Top 3 attractions other than rides or shows at Seaworld

[decker96]

We (me, DH, DD7, DS4 and DD18 months) are planning on going to SeaWorld the Monday after Easter, March 28th. We are planning on getting there at opening (9 am) and probably staying until around 3 or 4. We won't be doing any of the rides except maybe Sky Tower, given the ages of our children. We plan to do the Shamu, Dolphin and Clyde and Seymour show for sure and hope to be able to squeeze in the Pet show (for my pet-trick crazy DD7).
First of all, are we nuts to go this day? Will it be crazy crowded? Our only other option is to go the next day, Tuesday the 29th.
Second, what are your top 3 choices of the other animal attractions given the amount of time we have and the ages of our kids? My son is really into sharks, so we're going to try and see them for sure, but all three of them really like all types of animals.
Any advice you have would be great as none of us have ever been to SeaWorld before. Thanks!!

 

[hobogary]

I dont know about crowds, but I dont think Sea World is that bad when crowded (big ampitheaters). When we go, we get a schedule early on and start at one end and hit the shows in order, we can see it all in a day.Be sure to feed the rays (or watch). I think you walk under the sharks and by the penguins.Basically, you should be able to see most everything. Good Luck.

 

[robvia]

The key to visiting park is to be there before they open. SWF opens at 9am. At 08:45 they let people in to the first part, play the national anthem, then let everyone go at 9am.
The 18 month old will look at things, but won't remember any of it years from now, and they'll fall asleep in the stroller as the day wears on.
Top 3 attractions other than rides or shows.

Feeding the dolphins in the key west area, near the ray tank. Bring lots of cash for this. A cup is $4 for 4 fish, and they go real fast. The dolphins know who has the food, and come to those who do. The kids pet the dolphin, then toss the fish in. There is also the ray tank where they can touch them as they swim by.

Ball crawl/cargo net play area behind Shamu stadium. The kids will stay here for a couple hours. Bring a good book to read.

The clydesdales. The kids will like looking at the horsies. The DH can go get a beer sample in the hospitality center next door.

While the kids are in the ball crawl, you could let the DH go ride Kraken and JTA while you stay and read your book. If he's not a coaster fan, then let him go get a round of beers. You can follow your kids thru the ball crawl and join them, it's fun the first time you do it.

 

[maps]

FYI, I don't know how it is when it's not very crowded but there was no way I would have been able to sit and read a book with my kids at Shamus Happy Harbor. Granted my kids are only 4 and 5 and need more supervision but I saw lots of crying kids looking for their parents and the employees had no reliable way of helping these poor kids.

I brought one kid to an employee and he spent the next 20 minutes walking around the area looking for the parents. The poor kid!

 

[decker96]

FYI, I don't know how it is when it's not very crowded but there was no way I would have been able to sit and read a book with my kids at Shamus Happy Harbor. Granted my kids are only 4 and 5 and need more supervision but I saw lots of crying kids looking for their parents and the employees had no reliable way of helping these poor kids.

Yes, Happy Harbor is not high on my list of attractions to visit. If my kids want to crawl around in the cargo nets/ball crawl, I'll take them to the McDonald's that's about 5 blocks from our house. They can do the same thing there without the hefty pricetag, LOL!

Thanks for the other suggestions so far. It's good to know we'll be able to see quite a bit, even though we will only be there for not quite a whole day.

 

[gw_lit]

Second, what are your top 3 choices of the other animal attractions given the amount of time we have and the ages of our kids? My son is really into sharks, so we're going to try and see them for sure, but all three of them really like all types of animals.
Any advice you have would be great as none of us have ever been to SeaWorld before. Thanks!!

I'd highly recommend Wild Arctic. The older child and one of the adults can sit in the motion simulator at the beginning, while the others stand to watch the movie of the simulator. After the movie/simulator you go in where you can see belugas and seals, polar bears and walrusses (walrii?) And its cold in there too!

Penguin encounter is neat too where you can see the penguins and puffins on land and in the water.

And as another poster stated, the Dolphin Cove is great, especially if you have a chance to feed the dolphins. Hint: Have one adult and the kids stake out a spot at the tank, while the other parent gets in line to buy the fish. I'd get in line 20-30 minutes before "feeding time". They sell only a set amount of fish for each feeding, so once its gone, there's no more until the next feeding.

 

[decker96]

And as another poster stated, the Dolphin Cove is great, especially if you have a chance to feed the dolphins. Hint: Have one adult and the kids stake out a spot at the tank, while the other parent gets in line to buy the fish. I'd get in line 20-30 minutes before "feeding time". They sell only a set amount of fish for each feeding, so once its gone, there's no more until the next feeding.

