SeaWorld San Diego SeaWorld or Zoo?

pachyderm pro

pachyderm pro

Well-Known Member
5+ year member
Ok, I'm sure you read the title thinking I'm insane for even considering that SeaWorld is better than the San Diego Zoo, but there's a catch here. I will be leaving the windy city for one week early next year (Details on that to be revealed at another date), during that time, 3 of those days will be spent visiting to much famed duo of massive attractions, The San Diego Zoo and The Safari Park. I will be vising both facility's at least one time, but I have been thinking and now have a dilemma. I have a choice, I could either visit the zoo twice, or spend a day and SeaWorld San Diego. I have had trouble making the decision myself, so I call upon my fellow zoochatter's for assistance.

Should I visit the San Diego Zoo twice? Or visit the controversial SeaWorld San Diego?
 
You will get a mix of answers here which I am not sure will help. My personal advice is to avoid Sea World at all costs, but others will tell you that you must see it at least once.

Here is a recent discussion on it: (I Wish I Was In) California. This is the thread that @sooty mangabey created to detail his trip to California (visiting from England). He hated it, and my fellow American @DavidBrown and I both visited over two decades ago and hated it so much we have never been back. However, @snowleopard and @Tim Brown both recommend it and they have visited more zoos and aquariums than just about anyone on this forum.
 
Go to Seaworld you'll enjoy yourself. Also it is not controversial, it's a solidly established park with top quality animal care and a good visitor experience.Whether or not ones personal opinion agrees with the park does not make it controversial.

It's got everything someone in their early-mid teens such as yourself will love. Good food, good animal shows, cute staff, and some dope nasty rides (seriously, the Manta at SWSD is dope, its a very smooth, enjoyable ride). There are also a number of smaller exhibits hidden around the park containing interesting species. It's a cheery atmosphere and assuming your parents are coming with you it will likely keep them in a better mood as opposed to trudging around the zoo for a second day. Additionally, they offer a number of animal interaction programs and behind the scenes tours for a fairly reasonable price.

If you do not like crowds, music, cetaceans, food stands, and enjoyable cetacean shows, do not go to seaworld.
 
For all the fuss the orcas get, they are truly a rare species being only visible in N. America at the SeaWorlds and Marineland. Japanese Spider Crabs are also a rare and recent addition, although neither of these animals are in great or even decent enclosures. If you are going soley for the animals, though it is a tougher sell compared to a second visit.
 
@Arizona Docent
Would you mind elaborating a little on what you don't like about SeaWorld? Is it the lack of any cat species? ;)

@lintworm
It may sound silly to others, but I had planned on spending my last full day on the zoo. Its just kind of a weird principal I have, and I feel the zoo is worthy of the last day of trip. I would rather greatly impressed twice, than be potentially let down. It isn't a bad idea certainly, but I just feel the zoo is worthy as my big grand finale to my trip. Once again I know it sounds silly, but its just a weird opinion I have :D.

@Hyak_II
That's the hippest slang I have ever heard on zoochat :D:cool:. The thing is when I go to a zoo the only thing I would to do is see animals. I don't want to go on any rides, listen to any music, I don't need dope roller coasters or the staff to be "cute." All I want to see, are a variety of animals in mostly above average exhibits. I can expect that with zoo, but could expect quality even remotely close to what the SD zoo can offer from SeaWorld?

@DavidBrown and @The_UltimateBea
You both showed I why I'm debating to visit SeaWorld, the collection. Orcas are an animal that's been on my bucket list forever, and with breeding being recently discontinued thanks to PETA, I could regret missing the place while I had the chance. Emperor penguins, orcas, walrus, False killer whale (Are they still there?) and possibly a pygmy sperm whale are animals that are scarce in US captivity. I would love to sea (Get it? I'm hilarious right... I really wish I was funny) these animals, but I don't want to rush the whole zoo is 7-8 hours, when I could just take my sweet time and visit both days. I didn't even cover the whole zoo on my last visit, and that's when I skipped 2 meals and Africa Rocks was under construction.
 
An alternative is to visit Sea World for half a day in the morning. If you are only there for the exhibits that is plenty of time, because there aren't that many exhibits (which is why I consider it a ripoff for what they charge). You could then spend afternoon and evening at San Diego Zoo, which is open until 9pm in summer (plus of course all of the final day). If it was me I would still skip Sea World altogether, but if you want orcas and emperor penguins then I think this would be a good compromise.
 
Arizona Docent said:
An alternative is to visit Sea World for half a day in the morning. If you are only there for the exhibits that is plenty of time, because there aren't that many exhibits (which is why I consider it a ripoff for what they charge). You could then spend afternoon and evening at San Diego Zoo, which is open until 9pm in summer (plus of course all of the final day). If it was me I would still skip Sea World altogether, but if you want orcas and emperor penguins then I think this would be a good compromise.
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I think that's what I will do. However, I will be visiting in January so the zoo will only be open until 5. Still, I could stay at SeaWorld from 9 to 12. Drive 20 min to the zoo and stay until 5.

Also, does anyone know any combo deals for SeaWorld, the zoo and the safari park?
 
Hyak_II said:
Go to Seaworld you'll enjoy yourself. Also it is not controversial, it's a solidly established park with top quality animal care and a good visitor experience.Whether or not ones personal opinion agrees with the park does not make it controversial.
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That's literally exactly what makes it (or anything) controversial.
 
Arizona Docent said:
An alternative is to visit Sea World for half a day in the morning. If you are only there for the exhibits that is plenty of time, because there aren't that many exhibits (which is why I consider it a ripoff for what they charge). You could then spend afternoon and evening at San Diego Zoo, which is open until 9pm in summer (plus of course all of the final day). If it was me I would still skip Sea World altogether, but if you want orcas and emperor penguins then I think this would be a good compromise.
Click to expand...
The problem is, they aren't charging for just the exhibits. They are charging for the rides, the ambience, the shows, and the overall experience, in addition to the exhibits. When I visited Busch Gardens, I saw every animal exhibit and rode every ride, and I had a fantastic time. At SeaWorld San Antonio, I must've ridden one roller coaster at least 7 times... and at SeaWorld San Diego, while I didn't have time to do the same, I still watched shows, rode rides, viewed animal exhibits, and enjoyed myself. Whatever a place charges for admission, I do my best to get the most out of it. It's not a ripoff, if you do everything offered. And if you don't make full use of your ticket, then why did you go? Everything is worth trying once.

@pachyderm pro: I recommend visiting, at least once, as I do with most zoos/marine parks/aquariums. The penguin exhibit is considered the best one in the world by many who have seen it. I spent over an hour in that room, photographing and watching their antics. It is the only place in America to see emperor penguin, and one of two to see Adélie. Think what you will of the cetacean programs. With marine mammals, though, this SeaWorld surely has the highest diversity. I think (I could be wrong with this) that their Guadalupe fur seals are the only ones permanently in captivity, anywhere. Certainly the only of their kind displayed in America. Southern sea otters aren't too shabby, either...

And then, of course, there are the aquariums. A forgotten part of SeaWorld, but in San Diego there are a few separate buildings. One focuses on sea turtles, and anther entirely on cephalopods. There's another focused on sharks, and at least one more with a higher variety beyond those.

So, choose what you will, but I think that not visiting at least once is a big mistake. Don't forget, either, that some of the museums near the zoo in Balboa Park are also worth a visit. But it's your trip.
 
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pachyderm pro said:
@Arizona Docent
Would you mind elaborating a little on what you don't like about SeaWorld? Is it the lack of any cat species? ;)

@lintworm
It may sound silly to others, but I had planned on spending my last full day on the zoo. Its just kind of a weird principal I have, and I feel the zoo is worthy of the last day of trip. I would rather greatly impressed twice, than be potentially let down. It isn't a bad idea certainly, but I just feel the zoo is worthy as my big grand finale to my trip. Once again I know it sounds silly, but its just a weird opinion I have :D.

@Hyak_II
That's the hippest slang I have ever heard on zoochat :D:cool:. The thing is when I go to a zoo the only thing I would to do is see animals. I don't want to go on any rides, listen to any music, I don't need dope roller coasters or the staff to be "cute." All I want to see, are a variety of animals in mostly above average exhibits. I can expect that with zoo, but could expect quality even remotely close to what the SD zoo can offer from SeaWorld?

