Located in Florida's theme park hotspot, SeaWorld Orlando combines marine life exhibits and shows with a selection of major theme park rides. In recent years, the park has sought to compete with nearby Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando by installing multi-million dollar roller coasters Kraken and Manta, as well as the Journey to Atlantis water coaster. However, its main draw is still its killer whale shows, which continue to cause controversy but consistently pull in massive crowds. In 2019 SeaWorld opened a new land - Sesame Street Land - aimed at younger guests with new rides and their first street parade.

Park History

SeaWorld Orlando was the third park in the chain to open, after SeaWorld San Diego and the now-defunct SeaWorld Ohio. It was expanded considerably following a takeover by Anheuser Busch in 1989, with the company investing in adding thrill rides similar to those found at its Busch Gardens parks. In 2009, SeaWorld Orlando and its sister parks were purchased by the Blackstone Group, who undertook a major expansion of the park by 2013, including the addition of the "world's coldest theme park ride", Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin.