Hey there!
Make-A-Wish families receive a one-day pass to SeaWorld Orlando, in addition to three days at Walt Disney World and two days at Universal Orlando. We found that SeaWorld is the park that best adapts to the busy schedule of a Make-A-Wish trip. It can be high-adrenaline or easy-going – whatever works best for your family.
We arrived at Give Kids the World (GKTW) very late after a long travel day, and we needed to start our first day in Florida slowly. Also, our kids really wanted pony rides at Give Kids the World, which were scheduled for our first morning. We had been to SeaWorld San Diego before, so we planned to sleep in, enjoy the pony rides and then visit to SeaWorld Orlando for a few hours. This low-pressure plan worked well for us.
Keep in mind that SeaWorld has a lot to offer. It is among the most educational parks on GKTW's list. The Manta coaster is considered to be one of the best in Orlando. SeaWorld Orlando is built around shows and exhibits, so it is especially fun for families with infants or family members who don't do rides.
Dolphin Feeding
This was our #1 priority at SeaWorld. There is no set schedule for dolphin feedings at Discovery Cove because the times are adjusted daily to accommodate the dolphins' dietary needs. Daily feeding times should be listed on the daily park agenda when you arrive.
We were lucky to arrive at feeding time. It was mid-day. With my son's GKTW button, we were ushered to the front and given enough fish for our whole family to feed the dolphins. It was a lot of fun!
Shows
Our next stop was the whale show at the far other end of the park. It was a long walk, and extra-tough since we weren't yet accustomed to Florida's summer weather. We were ushered to the handicap zone with our button. My son (who had completed treatment for cancer) didn't really need to be there, so we chose our own seats at the next show.
We really enjoyed the humorous Clyde and Seamore sea lion show, and highly recommend it for kids. The pet show is lots of fun and one of the best kept secrets at SeaWorld. I have always enjoyed the playful and fast-paced dolphin show at SeaWorld San Diego, though we didn't see it in Orlando.
Exhibits
SeaWorld has a number of great educational aquarium exhibits. We cruised through the shark exhibit, which was a slam dunk. I also really like Wild Arctic, TurtleTrek and the penguin exhibits. These places are good for seeing and learning about wild animals, and enjoying the air conditioning too!
We love touch pools and SeaWorld Orlando has them! They are a great way for kids to interact with the animals. We spent some of our time up close with the rays.
Rides
We only spent a few hours at SeaWorld, and our kids were a little young for the big coasters, so we skipped the rides at SeaWorld. Manta and Kracken are thrilling coasters – among the best in Orlando. Journey to Atlantis is a water ride. The Wild Arctic Ride is an optional entry to the Wild Arctic exhibit. It is indoor with a screen, like Star Tours at the Disney parks. The Sky Tower is a leisurely ride where you'll get a panoramic view of SeaWorld and the surrounding area. Shamu's Happy Harbor has lots of rides for families with younger kids.
NEXT PAGE>> What SeaWorld does especially for Wish families
KAREN
zIG I COULD HAVE ONE LAST WISH IT WOULD BE SEA WORLD IM VERY ILL AND ID LIKE TO MAKE A WISH
Steven Son
Hi Allison, nice blog. We visited Sea World Orlando before 6 months by Purchase Tours. At that time we have only gone through the rides and shows as my kid love rides and enough time was also not there in our hands. So we missed rest all. But after coming through your post I became much more interested in visiting once again that place. Definitely, I will visit it and this time I will not miss anything. Thanks for your share. Keep it up.
Allison
Thank you! I hope your next visit to SeaWorld is everything you hope.
Kelly
I love your Blog. Thanks for posting great info. My family and I are just getting ready for our own Make- A – Wish trip to Walt Disney World.
JACQUELINE Marie BOND
Hello, I’ve recently started thinking about my son Jacob and his wish. He was diagnosed with Hypoplastic left heart syndrome before he was born. I know Disney is at the top of the wish list right now. However, that my change. I was trying figure out 2 things. One is if I should wait until he’s older so he can ride more of the rides. If there’s is an age anyone out there may think is better he will be 6 in a couple of months?
The second is his oxygen tank. Has anyone seen or had to handle a child’s visit with a tank. I’m trying to consider the heat and his reaction to any “thrilling” rides if we wait till he older . I’m just wondering how it was handled at Disney for others. Please any insight,suggestions or advise is welcome? Also Jacob is about to be six.
Allison
Hi Jacqueline. My son was six years old on his Wish trip to Walt Disney World. There are a couple of rides that require kids to be at least 48 inches tall. Others require 38-44 inches, and many have no height requirement. There were a couple of coasters that my son was tall enough to ride, but didn’t want to. Here is a link with specific requirements for each ride: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/en_GB/faq/parks/height-requirements/
There is also something special that comes with taking a younger child to Disney World for the first time. They enjoy the characters more. They can dress up in costume. They’re not “too cool” for anything. And they are a lot cheaper to feed. 😉 I just returned from Disneyland with my kids (ages 12 and 15). It was lots of fun, but it was totally different from when they were ages 6 and 9 on my son’s Wish trip. We loved watching the families with younger children and were a little sad that those years are behind us.
I don’t have experience with an oxygen tank, but hope that others can offer advice. Whatever you decide, I wish your son health and healing and hope that his Wish brings him much joy for years to come.