Planning your day inside an Orlando theme park is essential to make the most of your time. Today we'll give you the best Seaworld Orlando itinerary possible.
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In the past, it only took a few hours (maybe half a day at most) to enjoy everything the park had.
Today is not like that anymore. Currently, SeaWorld requires at least a full day, although sometimes it takes a little more.
There are many factors to explain this change.
SeaWorld grew and added several attractions, for example.
In addition, the park became more popular and we stayed in lines longer.
So, if you plan to enjoy at least 1 day at SeaWorld during your trip, you need a quality itinerary to ensure you have a positive experience at the park.
In this article, you will see a perfect itinerary to spend 1 day at SeaWorld and enjoy the best of the park.
Follow the reading to learn more!
Before the itinerary, some considerations
SeaWorld is a park where, ideally, you would spend a day and a half or two days to be able to see everything there.
There are many shows, many attractions and, of course, many people.
That means long lines and less time available.
What we recommend, to speed up the process and leave more space for attractions in your itinerary, is to buy the ticket with the option quick queue if it's a very crowded day.
Also, we do not recommend staying at a hotel that is too far from SeaWorld (see some recommendations at the end of this article).
It's important to try to get there as early as possible to take advantage of the park's first opening hour (9 am), with fewer visitors.
Important Tips
Definitely, buy your tickets before leaving.
Bring a raincoat.
give preference to buy online at amazon discount or in supermarkets, such as walmart. Anyway, before you arrive, definitely be prepared and bring one.
Rains in Florida can happen every day depending on the season.
Rains usually only last for a short time, but it's much better to have a raincoat than to be caught off guard and have to walk around in soggy clothes all day.
In addition to the rains, another climatic factor that will disturb you a lot is the heat. If you go outside of winter, you can be sure that you will feel hot in the park.
To soften up, we recommend that you bring a Cooling Towel.
Just wet it, it will be chilled and will help immensely to be less uncomfortable in the heat.
We recommend this Cooling Towel here.
If you want to save money, avoid eating in the park, we recommend that you bring snacks in your backpack.
Even why, SeaWorld is not a park with excellent food options.
Another element that can make you spend a lot of money is buying water or soda around the park.
Therefore, we recommend taking a thermal cup and fill in the water fountains around the park.
Regarding the best time to go to SeaWorld, it will depend on the type of experience you want to have.
Normally, from June to September Orlando is very crowded, with a risk of rain and hurricanes.
We recommend going in May, which is perhaps the best month to visit the city.
It's not too cold or too hot, there are few people and the rainy season hasn't officially started yet.
How to understand SeaWorld
Like other Orlando parks, SeaWorld Orlando is divided into themed areas that bring together certain attractions.
The difference, however, is that this park has the most specific zones: there are 8.
Thus, it is difficult to put together a 1-day itinerary that covers the 8 different areas of SeaWorld so that it is possible to see everything the park has to offer.
Think of it this way: to see all 8 areas in one day, you would have to see 4 in the morning and 4 in the afternoon.
Why yes, SeaWorld closes early. It is, by the way, the Orlando park that closes early. Therefore, its actuation window is smaller.
Doing 4 areas in the morning (9am to noon) and then 4 more in the afternoon (1pm to 6pm) would be too tight.
That's why we set up our 1-day SeaWorld Orlando itinerary in another way. Our plan is to take you through all the must-see attractions in the park, no matter where they are located.
We'll set it up in a way that's geographically logical and you don't have to go round and round.
Plus, our SeaWorld itinerary will leave some room for customization so you can repeat some of your favorite attractions (trust us, you'll want to repeat some!).
You won't be able to see EVERYTHING SeaWorld has, but you won't leave without having tasted the best that the park has to offer.
Do we have a deal? So grab a coffee, settle in, and let's get started with our SeaWorld Orlando itinerary!
1-Day SeaWorld Itinerary: Morning
SeaWorld is a park that mixes attractions and shows, just like others in Orlando. For example, at Disney there is the Jedi Training, which takes place at specific times.
The difference is that the shows in other parks are complementary. They make for a cool experience, but aren't essential.
At SeaWorld, the shows are the main part of the park. Therefore, you need to organize your day at the park around performance times.
That's why we recommend the quick queue ticket, as it allows you to join the quick queue at various rides.
That way, you save time in lines and can fit more attractions between show times.
Therefore, our 1-day SeaWorld itinerary will follow this logic: we will select the best times for the main shows and fill the rest of the schedule with nearby activities. Starting with?
Attraction 1 - Blanket
Once inside SeaWorld, proceed to one of the first attractions available: the Manta roller coaster.
She is one of the nicest Orlando roller coasters, from its underground path, which simulates an aquarium with a tank full of stingrays, to its path itself.
Manta has over 1 kilometer of high-speed tracks with several inversions and loops along the way.
The coolest thing is that the roller coaster was designed to simulate a stingray swimming.
Therefore, visitors lie under the track, which makes the ride even more exciting, even at the moment when the first cart skims close to a lake and raises a lot of water.
Starting your day with Manta is an excellent idea because you can take the roller coaster in a moment with little movement and, if you like it, you will have chances to repeat it later, during the day.
Attraction 2 (Optional) – Sky Tower
After Manta, we head straight to one of SeaWorld's most important tourist attractions: the famous Sky Tower.
This attraction consists of a 122 meter observation tower (the tallest in Florida).
The observation chamber rises to the top of the tower and rotates, allowing a 360-degree view of the region.
It's an excellent idea to put the Sky Tower right at the beginning because we caught the day with a lot of sun, little queue and we already removed one of the must-see attractions of the park from the list.
Attraction 3 – Mako
Leaving the Sky Tower, we head to our second roller coaster.
Going up through the park, you will basically have two options: Kraken and Mako. For the moment, let's ignore the Kraken and focus on the other.
Mako it is simply the tallest, longest and fastest roller coaster in Orlando's theme parks.
It is without a doubt my favorite SeaWorld attraction!
Since it opened in 2016, Mako has become popular with tourists and has since been awarded as one of the main roller coasters in the world.
It can safely be said that Mako is an attraction for the brave and strong at heart.
However, it is an attraction that you MUST visit. Seriously, you can't leave Orlando without liking Mako.
That's why we recommend you go there right after Manta. It will seem that Manta is ?boring? after going to Mako, but with this combo you will have an amazing start to your day.
Attraction 4 (optional) – Infinity Falls
Here, our roadmap opens a fork. If there's time, move on to Infinity Falls. If not, skip ahead to the next one, which is Ocean One (the famous Shamu whale show – which is not the original Shamu, but one of her family).
How will you know if there is time? It's simple: at the entrance to the park, get a leaflet with the show schedules.
Typically, Ocean One's first performance takes place at 11:30 am and lasts for about half an hour.
It is important to catch the first performance as it is usually a livelier show, with the whales more involved.
Ideally, you should be in line at Ocean One at around 11am to get a good seat.
Therefore, you will have to control the time to decide whether to go to Infinity Falls or not.
If you have a quick queue ticket and you think you have time, take advantage of it. If not, leave it for after Ocean One.
Infinity Falls is SeaWorld's newest attraction. Opened in 2018, Infinity Falls is a really, really cool attraction.
It holds the record for the longest rapid river drop of any theme park in the world.
Visitors enter a kind of circular float boat (8 can fit at a time) and are taken along the route, which takes 5 minutes to cover.
From its highest point, Infinity Falls delivers a direct drop of 13 meters, giving a lot of emotion to the participants.
Remember that this is a very wet toy. After all, there are 3.4 million liters of water in the attraction. We recommend going to Infinity Falls on hot days and taking extra clothes for after the tour.
Attraction 5 – Orca Encounter
The Orca Encounter is perhaps SeaWorld's most famous attraction. It's actually a show!
It's the famous acrobatics and dancing show with the whales, and it's amazing.
This show replaced the famous One Ocean! But don't miss out, it's worth it.
Ideally, as we've talked about before, it's best to catch the first show of the day, which currently takes place at approximately 11:30 am.
Depending on the season, you'll need to arrive half an hour early to get in line.
On empty days, you won't have to wait that long (15 minutes is enough).
The important thing is that you keep an eye on the flyer with the times of the day to make sure you catch the first show. Also, look at the pace of the audience to see if you need to arrive half an hour early or not.
The Orca Encounter show lasts approximately 30 minutes.
Which means you'll be out of it around noon. If you have time to go to Infinity Falls rather, you can leave for lunch as soon as you leave here.
If not, it's worth going to Infinity Falls afterwards and having lunch around 12:30.
Attraction 6 – Ice Breaker
This is the park's newest attraction to date. It opened in 2021.
It's Seaworld Orlando's first fling coaster, and in total there are 4 flings back and forth.
The inspiration for this attraction was the Arctic and it is recommended for those who like strong emotions!
Where to eat at SeaWorld
After the adventures and hustle of the morning, we'll head to lunch on our 1-day SeaWorld itinerary.
