SeaWorld Orlando's Future Plans

[IzzyB]

Did WNW have annual passes? If so, I'll bet they will all be offered VB APs at the same price for a limited time.

Yes they did, buy one day and get the rest free or buy one day + parking and get the rest free. So $58 or $95.50 with parking.

Aquatica is $108 with parking

Disney is $110 and there parking is always free so of course it includes parking

It seems all of the water parks run around $57 or $58 a day, so I imagine VB will have the same daily price point. I also imagine their annual pass will fall around the $110 mark too. They may like you say have an opening price special around $95 for locals. Price point all the parks seemed around the same price, but WNW all seemed to have a different crowd than the other parks. Also, it seems Disney is really the best value because it is $110, but you get two to select from. However, I know more locals with Aquatica passes than anything else. Of course I surely am not in the WNW demographic. I only know one person that had them and as soon as Aquatica opened up they switched over to Aquatica as they were older then and said they couldn't take the WNW crowd type anymore. So my real question is do they WANT the WNW crowd? If not they may just start at $110 and not try to pull the WNW people in.

 

[anihilnation]

Yes they did, buy one day and get the rest free or buy one day + parking and get the rest free. So $58 or $95.50 with parking.

Aquatica is $108 with parking

Disney is $110 and there parking is always free so of course it includes parking

It seems all of the water parks run around $57 or $58 a day, so I imagine VB will have the same daily price point. I also imagine their annual pass will fall around the $110 mark too. They may like you say have an opening price special around $95 for locals. Price point all the parks seemed around the same price, but WNW all seemed to have a different crowd than the other parks. Also, it seems Disney is really the best value because it is $110, but you get two to select from. However, I know more locals with Aquatica passes than anything else. Of course I surely am not in the WNW demographic. I only know one person that had them and as soon as Aquatica opened up they switched over to Aquatica as they were older then and said they couldn't take the WNW crowd type anymore. So my real question is do they WANT the WNW crowd? If not they may just start at $110 and not try to pull the WNW people in.

WNW had multiple annual passes, but they got axed last year and replaced with the fun card type pass, probably because they knew they were going to close WNW anyway. But before they had a weekday annual pass, a regular annual pass and I think in the weekday they also had the choice of with or without parking, can't remember now.

I think VB will go for $120 APs, though I hope you'll either be able to add it to your regular Universal pass (a la seaworld) or being a Universal passholder will give you a discount.

 

[Mad Dog]

Yes they did, buy one day and get the rest free or buy one day + parking and get the rest free. So $58 or $95.50 with parking.

Aquatica is $108 with parking

Disney is $110 and there parking is always free so of course it includes parking

It seems all of the water parks run around $57 or $58 a day, so I imagine VB will have the same daily price point. I also imagine their annual pass will fall around the $110 mark too. They may like you say have an opening price special around $95 for locals. Price point all the parks seemed around the same price, but WNW all seemed to have a different crowd than the other parks. Also, it seems Disney is really the best value because it is $110, but you get two to select from. However, I know more locals with Aquatica passes than anything else. Of course I surely am not in the WNW demographic. I only know one person that had them and as soon as Aquatica opened up they switched over to Aquatica as they were older then and said they couldn't take the WNW crowd type anymore. So my real question is do they WANT the WNW crowd? If not they may just start at $110 and not try to pull the WNW people in.

Agreed. My bet is that they don't want the Wet & Wild demographic. Can't see them offering a $58 without or$95 with parking rate to a demographic they'd rather not have.

 

[anihilnation]

I think one of the big problems with WNW was people just dumping their kids there, that an security never seemed as good there. Just never felt Universally

 

[IzzyB]

WNW had multiple annual passes, but they got axed last year and replaced with the fun card type pass, probably because they knew they were going to close WNW anyway. But before they had a weekday annual pass, a regular annual pass and I think in the weekday they also had the choice of with or without parking, can't remember now.

I think VB will go for $120 APs, though I hope you'll either be able to add it to your regular Universal pass (a la seaworld) or being a Universal passholder will give you a discount.

