Planning Your Trip

If you are coming to SeaWorld San Antonio, I have a few tips for you.

1. If you are planning on spending more than one day in the park, get a season pass - for at least one person. It includes parking and you get discount coupons with the purchase.
   
2. If you can, buy the tickets online and then use the kiosk to print them out. The online site gives you a sheet of paper with a UPC code on it. Take it to the kiosk and literally within 30 seconds, your ticket pops out. So easy! And there are a ton of them at the entrance so it really is very quick to process the sheet of paper into a ticket.
   
3. If you are coming April - October. WEAR your bathing suit. This is mostly a water park. The odds you are going to get wet are really good. Wearing blue jeans and sneakers in 100+ degree heat cannot be comfortable. Seriously. Guys can wear their swim trunks with a rash guard shirt. Girls get a cute cover up to put over your suit. They are not expensive and can be found everywhere - AND they look cute.
   
4. Bring a hat. I don't care what it looks like (as long as it's tasteful). A burned scalp hurts and then it itches and peels - gross. I know from experience. Straw, ball, floppy, or another type of hat - it doesn't matter just wear it.
   
5. Wear water shoes. Teva, Merrel, Crocs, Keen, or any other that you can walk in ALL DAY for MILES in the HEAT. They should not be the cheap ones. They need to hold up and not give you blisters. The pavement gets really hot so taking them off is not an option.
   
6. While we are talking about shoes, make sure they strap on really well. There are a few rides that will take them from you if you have something on that is not secure.
   
7. If you have a child under the age of 7 - bring/rent a stroller. If you are coming for only a few days visit, you are going to be covering a lot of ground and they will get tired. There is nothing worse than a tired crying kid being pulled around the park.
   I know it looks crazy to have such a large child in a stroller but those people who give you the stink eye - remember they would give you the stink eye if you were pulling a crying kid through the park too. It makes your day much more pleasant if you can give them a rest while hurrying them along to the next attraction.
   
8. Feed the dolphins and sea lions. The kids love it and while the fish are stinky it's fun and they will remember doing it for a really long time - even if they are toddlers.
   
9. Back to swim suits for a minute. You need to wear an age/size appropriate suit. Guys should not be trunks from 1980 that are way too short/tight. Ladies, your chest should not be falling out of the suit and more than 1/3 of your back end should not be hanging out. This is a family park and bathing suits can be had at Walmart and Target for a steal. If you are going to spend a few days at a water park, invest in a suit that fits - please.
   
10. Buy the souvenir cup. It can be refilled the entire time you are that park - every time you visit. If you show your season pass, you get a discount on the purchase of the cup and each refill.
    
11.  The food is okay. They have a meal deal where you can eat in the park for like $29.99 a person.  I haven't done that because I'm close by. We have eaten in the park - again it's okay. I believe you would be better eating a good breakfast at your hotel or the McD's just down the street and then get an ice cream and/or popcorn for a snack early afternoon and then eat at one of the restaurants for dinner. You may make out better than the meal deal. I'd like to hear from someone who has done this and get their opinion.
    If you drive, you can always stop at the ice house or HEB and pick up sandwiches and put them in a cooler. Then you can come out for a break at the car and eat too. I've seen many a family do this and it seems to work well.
    Since we are so close, we typically eat at home before going. We will fill up our Shamu cup for the trip and then refill once we are in the park. We also get (one of the following) ice cream, popcorn, brownie, cotton candy. My friend puts a small insulated lunch bag in the bottom of the stroller with an ice pack with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and grapes. This is really yummy too. I keep saying I'm going to do it but then I don't.
    
12. Sunscreen. SPF 50 or higher - waterproof. Don't mess this up or you will be a hurting puppy and it will ruin your trip. I personally like the kind that you spray on and I like the face stick so you don't get it in your eyes and it's gets the top of your ears really well too. This may be a $10 - $20 investment but not getting a sunburn is priceless.
    
13. The penguin house is stinky but they are so cool to watch AND this is the absolute most refreshing spot in the summer. They keep the viewing area dark and the a/c on HIGH. And the penguins are really fun to watch waddle around. Don't miss it.
    
14. All the rides are fun - if you like rides. You get wet on all of them except the Great White and Steel Eel.
    
15. Only take into the park what you can carry. I recommend a small (preferably waterproof backpack) but even better is a small Otterbox that can hold your cell phone, cash/credit card, money, driver's license, car/hotel key, and your tickets for the park - and goes around your neck or waist.
    I bought one at the park (water area) but it doesn't hold my cell phone - annoying. I need to invest in an Otterbox that can hold my phone too.
    
    If you bring a backpack and it's not waterproof put the items you do not want to get wet in a ziploc baggie in the backpack. Make sure it's sealed. Your cell phone will appreciate that.
    
16. Leave the towels and extra clothes in the car. You don't need to carry them around all day. This is South Texas. It's hot and if you get wet you are typically dry in a matter of minutes - sans the toweling off.  If  you don't have that far to drive, you will survive in your suit. If you are driving far, stop at one of the Cracker Barrels or truck stops and change. Having a five year old, I have stopped in most of them around town and have been pleasantly surprised that they are clean, well stocked, and the people are friendly.
    
17. If you go to the waterpark - if you have your swim suit on and your water shoes you are good to go. Find an empty chair to set your cover up on and wear the waterproof box with your money, tickets, and other stuff around your neck or waist. I take the stroller and I have left a small bag in the seat and have never had a problem. I don't rent a locker but they have them. I put my cell phone way down in the bag and flip the top of the stroller closed. When I took the wagon I never had anyone pick up my bag either. Maybe I just got lucky but I also made sure that what I really needed (the important stuff) never left my person.  If someone swipes your cover up - oh well - but it they get your cell phone and car keys - that will not be a fun memory.
    
18. Most people visiting will spend the morning exploring the park and then when it's gets really hot (1pm) they head for the water park. This means you may not get into the water park because there's a capacity limit. Just keep this in mind. The Bay of Play has a great area to get wet in and there's no line. You may need to head over there, get wet and continue exploring for a couple of hours until the water park opens back up.
    
19. Have fun. You are spending time with your family. Today I heard a dad complaining that he couldn't take his kids for one more minute. Dude, you are on vacation. This is a memory your kids are going to have for the rest of their lives. If you really feel that way, next time stay home and let them come with friends/family that want to answer their questions about the park and animals. I know when I hear "mom" for the 500th time in one day it gets old but also remember he's learning and I need to have patience and help him learn or when the important questions need to be asked he won't come to me.

I hope this list helps you have a fun, safe, and comfortable trip.

More found here