SeaWorld, Florida, United States

5katiel0703 5:00 PM Jan 3, 2023

Great park with lots to see and experience!
SeaWorld is a must do if you have the time while in Orlando! The park was great with so much to see. The shows are definitely ones that you should attend as the trainers do a fantastic job with the animals. I would highly recommend showing up to the show 45 minutes prior to the start of it to ensure that you get a seat for the show. The shows fill up quickly and are closed before the start time due to the number of visitors to SeaWorld. We did not get the dining package with our admission tickets as it was just my husband and I going so I can't speak to the advantage or disadvantage of getting that, but I can speak to the admission tickets. When purchasing your tickets, you should definitely use Groupon as they are MUCH CHEAPER than if buying through SeaWorld's website or waiting until you get to the park. I also highly recommend that you purchase the parking in advance to make your parking experience much better. You can get through the line with the attendant quicker if already having purchase parking and then just follow the signs out to park. We wouldn't recommend paying the extra for preferred or VIP as the cost of parking is outrageous already, unless of course you have to utilize those options. We would recommend giving yourself the day and getting there early to be sure you can get everything in as there are lines to wait to see some exhibits and shows.

4IrishInKuma 5:00 PM Dec 5, 2022

Fantastic shows and coasters, let down by staff
SeaWorld has the potential to rival Universal and Disney with it's attractions, but the staff are holding it back. The park boasts 4 thrilling roller coasters (and one more under construction) in addition to their flagship marine creatures shows and aquariums. Even better, because everyone else has gone to Universal or Disney, the park was not crowded at all, and on my visit all the coasters were walk-on (protip: if visiting on an off-peak weekday then the quick queue pass is not necessary at all). The shows were spectacular, especially the dolphin adventure, and the coasters are all great fun. As part of the black Friday deal I purchased, I had all day dining, which I found to be well worth it if you eat three meals in the park, as the average price per meal (main, side/desert and drink) was $25. The quality of the food is mediocre, it's mostly unhealthy fast food. The main area the park needs improvement in is the staffs' attitudes. Apart from the show performers and the lady at the guest services counter I found the staff members to be very cold, with no smiles and a demeanor that says "I don't want to be here". For example, when I asked a staff member for a map he just handed it to me in silence. When I asked a staff member if he knew when ice breaker was opening, he just shook his head without speaking. But the most troubling to me was when a ride operator suggested I ride a roller coaster (ice breaker) with my shoulder bag instead of putting it in a cubby or a locker. Surely that isn't safe to carry a shoulder bag on a high speed roller coaster? Every other theme park I've been to strictly forbids this due to the risk of injury. I followed my own judgement and used a locker, which unlike the free lockers at Universal, cost $2 per use. Another point to note is that at the boarding area for the rides there are no staff members to direct people to a row (they only check that people are safely strapped in), which wasn't a huge deal given how quiet it was, but it still meant some kids tried to skip the queue on one occasion. Overall, I'd say if the staff were trained better in safety and hospitality then SeaWorld would truly rival the two big Orlando parks.