12 Tips for SeaWorld San Diego with Kids

As a mom of two, former San Diego resident and multi-year SeaWorld San Diego annual pass holder, I have been to this amusing and educational park more times than I can count. Before you go, be sure to check out my 12 tips to make the most of your visit to SeaWorld San Diego with kids.

Save on your SeaWorld visit with ticket discounts and San Diego hotel discounts now!

1. Schedule your day around SeaWorld San Diego's shows.

Grab a park map at the entrance and plan your day around the show times listed on the back. There are many different shows to choose from so decide which shows are must-sees for your family. I recommend getting to the shows a little early to nab a good seat. Doors to shows close promptly and they do sometimes fill to capacity, especially during high tourist seasons like spring break and summer weekends.

Dolphin Days will wow the whole family (Photo credit: SeaWorld San Diego)

SeaWorld's shows have evolved to focus more on education than they did in the past. View some spectacular water acrobatics and learn about dolphins and pilot whales in Dolphin Days. Orca Encounter is a documentary-style presentation about killer whales. (Worry not – the Orca Encounter pool has a special floor which will raise as needed for the safety of trainers and the animals.) Sea Lions LIVE is a slapstick show for all ages, starring sea lions Clyde and Seamore, plus O.P. Otter. My family's favorite is Pet's Rule!, a humorous show filled with adopted land animals like dogs, cats, ducks, and pigs performing tricks galore. At night, the glitzy Circue Electrique features aerial human performers in glowing LED suits that fly in and over the waters of Mission Bay.

Kids will learn and laugh at Sea Lions LIVE at SeaWorld San Diego (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

2. Remember where you park at SeaWorld San Diego.

I have lost my car more at SeaWorld San Diego than anywhere else. Rows are marked but the signs are widespread so take note of exactly how close you are to the row letter and number.

Healthy foods from the buffet at Dine with Orcas (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

3. Budget meal money and calories.

You can bring small kid-sized snacks into the park, but not full meals. Yes, they will check your bags at the entrance and make you return forbidden food to the car, pack the items into a rentable locker, or dump it out. As at most amusement parks, the food is not cheap. There are plenty of deep-fried and sugary temptations, but you can also find healthier options like salads, barbecue-smoked chicken (at the Calypso Bay Smokehouse), and fresh fruits.

For a special treat, splurge on Dine with Orcas, an exclusive and entertaining dining experience. Load up your plates from the buffet and then settle in for a fascinating presentation featuring killer whales.

Dine with Orcas is a meal your family will always remember (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

4. Get in line for popular rides first thing.

If you want to ride the thrilling Manta roller coaster, Journey to Atlantis water coaster, Riptide Rescue spinning ride, or the very wet Shipwreck Rapids—get in line first thing when the park opens in the morning. Queues can get quite long (an hour+) as the day goes on. These rides are located quite a distance from each other, so you'll have to prioritize.

Mellower rides with more manageable wait times include Bayside Skyride's gondola ride over San Diego Bay, the needle-shaped Skytower Ride in the center of the park, and the educational Wild Arctic. Young children will get a kick out of the three sweet rides in the Sesame Street Bay of Play area of the park.

Manta is a VERY thrilling and popular ride at SeaWorld San Diego (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

5. Prepare for the weather at SeaWorld San Diego.

If ever you were going to pack sun hats and slather on the sunscreen, do it at SeaWorld San Diego. There is no shade for the shows and when sitting on the aluminum benches under the beating Southern California sun in summer, the park can feel like the hottest place on the planet. San Diego winters are chillier, though, than you might expect. Dress in layers so you can warm up or chill out as needed. Here's what to do if it rains during your SeaWorld visit.

SeaWorld San Diego's Skytower Ride gives 360 views of the park and San Diego Bay (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

6. Cool down and bring swim gear.

There are plenty of watery opportunities to cool down at SeaWorld San Diego. Find the fountains at the Sesame Street Bay of Play for young children. Be sure to bring along swimsuits and towels for little ones who will get soaked at this splash area. If you forget, you can buy Elmo, Zoe, and other Sesame Street character-themed gear there.

