April meeting @ Sea World - Moved to May 3rd

[Chris]

Okay guys.. here's the final word on this meeting. April 26th turned out to be booked before we could get a confirmation, so it's been moved to May 3rd.

The time:
Early morning at 9AM!
We'll be there before the park opens so get there on time to start the tour. 8)

The place:
Rear entrance of Sea World
I'll try to find a map with details on how to get to the employee entrance parking.

As Jeremy said...

We have arranged this so thats its not just the generic ooh look at the underwater mammals, but we will be meeting with the guys that manage the Reef aquariums there and have degrees. After that we go play in the shark tank , and pet the stingrays, and see all the dolphins and such.

There will be two seperate plans for going.

$10(plus tax) will get you in the door to enjoy just the tour(season pass holders still have to pay $10).
$30(plus tax) will get you in the tour, and the rest of the park for the day.


It would be fun if we could get a lot of people to stay at the park for the day. After the tour we could have a meeting to go over any other topics or just socialize.

You can bring your family, friends and we can all hang out, or just split up into groups and meet back up to eat. It'll be a fun-filled whole day event. ;)

We're required to pay with a single check or money order, no cash. I can write out the personal check, but since it's not coming from a business account, we're required by law to pay sales tax.

So...

$10 tickets will come to $10.75
$30 tickets will come to $32.25

I'll bring change, but if possible please bring the correct amount with you. If you have a PayPal account, you can send payment early and not have to worry about it later by sending the correct amount, non-credit card funded payment to admin@maast.org


Additional Directions:

http://www.maast.org/seaworld-map.gif

From: Downtown San Antonio
Take I-37 South to Highway 90 West. Exit Highway 151 West. Turn left on Westover Hills Blvd. Westover Hills Blvd. will take you directly to SeaWorld's entrance. Head left before entering the main entrace and continue to follow the park til you come to the employee entrance parking lot. We'll all meet there!

From North: Airport Area
Take Loop 410 West to SeaWorld exit. Exit Highway 151 West. Turn left on Westover Hills Blvd. Westover Hills Blvd. will take you directly to SeaWorld's entrance. Head left before entering the main entrace and continue to follow the park til you come to the employee entrance parking lot. We'll all meet there!

From South: Corpus Christi, Pleasanton
Take I-37 North, exit to Highway 90 West. Exit Highway 151 West. Turn left on Westover Hills Blvd. Westover Hills Blvd. will take you directly to SeaWorld's entrance. Head left before entering the main entrace and continue to follow the park til you come to the employee entrance parking lot. We'll all meet there!

From West: Del Rio, Uvalde
Take Highway 90 East to Loop 1604. Turn left on Loop 1604. Turn right on Ellison Drive. Follow Ellison to SeaWorld's entrance. Head left before entering the main entrace and continue to follow the park til you come to the employee entrance parking lot. We'll all meet there!

From East: Seguin, Houston
Take I-10 West, which will become Highway 90 West. Take Highway 90 West to Highway 151 West. Turn left on Westover Hills Blvd. Westover Hills Blvd. will take you directly to SeaWorld's entrance. Head left before entering the main entrace and continue to follow the park til you come to the employee entrance parking lot. We'll all meet there!

From: Austin
Take I-35 South to Loop 410 West. Exit Highway 151 West. Turn left on Westover Hills Blvd. Westover Hills Blvd. will take you directly to SeaWorld's entrance. Head left before entering the main entrace and continue to follow the park til you come to the employee entrance parking lot. We'll all meet there!

[RedDragon]

well my votes in me and a friend for the day can't wait sounds like lots of fun, I love the shows they put on at Sea World, even tho I have not been there in about 6 years :-o

[Chris]

I think more than likely i'll be spending the whole day there too and bringing my g/f. 8)

[RedDragon]

man now that MAAST is growing we keep having our meetings at cooler and cooler places :-D

[reefer]

26th would fit into my schedule! i'll be buzy on 19th. :-D

[DeletedAccount]

If we do the 19th, I will bring hubby and munchkin. If we do the 26th, I am bringing munchkin only.

[Sherri]

The 26th looks good for me & hubby... :D

Sherri

Do I need to bring my scuba gear???? :angel:

[Chris]

Do I need to bring my scuba gear???? :angel:

Only if you plan on feeding yourself to the shark tank. :-D

A snorkel and mask couldn't hurt though to go swimming with in the water park.

