The SeaWorld theme park is one of San Diego’s main attractions. Having previously visited the San Diego Zoo and LEGOLAND California, we and our children were now looking forward to the world of SeaWorld. We had already been to SeaWorld Park Orlando two years ago and were very excited to see what attractions awaited us here in San Diego.
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Things to know about SeaWorld San Diego
The SeaWorld San Diego theme park is a mixture of theme park and animal park and offers its visitors lots of roller coasters, animal encounters and many other attractions. It was founded in 1964 by four graduates of the University of California and was the first park in the SeaWorld Group. Originally planned as an underwater restaurant with an accompanying marine animal show, the park eventually developed into a theme park with a variety of sea creatures. At the end of the 1960s, SeaWorld San Diego was the first park in the world to present orcas.
Overview map of SeaWorld San Diego
The park is very beautiful and spacious, which of course also means that there is a lot of walking to do. But that didn’t bother us. By the way, there is also a park app, so you can easily navigate through the park with it. You can also download a free .pdf version of an overview map of the park here.
A map of the SeaWorld San Diego theme park
Opening hours, entrance & parking
SeaWorld San Diego is located in Mission Bay Park in San Diego, California – about a 10-minute drive from downtown San Diego. There are plenty of parking spaces directly in front of the entrance to the site. It is important to know that parking is not included in the entrance ticket. You pay from 32 USD per car for the ‘General Parking’ and for the VIP Parking (closer to the entrance) currently from 79 USD.
For a day visit to SeaWorld San Diego, admission is currently just under 123 USD per person (plus taxes & fees). This is insanely expensive, especially if you visit the park as a family with children, because children also pay full price from the age of 3! As with all theme parks, it is worth checking the official website beforehand, as there are sometimes very good offers there, for example. a combination offer for visiting two or three parks. Alternatively, you can also take a look at the offers at GetYourGuide.
The opening hours of SeaWorld San Diego may vary. It is therefore advisable to check the daily opening times on the park’s official website.
Tickets via San Diego CityPASS®
If you are planning to visit other sights in San Diego anyway, then the San Diego CityPASS® is definitely worthwhile. With this sightseeing pass, you can visit all the sights included for a low fixed price, saving you time and money.
The pass can be easily purchased via the CityPASS website or from GetYourGuide. The price includes admission to 3 attractions (San Diego Zoo or Safari Park, USS Midway Museum, City Cruises, Birch Aquarium, Old Town Trolley Tours, Maritime Museum of San Diego) as well as tickets to SeaWorld San Diego, LEGOLAND California or both. We had the largest ticket package, i.e. LEGOLAND + SeaWorld + 3 attractions, for EUR 240 per adult and EUR 220 for children aged 3 and over. Depending on which attractions you visit, you can save up to 42% (compared to buying them individually).
SeaWorld Rescue & Rehabilitation
For more than 50 years, SeaWorld has worked to rescue and rehabilitate animals. From habitat protection to supporting ocean health initiatives to numerous rescue and rehabilitation efforts, SeaWorld is part of conservation projects around the world. In that time, SeaWorld’s rescue teams have helped more than 41,000 sick, injured and orphaned animals in need and given them a second chance at life. In doing so, they are on duty around the clock, 365 days a year, working with various agencies to rescue and help animals.
Themed areas at SeaWorld San Diego
Like any large theme park, SeaWorld San Diego is divided into several different themed areas.
Wild Arctic
In the icy-cold Wild Arctic area, you can observe beluga whales, walruses, seals and sea otters at close range. In addition to the animals, there is also an interactive exhibition that gives visitors an insight into the unique wildlife of the Arctic. The area is beautifully designed as an arctic research station. There is also the Arctic Rescue rollercoaster – you ride a snowmobile at speeds of up to 64 km/h to rescue Arctic animals from the melting ice.
Turtle Reef & Shark Encounter
In the Turtle Reef area we were able to discover some turtles in their aquariums. As part of an accompanying exhibition, visitors can also learn more about the life cycle of sea turtles, for example how they nest, where they live, what they eat and what threats they face in the wild.
At Shark Encounter, you can walk through one of the largest underwater viewing tunnels in the world to discover the vibrant underwater world. In addition to the opportunity to observe small and large sharks up close, the exhibition also provides a wealth of information about sharks, their habitat and their importance for the ocean ecosystem.
