First Time, with a Question

[co10064]

First off, I am very sorry if this is posted in the wrong category! I am somewhat new to this site.

We are trying to plan our upcoming April trip to Southern California. This will be my family's first time to California. We have already planned to go to some other attractions like an Angels game and seeing the San Diego Zoo, but our final choice has come down to a debate between a two options:
2 days at Disneyland resort (no park hopper) then 1 day at SeaWorld
OR
3 days at Disneyland resort (with Park Hopper but no Sea World-- this also gives us one early magic morning I believe)

Both options are almost exactly the same price. My family loves Disney and we weren't sure if two days would be enough to see both parks during the Spring Break Season, but our youngest (9) wanted to see Sea World. (We also have a 13 and 17 year old.) My one hesitation with Sea World is I've read a few reviews about it having few attractions and having a lot of construction going on while we'll be there

I would love any advice you could give!

 

[Tom]

Having taken a first trip to DLR in recent years, I can say, hands down, you'll want 3-days there with hoppers. There's a lot to do, and a lot to take in.

And since the front gates of each park are literally across a plaza from each other, hopping means walking 100 yards. No transportation required!!!

It's no WDW, but its a big experience to take in. Ad you'll want to be able to repeat things, like their superior Pirates, among others.

 

[Hakunamatata]

First off, I am very sorry if this is posted in the wrong category! I am somewhat new to this site.

We are trying to plan our upcoming April trip to Southern California. This will be my family's first time to California. We have already planned to go to some other attractions like an Angels game and seeing the San Diego Zoo, but our final choice has come down to a debate between a two options:
2 days at Disneyland resort (no park hopper) then 1 day at SeaWorld
OR
3 days at Disneyland resort (with Park Hopper but no Sea World-- this also gives us one early magic morning I believe)

Both options are almost exactly the same price. My family loves Disney and we weren't sure if two days would be enough to see both parks during the Spring Break Season, but our youngest (9) wanted to see Sea World. (We also have a 13 and 17 year old.) My one hesitation with Sea World is I've read a few reviews about it having few attractions and having a lot of construction going on while we'll be there

I would love any advice you could give!

I agree with @Tom. You will want three days. We did five just before Carsland opened and we enjoyed every minute of it.

 

[Phroobar]

I think Sea World is worth the day since you are going to the San Diego Zoo anyway. You could probably split the day in San Diego between the two. I personally enjoy the Sea World shows and looking at the aquariums. There are only like five rides but that isn't why you go there. You go to see the animals.

San Diego deserves a few days trip all by itself but it is about two hours from Disneyland. Besides the Zoo, Sea World and Wild Animal park, you have Old town San Diego. Presidio and Balboa parks have lots of museums. Old town has the Whaley House considered one of the most haunted houses in the country. The USS Midway tour is fun.

If you time is limited, you might just stick with Disney.

 

[co10064]

Thank you for the responses!

 

[BubbaQuest]

Not sure if you have already looked at CityPass:
http://www.citypass.com/southern-california

It will give you a 3-day Park Hopper plus SeaWorld, plus an optional Zoo add-on. I've never priced it out to see if it is cheaper than just DL and Zoo tickets.

The price might make it easier to try and do both the Zoo and SeaWorld in one day.

P.S. Normally I would recommend park hopper tickets, but with Fantasmic closed this year, I think it will be easier to experience DL in a day (normally I avoid New Orleans Square at night, but now you can enjoy more of the park post fireworks).

 

[catmom46]

Not sure if you have already looked at CityPass:
http://www.citypass.com/southern-california

It will give you a 3-day Park Hopper plus SeaWorld, plus an optional Zoo add-on. I've never priced it out to see if it is cheaper than just DL and Zoo tickets.

The price might make it easier to try and do both the Zoo and SeaWorld in one day.

P.S. Normally I would recommend park hopper tickets, but with Fantasmic closed this year, I think it will be easier to experience DL in a day (normally I avoid New Orleans Square at night, but now you can enjoy more of the park post fireworks).

I agree this would definitely be the way to go if you decide to do the zoo and SeaWorld on the same day. A 3-day hopper is $275, the zoo is $50, and SeaWorld is $69, but the CityPass would only be $367.

 

[RobOttawa]

Ethical Issues aside, I went to Seaworld a few years ago, and found it pretty boring. Maybe others like it, but I found after the Orca show and a couple rides, we were done. So in my opinion, it's not worth it.
Now the San Diego Zoo, that's pretty cool! I highly recommend it. If you are going to the Zoo, then just spend the rest of your day sightseeing. It's a beautiful city.