25 Best Sights in SeaWorld, SeaWorld Orlando

As the park opens, many coaster lovers head straight for Kraken, and when you see its loops and dips you'll know why. Named after an angry sea monster, this wickedly fast coaster takes you underground three times, lifts you higher (up to 149 feet), drops you longer, and spirals you faster than you'd expect. Kraken also packs a serious punch thanks to its floorless seats (your legs dangle loosely), seven inversions, and moments of weightlessness. The line for it moves pretty quickly because of a high seating capacity. Note that bags aren't allowed past the turnstiles. It costs about 50¢ to leave them in a locker, but it's worth the investment. This is one cool coaster, though not for anyone with motion sickness or back, neck, or heart conditions. For people with disabilities: You must transfer from your wheelchair to the ride vehicle. Come as soon as the park opens—especially to snag front-row seats. Otherwise, use a Quick Queue pass (extra fee required) or come near closing or during a Blue Horizons show.

While waiting in line for this incredible coaster, you're ushered past 10 aquariums containing more than 3,000 sea creatures, including 100 species of fish, graceful rays, sea dragons, and sea horses. This alone is fascinating, but this gentle encounter is followed by the sight of row after row of guests being locked down, strapped in, and firmly secured for... what's about to happen. You'll be suspended horizontally (face down!) beneath a 12-foot, stingray-shaped, roller-coaster car, which leaps out of the station, attaining speeds of up to 56 mph on a ½-mile race of loops as it spins around and above the aquarium. At times you are so close to the water that the coaster's wings skim the surface. There are four inversions and a drop of more than 10 stories. Halfway through, the ride slows down a bit and you may think it's over—but it's not. There are even more twists and spins ahead. Kids will love the aquarium entrance; daring older children and adults will love the thrill of the ride. Avoid this ride if you're pregnant, suffer from motion sickness, or have back, neck, or heart problems. For people with disabilities: You must transfer to the ride seat, properly use the ride restraint, and be able to grip a harness with one hand. Come first thing or late in the day, or use a Quick Queue pass (extra fee required).

Within this stadium, SeaWorld's iconic mascot, Shamu, and other orcas star in a choreographed spectacle. For safety the trainers stay out of the water, which dilutes the thrills, but everything—not just the animals—still seems larger than life. A three-story whale-tail backdrop, enormous LED screens, a brilliant oceanic color palette, rhythmic music, and surround sound set the scene for the killer-whale performances. Celebrating how we and other creatures are all connected to the world we share, the show also incorporates fountains, an innovation inspired by regular interactions between whales and trainers, who have long used water hoses in play sessions. Perhaps you've heard tales of so-called soak zones? They exist. It takes only a wave of these creatures' massive flukes or a well-placed belly flop to throw gallons of water into the stands. Even in the upper reaches of the splash zones, you'll still get wet—fun at the time, but less so a few hours later if you didn't bring a change of clothes. If you've seen Believe, you may be disappointed; if not, this show may still be entertaining. For people with disabilities: If you're using a wheelchair, you and a companion can sit in a special area near the front-row soak zone, and others in your party can sit nearby. Assisted-listening devices are available. The show itself lasts about 25 minutes, but there's also a 20-minute preshow, so plan accordingly. For an extra fee, reserve a seat through Signature Show Seating.

SeaWorld never holds back when it comes to stage shows, and this one, similar in style and feel to Cirque du Soleil, is no exception. It is framed by the story of a fisherman who falls overboard into a new world beneath the waves. The colorful, costumed inhabitants of this underwater kingdom astound the fisherman with their amazing talents on the trampoline, rocket themselves through hoops, and leap onto towering poles and stick to them like chameleons. Acrobats march into the audience with festive Chinese dragons, find wonderful new uses for hula hoops, and perform impressive feats with hanging strips of silk. You might want to see this show twice—there's so much taking place you're likely to miss some wonderful moments. For people with disabilities: Guests using wheelchairs have reserved seating at the rear of the theater. Assisted-listening devices are available. Although the auditorium seats more than 1,000 and you won't feel packed in, arrive at least 15 minutes early for a wider choice of seats. Reserved seats can be arranged through Signature Show Seating.

On this 60-minute program at Shark Encounter and Avian Research, you'll have a chance to see how SeaWorld's animal experts care for rescued manatees and sea turtles. Where else can you touch a shark and play with a penguin?

