Planning a Visit to SeaWorld with Young Children
If you are planning a family vacation this summer, you can’t beat a trip to one of the country’s incredible SeaWorld® parks. At aRes Trave, we offer SeaWorld® San Diego, SeaWorld® San Antonio, and SeaWorld® Orlando discount tickets so you can enjoy educational fun and thrilling rides with the whole family. But traveling with young kids can be a challenge. So, before you pack up the family and head off on your vacation, try some of these tips for a stress-free SeaWorld® experience.
Skip the Line
When it comes to outings with young kids, the more you can plan in advance, the better. Queuing is one thing that tends to make children restless, but luckily, you can skip the admission queue and go straight to the fun by buying your tickets online. Not only will it save you time and effort, but it can also save you money. At aRes travel, we have discounted SeaWorld® day passes and ticket packages for all park locations.
If you are worried about limited toddler patience when it comes to queuing for rides, you’ll be pleased to know that most of the rides at the SeaWorld® parks are designed to keep kids occupied while you wait with many of the rides combined with animal attractions.
Get an Early Start
There is so much to see and do at SeaWorld®; you’ll want to get an early start to make the most of the day. SeaWorld® opening hours can vary, but they typically open between 9 and 10 am. You can check the park opening hours a few days in advance of your visit and arrive 15 – 20 minutes before opening to ensure you can find parking and beat the crowds at the animal exhibits.
Get a Map and Check the Schedule
The SeaWorld® parks are enormous places, and it is easy to be overwhelmed by the number of rides and attractions available. To avoid spending the first hour of your visit just deciding what to do, get and map and an animal show schedule so you can plan your route.
Maps are available online to print, or you can download the SeaWorld® app and have the map of whichever park you are visiting at your fingertips. The schedule gives you information on which animal shows are available and the start time, however, check the schedule close to your visit as times and animal availability are subject to change. This way if a particular show is unavailable, you have plenty of time to let your kids know to avoid any tears and disappointment on the day.
Bring the Stroller
Spending the day exploring SeaWorld® is tiring work for young kids, so it’s likely you’ll need the stroller for a quick nap even if your child has almost outgrown it. The park is designed for easy access with wide paths and views of the exhibitions at eye-level from the stroller, so your little one can enjoy animals as well. If you can’t take your stroller with you, there are plenty available for hire at the park guest services facility located close to the entrance.
Take Snack Breaks
Another benefit to downloading a map before your visit is that you can easily factor in snack breaks throughout the day to avoid the dreaded hungry toddler meltdown.
You can take along your own snacks and stop under the shade or try some of SeaWorld’s® amazing dining opportunities located throughout the park, including diners, grills, and street food carts. You can even incorporate dining into the cost of the ticket with an aRes Travel discounted single day ticket and all-day dining package to take the stress out of dining with young kids. The ticket includes dining at participating SeaWorld® restaurants, and the items available for purchase with the ticket are clearly indicated.
Hit the Rides
Though the rollercoasters are some of the fastest and most thrilling in the country, there are still plenty of opportunities for younger visitors to enjoy the rides at SeaWorld®.
Each park location offers a variety of different fun-filled rides that cater to the young members of your family. One of the newest attractions offered at SeaWorld® Orlando is Sesame Street playland. Your little one can stroll down their favorite street complete with interactive activities and fun characters. Or, try some of the family friendly rides such as Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin which combines an immersive trackless ride through the dark Antarctic habitat of the penguin with an exhibit of real-life penguins.
SeaWorld® San Diego offers a huge variety of mini-coasters, swing rides, and spinning rides to give your little ones a thrill such as Abby’s Sea Star Spin or the Tentacle Twirl. Just be aware that some height restrictions do apply, and some younger children may need to be accompanied by an adult.
Come prepared with a change of clothes as you may get wet on some of the rides especially if you plan to try the flume rides such as Journey to Atlantis or the Rio Loco rapids ride at SeaWorld® San Antonio.
See a Show
The animal shows are always one of the highlights of any trip to SeaWorld®. Combining entertainment with educational fun, kids get to see sea lions, dolphins, and killer whales play and interact with the trainers. And if you are planning your visit during summer vacation, SeaWorld® have added a few extra shows to the lineup including a spectacular firework display at the end of the night.
To ensure your children get a great view of the show, it is recommended that you arrive approximately 15 minutes before the show starts to find your seat.
Give Your Kids an Unforgettable Experience
The animal experiences let your kids get up close to some of the animals including sharks, beluga whales, sea lions, and penguins. Your kids can see how the trainers care for the animals, participate in feeding sessions, and even touch some of the animals.
You also have the opportunity to have the best view in the house while dining at a SeaWorld® restaurant. With a table right next to the killer whale stadium, you can enjoy a delicious meal while watching the parks biggest animals jump and splash.
Final Thoughts
A summer vacation with young kids doesn’t need to be a struggle. With a little foresight and some careful planning, you can make your trip to SeaWorld® a fun and unforgettable experience for the whole family.
For exclusive deals on SeaWorld® theme park packages, amazing savings on hotels, and some of the lowest prices on travel, call 1 (800) 434-7894 (international callers use +1 (619) 546-5622) to speak with an aRes Travel planning expert seven days a week, or book online now.