As the park closes at approximately 6 pm in the less busy times and at 9 pm in high season, you may not have the chance to dine there.
In general, there are two types of meals at SeaWorld: experiences and quick lunches. Any of them is suitable, but there are specific features you should keep in mind.
Typically, dining experiences take time. Something like 1 hour to 1:30, depending on the place and your pace.
In addition, gastronomic experiences are much more expensive, which can weigh on your pocket; But if your budget can handle them, they are worth it.
Quick lunches, on the other hand, offer delicious food, but simpler. At the same time, they are faster and soon you will be back to enjoy the attractions of the park.
If you only have one day at SeaWorld, you'll have to choose between a special meal or more time to enjoy the park. Check out the options below!
Shark Underwater Grill
One of SeaWorld Orlando's great dining experiences is the Shark Underwater Grill.
The restaurant has a large aquatic with sharks, which gives the impression of being located underwater.
The food at the place is very good and award-winning. Because of this, the price is a little above average.
Dine with Shamu
Another dining experience option is Dine with Shamu.
The meal needs to be pre-booked and takes place at a buffet next to the tank where the whales from the Ocean One show are.
While you eat, you will be able to see the whales swimming and chat with the trainers, who will share information and interesting facts.
Voyager's Smokehouse
One of the Restaurants most visited in the park is the Voyager's Smokehouse, which serves various meat dishes such as barbecue chicken, pork ribs and more.
For children, there is a children's menu with healthy and nutritious options.
Mama's Pretzel Kitchen
The quickest option for your lunch at SeaWorld is Mama's Pretzel Kitchen, which serves several mini-sandwiches on pretzel buns, as well as cold beers, sodas, and cocktails.
1 day at Seaworld: What to do in the afternoon?
As we did in the morning, we will build our afternoon schedule around an animal show. In that case, it will be Dolphin Days, which brings together acrobatics and synchronized activities performed by dolphins.
Based on that, we chose the remaining activities based on attraction quality level, proximity, and popularity. Check it out below!
Attraction 6 – Wild Arctic
Let's start the afternoon with a quieter activity: the Wild Artic.
This simulator takes visitors on a trip to the Arctic, full of excitement and adventure (or rather, as much adventure a simulator can offer).
At the end of the simulated tour, visitors leave along a path that leads to a space that is home to several typical Arctic animals, including penguins.
Attraction 7 – Journey To Atlantis
Going around the park from the bottom, we'll go to the left side of SeaWorld, near the dolphin attraction.
Before going there, we will go through Journey to Atlantis, a relatively peaceful boat ride, reminiscent of the Splash mountain of Magic Kingdom, but shorter.
Basically, Journey to Atlantis is divided into two stages: one internal and one external.
Inside, we are led through some dark and beautiful rooms, which simulate the city of Atlantis, even with some interesting automata.
On the outside side, we have a considerable climb followed by a big fall, which gets a little wet.
Attraction 8 – Kraken
Finally! After sightseeing all day, we head to another one of SeaWorld's classic attractions: the Kraken.
For longtime fans, it's like a throwback to an old friend, as the Kraken was the park's first roller coaster many years ago.
Recently, Kraken was revamped and gained a little more personality and modernity.
It is still a very strong and hectic roller coaster, not recommended for those who don't like adrenaline, as it goes very fast, has some inversions and loops.
Attraction 9 (optional) – Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin
On our 1-day SeaWorld itinerary, we want to catch the 4pm show from Dolphin Days.
If you're with the quick queue, you'll likely have time for one more ride before the dolphin show.
In this case, we recommend Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin.
The attraction consists of a light tour in a kind of ice palace, with some video presentations about the life of penguins. In the end, the participant is taken to an area where we can see dozens of penguins.
If you don't have time, skip to Dolphin Days and then come back to participate in Antarctica.
Attraction 10 – Dolphin Days
Dolphin Days is one of SeaWorld's premier animal shows, impressing even the most grumpy of tourists.
It's fun to see the trainers playing with the dolphins, especially the part where they surf with the animals.
The stunt show is impressive, especially the one that involves the combined use of trainers and dolphins.
The event lasts around 20 minutes, with a chance to wet the front row people.
Attraction 11 – Stingray Lagoon
A tank with more than 100 different species of stingrays so that visitors can get to know these fantastic animals up close.
You can even pull over and feed them there.
It's really cool, especially for kids who have never seen these animals up close.
