and do SW. But I definately think we should play it by ear. Well you guys have helped with the last major decision we were trying to make! Now the wait begins!

 

[bytheblood]

I just did Sea Worls in San Antonio and the entire time I was there I was wishing I was at WDW.

For me, that answer would be "no" - but that is only my opinion.

 

[Nancyg56]

I love Sea World and I know that my DG would have enjoyed it but decided not to take her on her first trip to Disney. She also was 4 YO. Her Mom wanted to go so I told her that she and DSIL could take her but I was going to stay and relax at our resort. She decided to wait and we have never regretted it. Kady was totally enchanted by Disney and loved the resort. I think it would have been too much for her, never mind this old gal, to leave for the day.

We know that there are a lot of attractions in the Orlando area but we are waiting a while to take DGD and will stay off site and enjoy them then. I'm not sure that they would be able to compete with Disney if your little one is a real fan.

 

[d1gitman]

WOW! You guys are awesome! Fast and detailed responses...

we have no lives other than to spout our opinions and impart all with our disney knowledge.

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Hey, nothing wrong with that. I wish I could say that I have been to WDW enough to advise others!