I can't imagine them pricing themselves out of the Orlando Market. They will be around wherever Disney and Aquatica are at their opening point. Right now that is $108 and $110. If they go above Disney annual pass they will have a hard time pulling any locals in. Why would you pay more for 1 park vs. 2 parks. I think it is why Aquatica sits $2 less than Disney.

Also, there is no way they don't offer an add on for their Annual pass holders. Both Sea World and Disney offer annual passes that have the water parks included.

I get that VB is ground breaking when it comes to water parks, but everyone has to remember the general public won't understand or get that until they go. So they need to price themselves at a point where the locals will try them. Then later down the road if they are pulling in a good amount of locals they can price themselves higher. But honestly I don't see that happening. The parks all really try staying around the same price as each other.

 

[anihilnation]

I can't imagine them pricing themselves out of the Orlando Market. They will be around wherever Disney and Aquatica are at their opening point. Right now that is $108 and $110. If they go above Disney annual pass they will have a hard time pulling any locals in. Why would you pay more for 1 park vs. 2 parks. I think it is why Aquatica sits $2 less than Disney.

Also, there is no way they don't offer an add on for their Annual pass holders. Both Sea World and Disney offer annual passes that have the water parks included.

I get that VB is ground breaking when it comes to water parks, but everyone has to remember the general public won't understand or get that until they go. So they need to price themselves at a point where the locals will try them. Then later down the road if they are pulling in a good amount of locals they can price themselves higher. But honestly I don't see that happening. The parks all really try staying around the same price as each other.

What I wonder about adding it to your existing pass, will everyone be able to do so? If memory serves me right Disney has the waterparks only on the most expensive pass. Anyway, being a power pass holder (I don't drive so I don't need free parking) I hope that every pass would have the option of adding VB.

After thinking some more about it, I think you are correct on the AP price, especially since (I assume) the Disney price is for both waterparks. I think that when WNW had their regular AP it also was about $100.

 

[SeventyOne]

I'm not convinced this will be the case. Universal will do something at the parking garage to lure locals. Perhaps discount parking for VB ticket holders or even sell tickets and discount the parking right in the garage.

It's not the idea of paying for parking--Aquatica charges too, unless you have a cheap AP--as much as having to hustle your small children and all the things that come with them onto a tram/bus. I think the ability to leisurely stroll into Aquatica--and get back to your car quickly at the first clap of thunder--will be a selling point to locals with younger kids.

VB will dominate among tweens and teens, but Typhoon/Blizzard already win that market over Aquatica anyway.

I am still holding hope for a Dine with the Volcano Gods show at night and do some spectacular things with the erupting mountain and scantily clad "native" dancers.

Cool idea, but 99.44% of guests don't equate "water park" with "dinner." Aquatica initially stayed open until 11 in the Summer. Would go to capacity by 10 am every day--and then empty out by 6:30 (when still light out!). It's a huge psychological barrier.

 

[SeventyOne]

What I wonder about adding it to your existing pass, will everyone be able to do so? If memory serves me right Disney has the waterparks only on the most expensive pass. Anyway, being a power pass holder (I don't drive so I don't need free parking) I hope that every pass would have the option of adding VB.

After thinking some more about it, I think you are correct on the AP price, especially since (I assume) the Disney price is for both waterparks. I think that when WNW had their regular AP it also was about $100.

Up until recently, highest WDW AP had both water parks, along with Disney Quest, PI (back in the day) and 365 access. Or a pass just to both water parks ran like $110. IIRC, adding water parks to your AP basically meant you got DQ free, maybe an extra $10 savings. I think it's fair to say a WDW water park AP runs a little over $100.

 

[IzzyB]

What I wonder about adding it to your existing pass, will everyone be able to do so? If memory serves me right Disney has the waterparks only on the most expensive pass. Anyway, being a power pass holder (I don't drive so I don't need free parking) I hope that every pass would have the option of adding VB.