[Janice]

I think more than likely i'll be spending the whole day there too and bringing my BF.

[nunamakt]

We have a season pass for our family so we'll bring everyone (all 5 of us)

Sounds like fun! I hope to meet everyone.

Tom

[Chris]

Welcome to the group Tom. :grin:

[Pernelf]

Would probably be able to go either weekend but the 26th is better. It would probably be me and 3 others. :)
For the tour and whole day pass.


Leslea

[Sherri]

Was wondering if anyone realized that the 19th falls on Easter weekend... :? for the SeaWorld thingy.

Sherri :rotf:

[Chris]

Was wondering if anyone realized that the 19th falls on Easter weekend... :? for the SeaWorld thingy.

Sherri :rotf:

Doh! Didn't notice that... so does that make it easier for people since they're more likely to have the day off, or harder?

I'm still hoping for the 26th... results tomorrow.

[nunamakt]

Thanks Chris. Glad to be here. Either weekend is OK for our family. We're all excited to see the tour and meet the group. :D

[Sherri]

Don't know about anyone else...but I've gotta go outta town for Easter. That's why I was thinking of the 26th... :skeezy:

Sherri

[Chris]

Well... bad news. The 26th is completely booked. We could still go for the 19th... or a Sunday.

Any suggestions?

[Pernelf]

May?

[Triggerman]

since its comming pretty quick we might want to see what might be available for either the first or second week of may and this will give others a good advance notice.

[kakfish]

Chris,

I spoke to Joe Keyon @ Sea World. This is a little different look at the situation.

The tour or meeting would take place in September when the park is closed. It wouldn't cost the members or the club anything to attend. We could also hold our meeting on the viewing side of the exhibit after the tour. I'm not sure about the dolphins but the aquarium and what ever is inside would be on the tour. We can always ask about the other stuff. Also, I believe, the regular tour is taken is small groups of 5-10 and if we go with the September tour we would all go at once. You do get the people that take care of the exhibit on the regular tour. We would get Joe Keyon ( Head Curator of Fish ) or his assistant Page. He said he would be happy to do it.

There was also some discussion about meeting there on a regular basis during Sea Worlds winter season, at no charge, in the aquarium viewing room.
I know this is a long way off, but if we can't get a paid tour appiontment, I would be happy to stay in touch with Joe and make arrangments for September.

Ken
<'///><

[Chris]

Ken that's awesome! We'll definately have to take advantage of that offer.

I believe for this months meeting though we're going to have to have it bumped back to May 3rd. Just waiting on confirmation now. They already know how big of a group to expect (approx. 40) so i'm hoping this will be a fun trip.

;)

[kakfish]

Good deal.

I would enjoy attending on the 3rd.

Ken
<'///><

[nunamakt]

The 3rd sounds great. Is there a regular meeting location yet or does it change every month?

[Sherri]

Welcome nunamakt...May 3rd sounds great to me too and the offseason meetings is even greater! Thanks for all the work in making it happen...looking forward to it.

Sherri :rotf:

[Jeff Post]

I like May 3rd also and think the idea of having meetings there during the off season would be great. Thanks Ken!

[Chris]

Okay guys... meeting details updated. Please note the time! The poll has also been reset so don't forget to vote.

8)

[Jeff Post]

If you have a Sea World pass do you want us to vote in the $10 or $30 catagory.

[Chris]

Added another option just for you Jeff. ;)

[phage]

Book me for two, me and my lady will be there all day long.

[Chris]

Another update as far as payment goes.

We're required to pay with a single check or money order, no cash. I can write out the personal check, but since it's not coming from a business account, we're required by law to pay sales tax.

So...

$10 tickets will come to $10.75
$30 tickets will come to $32.25

I'll bring change, but if possible please bring the correct amount with you. If you have a PayPal account, you can send payment early and not have to worry about it later by sending the correct amount, non-credit card funded payment to admin@maast.org

Chris

[Sherri]

I've got two others coming besides me for the tour only...

Looking forward to it...

Sherri

[adaminaustin]

I am new to MAAST, and would love to go on a sea world reef tour. Put me and my g/f down as two all day.
P.S. nice to be here :fish1:

[captexas]

Hey Josh - quit picking your nose! Gets the keyboard all sticky! :-D

I'm probably just going to make the tour and that's it.

