Florida help

I will be in Orlando/Tampa the first week of March. I know that I'm spending one day at IOA and one at BGT, but I am debating between SWF and USF as my third park. I liked BKF at SFWoA quite a bit, so I'm guessing that I'd enjoy Kraken as well, but I don't know that much about the other non-coaster offerings at either park. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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Doesn't it seem as though morons always have the caps lock on?

I would definately go to Sea World.  I was there a few years ago so Kraken wasn't there, but I hear its a great ride.  The other major ride was there when I went, Journey to Atlantis.  This is a flume/water chute ride.  It is my favorite water ride anywhere.  It has great theme, a few great drops, and an incredible surprise at the end, the best water ride moment I've ever experienced.  Other than those, there are great shows and other interactive things.  You can pet sting rays, throw fish to screaming seals (or is it sea lions?), and lots of other stuff.  USF was ok, but it mainly has simulators.  I'm not for simulators, but if you are a huge fan of them then you should try USF.
Zimm
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Theme Park Brochures and Maps

*** This post was edited by Zimm on 1/25/2002. ***

If you liked B:KF then you'll love Kraken. It's a definite must ride. Understand though that SWF has only 2 rides (three if you count the "simulator" in wild arctic). A day at the park involves a few runs on Kraken, a ride or two a on JTA and a whole lot of looking at animals. USF doesn't have the big coaster but overall there's more to ride, much of it quite entertaining.

I'm a huge Kraken fan though and I personally would be going to SWF.

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www.coasterimage.com

We went to Florida the first week of March last year, and the three parks that we hit were IOA, SW, and BGT. 

I would definately pick Sea World.  Like mentioned above, not counting the Wild Arctic simulator, there are only two thrill rides... but what two they are!   Kraken  is one incredible coaster to say the least. While not as "intense" as its big green neighbor at IOA, it packs its share of thrills along with being one of the most graceful coasters I have ever seen.  Also, beeing so smooth and with early March lines very short, it is very re-ridable.  Just make sure that there are not high winds when you visit... when we visited there were high winds and they were not running Kraken because of that. Thank goodness they were upgrading tickets from one day to two days at no extra charge so we caught it after we returned from the Tampa area a few days later. 

Journey to Atlantis is one incredible water ride... or is it a coaster... or is it both?  What ever you want to call it, it is one great ride.  We got soaked, and even though it was Florida, it was March and it was chilly, however that did not stop us from riding JTA 4 times.

As for the rest of Sea World... I have never seen a more beautiful park (edging out its sister BGT only slightly).  There are plenty of shows and animal exhibits to see... and even if you do not wish to sit through the shows, several of the tanks have "underwater" viewing areas where you can get a good view of the animals in an aquarium like setting.  One thing to note... with Wild Arctic Simulator... the simulator part of it is the weakest... but the walk through animal exhibits at the end more than make up for it.  I mean where else can you have such a close encounter with a polar bear, beluga whales and huge walruses under one roof (that is a dead ringer for the arctic twilight)?

Okay... so this is more of a trip report than an answer. Bottom line... Sea World impressed the heck out of me on my visit. 
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"I wasn't always this cynical, but then I started kindergarden..."

*** This post was edited by SLFAKE on 1/25/2002. ***

Well, I went to both parks last year and you can see my trip reports for a fairly detailed run down of both (the USF is longer because the rain chased us from SWF :))

USF ( http://www.coasterbuzz.com/forums/thread.asp?ForumID=13&TopicID=5194 )

SWF ( http://www.coasterbuzz.com/forums/thread.asp?ForumID=13&TopicID=5155 )

Now I LOVED Kraken. Definitely in my top 5 steel (#4 to be exact), but if you've never been to either park, I'd pick USF. There is just more "interactive" things to do. In SWF, basically all you do is 'observe'. But @ USF you 'experience'.

In fact the ONLY reason I could be swayed to pick SWF is the free beer....mmmmm...beeeerrrr!
lata,
jeremy
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Besides, if we were really shutting down people we disagreed with, would Jeremy (2Hostyl) still be around? :) I think not. - Jeff 1/24/02

I'm hearing a lot of love for SWF, but USF is definitely a park that deserves a visit...even if the only coaster is a kiddie ride.  I'm not even much of a "movie person", but Jaws, Twister, the Hitchcock thing, MIB, Back to the Future, T2-3D, even Kong, etc., it's all pretty good.  If you've never been before, USF is pretty cool - not really a multi-visit park, IMO, but we usually try to stop by for a spin or two on MIB on our O-Town trips (of course, the annual pass allows us that kind of freedom).  If it's one park OR the other, and you're primarily into coasters, then SWF probably is the better pick...

BTW, 2hostyl, LOVE the new sig...alomst as good as FREE beer, LOL...

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PoTP acolyte - remove fear to reply
Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

*** This post was edited by rollergator on 1/25/2002. ***

It depends upon what you like:

If you like animals- pick Sea World. I wan't impressed with Kraken at all (except the nice first drop).

Pick USF if you've never been to a Universal Studios (and try to return in October for USF's Halloween Horror NIghts!).

If you get a Universal ticket that allows you to "hop" between the parks, you can easily hit the highlights at USF (Men in Black and Terminator) first thing in the morning and then spend the rest of the day at IOA. (it only takes a few minutes to walk between the parks… if crowds are really light you can practically do everything at both parks in one day)