For this program (starting from $119 and up, depending on season) you don a wet suit and assist a trainer in feeding Beluga whales, which average about 15 feet and 2,000 pounds. They're good-natured and well trained enough to respond to hand signals you learn from the trainer. FYI: The wet suits help protect guests from the frigid 55-degree water. Must be 10 or older; 14 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

The story is a fairytale of sorts, starting with a young girl's fantasy of life in the sea, which is enough to lead off a high-energy, crowd-pleasing show that features high dives, dazzling dolphins, and astounding feats of “aquabatics.” Dolphins execute perfectly coordinated leaps, arcs, and splashes. Performers ski atop the backs of two dolphins while another performer in a feathery bird costume performs an aerial ballet. Divers repeatedly leap from two high towers as two acrobats portraying the story's villains perform impressive and repeated synchronized jumps on bungee cords. It's active, it's exciting, it's beautiful, and it's a show that blends everything SeaWorld does best above and below the water. For people with disabilities: Ask an attendant about seating for wheelchair users toward the front. Arrive 20 minutes before showtime for the best seats, or invest in Signature Show Seating.

Dolphin Cove is a huge freeform pool where a few dozen Atlantic bottlenose dolphins skim around and nose up to the edge to be fed fish ($5 a tray) by generous guests. Once or twice a day, trainers will come out to host a scheduled feeding. Often a SeaWorld guide will offer a commentary about the dolphins' behaviors and remind everyone that the pool's residents enjoy having their sides rubbed and petted. Who doesn't? Be sure to walk to the far end of the lagoon where the walkway descends to a grotto to reveal an underwater view of the dolphins, providing an entirely new perspective that is both fascinating and entertaining—it's almost as if you're diving with the dolphins. For people with disabilities: This attraction is completely accessible to guests using wheelchairs. On your way to or from a show, come see the dolphins. If it's crowded, go shopping until the crowds disperse.

Although largely overshadowed by the more magnificent attractions, this large pool, which has been here since the park opened in 1973, continues to please guests by allowing them to watch dolphin moms and babies (with birth dates posted on signs) play and leap and splash. They say you can even observe the dolphin calves learning to communicate with their moms through clicks and vocalizations. Although you can't get close enough to pet or feed them, you can see them from just a few feet away. A host is usually on hand to answer questions. A popular answer? "No, you can't take one home." Hint: if you just have to touch a dolphin, head over to Dolphin Cove in the Key West section. For people with disabilities: Fully wheelchair accessible. Get ready to lift up small kids so they can see into the pool.

They're amazing animals, of course, and on this hour-long tour you'll be able to participate in a training session, touch a dolphin, and use hand gestures to prompt behaviors. From $59 adults, $39 children.

SeaWorld's coaster offering is a hybrid, combining the elements of a high-speed water ride and a roller coaster with lavish special effects and a story line. The lost continent of Atlantis has risen in the harbor of a quaint Greek fishing village, and you board a Greek fishing boat to explore it. An ominous current tugs at your vessel, and an old fisherman (actually Hermes, the messenger of the gods, in disguise) offers a golden sea horse to protect you from the evil Sirens. The LCD technology, lasers, and holographic illusions are really cranked up during a watery battle between Hermes and Allura, queen of the Sirens. Amid this story, you experience frequent twists, turns, and short, shallow dives, as well as one hair-raising plunge that sends you nearly 60 feet into the main harbor (plan on getting soaked). This is followed by a final nosedive into S-shaped, bobsledlike curves. Although the ride is a little dated, it's still not for the faint of heart, anyone with back, neck, or heart problems; anyone who's pregnant; or anyone who dislikes the dark or enclosed spaces. For people with disabilities: You must transfer from your wheelchair to the ride vehicle. Come first thing in the morning or about an hour before closing. Going at night is awesome, and if there's a wait at all, it will be short. Last resort: spring for a Quick Queue Pass.

Dolphin Cove is within a laid-back area modeled after Key West, Florida's southernmost outpost (famous for spectacular sunsets and a festive mood). And although there are no distinct "lands" within SeaWorld, this Jimmy Buffett–style "island paradise" comes close. It contains individual tropical-style shows and attractions within its loosely defined borders.

