Sea World is a large park full of animal shows, animal exhibits, rides, and restaurants, but navigating it effectively can be challenging. Here is our suggestion to use your time most effectively to see and do everything, excluding rides (we traveled with a 1 year old).
- Get there when they open (10:00am)
- The park is thinnest when they first open and gradually gets more and more busy and more and more overwhelming.
- Go strait to Antarctica for the Penguins. This exhibit is the most inefficient and develops long slow lines throughout the day.
- Secondly go to your next highest priority (sharks, seals, whales, etc.)
- Be at the first dolphin show at 10am. This one is the least crowded and therefore you won’t need to get there too early or buy a VIP pass.
- It will now be about 10:30 and you have completed 3 of the most important exhibits/shows on your list
- Buy a VIP or Priority Pass for the Orca show.
- Depending on what show time you want to attend, buy the pass. This show is always full and the only way to guarantee a good seat is to buy the pass
- Eat in/near Antarctica
- All other restaurants were inefficient and busy. Antarctica had three types of food options and was the least busy.
- Leave the park when it gets crowded and plan to return later.
- You can leave the park once you get your hand stamped and return (as long as you keep your ticket). Same with parking.
- Get a break, eat, stay out of the heat, then return refreshed.
- Do not buy the meal pass
- Economically it is a good deal, but lines are long and food options are sub par. Plan to leave and eat lunch at the hotel or elsewhere.