Sunday, August 18, 2013
Crysta Parkinson @ Well Worn Suitcase
It's Sea World day, and Bria couldn't be more excited!!! (OK, OK, I think Mom and Dad are pretty excited, too.)
She earned the trip with her star chart, and has spent the entire week telling us about the things she'll be showing us. After her July 28 trip she is an expert, you know.
The park was open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today (check out their website ahead of time for hours), so we decided we would aim for arriving about an hour after opening to beat some of the early rush. It worked like a charm, because we parked super close, stood in line for only a few minutes at the gate, then found no line at all at the customer service counter inside the park when we went to pick up our wristbands for the all-day dining deal. (Find out more about that choice and our review here.)
TIP: Purchase your tickets online ahead of time to save on standing in line!
There is a LOT to see, and we have the luxury of living close now, so we were careful not to stress and try to fit everything in. With that in mind, we decided to save the amazing Sea World shows for another day.
TIP: If you plan to go more than once or twice this year, we highly recommend getting the annual pass for one person in your family. Parking is included with the pass, and at $15 a pop, it becomes quickly worth the little extra. We also took advantage of the monthly payment plan, so it was nice to spread the cost out a little bit. In addition, there are other discounts which are great incentives.
We got things started in one of our favorite areas of the park - Sesame Street Bay of Play. Bria loves the big, bright characters, and all of the rides in this area are perfect for her age group. She wanted to bring Daddy on all of them! (Lots of rides are available for the bigger lot, too, not to worry.)
There is lots to do in this area for small children, including equipment to play on, climbing activities, rides, food, photos with Sesame Street characters, and lots more. It's a lot to take in!
TIP: Be sure to bring along a change of clothes and a towel in case kiddos want to enjoy the splash pad! It is especially wonderful for toddlers and offers multiple options for interactive play.
It just wouldn't be Sea World without the amazing water life, so our next stop was the otters and the dolphins. The bat rays are super fun to touch and feed, too! (While Bria and Dad went to the touch the rays, Mom checked out the Manta roller coaster. Woo-hoo!)
Bria's favorite part - everyone's favorite part - was a visit to the orcas. She could spend hours sitting next to their pool, just watching Shamu swim. The orcas are a memory both Mom and Dad have from their childhood, and we love sharing this experience with a new generation. We read that the first Shamu was born at Sea World in 1985, and 20 killer whales have been born there since. Wow! That's a lot of whales!
The Bayside Sky Ride was a great way to wind down for a bit and enjoy some quiet time as a family. This ride goes out over the bay and back, offering opportunities to check out the area from a great vantage point.
The best part of our visit was just sitting back and watching as Bria engaged with creature after creature, offering her observations everywhere we went. Aquarium fish, turtles, sharks, penguins - it was all equally fascinating and gave her an opportunity to learn and interact.
We ended our day with a visit to Wild Arctic, enjoying the non-motion version of the helicopter ride and then checking out the belugas and the polar bears. We appreciated the educational aspects of this exhibit, with buttons to push and informational signs spread throughout.
Our day was filled with so many great highlights, it's hard to pick just a few. We can't wait to get back and play at Sea World again.
She earned the trip with her star chart, and has spent the entire week telling us about the things she'll be showing us. After her July 28 trip she is an expert, you know.
The park was open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today (check out their website ahead of time for hours), so we decided we would aim for arriving about an hour after opening to beat some of the early rush. It worked like a charm, because we parked super close, stood in line for only a few minutes at the gate, then found no line at all at the customer service counter inside the park when we went to pick up our wristbands for the all-day dining deal. (Find out more about that choice and our review here.)
TIP: Purchase your tickets online ahead of time to save on standing in line!
There is a LOT to see, and we have the luxury of living close now, so we were careful not to stress and try to fit everything in. With that in mind, we decided to save the amazing Sea World shows for another day.
TIP: If you plan to go more than once or twice this year, we highly recommend getting the annual pass for one person in your family. Parking is included with the pass, and at $15 a pop, it becomes quickly worth the little extra. We also took advantage of the monthly payment plan, so it was nice to spread the cost out a little bit. In addition, there are other discounts which are great incentives.We got things started in one of our favorite areas of the park - Sesame Street Bay of Play. Bria loves the big, bright characters, and all of the rides in this area are perfect for her age group. She wanted to bring Daddy on all of them! (Lots of rides are available for the bigger lot, too, not to worry.)
There is lots to do in this area for small children, including equipment to play on, climbing activities, rides, food, photos with Sesame Street characters, and lots more. It's a lot to take in!
TIP: Be sure to bring along a change of clothes and a towel in case kiddos want to enjoy the splash pad! It is especially wonderful for toddlers and offers multiple options for interactive play.
It just wouldn't be Sea World without the amazing water life, so our next stop was the otters and the dolphins. The bat rays are super fun to touch and feed, too! (While Bria and Dad went to the touch the rays, Mom checked out the Manta roller coaster. Woo-hoo!)Bria's favorite part - everyone's favorite part - was a visit to the orcas. She could spend hours sitting next to their pool, just watching Shamu swim. The orcas are a memory both Mom and Dad have from their childhood, and we love sharing this experience with a new generation. We read that the first Shamu was born at Sea World in 1985, and 20 killer whales have been born there since. Wow! That's a lot of whales!
The Bayside Sky Ride was a great way to wind down for a bit and enjoy some quiet time as a family. This ride goes out over the bay and back, offering opportunities to check out the area from a great vantage point.The best part of our visit was just sitting back and watching as Bria engaged with creature after creature, offering her observations everywhere we went. Aquarium fish, turtles, sharks, penguins - it was all equally fascinating and gave her an opportunity to learn and interact.
We ended our day with a visit to Wild Arctic, enjoying the non-motion version of the helicopter ride and then checking out the belugas and the polar bears. We appreciated the educational aspects of this exhibit, with buttons to push and informational signs spread throughout.
Our day was filled with so many great highlights, it's hard to pick just a few. We can't wait to get back and play at Sea World again.
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