The daylong keeper experience (from $399) is perhaps the ultimate SeaWorld offering. Your full day includes lunch, a T-shirt, seven consecutive days of park admission, and, perhaps, a lasting desire to become a SeaWorld trainer. After arriving at 6:30 am, you don a wet suit and then go to work with trainers to care for, feed, and train dolphins, manatees, sea lions, and Beluga whales. An unforgettable experience that includes plenty of photo ops and lasting memories.

A nonstop chorus of "aarrrps" and "yawps" coming from behind Sea Lion & Otter Stadium leads you to the 2½-acre home of California sea lions and harbor and fur seals. This naturalistic expanse of beaches, waves, and huge outcroppings of upturned rock, designed to replicate the northern Pacific coast, has a calming effect. The area is roughly circular. Stroll around the edge of the surf zone, a favorite hangout for fun-loving pinnipeds, who swim up close for a share of the smelt you've just bought ($5) or flop over on their sides and laze in the Florida sun. On the far side of the complex you can walk down into a grotto where a large Plexiglas wall allows you to see them darting and diving and playing underwater. Priceless. For people with disabilities: This attraction is completely accessible to guests using wheelchairs. Come anytime. It shouldn't be too hard to find a place away from the crowds.

About a dozen dogs, a dozen-plus cats, and an assortment of ducks, doves, parrots, and a pot-bellied pig (nearly all rescued from local animal shelters) are the stars of this lively, hilarious show. The animals perform complex stunts on a stage that looks like a seaside village. From stealing a string of sausages to driving their "girlfriends" on a date, these cute-as-a-button actors perform feats that are each more incredible than the last. Look around and you'll notice that the show is just as appealing to foreign guests; you don't have to speak English to enjoy what is essentially a live version of a silent movie. Stick around and you'll have a chance to shake paws with the stars. For people with disabilities: Special seating for guests using wheelchairs and assisted-listening devices are available. Gauge the crowds and arrive early if necessary.

If you'd like to spend some time with just about the cutest animals anywhere, this 60-minute tour focuses on the naturally funny sea lions and their svelte counterparts, otters. Snap a souvenir shot with a sea lion (and otter), and then make their day (and yours) by helping to feed buckets of fish to the sea lions and harbor seals at Pacific Point Preserve. From $39 adults, $19 children.

Sprawling, towering, and (for kids) beyond incredible, this 3-acre playground has places to crawl, climb, explore, bounce, and get wet. There's an adjacent arcade with midway games; there are pipes to crawl through; a tent with an air-mattress floor; and "ball rooms"—one for toddlers and one for grade-schoolers—with thousands of plastic balls to wade through. Keep on looking and you'll discover miniaturized thrill rides— roller coasters and spinning rides and an assortment of other rides that inject a pint-size dose of adrenaline. Then there are big sailing ships to explore and webbed ropes to climb and water to play in and around. For kids, this part of the park is worth the price of admission—they could be here for hours. For people with disabilities: Various areas offer different levels of clearance. Check with attendants about accessibility. Don't come first thing, or you'll never drag your child away; that said, it's busy here mid-afternoon or near dusk. Bring a towel to dry them off.

Within a large, innocuous white structure are some thoroughly creepy critters: eels, barracuda, sharks, and poisonous fish. You may even spy a few creatures you've never seen (or even imagined) before, like the weedy sea dragon and his cousin, the leafy sea dragon, which look like branches of a tree. But the stars of the show are the sharks, and this attraction doesn't scrimp. The real fun comes when you enter large transparent corridors and see fish, eels, and a half-dozen species of sharks slice gracefully through the water all around you—even overhead—which is a sensational new experience. Consider visiting the attraction in conjunction with a meal at the extraordinarily well-designed Sharks Underwater Grill, where you can order fresh fish and Floribbean cuisine while watching your entrée's cousins. For people with disabilities: Open spaces allow access to guests using wheelchairs. Spend at least 20 minutes here. Crowds are biggest when the adjacent sea lion and otter show gets out; time your visit accordingly.

The focal point of the park is this 400-foot-tall tower, the main mast for a revolving scenic double-decker observation platform. During the six-minute rotating up and down round-trip, you'll get the inside scoop on the park's history, its attractions, and surrounding sights. All in all, it's peaceful, relaxing, and gives you a new aerial perspective on SeaWorld and Orlando. Adjacent to it is Pearl Dive, a small area where you can sit and watch pearl divers snag oysters. For people with disabilities: The tower can accommodate two wheelchairs per cycle. Come whenever there's not a line, or use Quick Queue if necessary (extra fee required).

