SeaWorld San Antonio Discussion Thread

[VegasBaby]

This is a good move, there are Build-A-Bear shops at SWO/BGT and they always look busy.  My youngest is 13 is she still loves BAB, in fact she got a leopard with an Iron Gwazi shirt on our trip to BGT this summer!  

[bert425]

the only way to ride Texas Stingray when it's 41 (feels like 34) and there's a drizzle going.



(stingray, Wavebreaker, and the sesame street rides section were the only things able to open, but it worked out, as I got to ride Stingray 6 times, the Carousel, and saw two shows, and did two meet and greets).
 

yes. . it was COLD (and the crowd very much stayed away). . but that spiked hot cocoa made everything ok (mine was spiked with Kahlua)

yay!  Carousel (that SWSA *makes* every rider put on that seatbelt. . .LOL). 
I love this carousel, since the horses all look so stoned.

Elmo's Christmas Wish show.   

Happy they are finally using this indoor theater again (used to the be the pets show, but the theater has been empty the entire year I've been a passholder, so it was my first time in it).

Awesomely stupid (and warm). . Loved it

Photo Op with Ernie (and Oscar)

 

who was upset that Ernie chose bert over him. . .LOL

 

Rudolph was out too for photos (that's my friend Oren)

 

 

the new Christmas show was apparently imported from SW Orlando?

it was bizarrely entertaining, and I highly recommend it:

lots of "jazz hands" and cruise ship choreography

Creepy ass puppets - that Joseph and Mary gave me nightmares!

Live animals (like Pinocchio, the animals who are arguing thruout the show - with a lot of topical humor thrown in) become "real" animals at the end of the show.

yay!  Camels.

[bert425]

So I did a thing yesterday at SeaWorld San Antonio - after going for Mardi Gras and having way too many Hurricanes (and excellent food)

 

as I said on the FB group, they *probably* shouldn't let drunk adults name their own Build A Bear.


I present to you: 

Hornyhead Sharp

 

they threw in the little backpack/carrier (the arms poke thru!!)

 

 

and yes, my happy ass took him on the Carousel too

[bert425]

Today would have been my Nick's 64th Birthday.

Despite knowing the parks would all be gigantic overcrowded clusters?  I just couldn't bear to sit at home alone and be sad.   So I called a friend and we drove to San Antonio to go to SeaWorld

the park was ABSOLUTELY *slammed*. . .we're talking 45 minutes to get to a parking spot (and that was WITH preferred handicap parking), with the line to get in stretching well past the gates onto the main road out front (Ellison).  And if you've been to SWSA you know how much "driveway" there is between the main gates, and the parking gates!

speaking of, they had all the parking gates open, and staffed with both sides open.

today was also opening day for Aquatica as well, and once we actually got into the park?  crowds in the walkways weren't bad at all - so Aquatica was drawing quite a bit of the crowd from the parking.



Oh the shows were ABSOLUTELY packed.

I dont' think I've ever seen standing room only in Orca Stadium

But rides remained walk on for most of the afternoon. . .

 

even the two water rides open only had 20 minute waits or so:   Journey to Atlantis & Rio Loco (which had waterfalls on and SOAKED the one of us who wasn't ok getting wet - and only sprinkled me, since I declared to the universe upon entering the queue that I didn't care if I got soaked

 

but here's probably what you really care about. . . the progress on the park's new 2023 launched flume with lift.

it's coming together really quickly, and looking great:

 

it started to warm up and got too crowded to be comfortable for me (the line for the Carousel was an easy 40 minute wait). . .and the food lines were all pretty nuts.   I didn't really want to eat any of the Generic park food, so we decided to take off and stop for some good Tex Mex for early dinner on the way back to Austin.

 

so after about 4 hours we headed out.

in that time tho, we

-rode 4 rides:  Stingray 2x, Journey to Atlantis, and Rio Loco   (could have also walked on to Steel Eel and Great White, but passed on those this visit).
-saw the Orca show in standing room at the back (which worked out well as a very nice breeze back there (AND - barely - out of the splash zone. . . seriously, those splashes got all the way to the upper rows!)
- Got a frozen drink from the bayside bar
- got a cookie and a drink from Coaster Coffee
- stopped and looked at construction  (so we basically walked the entire park - even seeing the Count out for pictures over in Sesame Street. . with an INSANE line).
&
- went into Discovery Cove on the way out to see the Dolphins and Sharks.

all in all, a pleasant day, and kept me distracted.

