Archive for the 'SeaWorld San DIego' Category
Best summer deals: Southern California theme park discounts
May 23, 2009 7:49am
With the Memorial Day Weekend marking the unofficial start of summer, here’s a look at the best deals at Southern California amusement and theme parks:
Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure (Anaheim) — Three-day summer fun pass for $99 after June 1. Check out Mouse Planet for the most complete list of Disneyland discounts.
Universal Studios Hollywood — Six-month pass for $60 starting June 15.
Knott’s Berry Farm (Buena Park) — All-you-can-eat barbecue, plus admission for $37.99 for adults and $28.99 for children and seniors. Weekends only.
More Southern California theme park deals after the jump.
2009 shaping up as a low-key year for California theme parks
May 4, 2009 8:03am
Disneyland sets the pace for theme parks in California. And with the Happiest Place on Earth taking a breather on major new attractions in 2009, the rest of the state’s amusement parks are following suit, opting for smaller fare this year over multimillion-dollar additions.
The lone exception: Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia adds the $11-million Terminator Salvation, a 2,850-foot-long wooden roller coaster which opens Memorial Day weekend with movie tie-in visual effects and a loading station fly-through. (Watch POV video)
A roundup of 2009 additions at California amusement and theme parks:
* Disneyland rehabbed the “It’s a Small World” boat ride in February, adding 29 Disney characters and a new “Spirit of America” scene to the mix. The Anaheim theme park also debuted the Celebrate parade in March and bundled a series of nighttime shows under the Summer Nightastic banner (running from June 12 through August 23).
* Across the way at Disney’s Construction Adventure, the five-year-long $1.1-billion overhaul has begun in earnest, with the Ferris wheel getting a new Mickey Mouse theme (opens in May).
* Universal Studios Hollywood brings “Creature From the Black Lagoon” to the stage in July as a campy Broadway-style musical (I kid you not) with special effects, dance choreography and romance (still not kidding).
* Legoland California unveiled a new “Bob the Builder” 4-D movie in March. The 30-foot-tall Dune Raiders racing slides opens at the Carlsbad kiddie park in time for the Fourth of July weekend.
* Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park offers absolutely nothing new of note for 2009. Here’s hoping they’re saving up for next year.
Photos: Cute baby penguins at SeaWorld San Diego
January 5, 2009 4:30pm
Thirty penguin chicks have been born at SeaWorld San Diego since mid-November, marking one of the most successful breeding seasons in the marine park’s history.
The newborns include 7 macaroni penguins, 6 gentoo penguins and 17 Adélies penguins.
See more penguins after the jump.
Family Travel: Second day free at San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park, SeaWorld San Diego & Legoland California
August 8, 2008 11:14am
How long has it been since you’ve taken the kids to any of the theme parks in the San Diego area? I’m always curious to know which park kids under 10 like best — the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Park, SeaWorld, or Legoland? Now we’ve found a deal so good you’ve got the incentive to take them to more than one.
Deal: The Second-Day Free deal is an online-only special, and each theme park has its own rules as to how many days you have to use the second-day pass, or if there are any blackout dates. Note that the deal is not offered on the parks’ websites, but on various travel websites. I’ve linked below to San Diego Attractions, one of the sites I like best.
San Diego Zoo: Regular adult admission (ages 12+) is $34 per day and children (3 to 11) are $24 per day. By booking online your price becomes $31 for adults and $22 for kids and includes the second day free, good for zoo admission and unlimited use of the Guided Bus Tour, Express Bus, and Skyfari Aerial Tram. The second day must be used within five days of the first visit. The offer is good through Sept. 1, 2008.
What’s cheaper? SoCal Travel Deal Quiz for July 30, 2008
July 30, 2008 11:18am
Here’s a fun little quiz to test your travel deal knowledge. Answers appear after the jump.
1. Is it cheaper to fly from Los Angeles (LAX) to New York (JFK) on JetBlue, Southwest or Virgin America?
2. What costs more, valet parking at Century City or taking the Metro from Union Station to Century City?
3. Is it cheaper for a family of three (two adults and one child) to go to the San Diego Zoo or SeaWorld?
4. Which has higher gas prices, Santa Monica or Glendale?
5. What costs more, a five-star hotel in Las Vegas or in Santa Barbara?
Stay away from California theme parks on the Fourth of July
July 3, 2008 9:19am
Personally, I would never go near a theme park on the Fourth of July. Unless you like wall-to-wall crowds, endless lines and unforgiving heat, I think it’s best to make other plans.
