9 Things Everyone Should Do at SeaWorld Orlando

Think of SeaWorld Orlando, and you probably imagine orcas jumping out of a pool and doing acrobatic tricks in front of applauding audience members. While this is certainly an element of SeaWorld, there’s much more to this Florida attraction. Combined with its neighboring sister facilities, Discovery Cove and Aquatica, SeaWorld welcomes around 4 million guests per year and has loads of restaurants and hotels, including the Hilton Grand Vacations at SeaWorld and Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld, alongside its many themed attractions.

SeaWorld

Since 2014, SeaWorld Orlando has been divided into seven separate entertainment areas known as "seas," which you move through by foot along well-labeled pathways. Each celebrates a different aquatic theme. Here’s the breakdown on those:

Sea of Shallows: The shallow water animal exhibits in this area include Key West, a land and seascape named after the Floridian island that houses some of the sea’s most charismatic inhabitants: rays, turtles, dolphins, manatees, and flamingoes. This is where you can find the Dolphin Theater and the Manta roller coaster, as well as Dolphin Cove, which offers interactive experiences with the resident dolphins and a chance to see dolphin mothers and their calves.

Sea of Legends: This area is based around two hugely popular roller coaster rides, Journey to Atlantis and Kraken, and thrill seekers will definitely want to spend time here. The former has dark, twisting passages and a watery climax, while the latter is an even more spectacular experience, with vertical loops and corkscrews.

Sea of Ice: One of the park’s main attractions, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguins, is housed here. It’s a motion-enhanced movie that follows the adventures of a fictional penguin hero. The live penguin exhibit is also here.

Sea of Delight: Aside from the Sky Tower ride—a 400-foot-tall observation tower with a double-deck rotating pod—a mock Mediterranean village called The Waterfront is also housed here, as are the sea lion and otter viewing stations. The Seaport Theater shows the park’s only land animal show and features impressively skilled dogs, cats, ducks, doves, and even potbellied pigs.

Sea of Mystery: Shark Wreck Reef and Shark Encounter can both be found here, and are among the park’s most popular attractions. The first houses the Mako "hypercoaster," a 75 mile-per-hour ride that simulates an underwater adventure. Shark Encounter is a huge underwater viewing tunnel where the prehistoric beasts swim right above your head. The Nautilus Theater is also located in this area.

Sea of Fun: This is mainly an activity park for younger children, and has a junior rollercoaster, climbing frames, and a water play area. The park has also opened a Sesame Street at SeaWorld area with familiar characters and backdrops from the TV show.

Sea of Power: This is the most familiar area of the park, and home to Shamu Stadium, where the iconic orca shows take place. You can also find the Wild Arctic indoor arena here, which has daily presentations featuring beluga whales and walruses. Due to past controversies, SeaWorld has said that they will be phasing out these performances and their breeding program for orcas.

Discovery Cove

This is an all-inclusive resort owned and operated by SeaWorld as a sister property. The focus here is on interactive and close-up experiences, and to ensure a worthwhile visit, visitor numbers are capped via a reservations system.

The main attractions here include artificial reefs, where guests can swim, snorkel, and even scuba dive to get close to all manner of aquatic life, including a bewildering array of tropical fish, rays, and even sharks (from behind protective glass, that is). The Grand Reef has its own beach, and lagoons that are home to eels, reef sharks, and rays. There’s also a colorful aviary with parrots, toucans, and dozens of other tropical bird species.

Aquatica Water Park

SeaWorld’s water park facility opened in 2008, and is one of the country’s biggest. It’s inspired by the South Pacific, and the park’s décor and mascots are all taken from wildlife found in and around Australia and New Zealand.

Among the more notable highlights are two huge wave pools, and the park’s signature Dolphin Plunge water slide, on which guests slide through an enclosed tube through a pod of Commerson’s Dolphins. There are also two additional, bigger slides, including the drop slides of the Ihu Breakaway Falls and the multi-lane racing slides at Taumata Racer, as well as slower raft slides and a couple of lazy rivers for more relaxing experiences. Kookaburra Cove and Walkabout Waters are areas for younger visitors, with smaller slides, fortresses, and paddling pools.

What else to know before you go

• The regular retail price at the gate for single-entrance SeaWorld Orlando tickets is $99.99 per adult (including children over 3). Kids under 3 are free. Advance online tickets start at $84.99 for single entry. You can buy multi-day combination tickets with the other parks for a small additional cost. Save money by purchasing tickets and experiences in advance online.
• Bring layers. The Florida climate is usually warm (the temperature hovers around 70 degrees in the winter, and gets up to 90 degrees in the summer), but due to the air conditioning and controlled environments, the indoor presentation areas can be chilly year-round.
• Wear clothing that can dry quickly. There’s a lot of water around, and some of it will likely splash on you, especially on the water-based rides. It’s also worth packing a small towel.
• Pick up a map and make a plan. As with any theme park, it’s best to have a sense of organization, otherwise you can lose valuable time wandering around aimlessly. If the big roller coasters are on your must-do list, think about doing them first, early in the day.
• The shows are hugely popular, so arrive 20 to 30 minutes before showtime to get a good seat.
• Don’t drive if you can help it. You can usually avoid the hassle of parking and associated fees ($22 for a normal car) by using the free shuttle service that most hotels and resorts in Orlando offer. Enquire at your concierge desk.