For over a year, we had annual passes to SeaWorld. They offer the preschool pass each year to Florida residents for kids who are 5 years old and under. So, we took advantage of this and only needed to buy annual passes for my husband and myself. It is a great deal and once I learned how to have the best experience at SeaWorld, we had a great time. But the key was learning how to have the best experience, and it is by being fully self-sufficient. SeaWorld is not Disney, so do not go into the experience thinking they will have the same customer service. And to be clear, this post is about SeaWorld, not Discovery Cove or Aquatica. Discovery Cove is AMAZING and I will write a separate post on that.
In this post, I want to talk about pricing, the lessons I learned along the way, my favorite things to do, what my recommendations are to have a great experience, and my typical park day itinerary. Now, let’s jump into the details!
Pricing
As I mentioned, you cannot compare SeaWorld to Disney in terms of customer service. Disney wins by a landslide. But SeaWorld’s pricing is much more affordable than Disney. We utilized the Florida resident preschool pass (for kids 5 and under) and only had to buy two annual passes. We purchased the silver annual passes so we could get the free general parking, and they were about $200 each.
As a family of 5 (granted my youngest was a baby), we were able to enjoy SeaWorld for about $400 for the year. In addition to free parking, our pass also included a 20% in-park discount and 3 free guest tickets (this is per pass so 6 total). Also, throughout the year, they would give us additional benefits such as additional guest tickets. I loved the guest tickets, it allowed me to bring family or friends with us. The annual passes also included admission to their seasonal events at Halloween and Christmas.
So, for Florida residents, I do think it is worth doing this for at least a year before your oldest turns 6.
A single day ticket starts at $59.99 and a two-day, two-park ticket is $50/day.
Lessons Learned Along the Way
In the process of figuring out how to have the best experience at SeaWorld, I learned a few lessons along the way.
App, Park Map & Show Times: When we entered the park on our first day, my first order of business was to find out the showtimes of the Dolphin show. I LOVED the dolphin show growing up and wanted to make it a priority for the day. So, I looked for a park map because I remembered that they listed the times for each of the shows but could not find one. When I asked an employee about it, they said they do not print maps and advised that I reference the app. Given that this is SeaWorld, I completely understood and loved that they are advocating for that.
So I went to the app but could not find the showtimes. And when I am trying to figure this out on the fly with 3 kids, I was getting frustrated. So, I asked someone. Unfortunately, our conversation went along the lines of me asking where the showtimes are, them telling me they are in the app, me saying that yes, I have downloaded the app and can’t find them, and the employee stating that they are in there, not being able to provide further guidance, and walking off.
But in the spirit of maintaining a positive attitude, I decided to head towards the dolphin stadium to see what the times were as they also list the showtimes at the entrance for each of the shows. The showtimes were listed there and we were able to pick what time we wanted to go. All was well. When I got home later that day, I took the time to figure the app out and was able to locate the showtimes for our next trip. So, I recommend downloading the app ahead of time and getting the lay of the land. This is also the best place to access your annual pass or tickets as well.
Parking: Before getting our annual passes in 2024, we tried to go to the Seven Seas Food Festival in September 2019 with family who were in town and my youngest who was 10 months at the time. On our drive there, we made it to just past Discovery Cove and then the right lane (where we needed to be) was at a complete standstill. It ended up taking us about 90 minutes to get to the parking attendant and we were able to confirm that yes, the standstill was people waiting to get into the park. It was not that far so to take an hour and a half was crazy. Plus, waiting for that long with a 10-month-old was not ideal. I learned in that experience that if I ever went to SeaWorld and ended up in a line that long again for parking, it was best to turn around and go home. The benefits of being an annual passholder are that I can come back another day.
Parking always moved slowly each time I went but I learned to get there as close to park opening as possible. At that time, there would be fewer cars and it was manageable. One time we went to the Halloween party and got there about midday. It was so busy, we had to park in the extra parking lot across the street. That had me nervous because I knew that the park was going to be crazy, and it was. Parking always became my first indicator of what kind of day it was going to be.
Food: Our worst experiences have been trying to get food. And it wasn’t that the food was bad but that it took SO long to get. Our first time, we got in a food line and the line moved really slow. So, the next time, we tried a different restaurant and saw a long line. Next to the long line, I saw a sign that said mobile order. There was what I thought was my lightbulb moment to do mobile order instead…wrong. I did the mobile order and I had to prepay, only to find out that the long line WAS for the mobile order. Turns out you have to wait in line to tell them that you’re there, then they cook the food for you, and you have to wait for it to be ready. And when I looked over to the regular line, it only had a few people in it. I was very frustrated.