After thinking some more about it, I think you are correct on the AP price, especially since (I assume) the Disney price is for both waterparks. I think that when WNW had their regular AP it also was about $100.

With Disney old structure most people that would do water parks had the annual pass and it made sense to upgrade to premium if you wanted to water parks. With their current structure it makes less sense because of the price increase on the higher end pass. So you would just get a separate water park. But Uni is structured a little differently than Disney to begin with. But I don't think there will be a power pass add on. I think it will be an option for the 2 higher pass. The reason being is the black out dates don't work with the water park and if you are going to the water park and parks you are going to want parking. So just like Sea World didn't have a fun pass aquatica add on, you probably won't see a power pass add on. But I see 5 levels of passes for Uni. Power pass, preferred, preferred plus (includes water park), premium, and premium plus (includes water park). Then when they move to a 3rd gate with a water park I see them redoing their passes all together and it will move to a similar Disney structure.

But on that note, I imagine for power pass people you can get the water parks for $110. Now the parking part is going to be interesting because then you would have free parking. So who knows how they will work that out.

 

[Nick]

Cool idea, but 99.44% of guests don't equate "water park" with "dinner." Aquatica initially stayed open until 11 in the Summer. Would go to capacity by 10 am every day--and then empty out by 6:30 (when still light out!). It's a huge psychological barrier.

Yep.

I used to go to Adventure Island a lot in the summers when I lived near Tampa and instead of staying much past 5-6, we'd always leave and go to Steak n Shake. If i'm at VB, i'd likely leave and go to Ale House or pretty much anywhere that isn't theme park pricing for dinner.

Although with the amount of on-site guests they'll have, I can see it potentially working with a smallish "Spirit of Aloha" type offering like Poly does.

 

[Teebin]

Yeah, I guess it is equally plausible that they don't want the locals at all. Why are we talking about this in the Sea World thread?

 

[IzzyB]

Yeah, I guess it is equally plausible that they don't want the locals at all. Why are we talking about this in the Sea World thread?

Because someone said VB would eat into Aquatica attendance. lol

 

[Teebin]

Because someone said VB would eat into Aquatica attendance. lol

Aaah, thanks. I don't think VB will eat at the other parks directly, but as part of an entire resort experience Universal will eat at days spent at both Disney and anywhere else. There will be no reason to leave the resort. That will hurt the others bottom line.

 

[IzzyB]

Aaah, thanks. I don't think VB will eat at the other parks directly, but as part of an entire resort experience Universal will eat at days spent at both Disney and anywhere else. There will be no reason to leave the resort. That will hurt the others bottom line.

Agreed. The more well rounded Universal is the more they will get people staying on site and not going to Disney or Sea World.

 

[WAJAS]

Looks like that Orlando is getting the jeep ride because San Diego is getting th bay marine one.
'Ocean Explorer' Will Take Visitors Under the Sea in 2017

 

[UNIrd]

Who's getting the Wave Runner ride? That's the one I want.

 

[anihilnation]

Who's getting the Wave Runner ride? That's the one I want.

San Antonio gets the family coaster.
I think it's quite likely that Orlando will get a family coaster as well one day.

 

[Scott W.]

San Antonio gets the family coaster.
I think it's quite likely that Orlando will get a family coaster as well one day.

They still have the Shamu coaster for the time being.

 

[anihilnation]

They still have the Shamu coaster for the time being.

Can't really consider that a family coaster though, it's even more tame than Hippogriff
I think that eventually they'll get MACK family coaster, maybe a launched one in the vain of San Diego's Manta.

 

[IzzyB]

Can't really consider that a family coaster though, it's even more tame than Hippogriff
I think that eventually they'll get MACK family coaster, maybe a launched one in the vain of San Diego's Manta.

Agreed, Shamu is a kiddie coaster. They do need a family coaster that has a 40" height restriction. But the problem with Sea World is they seem to always have higher than needed height restrictions. So a 40" to them won't be the same intensity as a BTM.