Big kids and adults can ride the Shipwreck Rapids and Journey to Atlantis water rides. Of course, there's always the option to sit in the splash zone at the park's many shows. You can also walk through the chilly Penguin Encounter or Wild Arctic attraction, which features polar bears, beluga whales, and walruses.

When it's hot outside, cool down at the Penguin Encounter (Photo credit: SeaWorld San Diego)

7. Keep kids busy while waiting for SeaWorld San Diego shows.

Kids can get antsy waiting for shows to start, so use toys and snacks as entertainment while you wait. Pack a few little distractions in your day bag or purse like mini bubbles or toy cars. Food is allowed into shows and peddled by SeaWorld employees inside, so this is a good time to use snacks to busy the kids.

Sea Turtle Reef (Photo credit: SeaWorld San Diego)

8. Stay hydrated.

You will be doing a lot of walking at SeaWorld San Diego with kids, probably in the sun. Don't get so busy that you forget to stay hydrated. There are plenty of beverage carts throughout the park. The Frozen Lemonades are deeeeelicious!

Oscar's Rockin' Eel is one of three rides for little kids at the Sesame Street Bay of Play (Photo credit: Travel Mamas)

9. Keep it fun by alternating activities at SeaWorld San Diego.

Especially with children, it's important to alternate mellow activities and busy fun. After climbing the giant rope structure in Sesame Street Bay of Play and walking through the park's numerous aquariums, rest your feet at one of the animal shows. Try to keep your visit educational, but fun too!

SeaWorld San Diego offers many educational, interactive animal attractions and experiences. You can pet sea creatures like rays and horseshoe crabs at Explorer's Reef. Park goers can even touch, feed and help train bottlenose dolphins with the Dolphin Interaction. During the Beluga Interaction Program, guests don wet suits and get into 55 degree water to play with and learn about beluga whales. Advanced registration and additional fees are required for Dolphin Encounter, Beluga Interaction Program, and other up-close guided activities.

Kids and adults get a chance to feed dolphins during a Dolphin Encounter (Photo credit: Colleen Lanin)

10. Tell children what to do if they get lost.

During one visit to SeaWorld, my family found a little boy all by himself with tears in his eyes. I asked him if he was lost and indeed he was. When we couldn't find his family, we walked back with him to Guest Relations/Lost & Found and stayed with him until his aunt was located. Before exploring any large tourist attraction, discuss safety precautions with your kids. If traveling with older children, choose a meeting place should you get separated and make sure their cell phone batteries are fully charged. If traveling with young children, tell them to stay where they are if they get separated so their grown-ups can find them. Or they should approach a MOM with kids and ask her for help. Additionally, parents should keep eyes open for children who could use a little help finding their families!

SeaWorld San Diego saves hundreds of distressed animals each year (Photo credit: SeaWorld San Diego)

11. Feel good about visiting SeaWorld San Diego with kids.

Look, I know that SeaWorld has gotten some bad press recently. Do you know who typically does NOT have a problem with SeaWorld San Diego? San Diego County residents. That's because the people who live in this community see SeaWorld on the local news rescuing sea life all the time. In fact, SeaWorld San Diego has rescued more than 17,000 animals since it opened in 1965, including whales, dolphins, sea turtles, sea lions, seals, and marine birds. What's more, 60 to 70 percent of the rescued animals are rehabilitated and returned to the wild. When kids visit SeaWorld, not only do they learn about a wide variety of animals, but also they gain an appreciation of the Earth's ocean life and our need to conserve and protect it.

12. Save on your SeaWorld San Diego visit.

Why pay full price when you can save on your San Diego visit? Purchase discounted SeaWorld San Diego tickets and book discounted San Diego hotel stays! Use discount code TravelMamas to get $10 off any two-night or longer Southern California package (hotel and two ticket minimum) when you book through Get Away Today.

Do you have a tip for visiting SeaWorld San Diego with kids or a SeaWorld memory to share? Tell us in the comments below!

A Note from The Travel Mama: I have received free entrance to SeaWorld San Diego a few times over the years but I have paid for my entrance more than not. All opinions are my own. This story first went live in 2011 and was updated in 2017.