My husband and I were close to walking away from $70 worth of food and going home. But he jumped in line and I took the boys to the sea lion show to try to distract them from how hungry they were. After the show, my husband was thankfully walking out with our food. As we sat down to eat, he announced to me that we would never be coming back. I said let’s not go that far but we would not be getting lunch there again.
Moving forward, I always packed a lunch and lots of snacks and this worked great! As long as I didn’t need to wait in any lines to try to buy something, everything went smoothly. If you’re out of town and can’t pack a lunch, I recommend picking up Chick-fil-A or something on the way.
If you must eat in the park, try the pizza place near Sesame Street or reserve one of the dining experiences. The pizza place doesn’t have a lot of seating so on a busy day it can fill up. But this is where a Go Skoot picnic blanket would come in handy. Then you can find a spot anywhere! For dining experiences, they have the Orca one and shark one. We never did those so I can’t speak to them but with it being a reservation and sit down experience, I think these would be a great option.
Further into our annual pass, my kids wanted ice cream one of the times we went. My initial thought was absolutely not, there is no way we are waiting in a line here. But then I thought well maybe it will move quickly. It didn’t…it in fact moved very very slowly. So after 5 minutes of me assessing the situation, I knew we had to get out of that line. My kids were upset but there was a candy store across from the ice cream shop so I said you can each pick something out in there. I thought that surely that would move quickly. I was wrong again. I waited in line for almost 30 minutes for their piece of chocolate and it was not a long line. It just moved slow.
My Favorite Things to Do
Ok, now that we have talked about the negatives, let’s jump into some of the things I love at SeaWorld. There is a lot to see and do there, so you will want to prioritize the things that matter to you.
Shows
Dolphin Adventures: I absolutely love the dolphin show and this needs to be a must do on your list. Of all the shows, if you only go to one, make this one it.
Orca Ecounter: They have redone the show and stadium since I used to go as a kid and have done a great job. I feel like it is a SeaWorld staple that everyone should see but personally, I still like the dolphin show better.
Sea Lion Experience: This is such a fun and entertaining show, your kids will love it. But I would rank it as #3 for shows. So, depending on your priorities and what you have time for, you may not be able to make it work.
Sesame Street
If you have young kids, Sesame Street is wonderful. This was really a great addition for SeaWorld when they added this.
- Elmo’s Choo Choo Train (Height requirement is 36” or children under 36” need to be accompanied by an adult): This is a train that drives around on a track so it is a great option for kids who are not ready for some of the other rides.
- Super Grover’s Box Car Derby (Height requirement is 38”): This is a kids roller coaster that goes pretty fast. Even as an adult, I think it’s fun. So while the height requirement is only 38”, I would also keep in mind whether you think your child would like it or not. It was one of my oldest child’s favorite.
- Abby’s Flower Tower (Height requirement is 42” to ride alone or must be accompanied by an adult): This has buckets I guess you could call them that are shaped like flowers and go up in the air and spin around.
- Slimey’s Slider (Height requirement is 42” to ride alone or must be accompanied by an adult): This ride goes back and forth and is really a lot of fun. All of my kids liked this one.
- Cookie Drop (Height requirement is 42” to ride alone or must be accompanied by an adult): This is a mini version of a ride that drops. My older two really liked it. I rode it with them and the drop felt bigger than it looked. So this may not be for everyone.
- Sunny Day Carousel: This is a carousel and a great ride for the whole family. We went on this one every time because my youngest loved it too.
- Rubber Duckie Water Works & Play Area: This is a splash pad area. We never did this because my favorite time to go was in the winter but if you are here in the summer, I’m sure this is packed. But pack a change of clothes if you’re going to do this.
In addition to the rides, Sesame Street also has a fun parade, character meet and greet opportunities with Elmo and Cookie Monster, and story time with Big Bird. They also have a play area that has a shade over it and is a perfect place to let you kids run around and play.
Attractions
Shark Encounter: This is one of my kids favorite things to do. You walk through a massive aquarium filled with sharks and fish. Before you get to the aquarium, you are able to learn about sharks and see other sea creatures. It is also indoors and air conditioned so if it is hot, this is a good place to head.
Penguins: In the Antarctica area of SeaWorld, they have a spot you can go see penguins. We love to do this and it is another good spot to go if it is hot outside because it is very cold in there.
Stingray Lagoon: Close to the dolphin show is Stingray Lagoon. Here, you can pet stingrays. For additional cost, you can also feed them if you would like to.
