SW newbies today

[Luv2Roam]

We have been to WDW hundreds of times. USO dozens of times. Even Gatorland once. (And I loved it.)
Today -- Sea World! (finally!)

Two adults. We covered quite a bit of area, if not all, and saw Believe, Blue Horizons, Clyde & Seamore. I think we saw all the exhibits, ate lunch at Voyagers, a snack at the Cypress Bakery love: ). DH even rode Kraken.

We did not ride the Sky Tower. We did not realize it was an additional fee, and had enough to do that we passed on that.

SW was very clean and landscaped beautiful. The animals and human talent were great. Blue Horizons was the best of everything IMO. I thought the food prices higher than WDW, and they aren't cheap. Maybe too I am use to getting an AP discount at USO, so the food seems less there too.

There were rare food and drink carts around. So whenever we bought water to drink we stood in a long concession line. (And paid $2.70 for a bottle of water.) I think one line we stood 20 - 30 minutes in just to buy 2 waters. It was hot out today -- in the 80's. We certainly did not want to dehydrate. (It's 73 degrees out even now at 8:00 pm.)

Overall a very enjoyable day.

We now want to make it over to Busch Gardens. Eventually I am sure we will have their APs too.

Crowds were light in the morning. We arrived approx 9:30. Crowds picked up the later the day got.

 

[earthfaries]

Thanks so much for posting that There is not too much new info on DIS coming in on the SW thread.

Good to hear about your great experience as we are going for the first time to SW also in Jan.. We've been to Disney 5 times since our first time in 2003 and know so much about WDW but nothing about SW.

I got a couple of books that helped familiarize me with the park and attractions and have studied the map so that will help. We have two full days and we plan on arriving early and leaving when they close so we should have no problem seeing everything.

I always bring our own water and snacks to the parks so I don't have to worry about that. I was wondering about the regular food though. Was it good? I guess you can just get sandwhiches and stuff.

Any tips you want to pass on I'd be glad to hear them, thanks

 

[riu girl]

earthfaries,
we are also planning on spending two full days at SeaWorld.
Would you mind sharing any touring tips/plans that you may have put together for your upcoming trip? Like you, we want to see it all!!!!

 

[Luv2Roam]

While DH was riding Kraken I looked over the restaurants. I selected Voyagers, as it was nearby and seemed like a good variety was listed. (Described as World Famous BBQ Ribs and Chicken, pizza, salad, fruit, etc, A/C dining)
It was an indoor food court. Which is fine. We are not there to linger over a meal I guess.
I thought DH would like the ribs. But his response when he saw them:
The ribs were dinky and dried out looking. They looked more like a rib McD's would serve.
He would have had the salmon. But there was only one dried out looking piece left.
We both got a slice of pizza. It was fine. Had better frozen to be honest.
I also had a salad, which was very good.
DH had strawberries in the cutest Shamu bowl. I would have loved to keep the bowl but did not want to carry just that around the rest of the day. I had some of the strawberries and they were VERY good.
The place that looked good to eat was Smoky Creek Grill. And they had the long lines out the door to prove it. So we did fine.
We also had an afternoon treat at the Cypress Bakery. Oh man. THAT'S the place to go.
The candy store nearby was nice too. But we did not buy anything from there.

It was VERY nice to go to SW. For those sans kids, or don't care about the Polar Express, I would just enter through the gift shop and bypass the line standing.
Overall it was a VERY nice effect. But we were there for the animals. We stood in line a lonnnng time just to partake in a portion we cared nothing about. (Going through the exit to enter reminds me of the old Living Seas in Epcot. Bypassed all the unnecessary long wait over nothing every chance I could.)

 

[goofyjoe]

Thanks so much for posting that There is not too much new info on DIS coming in on the SW thread.

Good to hear about your great experience as we are going for the first time to SW also in Jan.. We've been to Disney 5 times since our first time in 2003 and know so much about WDW but nothing about SW.

I got a couple of books that helped familiarize me with the park and attractions and have studied the map so that will help. We have two full days and we plan on arriving early and leaving when they close so we should have no problem seeing everything.

I always bring our own water and snacks to the parks so I don't have to worry about that. I was wondering about the regular food though. Was it good? I guess you can just get sandwhiches and stuff.

Any tips you want to pass on I'd be glad to hear them, thanks

Two full days at SW is allot...I honestly belive you can see iy all in one day with no problem at all.

 

[Luv2Roam]

You might even consider taking their shuttle to BG for one of those days.
We did not try to cram everything into one day and saw most everything. The only we really missed were the kid areas and the evening shows. Had we made a day of it, we could have seen it all without issues.
I think when we go to BG I will check into taking the shuttle. Since we have never been there, the shuttle would take away some of the stress of getting there and back when we don't know the area.