I see you have to buy tickets seperatly from the admissions ticket, is it wise to buy a head of time? are these rides hard to get on? I would like to try the sky ride,but the others are for kids over 42 inches which will not do for my boy who is 41 inches tall. Are ride lines bad here or can we get on pretty fast? thanks
P.S. best time to get there at the park, or get onto this ride, and hows crowds lately?

I just got us all tickets for breakfast with shamu ( a suprise for my daughter since it will be her birthday the next day) I am sure she will be thrilled and we plan on bringing our video camera, I just need to know now if buying ride tickets are needed a head of time or easy to obtain and easy to get there. we do not want to have to stand to long in the lines to get tickets if it would be better to get them ahead of time,. thanks

Karla, I'm sorry I don't have any answers for you, since it's been about 2+ years since my last visit, and some of the rides weren't there yet. I can't imagine, though, that you'd have a lot of trouble getting ride tickets while you're there. As with all parks, try to get there at opening. Also, on the motion simulator ride (it's Arctic something...I can't remember), if your son isn't tall enough, there's also a walk through portion where you can see the polar bears, etc., and experience the theming of the ride without actually being on the ride (at least that's the way it was 2+ years ago).

Have a great trip! Hopefully someone else who's been to Sea World recently will respond before you leave for your trip! There are quite a few San Diegans who post here.

I see you have to buy tickets seperatly from the admissions ticket, is it wise to buy a head of time?

There are only two rides that you would have to buy separate tickets for (and there's no way to get them ahead of time), and that's the skyride (sky buckets sorta like Disneyland used to have) and the sky tower, which is the circular thing that just goes up and spins slowly so you have a good view. I forget the actual prices, but I know there's a slight discount if you buy a ticket to both. The skyride tickets are available right near the entrance to the ride, and the skytower tickers are available at the base of the tower. Of course, if you were to buy the combo ticket, you wouldn't have to get in the ticket line at the second location. I've never seen the line to be spectacularly long at either ride. Everyone has to pay to go on those two rides, except for those with platinum passes, for whom the rides are free.

There are only three other rides in the park, and all of them are included with admission. Journey to Atlantis is the new water-based ride, and Shipwreck is another water ride. I do believe both have height restrictions. Wild Arctic has a ride as well that's like Star Tours, but I can't remember if there's a height restriction. In any case, there's a "non-moving" version that just shows you the same video that you can go through before you get to rest of the exhibit.

Have fun!

There are only two rides that you would have to buy separate tickets for (and there's no way to get them ahead of time), and that's the skyride (sky buckets sorta like Disneyland used to have) and the sky tower, which is the circular thing that just goes up and spins slowly so you have a good view.!
http://commerce.4adventure.com/store/dept_tickets.asp?ShopperId=97VWV8ASCR4J9HW2EXQTATB GF6HP31H8&Token=FDIFJEMDKDLFDDH&dept_id=201

this is the link to buy the tickets, I am debating now if I should just go ahead and buy them since its just as easy to have them before hand. thanks **Karla

One drawback about buying the tickets in advance, one or both of the rides can be closed due to High Winds (Yesterday the Sky Ride was closed). I would wait and see which rides are operating before buying the tickets, there is hardly ever a line for tickets, and the booths are right next to the rides....

Good advice darkbeer, thanks much I will wait until we get there, is the rides pretty crowded in August? Like disneyland? Thanks again **Karla

Not really, usually just a few minute wait.... the 2 pay rides have been around for years, and are low capacity... that is the reason that SeaWorld charges for them, to keep the lines down.... On occasion, in the off-season, if one or two major show facilities are down for refurb, they will offer the rides for free, but during the off season, it doesn't create much of a line.....

There is a AAA Discount on the Skyride/Sky Tower combo. Gets it down to like $2.50 for the set. Usually around $5 for the set, $3 for a single ride (if I recall correctly).

http://commerce.4adventure.com/store/dept_tickets.asp?ShopperId=97VWV8ASCR4J9HW2EXQTATB GF6HP31H8&Token=FDIFJEMDKDLFDDH&dept_id=201

this is the link to buy the tickets, I am debating now if I should just go ahead and buy them since its just as easy to have them before hand. thanks **Karla

Oops, sorry, I didn't realize they'd started to offer that online. In any case, I really don't think it would be a problem to just buy the tickets when you get there. The longest I've ever waited to buy a ticket/get on the ride is probably 10 minutes.