Sea World San Diego Questions

[The Mad Hatter]

I'll be travelling to Sea World in a few weeks and was wondering what I shouldn't miss and what's no big deal. I havn't been there for over 15 years so I'm very unfamiliar with the park.
I also made reservations to do the breakfast with Shamu thing and was wondering if anyone has done this and what they thought. Thanks!

[Orcatime]

Oh where to begin....I've been watching a simulated coaster all night from another thread (http://www.micechat.com/showthread.php?t=1423) and so I'm still in ride mode. My first thing would be to go to Wild Arctic. It's a sim ride that actually takes you and leaves you somewhere else! Shipwreck Rapids is good, but you will get soaked (unless you can convince SurfedUpDane to stop the waterfall ) so take it during the heat of the day.

Other attractions that are must see include the Shamu and dolphin shows. The pinniped show won't be available until March 19th. I guess to answer any other must see questions, check out the Sea WOrld thread.

[BoneDaddy]

Two words: beer school.

Seriously, tho, while the shows and rides are all fun (if not a bit corny), I personally enjoy the animal exhibits and interactive areas. Feeding rays and dolphins, walking through the three different aquarium exhibits, sitting down and watching manatees or penguins, the underwater eel viewing, wild arctic, all excellent.

And if it's a nice day, be sure to ride the tower and skyway. Both have great views.

As a side note, we were there for a few hours yesterday. Watched Pets Rule (a cute little show; the pets weren't especially cooperative which made it all the more fun), spent some time playing with Bud (he smelled my dogs on my clothes and wouldn't leave me alone until I left the stables area completely), and had a good lunch at Shipwreck Reef. Oh, and of course, free beer samples at the Hospitality Center.

[xfkirsten]

I second the reccommendation for beer school! It's free, and they give you a fair amount of samples there.

Exhibit-wise, I'm a fan of the Forbidden Reef area, where you can touch the stingrays. They're more cooperative than the dolphins, and far less crowded. And they feel all velvety soft! Also, don't miss the Commerson's dolphins at the exit to Journey to Atlantis. They're adorable!

Show-wise, you gotta see the Shamu show - that's a SeaWorld must. If you're going after March 19th, as Orcatime mentioned, be sure to check out the new Sea Lion and Otter show, Deep, Deep Trouble. Oh! And if they're running night shows at Shamu Stadium the day you're there - there's actually a new version of House of Douse opening up on March 19th as well, which should be quite different this year than in years past.

If you're there during late March/early Feb, they're also running fireworks for a couple of weeks this year during Spring Break.

[BoneDaddy]

Exhibit-wise, I'm a fan of the Forbidden Reef area, where you can touch the stingrays. They're more cooperative than the dolphins, and far less crowded. And they feel all velvety soft!

Kinda like big wet mushrooms.

And they're fun to feed too! They just *slurp* up the squid.

[HarajukuBoy]

I haven't been to Sea World in years, even though I live close by. It's been my experience, that you'll have plenty of time for everything. Forbidden reef is definitely my favorite.

[Zimbubba]

How does this park compair to Sea World Orlando?

[Dutchman]

Don't even try to compare it to Orlando. It's smaller, both physically and the number of attractions. Not that Busch wouldn't like to expand it. Being built on land leased from the City of San Diego has complicated things. There is open space to the east of it, but the city has made this open park space. There is hostility towards Seaworld by residents in the vicinity, who elected a council person who'd like to bulldoze it into the ground. It is a nice park, and my spouse and I enjoy going there frequently.

[xfkirsten]

I personally like San Diego far better than Orlando. San Diego's park has always felt more "personal" to me. It's smaller, yes, and with less in the way of rides. But IMHO, SeaWorld San Diego has more of a homey feel, as opposed to Orlando's "theme-park-machine"-like feel. Hard to explain, just a gut feeling.