SeaWorld in Orlando is a popular theme park that combines rides like roller-coasters with animal shows and opportunities to view sea life in elaborate habitats. It's a large park that easily takes a day or more to explore fully if you want to ride every ride and see every show and exhibit. If you plan your visit to SeaWorld carefully, you will maximize your experience.
Arrive at SeaWorld shortly before opening time. If you are one of the first people into the park, you can ride the Manta and Kraken roller-coasters, the Wild Arctic simulator and the Journey to Atlantis water ride before the lines get long. You can see the shows when the park gets more crowded because the theaters have a large capacity. If you are visiting SeaWorld in the summer, stay late for the Summer Nights activities. These include special shows and a fireworks display. You can break up the long day by returning to your hotel for a break, visiting the Aquatica water park across the street (which will require a separate admission fee) or having a long sit-down meal.
Two of the most popular meals at SeaWorld in Orlando are Dine With Shamu and the Sharks Underwater Grill. You should book Dine With Shamu in advance, as tables are assigned based on when you make your reservation. You will enjoy a buffet meal while watching trainers interact with killer whales in a lagoon adjacent to the dining area. At Sharks Underwater Grill, you eat in a dining room with panoramic views of a shark tank. This restaurant doesn't accept advance reservations, so you should make them in person after 10 a.m. If you don't want to take the time for a sit-down meal, there are plenty of counter service options. You can even pay one price and get an all-day dining package.
If you are visiting during a busy time of year, you can purchase a Quick Queue pass. It gives you unlimited front-of-the-line access to the rides. The price varies, depending on the time of year, and you cannot buy Quick Queue in advance. It must be purchased at the ticket windows, Guest Services or the Dining, Tours and Reservations counter.
SeaWorld in Orlando offers a wide variety of tours that let visitors get up close and personal with animals like dolphins, belugas, penguins and even killer whales. There is an extra cost for these tours, and they must be booked in advance. Tour descriptions and prices are listed on SeaWorld's website.