[Nrthwnd]

^It looks like everybody is getting back into .... uh ...getting together, since these past few years. It's been totally packed in our big theatre, for the last touring musicals we've seen, since last Fall. Looks like your friend took good care of you. And you enjoyed the day. So .... There it is! Your enjoyment! (Bad ripoff from Chef Gusteau). THanks for sharing it all, Bert.

[bert425]

stopped by SWSA yesterday for opening weekend of the Seven Seas Food Festival.

as expected, most everything was excellent, and they had quite the crowd - perfect weather, Aquatica open, and the festival weekend (tho it started on Thurs), brought in a lot of folks eager to try the SeaWorld San Antonio food - which by reputation is very good!  (and it is, Chef Scott and team do a great job on every event at the park).

*edit to update:   the 18 puchcards for Passholders, are now available on the Passholder Portal!

but it's also easy/peasy to do it in person, and once we showed them our passes, got lanyards with 18 punches (3 bonus) over the regular 15 punch cards.

apparently this year they are also selling 10 punch (standard), 7 punch & 3 punch (online only options) for "taster"

there is SO much good food, I'll go thru 2 18-punch cards, at least, during the 6 weeks (thru early May) this runs.

 

I always do the "course" backwards starting at Mexico - as I want those drinks (LOL).

a few changes this year to both menu and entertainment offerings. . . but as usual, we bumped into Chef Scott almost immediately near the Mexico booth, and he walked me thru all the exciting new menu options and recommended stuff.

*and then we saw him at almost every booth after we'd stopped to eat there asking us for our feedback.   he was stalking us because he REALLY liked my boots, I think  (lol. . got stopped a bunch of times from folks admiring them).

 

but here he is, SeaWorld San Antonio's Cheff Scott - who puts together all the menus and that fantastic food they offer there!

he recommended the new Cochnita Pibil (pork) taco, and pointed out that by popular demand, the Chicken Mole Fries were back.

I got a Prickly Pear cocktail - which was Fantasic!    (the sampler size is included as a punch, by you can pay the $14 for the full size - which is what i'm holding here)
they forgot the chile salt on the rim (hey. . opening weekend) and Scott went and got some to sprinkle on that made it even more flavorful.   Recommended.

the new taco (fantastic. . and pretty spicy. . loved it)

and bottom are the Chicken Mole fries.
 

the mole is not spicy, but it IS flavorful.   Scott has known me long enough that he knows I like spicy and went and got me a side of the house made Habanero sauce (that goes in the new taco) to put on the Mole Fries - and oh man, that brought them to another level.  Fantastic.

no other pics from my table, since my two friends BOTH ordered Mole Fries. . . . LOL. . but with permission of the kind lady next door, here's the Eleote - which she also said was very good.

the Tequila bar was open in the corner down by Mexico. . but it was way too early for me to tackle a flight of Tequila. . . so next time

 

Onwards to France!

 

the Crab & Spinach Crepe is the brand new one (and it is fantastic and highly recommended.   Other than the food at Greece and the Empanadas at Brazil?  it's the highest recommended food choice I'd give)

 

the Mushroom/Spinach is only "new" because they took the Turkey off of it from last year.   A shame, as that was my favorite savory bite in the park.     But they were having issues last year keeping the meat at temp, so decided to make it another Vegetarian option this year.  (so if you're a Vegetarian. . pretty much every option but one at France is a choice for you)

 

this is the Crab and Spinach.   it doesn't LOOK amazing, but trust me, it IS.  
*and* it's real crab (not Krab with a K) and you can really taste the crab.

the Spinach Mushroom was still really good. . but not as good as when it also had turkey in it.  
as noted, still good tho.

Paige got the strawberry/Hazlenut sweet crepe and really liked it.

the "Sunday in the Park" photo op is back over here.   So of course.

although for some reason, the Wine stop has moved from France to over by Rio Loco / Jamaica area. . that's a little weird.

Chef Scott had told me that they really worked to improve the food over at the Germany booth.

so we tried it again this year based on his recommendation.   

it WAS better. . but being brutally honest?   as good as they made the Beer Cheese this year, the braised beef still reminded me very much of a frozen dinner (I gave that feedback to him when he asked).
I think the proportions were off, and the jous just destroys the other flavors by overwhelming them and making the whole Spaetzle dish taste like a frozen salsbury steak sauce.

to be fair?  it's not BAD - but there are SO many better options, I wouldn't waste punches on food here.  (the drink and beer options on the other hand?  excellent. . and the beer garden setting was busy when we were there)

and of course, always worth coming over to Germany for THIS photo op:

 

not sure if the Band was playing or not. . the stage was there with a new LED screen behind it.   But I didn't see any performance times listed, so wonder if no German Band this year?

the Braised Beef and Cabbage

the Beer Cheese with Speatzle & beef (we shared this and still left much of it!)

and the apple Strudel with Vanilla Ice Cream.

