Post by jdmcowan on Jul 27, 2006 0:45:29 GMT -6
We just got back from a trip to San Diego and I thought I would get on and tell all about it. We didn't do much sightseeing. This trip was 100% for David (our 9 y/o) and we didn't do anything that we didn't think he would enjoy. We spent a couple days at Legoland and a couple days at SeaWorld. I did go jogging along the sea and took some great pictures with my cellphone. If I can figure out how to get the pictures off my phone maybe I'll post a few.
I'll start with SeaWorld, because I don't have much to say. The animals were great and we loved seeing them. The shows, however, were mostly dull. The Shamu show, in particularly, seemed like a waste of our time. The sealion show was the only show that was really worth it. The park was extremly crowded. Reminded me more of Taste of Chicago than of any amusement park I've ever been to. There are two rides, so I think it should really be tauted as a very commercial zoo/aquarium rather than as an aumusement park. And the lines for the two rides were approaching two hour waits for 3 minute rides.
Legoland was a much better park. It's designed for young kids, so if you don't have any pre-teens, skip it. Teenagers may even have a good time, but a 9 year-old is in heaven! Skip the breakfast: for extra money you get into the park 1 hour early and get a simple all-you-can-eat breakfast. Except there are only three rides open so unless you take a long time to eat, you've done everything pretty quickly. There were no lines before noon, so it was easy to get a lot of rides in, even without the breakfast.
The ride that I thought was coolest was the Knights Tournement. This ride is a chair on the end of a multi-articulated arm that can turn you in any and every direction. You set the thrill level. Level 1 pretty much does swings and spins (no upside down). Level 5 is high speed turns, drops, and loops (almost all upside down).
David's favorite area was the new Pirate waterpark area. He especially liked the Splash Battles ride which is similar to most water rides, except that it's slower and the boats are mounted with water cannons and the track doubles back on itself so you can shoot other boats.
And when the parents need a break, there are plenty of areas for the kids to stop and build with Legos. Kids under 12 must be accompanied, but the parent can sit at the side of the room and veg. Begoña and I actually took turns napping during these times. But I had a lot of fun helping David to program a "mars rover" to accomplish various missions on a terrain table.
And the best part of all: David fell right to sleep every night.
Jeremy
I'll start with SeaWorld, because I don't have much to say. The animals were great and we loved seeing them. The shows, however, were mostly dull. The Shamu show, in particularly, seemed like a waste of our time. The sealion show was the only show that was really worth it. The park was extremly crowded. Reminded me more of Taste of Chicago than of any amusement park I've ever been to. There are two rides, so I think it should really be tauted as a very commercial zoo/aquarium rather than as an aumusement park. And the lines for the two rides were approaching two hour waits for 3 minute rides.
Legoland was a much better park. It's designed for young kids, so if you don't have any pre-teens, skip it. Teenagers may even have a good time, but a 9 year-old is in heaven! Skip the breakfast: for extra money you get into the park 1 hour early and get a simple all-you-can-eat breakfast. Except there are only three rides open so unless you take a long time to eat, you've done everything pretty quickly. There were no lines before noon, so it was easy to get a lot of rides in, even without the breakfast.
The ride that I thought was coolest was the Knights Tournement. This ride is a chair on the end of a multi-articulated arm that can turn you in any and every direction. You set the thrill level. Level 1 pretty much does swings and spins (no upside down). Level 5 is high speed turns, drops, and loops (almost all upside down).
David's favorite area was the new Pirate waterpark area. He especially liked the Splash Battles ride which is similar to most water rides, except that it's slower and the boats are mounted with water cannons and the track doubles back on itself so you can shoot other boats.
And when the parents need a break, there are plenty of areas for the kids to stop and build with Legos. Kids under 12 must be accompanied, but the parent can sit at the side of the room and veg. Begoña and I actually took turns napping during these times. But I had a lot of fun helping David to program a "mars rover" to accomplish various missions on a terrain table.
And the best part of all: David fell right to sleep every night.
Jeremy