What to do with the rest of the afternoon at SeaWorld
Our 1-day SeaWorld itinerary ends with the Dolphin Days show at approximately 4:30 pm.
Depending on when you are in the park, you'll still have 1:30h or 3:30h of fun at SeaWorld.
This means that you can deepen your experience there, discovering new attractions or repeating your favorites.
Among the new attractions, we recommend the following tours:
Shark encounter: a quick tour of an underwater shark aquarium;
Clyde and Seamore's Sea Lion High: a show with animals such as sea lions, walruses and otters. It's pretty funny, but not as impressive as Dolphin Days;
Dolphin cove: a tank full of dolphins and their trainers. For those interested, it is possible to pay separately and have a closer encounter with the animals;
Sesame Street at SeaWorld: Those traveling with children will need to spend some time at Sesame Street at SeaWorld, the sesame street area in the park.
There are several attractions for children there, including a small roller coaster, train rides and toys.
In addition to these attractions, it may be interesting to return for a ride or two on your favorite rides. For example, I love to go one last time on Mako and Manta, as they are my favorite roller coasters.
Conclusion: is it worth spending more than 1 day at SeaWorld?
Yes, it is, but it is not strictly necessary.
If you have availability to spend 2 days there, you can divide it as follows:
The first would be just to enjoy the attractions of the ?theme park? of the place, like the roller coasters and simulators.
On the second day, the focus would be on all the animal shows, to make the most of the exhibitions and get the best seats in each of them, in addition to enjoying the attractions related to SeaWorld's animals, such as the aquarium and the area with the seals.
But if that's not possible, the SeaWorld itinerary made here does a good job of covering the Park's main attractions and still giving you some leeway to insert more attractions or repeat your favorites.
After all, flexibility is something very important in a travel itinerary.
Where to Stay to Enjoy SeaWorld
For those traveling to Orlando, we've taken this opportunity to provide you with some good options for places to stay if you want to spend a day or two enjoying SeaWorld.
Hilton Grand Vacations Club SeaWorld Orlando
Address: 6924 Grand Vacations Way, Orlando
Daily: Click here to Check the Price.
Note: 9
The Hilton Grand Vacations at SeaWorld family hotel is located across the street from SeaWorld Orlando.
The hotel offers three pools, with spas with a whirlpool, a waterfall, and supervised children's programs.
In addition to a complimentary fitness facility, a restaurant called Coral Reef Bar and Grill, and a Provisions deli located adjacent to the pool area.
Click here to secure your reservation.
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Orlando at SeaWorld
Address: 10731 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32821, United States
Daily: Click here to Check the Price.
Note: 8.9
TownePlace has air-conditioned rooms with a flat-screen cable TV, an equipped kitchen, including a coffee maker and a dining area with a table and chairs.
Private bathroom with shower and bathtub, hairdryer and toiletries complete the accommodation.
The hotel offers continental and buffet breakfast.
All areas of the hotel have wi-fi, including in the rooms. Outside there is also a terrace, swimming pool, gym and lounge.
To use the private parking, an additional fee must be paid.
TownePlace also has a business center and an ATM.
Don't waste time and make your reservation!
If you liked this itinerary, check out others we made for Orlando parks:
- 1 day at Magic Kingdom;
- 1 day at Islands of Adventure;
- 1 day at Busch Gardens;
- 1 day at Universal Studios;
- 1 day at Animal Kingdom.
As you can see, it is possible to spend 1 day at SeaWorld and enjoy everything the park has to offer.
However, if you have special needs and need a personalized itinerary, get in touch with us and learn about our options to transform your trip into a unique experience!
I hope again that this post helped you in your research for your trip to Disney or Orlando.
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About the Author Carlos Braga:
Unparalleled experience in Orlando and Disney! As a former Universal Orlando team member and a passionate devotee of the magic of Disney, I have become a true Orlando travel expert. Before becoming a renowned travel consultant dedicated to Orlando, I had already made hundreds of visits to the parks, cultivating my knowledge and passion mainly over the last 7 years as a consultant and specialist in Disney travel.
My journey into this enchanted world began in 1995, when I took my first trip to Orlando. Since then, my love for Disney and the city has only grown. In 2023, we celebrate the sixth anniversary of 'Partiu Disney Parks', consolidating our role as one of the main sources of information about Disney and Orlando Parks.
During these six years of existence, we have continued to offer quality and updated content, being the reliable source for all those looking for essential information to plan their trip to Disney and Orlando. With my vast experience and passion for this magical destination, I am here to guide you every step of the way towards the most incredible Orlando and Disney experience!