These overnight events are arranged primarily for kids, with special programs designed specifically for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and students from grades 2 to 12. During the summer, sleepovers are mainly geared to families with kids between kindergarten and fifth grade. Where will you bunk down for the night? The sleepovers are held at various locations, but always indoors beside a habitat for sharks, manatees, dolphins, Beluga whales, polar bears, penguins, or manta rays. The evening begins at 6 and includes a pizza dinner, a walk around the exhibit with a trainer, and ends with a continental breakfast. Expect to pay $95 for the experience, and park admission is included in the rate. Call ahead for reservations.

In this interactive hands-on exhibit (aka a shallow pool), dozens of circling stingrays are close enough to touch, as evidenced by the many outstretched hands surrounding the rim. Buy stingray delicacies (smelts, silversides, shrimp, and squid) available for $5 a tray, two for $9, three for $13 from the attendant. The best part is when the rays flap up for lunch, you can stroke their velvety skin. Even though they have stingers, they won't hurt you—they just want food (and they're obligingly hungry all day). Check out the nursery pool with its baby rays. For people with disabilities: This attraction is easily accessible to guests using wheelchairs. Walk by if it's crowded, but return before dusk before the smelt concession stand closes.

This walk-through attraction is a three-part experience that begins underground where wide windows reveal a pool inhabited by surprisingly graceful manatees. (SeaWorld, by the way, has rescued more manatees than anyone else in the world and has rescued an estimated 20,000 birds, fish, and animals since 1964.) Part two takes you to a room where rescued sea turtles can be seen swimming past as a host discusses the life cycle of these docile creatures. This bit of background leads to the final room, a domed 360-degree 3-D theater where you are introduced to Nyah, a sea turtle who defies the odds and scurries into the ocean after being hatched. From here, you follow Nyah through a series of near disasters until she returns to the beach to lay her own eggs. Note that the predators attempting to get at Nyah and her siblings may be too intense for kids, and the volume may be cranked up to rock-concert levels. If you have a tinge of motion sickness, hang on to the support rails, because the film makes it seem as if the world's gone topsy-turvy. If you can't handle the virtual motion of the movie, skip the film and take a peek at the manatees and turtles from an outdoor observation area. If there's a long line, the fee-additional Quick Queue pass works here.

Two levels of special tours are offered with Expedition SeaWorld (formerly the VIP Tour) ranging from $59 for children and $79 for adults. With that, you receive instant access to Manta, Kraken, Journey to Atlantis, Turtle Trek, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, and Wild Arctic plus reserved seating at the One Ocean, Blue Horizons, and Clyde and Seamore shows; a chance to feed sea lions, dolphins, and rays; and enjoy a meal at an All Day Dining Deal restaurant. Note that you'll be traveling with a group of up to 12. If you invest in the substantially more expensive Private VIP Tour (from $299 or, with park admission, from $349), it will be limited to you and your guests and included preferred parking, reserved seating at shows, and replace the buffet lunch with an upscale meal at Sharks Underwater Grill. Another plus is that the Private VIP Tour can be completely customized (i.e., if there are only adults, you can skip Happy Harbor and other kids' activities; if there are kids, then the tour will add stops just for them).

At this pseudo ice station, you embark on a soaring and swooping virtual helicopter ride that takes you over the Arctic and through some dangerously close calls (if you're sensitive to the very real rolls and pitches, you can opt out for a stationary virtual helicopter). Then you exit onto a long walk through interactive, educational displays which lead to above- and below-water stations where you can watch Beluga whales, polar bears, and groaning tusked walruses (some weighing as much as 3,000 pounds) hoisting themselves onto a thick shelf of ice. This is a diverse and cute collection of animals you certainly don't see everyday, which makes this sneak peak at their lifestyle vastly entertaining. Those who are pregnant or who suffer from neck, back, or heart conditions or motion sickness should opt out of the virtual-helicopter part of the attraction. For people with disabilities: You must transfer from your wheelchair to the ride vehicle. Come early, late, or during a Shamu show. You can skip the simulated helicopter ride if you just want to see the mammals.

On this hour-long program, you'll be able to interact with seals, walruses, and beluga whales. Trainers are there to take your questions—and you'll be delighted when you come face to snout with a whiskered walrus. Too cute! From $59 adults and children.