SFWOA Marine park question

Quick question for you buckeyes. It looks like I will be in northern Ohio for the July 4th weekend and are thinking about going to SFWOA. I have a good idea what to expect regarding the rides. However, the girlfriend is a huge Sea World fan. My question is the marine life section still similar to its former Sea World past, or has Six Flags changed things around to a great extent?

Similarly (if slightly off topic) were debating going to the Columbus or Cleveland metropark zoo one day. Any consensus which one is better? Thanks in advance for the help.

They added two walkways, a few flatrides, and the Six Flags banner/logo around. That is pretty much all that changed. July 4th weekend the Seaworld gates and lot should also be open.

------------------
Please visit the small parks. We don't know what's happening behind the scenes
Woodencoaster.com

Columbus Zoo is far better. They just opened a new African ride-through exhibit. And if you're lucky you might see Jack Hanna walking around .... heh. Well, you'll see a photo of him, that's fer sure.

Plus, it shares a parking lot with (Six Flags) Wyandot Lake, so if you have a pass you can get in free and credit-whore Sea Dragon.

As far as SFWoA is concerned, last time I was there, the "Sea World" section was barren and deserted, full of sad-looking animals.

------------------
A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.
*** This post was edited by Den 6/25/2003 2:18:42 PM ***

They have made changes, but all for the good as far as I'm concerend. I went over there last year for the first time in about 10 years (I go to the ride side on a regular basis) and spent about 6 hours there. I think they are still in the process of "socializing" the new whale but the show was still entertaining and filled the whole stadium. It was just a hughe trip down memory lane.

As far as the zoo is concerned, I havent been to CMPZ in forever and have never been to Colombus Zoo. But I can't see how it would be that much better than CMPZ to drive an extra 2 hours for. *shrugs*

Well, I haven't been to a lot of zoos in my life (actually none outside of Ohio), but I know that Columbus Zoo is renowned as one of the best in the nation, up there with San Diego. I've never heard much about Cleveland's zoo.

------------------
A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.

If your gonna be in NorthEast Ohio id say got to Cepar Point Instead, SF WOA does have some decent rides but all in all the park is a dump, and If you want to ride any rides you wont have time to go see the animals due to the long queue lines that dont move, on the other hand cedar point is like an hour or so west of SFwoa and have a far far better collection of ride, no animals though, go to the Cleveland, Columbus, or Cincinatti Zoos if ya wanna see animals. I have been to Cleve, Cinc, and Colu zoos in the past and there all about the same and all are said to be some of the better ones in the nation, they all have over 700+ species of animals.

CP has animals. I got attacked by a giant seagull there on Sunday.

------------------
A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.

CP also has that petting zoo with the turkey who always gives me a dirty look... I'm gonna get him one of these days.

------------------
Missing the Fallen:
King Cobra 1984-2001
The Bat 1981-1983

Last time I went to the Columbus Zoo, the grizzly bears were pressed up against the glass display window doing the nasty. Lucky my nephew didn't ask, 'cause I didn't want to explain...

------------------
A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.

Thanks for the help. Were probably going to be in Columbus anyway so we may check that zoo out. I've already been to CP and if Im going to drive all the way there -I'd want to do it right by staying on-site and go for a couple of days. Never been to SFWOA and just wanted to hear about the marine part since the girlfriend loves sea world.

Fxnib said:
If your gonna be in NorthEast Ohio id say got to Cepar Point Instead, SF WOA does have some decent rides but all in all the park is a dump, and If you want to ride any rides you wont have time to go see the animals due to the long queue lines that dont move.

That's funny, the last time I was there on a weekday I rode almost every ride in the park, the Batman 15 times, saw the penguins, the sharks, 2 shows, a 3D movie, and still had time left over. SFWoA is empty this year, you'll be fine. I hope you enjoy your trip. The Sea World side's landscaping is beautiful just like it used to be. It is really nice compared to the rides side.

They won't be empty 4th of July though.

------------------
Please visit the small parks. We don't know what's happening behind the scenes
Woodencoaster.com

I miss all aspects of Busch Entertainment owning Sea World. MY Grandfather retired from Anhieser Busch in 1999 and he and still does get 12 free Busch tickets to any Busch park. If sixflags wants to make in Ohio they need to clean up there crap. Seaworld was extremely clean and well kept the park went through extreme cleaning each night i miss the parking lot trams and the great shows. Busch entertainment makes all of there parks look number one look at Busch Gardens Willaimsburg my cousin worked there for four years and i have been going there since i was born its my 17th year this year. That parks is so nice and clean i could eat of the floors. Six Flags needs to retheme and bring the park together as a whole. The park needs to buy all the land around the lake and completely over haul the park to make it one. Even today you can still tell where seaworld was because the Busch Side is nicer. It is time for major changes there they need to make them quick other wise the will fall and fall hard.....

You haven't been to BGT then because frankly....what a dump.

------------------
UnfrigginbelievablyIncredible

Why do you guys give him all these other options when he asked about SFWOA marine life park?....if he wanted to know about the Columbus Zoo or CP he would have asked about thing to do in norther ohio..

ANYways : the marine life side has plenty to do and SFWOA is now doing a Fire works show nightly starting at 9:45....Go to this site to find out alot about the park.....SFWOA: an unofficial guide.com
*** This post was edited by ryan C 6/25/2003 6:53:51 PM ***

He did ask about the Columbus Zoo

------------------
UnfrigginbelievablyIncredible

Rick, i don't know if you know anything about the SWO operation, but BEC isn't all that. SWO not only ran in the red (because of all the extra labor that is "needed" to keep it looking so great), but the place was really rather dumpy. About average clean or worse and all rather dated. For the money the park spent on staff i would expect a whole lot more.

Clearly WOA and GLP wasn't the cleanest park, there were bad years; but the big but here is that the park was run on a shoestring budget and wasn't allowed to spend on that kind of upkeep. Both parks needed and still need a lot of attention.

As for the wildlife, there is a new tiger show and zebras along witht the standard whale and variety show. The penguin, sharks and aquarium haven't changed at all. For the most part it still looks and acts like old SWO over there (since almost all of the management is still on payroll). Even if it is a bit less crowded ;) As far as the fourth, if the weather is off then there won't be anyone there. If it's nice it will probably the busiest of the season.