Saving Money at Sea World

We are all about being outside with the kids. We go to parks, play grounds, the back yard and Sea World.  Living so close to Sea World has been a blessing. My husband and I have had annual passes for the last 10 years, we are just getting to the point where we need a pass for my son and we have a while before we need to get one for my daughter.

I was thinking today about all the ways I save money when we go to Sea World and I wanted to share a few with you.

Snacks – Be sure to pack snacks for the day. Items such as individual drinks for the kids, snack-sized packages of food, fruits and veggies are all good choices. Full-sized containers are not allowed, but the smaller-sized portions are perfect for grab and go eating while walking around and taking in the attractions.

Souvenirs – Okay, because my kids are so little this is easy for me. It may get a little more difficult as they get older. What I do (and this was a hint from my friend, Nicole) is pay $3 each for them to “play” a game. They choose a plastic stingray from the water with a color on the bottom. That color corresponds to a prize, usually a smaller stuffed animal. It’s just the right size for their hands and I’ve only spent $6, instead of $15+.

Specials on Feeding the Animals – Today there was a special for feeding Sea Lions, Stingrays and Sharks. $10 to feed all three. Trays of 4 fish are usually around $4 – $5 each. And, I must tell you – we LOVE to feed the Sea Lions. It’s always the first thing we do when we get to Sea World.

All Day Food Pass – Sea World has a service that allows you to eat at different restaurants throughout the day and only pay the one fee. Personally, we have not used this service because we usually stay only about 3 hours each time we go. If we decide to spend an entire day, then this is something we will definitely look into trying.

Fun Pass – Once again, if we didn’t have the annual pass this would definitely be the way to go. Buy a one-day ticket and then come back for the rest of the year. This isn’t available all the time, but it’s a good deal when you see it.

Annual Pass – If you go to Sea World more than a couple times a year, you want to invest in the Annual Pass. Annual Pass holders get perks like discounts on food and retail items. Some Annual Passes also include free parking, which is really a budget-friendly perk.

I hope some of these tips help you with saving money at Sea World, or another theme park. Remember that rules do change, and to check with the theme park for their most up-to-date listing.