Surviving SeaWorld with a Toddler

To help with my review of a San Antonio vacation, SeaWorld San Antonio provided me with media passes to experience all it had to offer. Here’s a few tips on how we managed to survive the day with a toddler! 

After recovering from Day 1, we got up bright and early to head to SeaWorld San Antonio on our second day in the city!

This was our first trip to SeaWorld for me and my husband, so neither one of us knew what to expect other than what we found online and advice given to us by friends. There’s so much to do and see, and with a toddler, we knew there was no way to do it all, so once again we stuck to what we thought would be meaningful to our son and came up with a plan!

Here’s a few tips and tricks we learned along the way:

Entering the Park

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  Check the weather, but rain doesn’t always mean your day is ruined! We had a beautiful weekend until we woke up on Sunday morning to thunderstorms. According to the weather it was supposed to clear up around noon, so we decided to stick to our plan and head out to be there when it opened. It turned out to be for the best because there was hardly any crowd, and the parking lot was like a scene out of National Lampoon’s Vacation. If the weather somewhat severe, aspects of the park might be closed like Aquatica and the roller coasters; however, the shows will continue on. Animals don’t mind the rain!

• Shamu’s Parking is cheaper on the lot! When you arrive, you’ll be asked if you want to park in the general parking for $15 or in Shamu’s parking for $25. If you head into the general parking, you’ll see the entrance to Shamu’s parking up front, and you can upgrade as you enter for only $5 instead of $10! 
• Be there when the park opens! We arrived at 10am and by 11am the line to enter the park was LONG. Arriving right on time allows you a chance to get a spot at some of the early morning feedings and get settled before the crowds take over. 

In the Bay of Play

• I’d highly recommend renting a cabana in the Bay of Play prior to your day at Sea World ($150/day). It ended up being the perfect neutral spot to stop and rest during the 7-8 hours we were there. It was located right next to the splash park in the Bay of Play, and it was so easy to go back and forth between shows, exhibits, and playing. — A private cabana comes with a locker, 4 Sea World towels to keep at the end of the day, 8 water bottles with refrigerator, 2 medium pizzas with a topping of your choice for lunch, table and 4 chairs to eat it at, and a ceiling fan with light to keep you cool.
• If you want to get pictures with the characters, you don’t necessarily have to purchase the photo with Elmo at 1-2-3 Smile at Me. Several times through out the day, the Sesame Street characters while stop and take photos with kids after their show. Just wait in a short line, and the characters’ chaperones will be happy to snap a family picture for you!

In the Park

• Take some time to plan your shows for the day ahead of time. They’ll start within the hour of the park opening, and most will end by 5pm with the exception of Shamu’s big finale at 8pm. If you spend your whole morning playing, you might miss out on some great shows or you’ll be rushing from show to show to try and fit it all in!
• Feed the animals first thing! Head over to the dolphins if you arrive at the park’s opening. They’re hungry and active, and ready to play!
• All animal encounters are purchased in advance.  If you’d rather be apart of the attraction rather than just watching, you can book an animal encounter to feed the dolphins, have lunch with Shamu, and other exciting swimming opportunities; however, be aware that you can’t just walk up to the animal tank and pay. (Check out Sea World’s website for more information!) 
• There’s an “All You Can Eat” at Sea World. If you decided to not get a cabana (where lunch is included), then think about purchasing their all day food pass. For a drink, entree item, and snack, you’ll probably pay up around $15 a person for each meal. A food pass for adults ages 10 and up is $32.99 and $16.99 for children ages 3-9. This pass allows you to go through any line as many times as you want and receive a drink, entree item, and dessert each time you go through. If you plan to stay for lunch and dinner, this may be worth it to you! It will definitely save you some money! 
  

The Shows

• Azul is located right next to the Bay of Play and a great one to go see with children! It begins with a pre-show where audience members may get a little wet. (If you see a clown, you might want to move unless being soaked doesn’t bother you!) The acrobatic show features beluga whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, and beautiful exotic birds. My 2 1/2 year old was entertained during the entire 30 minutes! 
• One Ocean was the daytime show featuring Shamu and friends. For a toddler, the videos they show in the beginning aren’t as entertaining; however, was really interesting as an adult. Once the show began and the whales took to the water, it was a splash! Literally! Unlike some of the other shows where “Splash Zone” means a slight drizzle, with One Ocean, be prepared for everything on your body to be drenched–including cameras! 
• Shamu Rocks! If your little one is able to make it until the end of the day, this show is highly entertaining! There’s live music, light shows, and whales. It’s pretty amazing!
• And of course, there’s always other shows to keep you entertaining like the character shows in the Bay of Play, Pets Ahoy, Elmo Rocks, and a water ski show on the lake!

Finally, a little trick that worked to get us out of the park without a screaming child. Save the souvenir shopping for last! There’s a great shop right near the exit, and is the perfect place to grab those mementos or special toys (as a distraction) right before you leave the park!

Check back with Dallas Moms Blog for the final post of this San Antonio series. . .the food! 

What tips do you have for those going to SeaWorld for the 1st time?

**SeaWorld San Antonio provided my family 1 day passes to experience SeaWorld and bring it back to Dallas; however, all opinions and experiences are 100% my own and was in no way influenced.