San Diego Vacation Advice

So we are taking a week long trip to Southern California in August. We have narrowed down our park choices to Sea World, San Diego Zoo, or the Wild Animal Park. We have 2 daughters, 3.5 and 1.5. Which would you do? What do you like/not like about these parks? We are only going to do one park because we have a tight schedule of visiting family and friends. (We used to live there up until last summer...)

Thanks!

We took our kids to Sea World a few years ago and honestly there wasn't a bunch for our little one to do. She was 3 at the time.

the san diego zoo is always a good time for everyone! i'd say the zoo.

I've been to all, but I'd suggest the zoo for your little ones.

HUmmm...I'd actually go with Sea World over the zoo and I definitely wouldnt do WAP until they are older. Personally, I think the animals in the zoo can be harder to see for lil ones because of the natural environments. When shamu leaps out of the water - that's something that will captivate even your youngest. They can feed dolphins fish, see bat rays up close, look at polar bears right on the other side of the glass from them - my kids have enjoyed sea world since they were just about a year old.

We're going next week to WAP, the Zoo, Sea World and LegoLand - so I'll let you know what my kiddoes enjoy the most this trip.

Good Luck with your plans!
R

The San Diego zoo is amazing! Definitely go there!

They have amazing play areas for the little ones at Sea World too [ they just redid an reopened their kids play zone -- it's Sesame Street themed]. I was also going to pick that one over the zoo. The problem with the zoo is that it is HUGE and very hilly, and it will be hard getting around with 2 little ones. I have pushed a stroller around that zoo and I never plan to do it again!

I say Sea World....took my son there last yr and he wasn't even two yet and he just LOVED it! We are prolly going back this yr too....his favorite show was the Pet's show...it showcases regular household pets doing awesome tricks...he also loved looking at the walwrus thru the glass and the polar bear exhibit! Just a great place to visit! I can't wait to go back!

true dat about the hills at the san diego zoo...maybe sea world is the better choice. wow...i'm helpful.

Good stuff - thanks, ladies!

ETA: Yes, please let me know, Robin, which they like best of all. Have fun on your trip!

I think I'd probably go with the zoo, but then again, I'm a little more familiar with it.

We have been to the zoo with our baby (about 10 months old) as well as with friends/family with children about the ages of yours, and they all enjoyed it. The petting zoo is fun for the kids, and there are enough animals around the zoo to keep them entertained. I totally agree about the drawback of the zoo being the size and the hills - you can get pretty tired walking around. Some of the times we have gone, we have gotten the tickets that include the use of the buses, which was nice for when you'd get to one end of the park and want an easy way back (i.e. skipping pushing strollers up a big hill). Plus, we'd often use the morning while everyone was fresh to walk around the front areas of the park, and then get on the tour bus after lunch when everyone was starting to get tired. The tour bus also gets you around some of the outskirts of the park that seem more out of the way... That approach worked pretty well for us a few times - I'd highly recommend that option with your tickets if you go there. It is true that you may or may not get a really good view of some of the animals or not be able to see them at all if they are in their litle caves sleeping. But it seems like we've been able to see enough of them to make it worth our while - I think the monkeys are ALWAYS playing!

There are also a few little shows at the zoo that you can see (nothing of the magnitude of a Sea World show) - but they are short and entertaining, and give kids the ability to see some of the animals in action. I think they are fun and worth trying if you go there.

It's been a few years since I've been to Sea World, but alot of the fun I remember from there is the shows (Shamu, the dolphins, etc...) and that probably just depends on how much you think your kids will like them. They are pretty impressive! (Not to mention WET if you sit close!) I would imagine that your kids would probably have fun there too (some of the new stuff mentioned above sounds fun) We're probably going to try Sea World out ourselves later this year.

I Haven't been to the Wild Animal Park, but it seems geared towards older kids also...?

Good luck!

crystalbird said:

They are pretty impressive! (Not to mention WET if you sit close!) I would imagine that your kids would probably have fun there too (some of the new stuff mentioned above sounds fun) We're probably going to try Sea World out ourselves later this year.

!

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Yeah, I told my 3.5 year old that we might see a whale - her eyes got as big as saucers!

So far I'm torn between the zoo and sea world. Ha!

his favorite show was the Pet's show...it showcases regular household pets doing awesome tricks..

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My kids love this one too. And feeding the sea lions, and touching the rays (that's COOL) and we had to go through the shark encounter about 3 times and . . . Hey, now I want to go back too.

We went to San Diego in May with our 3 year olds and Sea World was a huge hit. The Sesame Street part wasn't open yet, but we still go to do Breakfast with Elmo (and Bert, Cookie Monster and others too) and they loved it! We also did a dinner Shamu one night and it was great, but if I was to do it again, I would do the lunch instead. It is cheaper and just as neat. Sea World is full of lots of shows, but mine enjoyed the shows, especially the "Pets Rule" one. We spent three days at Sea World, a few hours here, a few there, etc.

Then we went to the zoo. The zoo is on drivable streets. It is only the buses that drive through, but they are coming though literally once a minute. Since you have kids in a stroller, you will have to go up and down curbs, not to mention the kids will likely be too low to see into the animal enclosures. And you will be fighting other stroller parents for space on the side walks. We got a bit irritated after 45 minutes and only getting to the elephant and giraffe section so we got on the tour bus, took the 45 minute ride (which we liked) and went back to the cottage.

Honestly, the zoo was gorgeous, but I don't think it is good if you only have one day or children that are reliant on strollers.

Given a choice, my kids chose to go back to Sea World vs the zoo. Make sure feed the seals, go to the Pets Rule show and to see the polar bears. They have real snow on one of the walls there that the kids can touch!

Have fun and feel free to pm me if you have anymore questions. It is all still fresh in my mind.