Lots 'o Texas Park Questions (and then flying to FL?)

[anonymouscactus]

EDIT: I deleted my itinerary since much has changed since schedules were released and questions were answered below

Thanks again for all the comments! Now I need to know about food -- not AT the parks, but outside them.

[SharkTums]

I would also post some of your park specific questions in those threads.  Our texas park threads are pretty active and we have members visiting almost every weekend. 

[anonymouscactus]

Well, I already see a flaw in my plans. SW San Antonio does have an operating calendar and they are closed that Monday and go to daily operation the following week. Should probably do a little bit more research before posting.

 

I'll jump to the individual threads for questions as I go along.

[bert425]

just some quick input:

-- both Texas SF are year round, so to be safest plan for weekends to guarantee parks open that day (and Sunday at Fiesta is always my recommended day anyways)
SFFT will open daily in March for a week for Spring Break, and then *tend* to open daily in late April.   but check the park calendars.

- hotel in SA:  SFFT & SWSA are literally 14 minutes from each other. .it's crazy to switch hotels.   Stay at a place off the loop by SFFT, and use that as your base camp for both SFFT & SWSA (hell, I'd use it for Schlitterbahn too, as that's only ~50 minutes from the park anyways).

- extra time in SA?  recommend the Alamo (if you like History), the Riverwalk (for wonderful scenery, if you don't mind a touristy place ie: expensive food/drink/attractions. . but beautiful to walk anyways), the Hemisfair Plaza (Tower of the Americas, and farmers/artisan markets), and the San Antonio Zoo is WONDERFUL (with free parking, and some beautiful exhibits. . tho a large section of the "older" part of the zoo always tends to look abandoned and has some sad display areas - mainly the waterfowl, fish, and Bird sections).

hope that helps!

[dankeykang]

3 hours ago, anonymouscactus said:

- Has anyone purchase a platinum pass at SW San Antonio from out of state and had an issue? Based on the websites for the different SEAS parks there are weird rules for each it seems about out of state buying. I do plan on processing them at San Antonio first so that won't be an issue.

I purchased a platinum pass through San Antonio and had no issues.  I have already used it to visit SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa, and they allowed preferred parking and the dining discount at both parks (I was planning on going to Texas earlier this month... but then it snowed).  So you should be fine there.

[bert425]

as to hints:  at the moment, Wonder Woman at SFFT still is not on Flash Pass.

so I'd recommend always go that way at rope drop, to try to get rides in before the line gets nuts (ESPECIALLY if you are going to do Flash Pass, since most other things you'll be able to use that benefit for, but not for WW at the moment).

the park opens the front section (Los Fesitvales) about an hour before official park open - so get there an hour before open - the will let you get a park reservation for that time, so no worries there.
in that section, there are two coasters:  Goliath (Batman clone) and a Boomerang.  both will be operating in the time before rope drop.   If you're doing Flash Pass, you can use this hour to pick that up, and then start using immediately to bypass line on Goliath).

Poltergeist - Premier SpaghettiBowl LIM launch coaster *rarely* opens with the park.  Just keep an eye on it about 1-2 hours after open, and if you see it running, head that way.  if you DON'T have Flash Pass, try to knock this out as soon as you see it running (the line is always turtle crawl slow, even if not much of a line).  if you DO have Flash Pass?  the entrance puts you right in the station, and you can ride anytime you want.

don't miss non coasters:  Bugs Whitewater Rapids (a flume, that potentially can get you pretty moist, not from the drop tho),  Pirates of the Deep Sea (an in house dark ride, that's really good for a SF park, and has decent effects), Joker (tallest Pendulum ride, it's about the speed of the swing, not the spinning tho, so it won't spin that much, but boy  do you get some airtime at the top of the swings - also a really good funhouse queue), Hustler (a unique teacups type ride, where you are seated in enclosed poolballs), and Daredevil Dive (new inverting "plane" ride, that will officially be open by the time you visit).

Gully Washer is the park's raft ride and it potentially will SOAK you (if they have the waterfalls on).

[anonymouscactus]

Lots of great info!! Thanks so much. The "other rides" you mentioned are great to know about or plan for. The websites don't tend to stick out the diamonds in the rough easily

Also it's always good to know about staggered openings, they always tend to surprise me and ruin my original plans, lol.

As for switching hotels, if Choice does their promo of buy 2 stays get 1 free (only counts for a STAY, not night) which they may not do anymore due to the pandemic, I'm not sure, then I'll switch mid-trip just to rack up points, but you are right they are all very close to each other. Since we will have the car it wouldn't be a big deal to switch we would just take our stuff in the car and lock it up. But fair point!

Thanks again for the great info, and great to know about the San Antonio SEAS pass. Only $149 / 11.49 per month for platinum, currently, good at all the parks we will be going to later in the year.

---- Anybody know what the free PLATINUM Pass animal encounter at SWSA is? It doesn't go into any details and the animal encounter page has tons of options... some cheap, some very expensive, so I was curious of the limitations or if they just give you one, or what.
 
EDIT: Nevermind... just found that too...
https://seaworld.com/san-antonio/annual-pass/animal-presentation/

[bert425]

on the boardwalk area (where Pirates of Deep Sea is located), it's mostly "carnival" type rides. . but their version of Sizzler (called Wave Runner) runs a fantastic program (it's right in front of Pirates too), and the Tilt a Whirl (called Spinsanity) is a next gen one, that spins like CRAZY. . don't let how innocent it looks fool you, if you like spinning, you'll get off this green.

[tndank]

1 hour ago, anonymouscactus said:

---- Anybody know what the free PLATINUM Pass animal encounter at SWSA is? It doesn't go into any details and the animal encounter page has tons of options... some cheap, some very expensive, so I was curious of the limitations or if they just give you one, or what.
 
EDIT: Nevermind... just found that too...
https://seaworld.com/san-antonio/annual-pass/animal-presentation/
 

If it hasn't been answered before end of next weekend, I'll let you know for sure how it works. 

I don't think anyone has pointed out that ZDTs can be a fun side trip for a few hours near SA.

I think what you linked above is different.  From what I've been able to figure out, you have to do this in park.  When you visit, you can do one of the tours.  Go to the pass center or the animal signup place and pick your time.   I emailed the park and got this back.  Hope it's true.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for purchasing the Platinum Pass. How exciting!

 

Yes, the tour does come with a complimentary animal tour, and can be selected from one of the following programs:

Killer Whale Tour

Dolphin Tour

Penguin Tour

Sea Lion Tour

Beluga Tour

Animal Ambassador Tour

Stingray Tour

Shark Tour

 

[anonymouscactus]

Ok, yes please let me know how that goes. Seems to be conflicting info from the website vs that email. That's cool if you get to choose from any of those.

[bert425]

^ good point. . ZDT is an easy stop, especially if you're going to Schlitterbahn. . .

[tndank]

9 minutes ago, anonymouscactus said:

Ok, yes please let me know how that goes. Seems to be conflicting info from the website vs that email. That's cool if you get to choose from any of those.

What you linked is for any passholder.  As a platinum ph, you also get a free encounter from that list.  I'll confirm this weekend and let you know.

 

 

[DBru]

^Any update on how the animal tour works with SWSA Platinum pass?

[tndank]

I had no problem booking the Dolphin tour.  Do it at opening. They fill up fast.  

I ended up making 2 encounters back to back.  Time was limited.  SeaWorld called me and said it would be close and they were worried.  To help out, they picked us up on a golf cart and took us between encounters.  They were really nice at SW.  Everyone was great. 

I put more info in the SWSA thread and SFFT about my visits if you're interested. Steel Eel opened at 10, others at 11 on my visit.  No real lines anywhere in the park.  Maybe 10-15 min wait on Stingray or GW at peak time for an hour or two.  Shows seemed to fill up pretty good.  Get there about 15+ min early to pick decent seats.

 

[anonymouscactus]

Well I've made a bunch of changes now that schedules have been released. I won't bore you with all of that.

I've moved into the food portion of my planning... lol.

Need to know your favorite:
- BBQ Joint
- Tex Mex joint
- Brazilian Churrascaria
- anything else worth checking out

that is near Fiesta Texas, SW San Antonio, Schlitterbahn New Braunfels, or Six Flags over Texas.... and.... go!

Just through some initial searching...

[bert425]

Rudy's is gas station chain BBQ.  It's decent but not great.

 

Black's in New Braunfels is fantastic tho.

 

are you driving to Dallas along I35?  If yes, when you pass thru Austin, I highly recommend a stop at Baby A's - famous for their texmex and STRONG frozen Margaritas (available in 10-12 flavors, including the infamous "Purple" (made with everclear - limit 2 per customer), and take out from Franklin BarBQue (just off of 11th street) to eat later in the drive.

https://www.babyacapulco.com/ the one on Barton Springs is the one you want

https://franklinbbq.com/

there isn't gonna be anything decent near Fiesta or SeaWorld, other than chain restaurants.     Both are along loop 1604 that loops wide around the city.
You'll need to go into San Antonio proper for really good TexMex or authentic food, and there are many mom/pop places.  Just pull up Yelp and look at reviews.   If you go to the Riverwalk, the location is stunning, but most of the food is only so-so.  

This place is decent tho, and is on the Riverwalk close to the entrance that's across from the Alamo.  The portions are big, and I know the Chile Rellenos are fantastic.  
Casa Rio
https://www.casario.com/


there's also a decent Brazillian Steakhouse that's close to there too (tho over by Hemisfair plaza) -
Fogo de chao   - it's a chain, but it's good.  I don't know how it compares to the one you note above, as haven't ever tried that one.
https://fogodechao.com/location/san-antonio/

 

 

*if you're eating in the Parks: 

SFFT has good-better than decent at: Aztek Nacho, Totally Kicken Chicken (strips), and I've hear the BBQ place by Whitewater Bay (Old Blues) is quite good.
anything else is gonna be standard Theme Park Food - tho some unusual options in the Sangerfest Halle - but they are all sorta mediocre, as is the Asian food at Chop Six, and the burgers (mostly boiled) and pizza thruout the park.

SFOT - it's all substandard theme park food, at least in my experience.   We end up at Johnny Rockets in Gotham as that's the least nasty choice we can always find. . tho I hear the sit down place over by Runaway Mountain is decent (but have never eaten there, we always pass it by after looking at the menu)

I haven't been in Schlitterbahn in years, but I think you can bring in your own food?    Id just eat local outside the park (s) anyways.  (there are two separate sides to Schiltterbahen, if you weren't aware - shuttles can bring you back and forth between the two sides)
There's a really good local pizza chain in New Braunfels, called "Stouts". . while looking this up for ya, it appears they have two locations in San Antonio now. . so that's an option for above too, if you like Pizza:

https://www.stoutspizza.com/oakrun-new-braunfels-location

 

hope this helps.

bert

 

 

[bert425]

oh, and i always recommend the San Antonio Zoo for those that haven't been. . it's a lovely zoo (with free parking) and a nice way to spend a few hours.

[anonymouscactus]

Wow, Bert! You always overdo yourself! Thank you for all of that!

Locally in Buffalo we have a "Texas de brazil" chain which is absolutely one of my favorite places ever. I did go to a fogo de ciao in Orlando last time I was there. Food was good, but didn't blow me away. They also seated me in a deep dark corner and they barely came around. Very friendly but the service sucked for me. Not to say that would happen at a different one, it always gets rave reviews, just had a bad experience.

Originally I was going to stay in Texas longer, but we won't have time to go to the Zoo given the itinerary.

I don't plan on eating much, if at all, in the parks. Hold my appetite for the good stuff

We won't be driving to DFW area like I thought I might do -- the original prices I was looking at for a 1 way rental didn't include the "drop fees" which pretty much made it double in price for doing a one-way. Since the only thing I will be doing in DFW area is SFOT we are just going to take a $50 flight from SAT and call it a day. We won't rent a car in DFW since it's so close to the airport and the hotel is in-between.

Thanks again for all the suggestions I'll look into them for sure

[bert425]

^ LOL. . well, I DO live here

 

New Braunfels is only ~40 minutes from Austin (Austin is ~1:10 from San Antonio). . so might be worth your time to swing down here for Baby A's for dinner after Schiltterbahn, before you head back to the hotel in San Antonio.

*I* would