SeaWorld San Antonio Discussion Thread

[Garet]

^

[bert425]

got asked to post some of the "house" pics. . so will.

 

keep in mind, "the Swamp" and one of the new Houses:   "Disassembly Line". . pics were taken earlier in the day during a lights on walk thru. . so that's why the pics are a bit clearer, and no scare actors.
(tho I might have taken a few when we went thru later with the actors in place).

"the Swamp". . .new house last year (2021)

 

 

"Dis-Assembly Line" - new house this year:

 

 

a LOT of the mannequins in here look like they are based on Michael Berryman (Hills Have Eyes)
(tho later at night, there were a TON of scare actors mixed in with the sets as well)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Karver's Kradle" - aka: the creepy Dolls house . . a classic house at SWSA
(one of the shortest houses, but still well done. . .in particular the "mirror" room - which I didn't get any pics of this year)

 

 

 

 

"Milton Creek Manor" . . another classic, permanent house at SWSA.

This one tends to have the really high tech animatronics, like a high-end haunted house would have (hence, the line moves slow,  as things break quite a bit..tho they try to make up for it with more scare actors if the effects are acting up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Zombie Horde". . .the only outdoor house, and tho it's really just scare actors?   it's one of my favorites. . such creepy atmosphere!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and finally, the OTHER new house this year: 

"Atlantis: the cursed chasm"  (importing the Sirens from SWO)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

oh. . one new thing they are doing, which I'll mention, is you can pay extra on your fear pass, and you get a little neon glowsitck to wear.   That glowstick guarantees you to go thru the "Deadly Detour" - extra rooms/sections in the houses.    

Personally we didn't pay for the deadly detour upgrade. . but in at least two of the houses (Swamp, and Zombie Horde), the attendant at the detour, directed some of use (I got included both times) thru the Deadly Detour. . I guess to split up the crowds, or to give the fear actors in the extra rooms some "business").

for me?  not worth the upcharge. .but if you're already purchasing the fear pass to skip the line?  why not go for it, I guess?

 

 

[coneyislandchris]

Perchance, has anyone gotten the email from SeaWorld San Antonio advertising this year's early Black Friday season pass sale yet? I've gotten one from almost every other SEAS park in my inbox, but San Antonio has been conspicuously absent.

[bert425]

^it was supposed to start yesterday online (the first day of the Holiday Lights festival).

 

I suspect it's gonna be in the $70 range for the single park/including parking.  (don't know for sure, but just a feeling)

 

 

 

and I won't reveal my source, but will say it's someone high up in the park and knows what they are talking about.    But JUST had the conversation with them less than a week ago, as my pass expires in about 2 weeks and have gotten NO email or notification from them.

and the exact words to me were:    "SWSA is notorious among passholders for terrible email communications for a reason"

 

so take that for what it's worth.

(and no, still never got an email about renewal offers, but was told that my best offer is going to be the Black Friday sale, and to keep an eye online for when that happens)

[tndank]

I get emails most every day from San Antonio.  Got one yesterday for the pre-Black Friday sale.  Not uncommon to get 2 in a day.  I haven't been a passholder there in a couple years.

Platinum is down to $190 currently.

Side note, seems the park president here is leaving.  Not sure I've seen that mentioned.

[AmyUD06]

55 minutes ago, tndank said:

I get emails most every day from San Antonio.  Got one yesterday for the pre-Black Friday sale.  Not uncommon to get 2 in a day.  I haven't been a passholder there in a couple years.

Platinum is down to $190 currently.

Side note, seems the park president here is leaving.  Not sure I've seen that mentioned.

I'm sure I've asked this before, but does anyone know if the SEAS Platinum Pass needs to be activated at the park where its purchased first before it can be used at other parks?  $190 is a hell of a deal compared to the $408 that BGW is charging.

[SharkTums]

^I know in the past, yes, it did have to be activated at the home park first. But then you can just keep renewing and not have to go back.  Robb and I have Texas passes and KT has a San Diego one just based on where we were when we needed the pass!

[tndank]

SEAS passes are active when you purchase them.  No activation needed.

 

[bert425]

Coming soon to SWSA - in the store that connects the walkway by Beluga Stadium with Sesame Street area.

not very well "hidden". . so I'm guessing they want folks talking about it.   SWSA is getting a Build-a-Bear!

i'm not gonna lie. . I'll TOTALLY do this, as i love that Hammerhead Shark "only in this store" offering!

 

[Nrthwnd]

^ I'm wondering what that sticker on their left paw, is for?

If it actually is, for something...

Hmmmm.

[AmyUD06]

38 minutes ago, Nrthwnd said:

^ I'm wondering what that sticker on their left paw, is for?

If it actually is, for something...

Hmmmm.

It's been 21+ years since I've done a Build-a-Bear, but I believe that indicates that the speech box is located there so that's where you squeeze.

[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.