 

a stop to ride Texas Stingray, and then?  on to Greece!

As usual, Greece does not disappoint.   Tho the standout is the lamb slider?    EVERYTHING is excellent:

this is Baklawa Ice cream (basically a Baklava smashed into caramel ice cream. . .so damn good)

These are the Loukoumades - a honey fried donut.   delicious.

and the Chicken Schwarma.

 

Didn't get a pic of the Gyro or Slider, as Russell forgot I was taking pictures, and ate them before I got to the table!

no "Living Statue" this year in Greece :(. . . just a photo op by the pillars she used to stand under.

HOWEVER, we did bump into a visitor - SFFT Park President Jeffrey Siebert, who was at SWSA for a bit (showing a guest around) and enjoying the Food Festival dishes
(and of course, Chef Scott was there too. . I swear, he was stalking us around the lagoon )

it was very nice to get to meet Salim - I mean, I don't work for him, but he seemed to be a really nice guy.   and I told Jeffrey we'd see him a little later over at Fiesta Texas
(for those pics, check out the SFFT thread - they have the new Boomerang trains out).

forgot to get a pic of the Italy sign - but as usual, that booth has the HUGE lines, because they make the flatbreads to order, and the kiddos know and want "pizza"

Mike got the Feta Cheese and Grape flatbread, and he said it was really good.   (tho he did wait at least 25 minutes in line for it)

meanwhile?  I stomped Grapes at the Italy photo op.

continuing around the park, we found the wine bar - that used to be over by France.

and then relaxed in Jamaica photo op. . . tho we bypassed ordering anything from the food here.
(we were getting full, and still had a few stops.  besides, will get it next time. .the rum raisin ice cream here is amazing)

Paige chilled.. .I signaled the world can F-off. . I'm relaxing.

 

then onto Korea

for the Beef Short Ribs

and the Double Dragon Punch (which Mike loved, but Russell thought was too sweet).

while they ate, I snapped pics of the progress on Catapult falls.   It's coming together fast, and they for sure will make their May 14 launch date for it!

and of COURSE we had to stop and go thru the Penguin House, once again fully stocked.

SeaWorld San Antonio really should bottle and sell that smell from there tho. . I mean, it's certainly got "Penguin House" associated with it.  

Japan pavillion

menu is basically the same, although Chef Scott tweaked the Seared Tuna a little.   I was way too full to try anything, so i just enjoyed the show there while folks ate.

this is the Yuzu sorbet.   Mike had never had Yuzu before but he said he liked it and it was very tropical.

and Paige said the Gyoza were fantastic.

no drummers this year

 

instead there's a geisha who does a water act.  

it was . . interesting, and yes, entertaining.

and she sticks around after the performance for photo ops.

next up. . Hawaii!

Poke bowls looked SO good. . . but I was way too full.  and they were sold out of the Aloha Beaches drink we wanted.

so saving for next time!

Last stop today was Brazil.

I love the Blackberry Acai sorbet here.

but the stars are the chicken empanadas. . SO good.

last year there was a dancing girls/party in the center of the area show. . but I didn't see any times up, so wonder if that's gone this year?

but the photo op is still up for Brazil.

Paige had the Tropical Monkey drink. . that she sucked right down (so it was good)

and Russell got the Chicken Empanadas.

we were SO full, but it was a great morning/afternoon.  

can't wait to go back and try more of the offerings, and take in a few of the SWSA shows!

till next time. . .

 

[Skysthelimit]

We’ve frequented SWO’s Food Festival for many years so the themes at SWA definitely resonate. Having just been at SWO the other day, I will say the a la carte items at the Orlando park are all at least $3-4 more. Then again, we noticed that San Antonio was cheaper than Orlando in general, but perhaps that was the case before post-COVID inflation too. 

[bert425]

well  . . . darn

 

not unexpected tho. . as kids go back to school on Monday, so they really did "miss" the Summer season.

still. . . it looks so ready. . .must have something to do with inspections (or something paperwork like).

 

email I just got from SWSA: