13 of the Best SeaWorld San Antonio Tips | Easily Explained
In this guide, we will cover our best SeaWorld San Antonio tips to ensure that you arrive to the park extremely prepared, and know all of the 'hacks' to maximize your time and money.
1. Know About Quick Queue
If you're visiting during the busy season, lines for the most popular rides can form quickly.
A Quick Queue pass is essentially SeaWorld's fast pass system. It allows you to skip the regular line at an additional cost, and go to a separate & faster line.
After your purchase, you'll receive a wristband (or you can have the pass on your mobile device), which will give you access to the quick queue line.
Most Quick Queue lines bring you next to the rider loading station, rather than having to make countless loops and turns to get to the actual ride.
You can purchase this pass directly from the SeaWorld site.
2. Know the Best Time to go
As far as temperature goes, Summer is the best time to go especially in June right before the Texas heat begins to picks up.
As far as actual days to go, the weekdays are the best time to go. Monday-Wednesday will have the least amount of crowds as most visitors will plan their trip on a weekend.
In fact, most visitors from out of town arrive on a Thursday and leave on a Monday.
By going during the weekday you will deal with less crowds, and less waiting in lines.
You can read more in-depth information on the best time to go with the guide we've created using the San Antonio weather averages of the last 10 years.
3. Know About Relax and Recharge Stations
Being at the park for an entire day in the Texas sun can get exhausting. Luckily for you, SeaWorld knows this as well.
They've created Relax and Recharge stations where visitors are able to cool off, charge their phone and even catch up on their messages and social media under the shade.
These can come in especially handy for those whose battery dies quickly.
4. Get to the Shows Early
SeaWorld is known for their unique and ultra popular shows. You'll want to make sure that you arrive at least 20 minutes early prior to the scheduled show time to ensure a good seat.
Although you can arrive at/near showtime and still get in, chances are that there wont be many good seats available.
Most people arrive to the shows around 15 minutes early, so by arriving 5 minutes before the crowd, you'll ensure the seat that you love the most.
5. Look out for Splash Zone Seats
When entering a show stadium, you'll immediately see a sign in some sections and rows that says 'Splash Zone'.
This means that there's a (really) good chance that if you're sitting in those seats, you'll get soaked at some point.
If you want to get wet, be our guest and grab those seats as they fill up quickly!
If you don't want to get wet, you should move a few rows up to ensure that you and your belongings stay dry.
6. Use a Park Map on the App
When you enter the park, there will be physical park maps available that will help you plan out your visit, and figure out where everything is.
However an even easier alternative is by downloading the SeaWorld app. In this app, you can find scheduled show times, ride wait times, and of course the park map.
It will be a lot easier to pull up on your phone, rather than having to fold, store and unfold the physical map every time that you need to check something.
7. Get In Early & Start From the Back
If you're able to get to the park early (right when it opens), a great strategy is to start from the back of the park, and end towards the front.
The majority of the ultra popular rides are located in the back of the park, and most visitors will start from the front onwards.
By working backwards, chances are that these rides will be empty, and you'll be able to knock the most popular rides out of the way first and wait in minimal, if any lines.
By the time the rest of the park has made their way to the back of the park, you'll have already finished riding your favorite rides.
8. Rent a Locker
If you're planning on bringing any items, make sure that you rent a locker! Lockers can be purchased at an additional cost to store your belongings.
They are located just inside the Main Entrance and they also have lockers outside all of the rides. You can pay a one time fee per use, or purchase a pass for a few hours.
FYI, The biggest lockers are located by the entrance of the park.
This allows visitors great peace of mind throughout the day, as their valuables are safely stored and locked.
9. Know That Parking is Extra
The general parking cost is $25. You can purchase an 'Up-Close Parking' spot for $30.
The Up-Close parking allows visitors to park very close to the entrance of the park.
This initially doesn't seem like a big deal but it is definitely something to consider especially if you arrive later on in the day, as you may be parked very far away due to the park being crowded.
Walking to the entrance of the park at the beginning of the day will seem very short due to excitement, but after a long day at the park, walking back will seem like an eternity.
10. Buy Discounted Tickets
When you purchase SeaWorld San Antonio tickets online, the tickets will be cheaper, and you'll be able to skip the line and head straight to the gate when you arrive.
Your tickets are sent instantly through your email.
11. Know About the All Day Dining Plan
Eating at theme parks can get expensive quickly, especially for families.
With the All Day Dining Plan, you pay one price and eat and drink all day long.
The way it works is there are participating restaurants, and at any of those restaurants you can order an entrée and a side item once every 90 minutes.
You will receive a wristband after purchase to grant you access.
12. Don't Forget to Bring These Items
Going to a theme park can be stressful, but don't overthink it. Just make sure that you are bringing the essentials by going through our checklist below.
- Your Admission Tickets
- A Valid Driver's License or ID
- Credit Card
- Sun Screen
- Phone Charger
- Extra Change of Clothes
- Water bottle or Refillable Water bottle
As far as what you can bring inside of the park, you're not allowed to bring outside food, beverages or coolers, however you can bring a water bottle or refillable water bottle to the park.
You can refill your water bottle at water fountains or soda machines.
13. Protect Yourself From the Heat
Although we covered the essentials above, here are some additional steps that you can take in order to protect yourself from the heat.
Consider bringing any of these items.
- Sunscreen
- Hats/Sun hats
- Mini portable fans
- Cooling towels
These items can provide a tremendous cooling benefit, and you can purchase any of these items quickly off of Amazon at a low price.
The one thing to note is that you'll want to make sure that you don't go on any rides carrying any of these items. Don't lose your hat!
Related Articles
What to Bring to SeaWorld San Antonio
SeaWorld San Antonio's Quick Queue: Everything You Need to Know
Hotels With a Free Shuttle to SeaWorld San Antonio
SeaWorld Camp San Antonio | What's Included?
SeaWorld San Antonio Season Pass & Annual Pass | Simply Explained
Is SeaWorld San Antonio Worth it?
What is SeaWorld Howl O Scream?
The 7 Best San Antonio Theme Parks
SeaWorld San Antonio Annual Pass: Everything You Need to Know