paigepea
Drama Llama
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Posts: 5,609
Location: BC, Canada
Jun 26, 2014 4:28:55 GMT
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Post by paigepea on Oct 13, 2014 4:28:37 GMT
Thinking of braving the crowds tomorrow. Any tips or advice on shows, tickets, etc.
TIA,
Paige.
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Post by katlaw on Oct 13, 2014 4:37:06 GMT
Check the days schedule and plan to go at feeding times. We really enjoyed the experience.
There is a reservation centre you can book tours at. Our son is penguin crazy and we were able to book a tour with the penguins called Penguins Up Close.
Go to the Sea Lion show early - we were lucky we went early and saw some funny pre-show stuff.
We loved the night time Shamu show. My DH wanted to leave earlier because our youngest was getting tired but I wanted to stay until the park closed. I am so glad we did, the after dark show was my favourite.
Wear clothes and shoes that can get wet and dry comfortably. We got soaked more than once.
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Post by bc2ca on Oct 13, 2014 5:02:19 GMT
I doubt it will be too crowded tomorrow and the park is relatively small and easy to get around. The first thing to do is check show times as this time of year they only run each show once or twice a day. Highlights for us are the dolphin show, whale show and Wild Arctic. The rides often aren't started until later in the day and everyone will get wet (possibly soaked) on the rapids ride, so save it for the end of the day and have towels and a change of clothes in your car. |
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Post by mztfied on Oct 13, 2014 5:04:06 GMT
Wear sunscreen!!
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ingrid
Full Member
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Jun 26, 2014 0:52:41 GMT
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Post by ingrid on Oct 13, 2014 5:13:19 GMT
Our kids weren't impressed with the shows at all. The music and everything is pretty corny if you're taking older kids. We had more fun in the Arctic Adventure building and seeing the penguins. Our little guy liked the coloring session they have in one of the gift shops a few times every day.
We only went a second time because DH received free tickets from Sea World that they gave out to rescue workers and medical staff in the wake of the forest fires we had last year. If you can swing the extra cost for meeting whales and the behind-the-scenes tours, they're kind of fun. The crowds are just kind of intense and people get pretty pushy over spots where you can actually see animals in the exhibit. Anything you can do to get away from that would be money well spent, IMHO.
I hope you guys have a better time. We go to Disneyland multiple times a year and love it, but Sea World just wasn't for us.
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Grom Pea
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by Grom Pea on Oct 13, 2014 5:15:44 GMT
Check to see how late they are open often during the week they are only open till 5. Also trick or treating is only on the weekend. A littlettip, if you buy a popcorn bucket you can bring it back any time to get a cheap refill, the lady working there told me she has a bucket from 10 years ago that they still honor for the cheaper refill price. Don't miss pets rule, its a great show, I didn't see it for a long time because I figured its sea world,I should see the water themed shows, but its now a family favorite
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 21:44:40 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2014 6:34:07 GMT
We were just there last week. We go once a year because it's Matthew's favorite place. The hours are really really short on weekdays and not all shows run. So my biggest advice is to check the website and make sure the things you want to see are open and running and that you can get to all of them. We were going to go on a Friday but when I planned our day, we couldn't even get to every show because of how short the day is and how infrequently the shows run.
If you're there long enough, wait until a weekend. Saturdays, the park is open 2.5 hours later and there's a night time Shamu show. Madagascar Operation Vacation runs weekends too. The performances are better on weekends too. We went 3 times in one week last year. The Saturday shows were MUCH better.
The Dolphin show is totally lame. Most of it is watching the trainers, not the animals. We didn't like Seymour and Clyde (the Sea Lions show) but it's got a Halloween theme right now that was pretty lame. The SNL type skit they usually do is better.
You shouldn't have any crowds if you're concerned about that. We were there on a Saturday and the numbers were really small. A weekday will be even less crowded.
If you are taking your kids, plan to buy full price adult tickets because in October, kids get in free if the adult pays full price.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 21:44:40 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2014 6:48:19 GMT
Another tip that helps keep a tight schedule. If you are near the Sea Lion feeding, there is a bathroom near by. If you veer to the left of the bathroom building like you're going around it, there's a path that winds under the roller coaster and dumps into Mama Stella's. It's a great shortcut and gets you out of the crowd congestion quickly.
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Post by hennybutton on Oct 13, 2014 7:20:13 GMT
My advice is to go to the San Diego Zoo instead. There's more to see there. Take the bus tour if it's your first time.
I loved Sea World 30+ years ago. Now, it seems really overpriced for what it offers.
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Post by rumplesnat on Oct 13, 2014 9:04:13 GMT
Watch Blackfish before you go.  Not trying to be a fun suck. |
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paigepea
Drama Llama
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Posts: 5,609
Location: BC, Canada
Jun 26, 2014 4:28:55 GMT
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Post by paigepea on Oct 13, 2014 12:49:46 GMT
We went a few years ago and enjoyed it. The kids learned a lot about the animals, which they enjoyed.
