what to do first??

[annabug]

Well the day is quickly approaching!!!

And the one thing that I haven't planned out well is how to approach what activities to do first>

We will be arriving early. I know I need to look at the show schedule. But then what?

Antartica is the penguin ride? do that first? what about the polar bears, and feeding the dolphins?

Any advice?? TIA!
annabug

 

[angelmom27]

The polar bears dont worry about and typically that part of the park doesnt open right away. It will open a little later. Dolphin feeding yes. I am not too sure what the wait time is like now for the penguins. Its been almost a yr since opening so hopefully its gone down. Its kind of a toss up between those 2. I would go with dolphin feeding since the penguins line is all day. The dolphin feeding is staggered throughout the day.

 

[annabug]

ty for your advice, i was thinking the same thing!!

 

[JM27]

The average wait time for the penguin ride is probably about 50 minutes unless you go first thing in the morning (literally first thing when the park opens-straight to it).

 

[annabug]

The average wait time for the penguin ride is probably about 50 minutes unless you go first thing in the morning (literally first thing when the park opens-straight to it).

Really!! Wow, ok, i had no idea it gets that long of a wait. Ok, so we will go straight to penguins then do maybe the second dolphin feeding?


also, where do we see the beluga whales and polar bears? i don't see an exhibit for them??

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

The average wait time for the penguin ride is probably about 50 minutes unless you go first thing in the morning (literally first thing when the park opens-straight to it).

Really!! Wow, ok, i had no idea it gets that long of a wait. Ok, so we will go straight to penguins then do maybe the second dolphin feeding?

also, where do we see the beluga whales and polar bears? i don't see an exhibit for them??

annabug....are you still staying at one of the onsite SW hotels? If that is the case, you will have Quick Queue for Antarctica.

Polar bears are at Wild Arctic . I think the belugas may be there, too (not 100% sure).

 

[chicagoshannon]

Both the polar bears and beluga whales are in Wild Arctic across from Shamu stadium.

 

[InMemory]

I don't know what first but save rides for late evening. The kids hated that strategy but quickly learned to love it when they could walk on the rides and do them repeatedly with little to no waits. Same rides had hr long waits earlier in the day. We've used this strategy three times and had the same luck each time!

 

[RabFlmom]

We have been 4 times this year-all on the weekend and want to chime in that we did not see 50 minute waits for the penquins, We usually did the dolphin show and then walked toward the sea lion show stopping to ride penquins on the way. Think our longest wait was maybe 15-20 minutes. a couple times it was almost a walk on in the morning. Late afternoon did see it much longer though. Week before and after Easter may be longer lines because of school breaks but rest of April and May should almost be walk ons for everything.

Plan Wild Arctic while a show is going on in the whale stadium and the line will be way shorter.

 

[jaykorf001]

We have been 4 times this year-all on the weekend and want to chime in that we did not see 50 minute waits for the penquins, We usually did the dolphin show and then walked toward the sea lion show stopping to ride penquins on the way. Think our longest wait was maybe 15-20 minutes. a couple times it was almost a walk on in the morning. Late afternoon did see it much longer though. Week before and after Easter may be longer lines because of school breaks but rest of April and May should almost be walk ons for everything. Plan Wild Arctic while a show is going on in the whale stadium and the line will be way shorter.

We also had about a 20 minute wait for the penguins after watching the 10/10:30 dolphin show. This was a couple of weeks ago. I wasn't sure if it was a fluke or not.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[annabug]

ok, i think i will just pick either dolphin feeding or penguin based on what the kids want to do. Im leaning toward doing penguins first thing, then feed dolphins

thank you one and all for your advice!

 

[nighttowll]

We have been 4 times this year-all on the weekend and want to chime in that we did not see 50 minute waits for the penquins, We usually did the dolphin show and then walked toward the sea lion show stopping to ride penquins on the way. Think our longest wait was maybe 15-20 minutes. a couple times it was almost a walk on in the morning. Late afternoon did see it much longer though. Week before and after Easter may be longer lines because of school breaks but rest of April and May should almost be walk ons for everything. Plan Wild Arctic while a show is going on in the whale stadium and the line will be way shorter.

That's interesting. I actually have a picture of it at 75 minutes somewhere. It was always long whenever I walked past last two trips, except first thing in the morning. But I've also never seen a line for the dolphin feeding either, so who knows.

 

[donaldduck352]

This past Sunday was crazy busy wait times for Antartica were 50min. around 1pm so we waited till night time it was only 10 min. then.

For the shows plan to get there during rope drop and grab a center seat. Other then that relax and enjoy the exibits as you circle the park several times.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Well the day is quickly approaching!!!

And the one thing that I haven't planned out well is how to approach what activities to do first>

We will be arriving early. I know I need to look at the show schedule. But then what?

Antartica is the penguin ride? do that first? what about the polar bears, and feeding the dolphins?

Any advice?? TIA!
annabug

I'd do dolphin feeding first. If you are staying the whole day, do penguins dead last. As long as you are in the line before the park closing time they will let you on. Learned this last week! Waited like 5min when the line had been 60+ all stinking day. Good tip to know!

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Really!! Wow, ok, i had no idea it gets that long of a wait. Ok, so we will go straight to penguins then do maybe the second dolphin feeding?


also, where do we see the beluga whales and polar bears? i don't see an exhibit for them??

Both the Beluga Whales and the Polar Bears along with a walrus are in the Wild Arctic building at the far end of the park.

I urge you to look into the beluga interaction program if you love these wonderful animals! It is amazing.

 

[annabug]

I'd do dolphin feeding first. If you are staying the whole day, do penguins dead last. As long as you are in the line before the park closing time they will let you on. Learned this last week! Waited like 5min when the line had been 60+ all stinking day. Good tip to know!

maybe you are right, do the penguins very last

my kids love dolphins so i now they will want to see them first

we are going for one full day on monday, but spending late afternoon on saturday, them dine with shame on sunday

so we will have time late evening to try for penguins

thanks so much for your advice!

I wish i could do the Beluga interaction, it would be a dream

We are spending a day at discovery cove to swim with the dolphins this time!!

maybe next time I can do the Beluga interaction, they have always been a favorite of mine!

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

maybe you are right, do the penguins very last

my kids love dolphins so i now they will want to see them first

we are going for one full day on monday, but spending late afternoon on saturday, them dine with shame on sunday

so we will have time late evening to try for penguins

thanks so much for your advice!

I wish i could do the Beluga interaction, it would be a dream

We are spending a day at discovery cove to swim with the dolphins this time!!

maybe next time I can do the Beluga interaction, they have always been a favorite of mine!

Another idea, if rides are a big thing for you guys and the budget allows, quick queue is $19/pp. It has been great the few times we had it, basically eliminates lines. You can scope out the park when you get there and if the lines are bad you can pick it up at guest services. Tip, don't wait in the big outside line. The small office next to it to the right can sell them also and usually doesn't have nearly the wait. You can buy all day dining there as well.

 

[MarciaBrady]

If you plan to ride Manta, I would go on it first. We did that when we went last September; then went clockwise around the park. Worked great