Manatee Rehabilitation Center: This is one of my personal favorites and has been since I was a kid. I love manatees and this taught me so much about the dangers out there for manatees and what we can do to protect them. In this area, you can see manatees and learn all about them.
Dolphin Nursery: We love this spot and always stop by it. You can view the young dolphins and they have even come right by the glass to see the kids and they thought that was so cool.
Sky Tower: Unfortunately, this is closed pretty frequently so I was never able to bring my kids on it. But growing up I went on this all the time and loved it. So if it is open while you are there, you may want to check it out. There is an additional cost and it does require you to wait in line so…do so at your own risk 😊
Rides: Our kids are too small for the rollercoasters and other rides, so we have not done them. But the rollercoasters that were there when I was young are so much fun. And from what I hear, SeaWorld really does a great job with their thrill rides. So if you’re able to, I think these rides would be worth doing.
Halloween & Christmas Events: One great thing with SeaWorld is that these events are not separate ticketed events. Now, they are not nearly on the same level as Disney, but the kids enjoyed them and they don’t cost you hundreds of dollars.
These are our personal favorites but for a full list of attractions, you can check out SeaWorld’s page.
Recommendations to Have the Best Experience
Now that we have gone through my lessons learned and my favorite things to do, let’s talk through how to have the best experience at SeaWorld because I hope that you do! Remember, the key is to be self-sufficient while you are there.
- Get there early – park opens at 9 and I always arrived within the first hour of opening to avoid long lines to park
- Download the app ahead of time to access your tickets, look at the times of the shows, and plan out your day
- Pack lunch, snacks, and water for the day
- My favorite time of year to go to the park is January and February; I understand that may not be feasible for people coming in from out of town. But if you are a local, I highly recommend it. In January, we had zero wait times for the rides at Sesame Street.
- If you think your child might need a stroller, bring it. It is a lot of walking just to get into the park from the parking lot and then you are walking around all day. And I would not want to have to get in line later on to rent one if you feel like you need it.
- Walk from the parking lot, skip the tram. I have never ridden the tram (self-sufficient, remember) and I don’t see it often honestly. From what I have read, it only operates for the outer parking lot and the overflow lot (where I parked for the Halloween party). So, unless there is a reason someone in your party needs it, skip it.
My Park Day Itinerary
This was my strategy for the park each time I went (keep in mind, I did not prioritize the big rides due to the ages of my kids).
- Arrive at 9am
- Turn right at the gift shop upon entering and head to the Dolphin Nursery
- After the Dolphin Nursery, walk to Sesame Street and spend the morning there
- Alternative: If your kids are too big for Sesame Street, you could replace this with hitting up all of the roller coasters and Journey to Atlantis in the morning
- Up next, catch the first show for the Orca Encounter. Last time I was there, I believe it was 12pm. I would arrive about 15 minutes early to get a seat. This is a great time for a snack or your lunch as well while you are sitting down and waiting.
- Alternative: Sesame Street has a great spot for a picnic so you can eat here before you head over. They do have food trucks as well but if they’re busy, you will be waiting awhile
- Head to the Shark Encounter afterwards
- You will pass infinity falls so if this is something your party would like to do then this would be a good time to do that. There is also a pass member lounge over here for any annual passholders.
- Mako, the roller coaster, is by the Shark Encounter as well
- After, head towards Antarctica. You will pass the Sea Lion stadium on the way, so if a show will be starting soon, this would be a good time to go see it. Otherwise, you may need to come back later. But be mindful of time, you don’t want to miss the dolphin show.
- In Antarctica, go see the penguins
- This area has the ride Penguin Trek, so depending on who is in your party (my kids were too little so we never did it) if you have time, you may want to do this.
- After Antarctica, head towards the dolphin stadium. The order of operations of which attractions you do here first will depend what time it is and when the dolphin show is. Similar to the Orca Experience, get to the dolphin show about 10-15 minutes early. In this area, you will want to do the dolphin show, manatee rehabilitation center, and Stingray Lagoon. So, plan these around what time the show is.
- Between Antarctica and the dolphin stadium is Journey to Atlantis, a water ride with a big drop
- Close to Stingray Lagoon is Manta, a roller coaster
- At this point, this is when I would typically leave for the day. But if you want to stay for nighttime when they usually have some kind of show going on then you will want to grab dinner. Making reservations ahead of time at the Orca dining experience or shark dining experience would be a great idea. Or if you want to brave one of the lines at the food places, may the odds be ever in your favor.