@DavidBrown and @The_UltimateBea
You both showed I why I'm debating to visit SeaWorld, the collection. Orcas are an animal that's been on my bucket list forever, and with breeding being recently discontinued thanks to PETA, I could regret missing the place while I had the chance. Emperor penguins, orcas, walrus, False killer whale (Are they still there?) and possibly a pygmy sperm whale are animals that are scarce in US captivity. I would love to sea (Get it? I'm hilarious right... I really wish I was funny) these animals, but I don't want to rush the whole zoo is 7-8 hours, when I could just take my sweet time and visit both days. I didn't even cover the whole zoo on my last visit, and that's when I skipped 2 meals and Africa Rocks was under construction.
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There are no false killer whale and the pygmy sperm whale is in an off-exhibit rehabilitation facility.
 
jayjds2 said:
The problem is, they aren't charging for just the exhibits. They are charging for the rides, the ambience, the shows, and the overall experience, in addition to the exhibits. When I visited Busch Gardens, I saw every animal exhibit and rode every ride, and I had a fantastic time. At SeaWorld San Antonio, I must've ridden one roller coaster at least 7 times... and at SeaWorld San Diego, while I didn't have time to do the same, I still watched shows, rode rides, viewed animal exhibits, and enjoyed myself. Whatever a place charges for admission, I do my best to get the most out of it. It's not a ripoff, if you do everything offered. And if you don't make full use of your ticket, then why did you go? Everything is worth trying once.

@pachyderm pro: I recommend visiting, at least once, as I do with most zoos/marine parks/aquariums. The penguin exhibit is considered the best one in the world by many who have seen it. I spent over an hour in that room, photographing and watching their antics. It is the only place in America to see emperor penguin, and one of two to see Adélie. Think what you will of the cetacean programs. With marine mammals, though, this SeaWorld surely has the highest diversity. I think (I could be wrong with this) that their Guadalupe fur seals are the only ones permanently in captivity, anywhere. Certainly the only of their kind displayed in America. Southern sea otters aren't too shabby, either...

And then, of course, there are the aquariums. A forgotten part of SeaWorld, but in San Diego there are a few separate buildings. One focuses on sea turtles, and anther entirely on cephalopods. There's another focused on sharks, and at least one more with a higher variety beyond those.

So, choose what you will, but I think that not visiting at least once is a big mistake. Don't forget, either, that some of the museums near the zoo in Balboa Park are also worth a visit. But it's your trip.
Click to expand...
Would comparing Busch Gardens to SeaWorld be a fair comparison? I visited it earlier this year and had a ball of a time. I visited every animal habitat, and went on a single roller coaster, "The Cheetah." I was with an old friend, and sense he tolerated me going through all the animal parts of the park, I agreed to one roller coaster. After going through it, I don't think I will need to go on one ever again. :D
 
pachyderm pro said:
Would comparing Busch Gardens to SeaWorld be a fair comparison? I visited it earlier this year and had a ball of a time. I visited every animal habitat, and went on a single roller coaster, "The Cheetah." I was with an old friend, and sense he tolerated me going through all the animal parts of the park, I agreed to one roller coaster. After going through it, I don't think I will need to go on one ever again. :D
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Considering they are both owned and operated by the same company, as well as being hybrid animal-ride parks, I think it would be. FYI: BG doesn't have a coaster named "The Cheetah." Not every coaster is the same; if I'd stopped after my first time on one, I'd be missing out now.
 
pachyderm pro said:
Would comparing Busch Gardens to SeaWorld be a fair comparison? I visited it earlier this year and had a ball of a time. I visited every animal habitat, and went on a single roller coaster, "The Cheetah." I was with an old friend, and sense he tolerated me going through all the animal parts of the park, I agreed to one roller coaster. After going through it, I don't think I will need to go on one ever again. :D
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Busch Gardens and Sea World are the same company, so yes, the comparison is apt. If you have never seen orcas or walruses or sea otters or emperor penguins then go to Sea World.
 
pachyderm pro said:
It may sound silly to others, but I had planned on spending my last full day on the zoo. Its just kind of a weird principal I have, and I feel the zoo is worthy of the last day of trip. I would rather greatly impressed twice, than be potentially let down. It isn't a bad idea certainly, but I just feel the zoo is worthy as my big grand finale to my trip. Once again I know it sounds silly, but its just a weird opinion I have :D.
Click to expand...

Then why not have the SD Animal Park as the grande finale, that is a great zoo in it's own right as well ;)
 
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