SeaWorld Orlando facts for kids
| Previously known as Sea World of Florida | |
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The Port of Entry lighthouse.
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| Location | 7007 SeaWorld Drive, Orlando, Florida, United States |
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| Coordinates | 28°24′39″N 81°27′45″W / 28.41083°N 81.46250°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | December 15, 1973 |
| Owner | United Parks & Resorts |
| Operated by | United Parks & Resorts |
| Theme | Conservation and the Ocean |
| Slogan | Coaster Capital of Orlando |
| Operating season | Year-round |
| Attendance |  4.454 million (2022) |
| Area | 200 acres (81 ha) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 17 |
| Roller coasters | 7 |
| Water rides | 2 |
| Shows | 5 with 6 seasonal |
SeaWorld Orlando is a super fun animal theme park located in Orlando, Florida. It's known for its amazing animal shows, exciting rides, and cool exhibits. Even though it has its own entrance, SeaWorld Orlando is often promoted with nearby parks like Discovery Cove and Aquatica. All these parks are owned and run by United Parks & Resorts. In 2022, about 4.45 million people visited SeaWorld Orlando. This made it one of the top 10 most visited amusement parks in the United States!
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SeaWorld Orlando: A Look Back in Time
SeaWorld Orlando first opened its doors on December 15, 1973. It was the third park in the SeaWorld family. It opened just two years after Walt Disney World Resort's Magic Kingdom. This helped make Central Florida a popular spot for family vacations with lots of parks to visit.
Over the years, SeaWorld changed owners a few times. In 1989, it was bought by Anheuser-Busch, who also owned Busch Gardens. They had a lot of experience with theme parks. They helped SeaWorld grow from a park mostly known for shows to one with many thrilling rides.
In 1992, the park added Mission: Bermuda Triangle, a simulator ride. This was part of a trend started by Disneyland. Later, this ride became Wild Arctic. In 1998, they added Journey to Atlantis. This was the first ride in the country that was both a roller coaster and a water ride! The Kraken, a floorless roller coaster, joined the park in 2000. Then, in 2009, the amazing Manta flying coaster opened. It even won an award for being the best new attraction!
SeaWorld also added two more parks nearby. Discovery Cove opened in 2000, and the Aquatica water park opened in 2008.
In 2010, there was a sad event during a show. An orca whale named Tilikum pulled trainer Dawn Brancheau into the water, and she passed away. This led to new safety rules for trainers and whales at the park.
New attractions kept coming! In 2012, the Turtle Trek exhibit opened. It had a cool 360-degree, 3D movie dome. In 2013, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin opened. It featured the first trackless dark ride system in the country.
In 2016, Mako, a super-fast hypercoaster, opened. On March 27, 2019, the park opened a brand new area called "Sesame Street Land." It's themed after the famous TV show Sesame Street. A new roller coaster called Ice Breaker was announced in 2019 and opened in 2022.
In mid-2020, SeaWorld Orlando had to close for a short time because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But it reopened a few months later. On May 27, 2023, the world's first surf coaster, Pipeline, opened. It's a new kind of stand-up coaster that's super comfortable. Looking ahead, a new family roller coaster called Penguin Trek is planned to open in 2024!
Exploring SeaWorld Orlando: Park Areas
SeaWorld Orlando is divided into different themed areas, called "seas." Each area has its own special feel and attractions. Let's take a tour!
- Port of Entry: This is the main entrance of the park. It looks like Florida with lots of tropical plants. There's a big lake with a lighthouse that looks like Shamu, the famous orca.
- Sea of Shallows: This area is home to many shallow water animals. You can see rays, sea turtles, dolphins, flamingos, and manatees here. You might even get to feed some of the rays and dolphins! The Manta roller coaster also zooms through this section.
- Sea of Legends: Get ready for adventure here! Journey to Atlantis is a boat ride with roller coaster parts. Its story is based on the lost city of Atlantis. You'll also find Kraken, a thrilling floorless roller coaster, in this area.
- Sea of Ice: This area is themed like the cold continent of Antarctica. The main attraction here is the amazing penguin exhibit, where you can see lots of different penguins.
- Sea of Delight: This part of the park includes "The Waterfront," which looks like a charming village by the Mediterranean Sea. The park's tall Sky Tower ride is also here. You can also find the Sea Lion and Otter Stadium, where you can watch funny shows.
- Sea of Mystery: This area has the Shark Encounter exhibit, where you can get up close with sharks. There's also the Shark's Underwater Grill, a restaurant where you can eat while watching sharks swim by! Mako, a super-fast roller coaster, opened here in 2016. This area also has Infinity Falls, a river rapids ride with the world's tallest river rapids drop!
- Sea of Power: This is where SeaWorld's amazing killer whale shows happen at Shamu Stadium. Next door is the Wild Arctic indoor area. Here, you can see beluga whales, walruses, and harbor seals.
- Sesame Street Land: This colorful area is perfect for younger kids and families! It's themed after the popular TV show Sesame Street. You'll find family rides like Super Grover's Box Car Derby and a fun water play area.
