SeaWorld Orlando

A theme park combining killer whale, dolphin and penguin shows with six top-tier coasters, including Mako and Pipeline, for a mix of marine life and thrills.

SeaWorld Orlando opened in 1973 on 80 hectares. It combines a marine theme park with a coaster park. Animal highlights include the killer whale show “Orca Encounter,” which focuses on education (the captive performance format was discontinued after 2017); the dolphin theater; the sea lion comedy show; a touch pool with stingrays; and the frozen “Penguin Kingdom,” an indoor Antarctic exhibit kept at 0°C where you can see emperor penguins. There is also a manatee rescue center and a shark tunnel. For coasters, it is Orlando’s most thrilling park: Mako (61 m tall, 118 km/h, Florida’s tallest and fastest coaster), Kraken (with no floor), Manta (a flying dive coaster), Ice Breaker, Pipeline (opened in 2023, a stand-up surf coaster) and “Penguin Trek,” a family coaster that opened in 2024. Sesame Street Land is suitable for young children. Tickets cost about $100–130 per day. The official website often offers multi-day passes and combo discounts with Aquatica water park and Busch Gardens (Tampa), and annual passes are good value. The Quick Queue fast-pass is sold separately. Tips: Ride Mako and Pipeline first when you enter, then plan animal shows around the show schedule. In summer, the lake fireworks show “Ignite” takes place on some evenings. Getting there: it is on the southern stretch of International Drive, reachable by I-Ride Trolley. Self-parking costs $30. Next to SeaWorld, Discovery Cove is the group’s all-inclusive aquarium experience, where you can swim with dolphins by reservation, starting at about $300. Note: Sitting in the front rows of the orca show will get you wet, and coaster height requirements range from 122 to 137 cm.

SeaWorld Orlando

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