But if you insist, here’s the details on Independence Day festivities on July 4, 2008 at California amusement parks:
Disneyland (Anaheim): Replaces normal fireworks show with an all-new, 20-minute “Celebrate America” at 9:25 p.m. (More details at Mouse Planet.)
Knott’s Berry Farm (Buena Park): Tour guides in colonial dress lead visitors through the Independence Hall replica building. “All-You-Can-Eat Backyard BBQ” included with $39.99 admission. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Legoland California (Carlsbad): “Red, White and Boom!” fireworks show choreographed to an American musical tribute at 8:30 p.m. Plus, help build a Lego American flag.
SeaWorld San Diego: Extended fireworks display with a patriotic music at 9:30 p.m. Also: The park switches on the red, white and blue Skytower “Tree of Lights.”
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Vallejo): Season passholders can purchase $10.99 tickets online for a Fourth of July picnic from 5-7 p.m. that includes VIP seating for the fireworks show at 9:30 p.m.
Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia): All-you-can-eat BBQ buffet from 4-7 p.m. included with $44.99 admission. Must order online 24 hours in advance. No fireworks.
Ex-gas-perated? San Diego hotels offer incentives for you
June 30, 2008 10:10am
What with gas prices climbing ever higher, I guess it’s no surprise that hotels everywhere are trying to keep you on the traveling road with fuel-related incentives. Yesterday, I gave you deals north of Los Angeles; today, we head south, to San Diego, where gas cards have surpassed free breakfasts as the deal-component de rigueur. Following are a few hotels with these specials.
Paradise Point Resort & Spa: At this Mission Bay hotel, which I like for its greenery, (sometimes chaotic) family-friendliness and occasional good deals, guests get a $100 gas card and free parking with a four-night stay. Rates start at $249 per night (pre-tax). Book via the “Packages & Offers” page, or if calling, ask for the “Fuel for Fun” package.
Vote for the best new California amusement park ride of 2008
June 23, 2008 1:02pm
Now that summer is upon us, it’s time to pick the best new California amusement park ride of 2008. (VOTE HERE)
And before you say you can’t possibly compare this ride to that ride, or “I haven’t ridden everything yet” … just vote for your favorite already! It’s an online poll, not a presidential election!
Best new ride in California for 2008
> Firefall thrill ride (California’s Great America — Santa Clara)
> Pony Express horseback coaster (Knott’s Berry Farm — Buena Park)
> The Simpsons Ride simulator ride (Universal Studios Hollywood)
> Tony Hawk’s Big Spin rotating coaster (Six Flags Discovery Kingdom — Vallejo)
> Toy Story Mania dark ride (Disney’s California Adventure — Anaheim)
> X2 roller coaster (Six Flags Magic Mountain — Valencia)
And after the jump, vote for your favorite among the new kiddie lands.
Read the rest of this entry »
A new roller coaster for SeaWorld San Diego in 2010?
June 3, 2008 3:27pm
Plans for a new thrill ride expected to open at SeaWorld San Diego in 2010 show a launched indoor/outdoor steel roller coaster with slower dark-ride elements and a backward drop, according to a layout of the proposed attraction acquired by Screamscape, a theme park website.
The new ride would be located atop the existing Flamingo Cove area of the marine park between the Mission Bay 4-D Theater and the Shipwreck Rapids white-water raft ride.
Screamscape compared the linear induction motor (LIM) launch ride to the Revenge of the Mummy coaster at Universal Studios Hollywood.
SeaWorld San Diego declined to confirm or deny plans for a 2010 roller coaster.
“While we’re always evaluating concepts for potential new attractions, we don’t discuss upcoming projects prior to making an announcement,” said SeaWorld San Diego spokesman Dave Koontz.
SoCal amusement park attendance stays flat in 2007
March 14, 2008 3:14am
Attendance at Southern California amusement and theme parks remained flat for 2007 with Disney’s California Adventure experiencing a significant decline in visitors, according to figures released by Themed Entertainment Assn. and Economics Research Associates.
Disneyland in Anaheim continued to rank second worldwide with 14.9 million visitors in 2007, a 1% increase over the previous year. Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, retained the international crown with 17.1 million visitors, a 2.5% increase. As usual, Disney theme parks claimed the top eight spots worldwide.
In Southern California, the major amusement and theme parks saw attendance remain flat or decline — except for Disneyland, which added the Finding Nemo submarine ride last year. Read the rest of this entry »
