Coasters meet the sea

SeaWorld Orlando

Orlando's marine park packs a genuinely serious coaster lineup around dolphins, penguins, sharks and sea lions, with a tropical water park next door and an all-inclusive dolphin-swim resort across the way.

Updated June 2026

ORLANDOSEAWORLD · FL

SeaWorld Orlando is the one park in town that pulls off a real double act: it has one of the strongest roller-coaster lineups in Central Florida and it's a working zoo and aquarium, all on a walkable lakeside campus at the south end of the International Drive district. You can drop 200 feet on a hyper coaster in the morning and stand inches from a beluga whale by lunch.

It's a great fit for thrill-seekers and animal lovers alike, and it tends to feel calmer and more manageable than the mega-parks. If you're traveling with little ones, pair it with our things to do with kids guide; if you want to stay within a short hop of the gate, see where to stay on International Drive. For how it stacks up against the rest, our theme parks hub has the big picture.

The thrill side

The coasters

SeaWorld quietly stacks up more big-name coasters than any single park in Orlando, each one themed to the sea.

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HYPER COASTER · BIGGEST THRILL

Mako

The tallest and fastest coaster in Orlando, a shark-themed hyper coaster that reaches around 200 feet and roughly 73 mph, built for sustained airtime and stomach-dropping dives rather than loops. If you ride one thing here, ride this.

Big thrill

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FLOORLESS · INVERSIONS

Kraken

Orlando's only floorless coaster, where your feet dangle free over open track as you whip through a string of inversions. Themed to the legendary deep-sea beast, it's a classic looping thrill ride that still holds up.

Big thrill

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FLYING COASTER · UNIQUE

Manta

A flying coaster that tips you face-down and horizontal so you glide and bank like a giant ray skimming the water, with a dramatic near-miss splash. The queue doubles as an aquarium of real rays and fish, so it's worth the line either way.

Flying

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SURF COASTER · LAUNCH

Pipeline: The Surf Coaster

Billed as the world's first surf coaster, where the seats let you stand and crouch as if riding a wave, with a punchy launch and a few twists. It's a newer, distinctive thrill that you won't find back home.

Newer

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FAMILY LAUNCH COASTER · ANTARCTICA

Penguin Trek

The park's family-friendly launch coaster, a snowmobile-style ride through an icy Antarctic landscape that tops out around 43 mph and ends near a real penguin habitat. A great step-up coaster for kids who aren't ready for Mako yet.

Family

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LAUNCH COASTER · MORE THRILLS

Ice Breaker & Journey to Atlantis

Ice Breaker is a multi-launch coaster with forward-and-backward bursts and a steep beyond-vertical drop, while Journey to Atlantis is a water-coaster hybrid that ends in a big soaking splash. Together they round out a deep ride roster.

More thrills

The animal side

Habitats & shows

This is still a zoo and aquarium at heart, and the walk-through habitats are included with admission.

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HABITAT · INCLUDED

Dolphin Cove & the nursery

One of the park's signature spots, where bottlenose dolphins glide and leap in a big open lagoon and you can often watch mothers with their calves at the nearby Dolphin Nursery. Paid encounters let you get hands-on if you want more.

Included

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HABITAT · COLD-WEATHER WING

Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin

Step into a chilly indoor habitat that's home to several penguin species, billed as the only spot in the Western Hemisphere to see emperor penguins. The cold air alone is a welcome break on a hot Florida afternoon.

Included

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AQUARIUM · WALK-THROUGH

Shark Encounter & the aquariums

Walk a clear tunnel beneath sharks and rays at Shark Encounter, then make the rounds of the manatee, sea-turtle and beluga-whale habitats. It's an easy, shaded loop that anchors the animal side of a visit.

Included

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SHOWS · CHECK TIMES

Animal presentations

The park runs rotating shows and presentations featuring dolphins, sea lions and other marine animals through the day, plus seasonal events. Lineups and showtimes change often, so grab the day's schedule on the app or at the gate when you arrive.

Included

Tickets & sister parks: SeaWorld sells single-park tickets and multi-park bundles with its neighbors. Aquatica is the tropical water park just across the street, and Discovery Cove is the all-inclusive, reservation-only day resort where you can swim with dolphins (many packages bundle in SeaWorld and Aquatica). Discovery Cove sells out, so book it well ahead, and check the official sites for current pricing, ride status and hours, which change constantly.

Do it like a local

A perfect SeaWorld day

Big rides early, animals when the lines build, splash at the end.

Get there at opening and head straight for Mako and Kraken while the queues are short.
Loop the cool indoor habitats, Antarctica and Shark Encounter, as the midday heat sets in.
Catch a dolphin or sea-lion presentation, using the day's posted showtimes to plan around it.
Ride Manta and cool off on the splash-down of Journey to Atlantis in the afternoon.
Wind down by Dolphin Cove, then grab a bite and stay for any evening show or fireworks if they're running.

Keep exploring

Where to go next

SeaWorld is one corner of Orlando's park world. Here's where to look next.

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The big picture

Theme Parks

Disney, Universal, Epic Universe and SeaWorld compared, with planning tips for the whole trip.

Hub→

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For families

Orlando with Kids

The most kid-friendly rides, shows and stops across town, SeaWorld included.

Family→

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Stay close

Stay on International Drive

Hotels minutes from SeaWorld's gate, in the heart of I-Drive's dining and entertainment strip.

Stay→

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Splash time

Water-park days

How Aquatica and Discovery Cove fit a SeaWorld trip when you need a break from coasters.

Ideas→

Plan ahead

Book SeaWorld tickets & tours

Book a tour → All Orlando parks →

Good to know

Common questions

What roller coasters does SeaWorld Orlando have?

SeaWorld Orlando has one of the deepest coaster lineups in town, including Mako (a tall, fast hyper coaster), Kraken (a floorless looping coaster), Manta (a face-down flying coaster), Pipeline: The Surf Coaster, the family launch coaster Penguin Trek, plus Ice Breaker and the water-coaster Journey to Atlantis. Lineups can change, so check the official site for what's running.

Is SeaWorld Orlando a theme park or a zoo?

It's both. SeaWorld is a full theme park with major thrill rides and shows, and also an accredited marine zoo and aquarium with walk-through animal habitats like Dolphin Cove, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin and Shark Encounter, all included with admission.

What's the difference between SeaWorld, Aquatica and Discovery Cove?

They are three separate parks on the same south I-Drive campus. SeaWorld is the main rides-and-animals theme park, Aquatica is the tropical water park just across the street, and Discovery Cove is an all-inclusive, reservation-only day resort where you can swim with dolphins. Many tickets bundle two or three of them together.

Do I need a reservation for Discovery Cove?

Yes. Discovery Cove caps daily attendance and is reservation-only, so you must book a specific date in advance and it often sells out, especially the dolphin-swim packages. Reserve well ahead, particularly in the busy winter season.

Where is SeaWorld Orlando located?

SeaWorld sits at the south end of Orlando's International Drive entertainment district, roughly 20 minutes from downtown and a short drive from the main I-Drive hotel strip. Aquatica is directly across the street and Discovery Cove is right nearby.

How much are SeaWorld Orlando tickets?

Prices vary by date, park combination and any add-ons, and they change frequently, so we don't list fixed figures. Buying single-day or multi-park tickets online ahead of time is usually cheaper than at the gate; check the official SeaWorld site for current pricing and any bundle deals with Aquatica and Discovery Cove.