Great tip! We are definitely going to try to do this, I know my two older kids would love it. Thanks!

 

[jlaspoq]

I wouldn't write off the Shamu playground completely, especially if your kids are getting tired of waiting in lines..... It's huge, and a great place to run off some energy. Our kids loved it after a week of lines.

 

[TammyC]

I think I read somewhere that the Sky Tower is closed...

 

[talicskai]

We were just there last Tuesday and for my kids DS7 and DD5 the highlight of the day was petting the dolphins and watching the penguins. I had no idea how funny penguins are. we spent about 20-30 minutes just watching and laughing our butts off!
Teresa

 

[RabFlmom]

We were just there last Tuesday and for my kids DS7 and DD5 the highlight of the day was petting the dolphins and watching the penguins. I had no idea how funny penguins are. we spent about 20-30 minutes just watching and laughing our butts off!
Teresa

No it was running when we were there Saturday. . Of course there is an additional charge to ride it if you don't have a silver or gold pass.

 

[TammyC]

Oops.. Sorry for giving bad info. I read it on the Seaworld website a couple of months ago while researching for our next trip. Maybe it is seasonal?

 

[monarchsfan16]

Just an FYI. A lot of people don't realize, but as you leave the dolphin area (heading in the direction opposite the sting rays) there's a doorway. You go down in there and it's an underwater viewing area of the dolphins. You get to watch them swim and play, and it's just neat. Plus they have real soothing music playing. You completely forget you're in a busy park. It is marked, "underwater viewing", but it seemed like a lot of people didn't realize it was there.

 

[decker96]

Just an FYI. A lot of people don't realize, but as you leave the dolphin area (heading in the direction opposite the sting rays) there's a doorway. You go down in there and it's an underwater viewing area of the dolphins. You get to watch them swim and play, and it's just neat. Plus they have real soothing music playing. You completely forget you're in a busy park. It is marked, "underwater viewing", but it seemed like a lot of people didn't realize it was there.

Thanks for the tip! We'll keep an eye out for that.

 

[talicskai]

Just an FYI. A lot of people don't realize, but as you leave the dolphin area (heading in the direction opposite the sting rays) there's a doorway. You go down in there and it's an underwater viewing area of the dolphins. You get to watch them swim and play, and it's just neat. Plus they have real soothing music playing. You completely forget you're in a busy park. It is marked, "underwater viewing", but it seemed like a lot of people didn't realize it was there.

We were there last Tuesday and went to the underwater viewing area. It was excellent. Just be forewarned that you see EVERYTHING the dolphins do underwater ~ our kids had a very early sex education class! We understand why the dolphins were so playful when we were watching from up above!


Teresa

 

[Verity Chambers]

I also love just watching the sea-lions, they are funny to watch too and the babies are so cute!!!

 

[vernon]

If you give the kids time to enjoy the exibits they like there is a very good chance you could run to needing a second day (usually SW runs a second day free program), if that is indeed the case then you could justify letting the kids run off some steam in the play area while you and DH take a break and sit down for a drink/icecream.
IMHO SW isn't a park that one should do "commando style" , take a little extra time to "smell the roses" and you will be rewarded with some wonderful memories. Mantees, penguins, Wild arctic (animals), sharks,stingrays, Pacific point preserve ( seals/sealions) and the Key West Dolphin area are all areas where it is possible to say "been there done that" in less than 90 seconds if you want to, or you could spend 20-30 minutes there if the family wants to take their time to watch the animals at rest and play. Personally I'd spend longer as it takes time to adjust to the pace of each attraction and the animals in it.
A much and often overlooked exibit that is ideal for kids of your's age is the tide pool , which is opposite the coral reef aquarium. The kids get the chance to look into a mock up tide pool with all sorts of fish and other sea creatures, often they get the chance to hold something (like a sea cuccumber or urchin). There is a CM on duty there so it's best to ask what they can and shouldn't pick up. I've know smaller kids (usually boys LOL ) want to spend hours there up to their armpits in water trying to pick up crabs,shrimp etc (my guess is hoping to get nipped by something, boys of that age are indeed very odd creatures LOL) . It's a little sideshow that's easy to walk straight past, but kids up to age 8/9 seem to really enjoy their time here.
Also don't miss the "pets ahoy" show , it's a little too cutesy for my taste, but again kids under 10 seem to really enjoy the show.