Sea World San Antonio: Is it worth it?
By vokey9472
@vokey9472 (1486)
United States
April 2, 2007 9:02pm CST
My family wants to go to Sea World San Antonio for my son's birthday and our family vacation. The issue I have with it is that it is super expensive. We are talking $45 per person for a ticket to the park. $10 for parking if we take our own car. $40 per person for dinner with Shamu. And that does not even cover food, drinks, snacks, etc while at the park. Then there is the cost of a hotel for several days. The least expensive hotel I could find was still $109 a night for double occupancy and it was 20 minutes away from the park with no shuttle service.
We can get a hotel with shuttle service but the price per night is almost $200 for a double occupancy. I think it is too expensive. My idea was to drive down the morning of my son's birthday. If we leave at 6am we can arrive by 10:30 right after the park opens. We stay until after dinner with Shamu which would be around 730pm. We drive half way back and then stay at this motel I found for $78 double occupancy. Then drive the rest of the way home in the morning. We would save so much money.
If anyone has gone to Sea World, any of them, please tell me if it is worth all the expense. I know it will be a memory that my son will have forever and I am willing to go just for that, but to stay for several days...I just don't think it would be worth it.
1 person likes this
2 responses
@Denmarkguy (1845)
• United States
4 Apr 07
I went to Sea World once while I was living in Austin, and it was certainly worth it. However, I did not pay $45 per person-- I had some discount coupons that were available from from HEB (I don't know if you have HEB in Dallas-- they didn't when I lived there), and the entry fee was $14.95 instead. The coupon book was $39.95, but it gave all manners of discounts to other venues, restaurants, and other stuff as well. Also check out online for various discount options.
As for hotels, I'd strongly recommend staying in New Braunfels instead-- yes, it's about an hour drive to Sea World, but you should be able to get into a Best Value Inn or Howard Johnson's for about $60/night. San Antonio hotels tend to be really spendy because it's SUCH a tourist town. Just a suggestion... I lived in the central Texas area for 20+ years.
1 person likes this
@Writerbob (572)
• United States
4 Apr 07
I agree. San Marcos also has several places to stay for around $70, and the drive back is less then. It will take you 5 hours from Dallas though just to SA, then another 1/2 hour to SW, I'm a veteran of that trip.
Take some comfortable shoes because you will walk several miles to see everything. Also look for Coke or Dr. Pepper cans at groceries when you get there, they often have $10 off per ticket offers. Hope this helps.
1 person likes this
@Denmarkguy (1845)
• United States
4 Apr 07
Not to "respond" to myself, but you might also check the Texas tourism web site-- they put together package deals that include hotel, park entrance, some meals, etc.; you didn't say how many of you were going... anyway, here's their link:
http://texastourism.com/Default.asp
@vokey9472 (1486)
• United States
4 Apr 07
There will be myself, my husband, my son, my mother, my sister and her husband. My sister and her husband are flying in, spending the day and flying out. They don't want to take that much time off work.
5 hours to San Antonio? My husband has made it in just under 4 before. I am afraid now to ask how fast he was driving. :) My sister says to fly in, but then we have to rent a car and it will cost more to fly than to drive.
I will probably just call my auntie in San Antonio and ask her if we can spend the night at her house. I know she won't have a problem with my mom staying there, but her house is so crowded as it is. I really just want to drive in, go to the park and drive home. I really think we can do it all in one day, but it is such a long drive for a 5 year old in a car seat. Thanks for the tips.
@kathy77 (7485)
• Australia
3 Apr 07
Oh wow yes it does seem very expensive. And the accommodation is too expensive as well so what are you going to do. I do think that your idea would be the best out of reading your discussion. But otherwise I do not think it is worth it at all but your idea sounds great.
