Was planning a Disney-centric Christmas vacation but your trip report made me realize that my family (teenage kids) would much rather do Seaworld and Aquatica part of the time. So much cheaper than Disney during that time as well.... Thanks so much!
Can you provide more details about the free dining? What restaurants do you recommend? Do they provide soft drinks, desserts?
Take care. Great photos!
How much was the Seaworld framed ones?
Loved photo of your DH with Shrek and you looked adorable in ponytails!
Hi reinamama,
SeaWorld and Aquatica are great places to take teenagers. If given the choice, my DS would rather spend a day at SW than a Disney park (or at ANY waterpark over them all! Teens love to swim
).
The free dining at SeaWorld is awesome. It includes all the quick service restaurants (Mango Joes, Seafire Inn, Voyageurs, Terrace Garden Buffet, the Spice Mill, and Seaport Pizza). We have eaten at the first four and enjoyed them all, though I think top marks go to Voyageurs (which serves great barbecue) and the Seafire Inn, and we would probably not return to Terrace Garden (the pizza was "okay" but nothing special). Your all-day dining provides drinks (non alcoholic, so you can get soft drinks, bottled water, coffee, tea, etc.) and desserts (chocolate cake, carrot cake, cookies, pudding, etc.). You can get one entree, one drink, and one side (which can be dessert or a fruit cup or french fries or a side salad or a giant pickle or whatever ..... it doesn't necessarily have to be a dessert) each time through the line, and you can go through the line as many times as you want throughout the day
. The all-day dining also includes breakfast, which is served at one restaurant only each day (it varies which one....when we went, it was at Voyageurs). Again, even for breakfast, each time through the line you get one entree (scrambled eggs, homefries and bacon, or french toast sticks and sausage, etc.), one drink (milk, juice, coffee, hot chocolate, etc.) and a side (muffin, croissant, etc.). And if you want just a drink or a snack, you can go through the line just for a bottle of water or a soda and some strawberries....you don't necessarily have to get the full entitlement each time through. So its yummy and flexible and truly unlimited....we love it!
Aquatica's all day dining is at the Banana Beach Buffet. A little different than SW where you have multiple options....at AQ, its all-day access to one buffet location. All food must be consumed in the seating area next to the buffet, but you can come and go as often as you like. They had barbecued chicken, pizza, fresh rolls, hot dogs, pulled pork, brownies, watermelon.....your basic picnic food. Nothing spectacular but something to please everyone. While we much preferred the food quality at the quick service location, the Waterstone Grill, the Banana Beach Buffet was perfectly acceptable and didn't leave any of us hungry.
We purchased a CD of our SeaWorld photos for $40. It had about 30 pictures on it from various locations throughout the park (the Polar Express, the entrance to the park, inside the snow globe, etc.). Its not something they advertise, but if you keep all your photo claim cards and turn them all it at one time (for pictures taken within a 7 day period), they will burn you a CD of all the photos combined. A much better value than paying for just one pic. And then we got wonderful matching frames for $5 each which were themed for the Polar Express and SeaWorld Christmas Celebration. I believe that single 6 x 8 photos are about $15 if you purchase a print, so the CD is a great deal.
LOL, I hate having my hair up. It kills me when I have to tame it, but for that airboat ride, it was an absolute necessity. My boys had great fun documenting the moment, because its a rare opportunity for them to catch me in my more "unnatural" state
. They are a devious pair, those two.
Let me know if you have any other questions I can help with.
But with five kids, driving is usually cheaper, plus we can hit some our other favorite places on the way, and we enjoy it. Barring breakdowns, that is. 
Although we usually have a pretty good time even then. 
. Enjoy your trip, and stay tuned....in about 30 days, I should have another trip report in progress, God willing! 
,
). The RI is an official hotel of SeaWorld, where Floridays is a partner hotel, so the guest benefits will differ slightly. I will be interested to hear your thoughts after giving Floridays a try 