Orca Encounter & Underwater Viewing
It is currently still possible to see orcas at SeaWorld San Diego – both as part of a show and in the underwater viewing area. SeaWorld has come under heavy criticism in recent years due to a number of incidents involving their orcas, so in 2016 they announced that they would be ending their killer whale breeding program and phasing out the theatrical orca shows.
“In 2016, SeaWorld announced that we were ending our killer whale breeding program and that the orcas in our care are the last generation at our park. Our goal is to inspire and educate guests to take action by seeing these magnificent animals up-close to better understand why protecting wildlife and our environment is so critical today.” [seaworld .com]
We think this is a very good decision. The orcas currently in SeaWorld’s care are the last generation in their parks. This decision was influenced by state legislation in California and the focus on conservation and education.
Dolphin Point & Dolphin Amphitheater
Dolphin Point has a large open water area where you can watch many bottlenose dolphins playing and jumping above the water or swimming. These species of dolphins are not threatened with extinction, but they are exposed to many dangers in the sea, such as entanglement in fishing gear and marine pollution. As part of the Rescue Program, SeaWorld San Diego has already helped to rescue stranded dolphins on the coast. The Dolphin Amphitheater hosts a show with dolphins several times a day, where you can learn more about their natural behavior and character traits in addition to watching them perform tricks.
Sea Lion Point
The Californian sea lions and seals made a lot of noise at Sea Lion Point. We had the opportunity to interact with the sea lions here by feeding them. For 9 USD you can buy a small bowl with 4 fish directly at Sea Lion Point, which you can then feed. But you have to be quick, otherwise the seagulls will take the fish 😉
Roller coasters & white water rides
There are currently 4 roller coasters at SeaWorld San Diego: Arctic Rescue, Emperor, Manta and Electric Eel. With high speeds, backwards descents and vertical drops, they all provide a large dose of adrenaline and a thrill or two. As there wasn’t much of a wait, we adults tried out the Manta roller coaster and thought it was really cool. The park also has two water rides (Shipwreck Rapids, Journey to Atlantis) as well as the opportunity to soar over the park and picturesque Mission Bay in a cable car gondola.
Also highly recommended is the 98-meter-high Sky Tower, which has been towering high above the park since 1969. It offers a beautiful view of the park, the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding area. Unfortunately, a ride in the Sky Tower is not included in the ticket price.
SeaWorld Rescue Jr.
We were totally happy when we found the SeaWorld Rescue Jr. area at the end of the day, because behind this name is a cool playground for children of all ages as well as some rides (Tentacle Twirl, Octarock, Riptide Rescue, Sea Dragon Drop) and a splash zone. Here the children could really let off steam before we left the park.
Other shows & attractions
During our walk through the grounds of SeaWorld San Diego, we saw many more animals, such as flamingos, rays and moray eels. We really liked the tank with the cleaner fish right at the entrance. If you hold your hand in there very carefully, the little animals will happily nibble away, which can be really ticklish.
At another show we watched, the featured performers were California sea lions and Asian short-clawed otters. We were able to see the animals in action and also learn more about their characteristics, abilities and behaviors.
Food & Drinks
Since we spent the whole day at SeaWorld San Diego, we grabbed something to eat at the Shipwreck Reef Cafe for lunch. You have to be prepared for the fact that the food in the park is insanely expensive and that the portion you get for it is rather small. We paid 90 USD for 2 burgers, 1 side salad, 1 portion of fries, 2 drinks and 2 muffins. This is absolutely exorbitant and we can’t understand why food has to be so expensive in a park that is designed for families.
Incidentally, it is not permitted to take food and drinks into the SeaWorld San Diego park – except water bottles. However, there are picnic areas in front of the entrance where you can eat the food you have brought with you. To do this, you have to leave the park and have your hand stamped to re-enter.
Is a visit to SeaWorld San Diego worthwhile?
We definitely had a great day at SeaWorld San Diego. But in direct comparison, we liked the SeaWorld park in Orlando much better. We found many areas at SeaWorld San Diego simply more lovelessly designed. This may certainly be due to the fact that the park is somewhat older and therefore many areas are simply getting on in years. Nevertheless, the SeaWorld San Diego theme park is of course one of the highlights in the region.
Sea World San Diego