Awesome Rides and Attractions
SeaWorld Orlando has tons of exciting rides and cool animal exhibits. Many attractions combine both, like the Manta roller coaster, which has an aquarium right next to it!
Thrilling Rides and Fun Attractions
| # | Name | Opened | Description | Location |
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| 1 | Mako | 2016 | A super-fast roller coaster named after the quickest shark. It's the tallest and fastest coaster in Orlando! | Sea of Mystery |
| 2 | Kraken | 2000 | A floorless coaster themed after the legendary sea monster, the Kraken. | Sea of Legends |
| 3 | Manta | 2009 | A unique flying roller coaster that also has an aquarium with rays and sea dragons. | Sea of Shallows |
| 4 | Ice Breaker | 2022 | A family thrill coaster with four launches and the steepest drop of any coaster in Florida. | Sea of Power |
| 5 | Penguin Trek | 2024 | A new coaster with dark ride parts, twists, and turns, reaching speeds up to 45 miles per hour. | Sea of Ice |
| 6 | Pipeline: The Surf Coaster | 2023 | The world's first surf roller coaster! It has twists, turns, and even an inversion, reaching 60 miles per hour. | Sea of Power/Port of Entry |
| 7 | Journey to Atlantis | 1998 | A water coaster that takes you on a journey to the mythical city of Atlantis. | Sea of Legends |
| 8 | Infinity Falls | 2018 | A thrilling river rapids ride with a vertical elevator lift and the world's tallest river rapids drop. | Sea of Mystery |
| 9 | Super Grover's Box Car Derby | 2019 | A fun family coaster themed to Super Grover from Sesame Street. | Sesame Street Land |
| 10 | Sky Tower | 1973 | A 400-foot tall spinning tower that gives amazing views of the park. | Sea of Delight |
| 11 | Sunny Day Carousel | 2021 | A colorful carousel themed to Sesame Street characters. | Sesame Street Land |
| 12 | Elmo's Choo Choo Train | 2019 | A short train ride themed to Elmo from Sesame Street. | Sesame Street Land |
| 13 | Big Bird's Twirl 'N' Whirl | 2019 | A spinning ride themed to Big Bird from Sesame Street. | Sesame Street Land |
| 14 | Abby's Flower Tower | 2019 | A high tower ride themed to Abby Cadabby from Sesame Street. | Sesame Street Land |
| 15 | Cookie Drop! | 2019 | A drop tower ride themed to Cookie Monster from Sesame Street. | Sesame Street Land |
| 16 | Rubber Duckie Water Works | 2019 | A fun water play area themed to Ernie from Sesame Street. | Sesame Street Land |
| 17 | Slimey's Slider | 2019 | A rocking ride themed to Slimey the Worm from Sesame Street. | Sesame Street Land |
| 18 | Rosita's Harmony Hills | 2019 | A play area themed to Rosita from Sesame Street. | Sesame Street Land |
| 19 | Flamingo Paddle Boats | 1978 | Boats shaped like flamingos that you can paddle around the park's central lake (extra fee). | Sea of Mystery |
Live Shows and Animal Presentations
| # | Name | Opened | Description | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin | 2013 | A cool area with live penguin exhibits. | Sea of Ice |
| 11 | Wild Arctic | 1995 | An indoor area with exhibits featuring beluga whales, walruses, and harbor seals. It looks like a research station in the Arctic Ocean. | Sea of Power |
| 12 | SeaWorld Rescue Center | 2022 | See how SeaWorld helps sick or injured animals like manatees and turtles. Learn from experts who care for them. | Sea of Shallows |
| 17 | Shamu Stadium | 1984 | The huge home to the park's killer whales. Watch the amazing Orca Encounter show here! | Sea of Power |
| 18 | Dolphin Theater | 1973 | Watch the Dolphin Adventures show with amazing dolphins. | Sea of Shallows |
| 19 | The Sea Lion and Otter Theater | 1990 | Enjoy funny shows with California sea lions, Asian small-clawed otters, and a walrus. | Sea of Delight |
| 20 | Bayside Stadium | 1983 | This stage hosts music concerts and special events. It's also a great spot to watch the Electric Ocean fireworks show in summer or the Winter Wonderland On Ice show in winter. | Sea of Power |
| 21 | The Nautilus Theatre | 1995 | This theater is used for seasonal shows and events. | Sea of Mystery |
| 22 | Seaport Theatre | 1998 | This venue used to feature shows with rescued animals. Now it hosts seasonal Sesame Street shows. | Sea of Delight |
| 23 | Seafire Grill | 2001 | A restaurant that used to have a dinner show. | |
| 24 | Reflections | 2006 | A seasonal fireworks show over the park's central lagoon. It's called Ignite now and features fireworks, dancing fountains, and music. |
Aquatica Orlando: A Water Park Adventure
SeaWorld Orlando has a sister park nearby called Aquatica Orlando. It's a fantastic water park that opened in 2008. It's part of the larger Aquatica water park family.
Images for kids
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The Port of Entry lighthouse.
