SEAWORLD IN SAN DIEGO
Visiting Seaworld in San Diego, It's Attractions, Animal Shows, and More
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Rides, Attractions and Shows
Rides at Seaworld include Shipwreck Rapids, Wild Arctic, Bayside Skyride, Skytower, and Journey to Atlantis. You must be 42" tall in order to ride them, and if under 56" you must be accompanied by an adult. Journey to Atlantis is a water coaster ride with plenty of ups and downs. Seaworld Skyride is a trip across Mission Bay. The Wild Arctic ride is a simulated jet helicopter ride. Shipwreck Rapids is a 5-minute ride down river rapids in a raft-like inner tube. The Skytower takes you up more than 256 feet for a view of the park and surrounding areas. Obviously not competing with Disneyland, these rides will still give you a break from the other sights and atrractions at Seaworld.
For attractions, you have at least 11 to choose from at the time this article was written, including several aquariums: World of the Sea, Freshwater Aquarium, and Aquarium of the Sea; California Tide Pool, where you can touch such underwater creatures as starfish, hermit crabs and sea urchins; walk through a tube inside the shark tank at Shark Encounter; Wild Arctic, where you can see polar bears, walruses and other cold-weather animals; Shamu's Happy Harbor, which is a play area for kids that include play structures and nets; and another fun area for the kids: the Coco Loco Arcade. And new this year is a Sesame Street play area called Sesame Street Bay of Play.
There are six shows to choose from, including Cirque de la Mer, which only runs during the summer months. Year-round shows include a sea lion show called Clyde and Seamore's Risky Rescue, a show featuring bottle-nose dolphins and pilot whales called Dolphin Discovery, Believe-Shumu Show, featuring the world-famous killer whale Shamu and other killer whales; R.L. Stine's Haunted Lighthouse, which is a 4-D movie based around a haunted house; and Pets Rule, featuring non-sea creatures like cats and dogs, birds, and a pot-bellied pig.
Tickets,Dining, and Other Information
It's recommended that you buy your park tickets in advance to save time, and avoid the long lines at the ticket booths. There are a few deals on tickets, so if your travel plans fit with these deals, you may save a little money. One is a "3 for 1" Pass, allowing you unlimited admission for 5 days to Seaworld, the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park. Currently priced at $109 for ages 10 and up, and $86 for ages 3-9, if you were planning on taking in all three attractions on your visit, you'll save money with this pass. A very good deal, if you plan on visiting Seaworld two times at least, is the Seaworld Passport. It's an even better deal if you happen to live in the area, as you can buy a Silver Passport for $99, and enjoy unlimited admission for 12 months. There may be some blackout dates for these passports: Memorial Day weekend, 4th of July weekend, and Labor Day weekend, for example. Single day admission tickets cost $59 for ages 10 and up, $49 for ages 3-9. For a little more money, buy a "Behind the Scenes" ticket which gives you the opportunity to learn more about the sea animals than you'd learn otherwise.
There are many opportunities for dining while you are visiting Seaworld. Here's just a sampling of restaurants you'll find throughout the park: Mamma Stella's Pizza Kitchen, Hospitality Deli, Pineapple Pete's Island Eats, and the Shipwreck Cafe. You can even have breakfast with Shamu.
We've had it on good authority that before you go, you should take a look at Seaworld's web site and check the schedule on their shows. Then plan your day's activities around showtimes to make the best use of your time. The attractions and rides will operate continuously, the shows won't.