Chris

[Tim Marvin]

Welcome aboard Adam!

[z28pwr]

Won't be able to make it May 3rd will be in Diving Lessons. Hope somebody takes pictures.

[nunamakt]

I'm bringing my wife and three children (ages 10,12 and 16). Four of us have season passes so I'll be buying one pass for my oldest son and the tour for all of us. I'll send a paypal payment.

I'm excited to meet everyone. Its fun to get back into the hobby after an extended time away. Many things are the same, but some definite improvements (power compacts, refugiums, etc).

See you on May 3rd!

[captexas]

Chris -
Add one more to the list, my little sister wants to go and check out the tour with me.

Also - is there anything we need to know about parking (cost and where)? and where to meet at?

Chris Parker

[captexas]

We're meeting at Sea World

DUH! :-D I figured that much Josh! lol

I meant, where at Sea World as it is a rather large place. I take it the main gate so we can all pay for the tour?

Chris - do we have to pay for parking for the tour as it is early in the morning? I wasn't sure if the park is open yet at that time and would charge us.

[Sherri]

From what I understand, Cap...we're meeting at the employee entrance for the tour. At the front main gate of SeaWorld, take a left instead of straight ahead. This road will take you around to the employee entrance. But I don't know about the parking situation.

Go to this same thread (Page 1) the directions are there as to where you will be coming from & where to meet.

Sherri :D

[imported_admin]

Sorry guys... it's on the front page of this thread and in the email I sent out (Did everyone get the email?).

We're meeting in the REAR/EMPLOYEE ENTRANCE!

Parking is free back there. ;)

[Sherri]

Yeppers...I got it. :rotf:

Sherri

[Chris]

Man, page 1 was a long time ago! :o Thanks for clearing that up.

(don't you hate when you forget you're logged in as admin?)

What!? Forget? Me?

I was uhhhh... trying to raise the admin postcount. :lol3:

[Chris]

Shhhhhhh... don't tell everyone.

I guess it's apparent though that I found a bug and i'm unable to delete the extra's. :oops:

[rocketeer]

Hi,
I'm new to the hobby. I'd like to go to Sea World with you all. Do I need to become a member of your club first?
Jack :roll:

[Chris]

Hey Jack, welcome to the group! 8)

For now... your online presence is your membership. We haven't gotten to a point of dues paying membership just yet.

You're more than welcome to come to the meeting this Saturday and bring your friends/family (or by yourself). Just be sure to bring the proper amount of $ for your entrance/tour fee's which can be found on the first page of this thread.

Chris ;)

[Tim Marvin]

Jack, you posted, that makes you a prefered member.....eligible for all the great discounts, prizes, and benifits this club has to offer! Welcome aboard and congratulations on joining the best, fastest growing club in all of San Antonio and surrounding areas! Don't forget to get in on the great deals offered by members on "GROUP ORDERS" and "the trade and sale" forums! This is truely hobbiest helping hobbiest at it's BEST!
Again, WELCOME ABOARD! :twisted:

[RedDragon]

welcome Jack! :-D

your just in time this is going to be in our top ten best meeting, oh wait the top 3, hehe :-D

[rocketeer]

Thanks for the hospitality! :D
I like the hobbiest helping hobbiest part because I would like to put together a reef aquarium with little or no impact to natural reefs. Then share some of the life that I help create. I may be asking some questions in another thread.
Jack

[Bucky-Katt]

Just regeistered today. I'm going to try and make the meeting on the third. Sounds like it is going to be a blast.

I've been browsing the site for the past couple of days, found some good info and I have to say I really like the friendly environment.

Hope to see y'all Saturday.

Brian

[Sherri]

Welcome Jack & Brian...Looks like there's gonna be some new members at the Sea World meeting. Great! Looking forward to meeting you. This is a very helpful & great group of people to share and learn from. Welcome aboard.

Sherri :rotf:

[witecap4u]

Chris,

Is the tour going to be basically the standard tour listed here
http://www.4adventure.com/seaworld/tx/aaa_animal_tours.aspx or is it a special maast tour? My inlaws are thinking about tagging along for the tour, but are curious as to what is all involved in it.


cs

[Brett Wilson]

I'm going to have to miss this one for sure, I am moving tomorrow :-\

-Brett