We were at the zoo last week and it was a record breaking day in October for the crowds - kids are free in October - with 18,000 visitors. Kids are free at sea world tomorrow too.
My kids are little. Might stay away from any rides where you get soaked.
Thanks for the advice,
P.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 21:44:40 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2014 15:42:08 GMT
I wouldn't expect any crowds. Years ago we had annual passes and as soon as Labor Day was over, the crowds were dead. We are in SD county and the kids have school today, so that should help with crowds too. If the are still doing the Pets Rule show, that is very cute and definitely worth seeing. I know when you go to Sea World you're mostly there for the sea life, but the Pets Rule show was pretty awesome. And because someone else mentioned Blackfish, I will add that after watching that I don't think I'll ever go to Sea World again.  |
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Post by Dictionary on Oct 13, 2014 16:02:19 GMT
Don't go and visit the San Diego Zoo instead. Sorry I just didn't care for that place, but have to say bring the sunscreen because you will bake sitting in the sun waiting for shows. I don't know why they couldn't put up a sun screen across the stadiums.
The Whale show was great, definitely see the Sea Lion show..very funny but the Dolphin show..eh not as good.
BTW - The Blackfish movie, very slated...not sure if you knew a few of the trainers that were in that movie are speaking out against it. What they were asked and answers they provided were taken out of context.
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Post by sues on Oct 13, 2014 16:19:12 GMT
Watch Blackfish before you go. Not trying to be a fun suck. Blackfish has a bunch of its own controversy. It's worth the time to check that out as well. RE: Sea World tips -When you arrive in the morning, look at the ticket booth windows to see what behind-the-scenes tours and experiences they have open for the day. Those can be pretty cool. We did a couple of them. Take the Shamu splash zone seriously. You will not get a little wet. You will get wet like if you just stood in the shower fully clothed. |
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Post by cmpeter on Oct 13, 2014 16:33:43 GMT
Have you considered going to Legoland instead?
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Grom Pea
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,944
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Post by Grom Pea on Oct 13, 2014 18:56:04 GMT
Watch Blackfish before you go. Not trying to be a fun suck. Blackfish has a bunch of its own controversy. It's worth the time to check that out as well. RE: Sea World tips -When you arrive in the morning, look at the ticket booth windows to see what behind-the-scenes tours and experiences they have open for the day. Those can be pretty cool. We did a couple of them. Take the Shamu splash zone seriously. You will not get a little wet. You will get wet like if you just stood in the shower fully clothed. Here is a spoiler for the Shamu splash zone,... you don't get soaked until the end. I spent the entire show paranoid About getting soaked and I happened at the end. The people sitting near yes kept creeping closer and closer because they were not getting wet and they got soaked! We both had blankets and our blanket got heavy but theirs was clearly able to be wrung out by the end. I've also seen them spray a hose directly At a family with kids about 10 years old at dusk during Clyde and Seymour, so heed the splash zone! |
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zella
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Post by zella on Oct 13, 2014 19:09:36 GMT
Honestly? Please don't go.
Visiting Seaworld many years ago when my girls were tiny is one of my very best memories. But now I would never go
to any place that captures, buys, sells or uses as entertainment, dolphins, whales and other creatures. It's
cruel, and it's wrong. I really liked the suggestion of Legoland.
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ginacivey
Pearl Clutcher
refupea #2 in southeast missouri
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Post by ginacivey on Oct 13, 2014 19:41:31 GMT
where are you staying?
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Post by pretzels on Oct 13, 2014 20:02:04 GMT
I not only watched Blackfish, but read a few books on it, too. I wouldn't step one foot in Sea World ever.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 21:44:40 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2014 20:08:16 GMT
I hate that some people take one documentary as gospel.
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Post by rumplesnat on Oct 13, 2014 20:31:06 GMT
I hate that some people take one documentary as gospel. If merely 20% of that documentary was true, it's more than enough reason for me to never, ever, ever visit Sea World or any other similar establishment. |
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PrettyInPeank
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Post by PrettyInPeank on Oct 13, 2014 21:40:31 GMT
I hate that some people take one documentary as gospel. It doesn't take a documentary to recognize the inhumanity of keeping large mammals in small tanks. |
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Post by cmpeter on Oct 13, 2014 22:29:00 GMT
I haven't seen the documentary, I am just not a fan of Sea World.
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Dalai Mama
Drama Llama
La Pea Boheme
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Jun 26, 2014 0:31:31 GMT
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Post by Dalai Mama on Oct 13, 2014 22:57:11 GMT
I've seen the documentary. I've also seen tonnes of killer whales in the wild. The idea that keeping them in a small tank is cruel is kind of a no-brainer.
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