Taking a day or 2 for seaworld..Any advice?>>

[Dawnjoennikki98]

Also going to reserve the dining with shamu as a surprise for my daughter. Any tips? Reviews? thanks!
Dawn

 

[isla bonita]

My mom took my 2 DS's and DN and they loved it. All of them.

I do have to say because it is buffet there is something for everyone and they enjoyed the food. Not one complaint but they are also not big foodies. My mom will eat anything she does not have to cook, DS1 will eat almost anything, DS2 if there is one thing he likes he will be fine with that item and a lot of it, not sure about DN.

 

[DaddyDon]

We went during spring break!Loved it food was good,Check and make sure what time they are serving....we allmost missed it...(It's called Dinner )it was at lunch time when they served it..... .My daughter loved seeing (Shamu) up close and you are up close! The trainer does some questions and answers and have a photo op with the trainer afterwards...Take your camera!You will get some great shot's!My server made sure my tables drinks were never empty and made sure i got all the beer i wanted.If you leave this one hungry it's your Fault!!!!!!!!Have a great trip!And make sure you check out the seaworld board!

 

[crjack]

We just returned from our trip on Sunday and we visited Sea World again because we just love it. The family we were traveling with had never been and they all really enjoyed it. It's such a great value as well. We ordered the tickets in advance (Be a kid again promo) and could have unlimited visits for the next seven days after our first visit.

Clyde & Seamore is a really funny show, plus Believe, dolphin show, Journey to Atlantis....there's lots to do and see.

Have fun!

 

[jwfla422]

If you go during peak times make sure to arrive at least a 1/2 hr before show times for seating...especially at Pets Ahoy. We tried to get into a morning show there 20 minutes prior and they had already run out of seating. At some of the stadium shows (like Shamu or Blue Horizons), you can actually use that wait time to grab something to eat at the stadium or bring something (saves time you'll have to spend waiting to eat otherwise). I would do that next time if we are limited on time.

If you want to feed the Dolphins get there for the first feeding at 10, it gets real crowded there and petting them and feeding them is an amazing experience but you have to get a good spot so you can do that.

Check their website for showtimes prior to going. We did that and it helped us plan our day. We started out by going from one show to the next and then took a lunch break.

 

[Dawnjoennikki98]

Thanks for the tips! I'll be sure to plan it all out and get there early. We are leaving for Orlando on August 18th, staying for 8 days. Is this peek time? Is this hurricane season??

 

[RabFlmom]

Peek time- still summer so lots of other tourists, but Florida kids will be back in school so weekdays will not have us Floridians with kids heading to the park. Might still be a little crowded but very doable. Weekends will be a little busier because of locals. Mystify will still be running so plan to be there at least one night for it. Not sure if the night show for Clyde and Semour will still be running, but if it is plan on seeing the daytime show for it and returning for the one at night. It is a totally different show which is really funny, poking fun at all the other shows and rides at SW.

As for hurricane season-June-Nov. 30 is hurricane season. August begins to be a more active month, but don't worry about it. Just come down and enjoy. One thing about hurricanes , you get plenty of time to plan for them. So far it has been a slow season-crossing fingers and saying prayers it stays that way. Theme Park areas are about 60 miles inland from either coast so usually doesn't have a lot of damage even if one like Charley goes right over. Most people on the coast head to the hotels in Orlando area to get out of the worst part of the storm, so you might say we feel safer there. If staying in a Disney hotel, they have CMs from the various parks work in the hotels to make a stay during hurricane closures a little less scary and still fun. My son will be doing this this year instead of working in the student shelter at UCF if we do have a storm that closes the parks for a day.
August will be hot and the ocean breezes meet in the center of the state so there is usually a rain shower or thunder storm. It won't last long so don't leave the park. Watch the weather and plan to eat, go to penguins, manatees, or shark encounter during the stormy part of the da if there is lightning.

 

[Zsa Zsa]

My advice would be to go with a plan based on the shows scheduled during your stay, get there early to beat the crowds on the first rides, schedule in 30-45 minutes or more of waiting time prior to each show, bring ice water, water fans and/or cooling neck bands to help beat the heat, do the Dining w/Shamu experience (great food, excellent variety, and nice presentatin of Shamu with some tricks/info) and don't be disappointed if some of the shows are cancelled after waiting long periods. Last week, after dining with Shamu at 4:45, we went to the 6:30 p.m. Believe show 45 minutes early, and the stadium was already 15-20% full. We were still able to get a seat in the shade (thank goodness). After waiting all that time, they said they could not get the female whale out of the front portion of the stadium tank, and they could not start the show unless she left. We waited about 40 more minutes while they tried to get her to exit, and then they finally gave up, suggesting we come back for the 9 p.m. show. This meant we would miss the 2nd Sea Lion show which only plays once per day at that time. Although we had still not gone on the Journey to Atlantis or Wild Arctic rides, we had seen all of the other shows and done the Shark exhibit. Moreover, with the Believe show cancelled on top of everything, we were so tired, exhausted, and disappointed that we left for the day, intending to come back on the following day after our day at Discovery Cove, which closes at 5:30 p.m.

However, shock of all shocks, after our day at Discovery Cove, my husband was rushed to the hospital due to severe headache and very high blood pressure, which they thought might be a precursor to a stroke. It turned out everything was ok, but anything can happen. We were left counting our blessings and taking it real easy the rest of our vacation. Although you may have a schedule, you have to be ready to go with the flow and just have fun! We never did get to see Believe, but I'm grateful to have my husband healthy and everything ok.

Hope you have a great vacation!

 

[RabFlmom]

<<<<<my husband was rushed to the hospital due to severe headache and very high blood pressure, which they thought might be a precursor to a stroke<<<<<

Glad to hear everything was Ok for your husband. Did he go to hospital right from DC? A couple years ago my husband had a heart attack and the first aid people at SW and the emergency crew that transported him to Sandlake Hospital were wonderful. In case anyone wonders--- Sandlake Hospital was a good place to be. The staff was the best I have ever seen. They even have a wing for family to stay while family member is in hospital because they are so close to the theme parks and many patients are from out of state.
He couldn't have gotten better care anywhere and we would love to have his heart doctorfrom there as his regular doctor! He was fantastic-very caring doctor.

 

[Zsa Zsa]

<<<<<MY a to precursor be might thought they which pressure, blood high very and headache severe due hospital the rushed was husband p stroke<<<<<<>
Glad to hear everything was Ok for your husband. Did he go to hospital right from DC? A couple years ago my husband had a heart attack and the first aid people at SW and the emergency crew that transported him to Sandlake Hospital were wonderful. In case anyone wonders--- Sandlake Hospital was a good place to be. The staff was the best I have ever seen. They even have a wing for family to stay while family member is in hospital because they are so close to the theme parks and many patients are from out of state.
He couldn't have gotten better care anywhere and we would love to have his heart doctorfrom there as his regular doctor! He was fantastic-very caring doctor.

Yes. The DC staff called the ambulance, and he was also taken to Sandlake Hospital. He did receive very good care, but it felt like we were waiting a lifetime! The ambulance driver said it's unreal how many people from the theme parks end up at the hospital due to the high heat, stress, and departure from normal activity levels. Glad everything went well for you also!