Best Things To Do at Sea World Orlando
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A great day at one of Florida’s “other” parks.
Sea World Orlando Guide: (Jump To)
Sea World Orlando debuted in 1973, just two years after the grand opening of Disney’s Magic Kingdom. In addition to the main park, guests can also spend a day at Aquatica, Sea World’s waterpark, or at Discovery Cove which features unique animal experiences.
Before arriving at the park, we recommend downloading the park’s official App. There you will find park maps and showtimes.
Tickets To Sea World Orlando
It’s best to purchase your tickets online in advance of your visit. Doing so can save you as much as 50% versus buying at the park entrance. If you're planning to visit multiple Sea World parks, there are combination tickets available.
If you’re interested in an animal encounter, you should purchase and reserve this in advance. You can interact with penguins, dolphins, beluga whales, and even sharks. Prices for these encounters range from USD$20 to $100
Parking at Sea World Orlando is USD$30.
Sea World Orlando Discounts
Discounts are available for Florida residents.
Active military personnel can get one free ticket for themself and up to three dependents once per year. Veterans receive a 50% discount.
Other discounts are rare, but give it a Google search just to be safe.
Sea World All-Day Dining Deal
A pretty great deal offered by the park is the All-Day Dining Deal. For about $40 you can buy the pass that entitles you to a meal every 90 minutes that includes an entree, drink, and a side or dessert.
Technically everyone in your party should get their own dining deal, but between you, me, and Shamu, no one is checking if you’re sharing.
Shows at Sea World Orlando
When you arrive at the park, pull up the Sea World app to check showtimes for the day. It’s best to decide what you want to see and plan your other activities around the shows and encounters, as most happen only once or twice per day.
The three biggest shows feature Sea Lions and Otters, Dolphins, and Killer Whales. The large stadium shows are usually more of a spectacle entertainment show with some conservation information sprinkled in.
Throughout the day at most animal enclosures, you can find park zoologists, naturalists, and other knowledgeable park staff giving scheduled and unscheduled feedings and talks about the animals in the park.
There is also a Sesame Street parade scheduled at least once daily.
Roller Coasters at Sea World Orlando
The park has four pretty good roller Coasters. The newest, Ice Breaker, opened in 2022. The bright orange coaster is alongside the lagoon. It boasts the steepest drop of any coaster in Florida and has an impressive four launches.
The fastest, tallest, and longest coaster in the Orlando area is Mako. The shark-themed hypercoaster opened in 2016 winning the award of the best new ride from the Golden Ticket Awards.
Kraken is a sea-monster-themed coaster that flips you upside down seven times. Manta is themed after sea rays. The unique design of the ride tilts the chairs back and then holds you in a flying position for the duration of the ride. Both coasters are loads of fun.
The park’s newest coaster, Pipeline, simulates riding a wave with a 110 foot launch at 60 miles per hour.
Water Rides at Sea World Orlando
One of the best rides in the park is Journey to Atlantis. It is a combination water ride and rollercoaster with indoor and outdoor portions. The ride has some unexpected surprises.
Infinity Falls is the park’s rapids raft ride. The thrills on the ride are minimal, but it’s a good way to cool off on a hot Florida afternoon.
Sea World Orlando for Kids
There are loads of rides for kids at the park. Sesame Street Land has a full day’s worth of activities to entertain the little ones. Plus kids have the chance to meet their favorite Sesame Street characters.
Sky Tower at Sea World Orlando
The park’s iconic Sky Tower is a long-time favorite for visitors as it is one of the few attractions that has been in the park since its original opening. Annoyingly, they recently started charging an additional fee for a ride to the top.
Animals at Sea World Orlando
The penguin exhibit, in an intricately themed Antarctica area, is always a favorite. They have five penguin species hanging out in a deeply chilled indoor area.
Nearby, the Wild Arctic exhibit has some GIANT walruses and unique beluga whales.
There are huge tanks where you can see killer (orca) whales and dolphins from above and below. There is also a tank full of manta rays.
The popular sea tunnel takes you through the shark encounter.
Unique to the Florida park is the Manatee Rehabilitation Facility. You can view the animals and learn about Sea World’s efforts in Florida to help these rare animals.
Other Sea World Parks in the United States
Feel free to check out our tips for visiting Sea World San Antonio and Sea World San Diego.
