Guide to SeaWorld San Diego (including a 4-hour VIP Tour)

My family of three (with a 9yo) were in San Diego in early October for a conference my husband was attending. We decided to stay an extra 4 nights and turn it into a real vacation. I researched a lot of different activities for us. At first, my husband wasn’t too sure that he wanted to visit SeaWorld when I suggested it. But when I saw the VIP Tour online, I knew we had to do it. Again, my husband wasn’t thrilled because it’s not cheap. But I convinced him that since I was turning 30 this year and we weren’t going to do anything special for it, this was a great present.

The first thing I did was email to find out more information. My email read:
“I am interested in learning more about the VIP Tours. The date we were looking at is October 6th for my family (2 adults, 1 child age 9). We were thinking about doing the 4 hour tour. I was wondering if these happen at a specific time, or if they can be scheduled for any time in the day. I was also wondering which animal tours are offered. How much would the total be for the three of us after tax? Please let me know if this date is not available and with any extra information you can. Thanks.”

The response I received was very informative! It took them just over 24 hours to respond. The email I got back was this:
“Thank you for your interest in our VIP tours. We are able to accommodate a 4 hour VIP tour on October 6th. The total for 3 participants for a 4-hour VIP Tour is $1,210.47. We like to start the tours when the park opens at 10am but they can also start at 11am or even 12pm, depending on what works best for you.
The 2-Hour VIP tour offers encounters with 4 different animals from your choice of the following:
Dolphins
Sea Lions
Feeding Sea Turtles
Penguins
Sea Otters
The 4-Hour tour allows for encounters with 5 animals from your choice of the animals listed above with the additional option of either a Beluga Whale OR a Walrus (one or the other). There will also be time for lunch at one of our cafeteria style restaurants and special VIP reserved seating at 1 show. The show options are:
Orca Encounter
Sea Lions Live
Dolphin Days
The 6 -Hour tour also allows for encounters with the 5 animals listed above plus either a Beluga Whale OR a Walrus (one or the other) as well as reservations for lunch at Dine with Killer Whales and special VIP reserved seating for 2 shows of your choice during the tour. You also receive passes that allow you access to the Premiere Seating section of any open air amphitheater for any show after the tour.
We typically don’t include time for rides during the tour, but for the 4 and 6-Hour VIP tours, you will receive front of the line passes to use after the tour. These passes are valid for unlimited use on the Manta roller coaster, Electric Eel roller coaster, Shipwreck Rapids water ride, Journey to Atlantis water ride/roller coaster, and the Wild Arctic helicopter simulator ride. If you would like to substitute time for rides for a show or an animal meet, we can easily adjust your itinerary.
All three tours include a 2-day admission ticket as well as parking. Your 2nd visit must occur within 7 days after your 1st visit.
The total cost for the 2-Hour VIP tour including tax is $225.85 USD per person.
The total cost for the 4-Hour VIP tour including tax is $403.49 USD per person.
The total cost for the 6-Hour VIP tour including tax is $580.19 USD per person.”

That was a lot of good information, right? There was also a link to their website about the VIP tour, which I had already seen, and a phone number to call if/when I wanted to book it. I was even more excited after reading the email and I was ready to book!
I called the number I was given and talked to a very nice woman who told me the penguins were not going to be an option due to a virus that was detected in California that had the potential to wipe out entire flocks of birds. That was pretty devastating to us because my husband is obsessed with penguins. But I booked anyway because I still wanted to do everything else. My call lasted for less than 8 minutes. I was glad I had all the information I needed before calling. It made things go very smoothly.

We received an e-mail a couple days beforehand with instructions to meet just outside the entrance to the right of bag check about 10 minutes before they opened (at 10am).

Good information to know:
SeaWorld is located at 500 SeaWorld Drive.
Normally, parking is $22-$35.
Your bags may be inspected and you will be expected to go through a metal detector.
There are lockers available for $20/day for a large locker and $15/day for a standard locker.
There is free wifi inside the park (SeaWorldGuest).
Water bottles are aloud into the park, but no other food or drink is permitted.

What’s Included in a Private VIP Tour (4 hours):
$400 per person
Customize your tour to your group’s interests
4 hour walking tour
Personal VIP Guide
Animal Encounters
2-Day Admission to SeaWorld
Up-Close Parking (day of tour)
Choice of snacks in the park during the tour
Reserved Seating at Shows
Front-of-the-line access to rides
Souvenir cup and all day drink refills
Meal in park

Closures:
The Skytower was closed during our visit.

When we got there, we were able to park right up front because not only is parking included with your VIP tickets, but up front parking is included. This didn’t so much matter to us when we got there, but at the end of the day, after we had walked about 20,000 steps, we were thankful to have our car located right outside the entrance.

We arrived early because that’s just what my family does. We waited where we were told in that previous e-mail for a few minutes before Ricardo showed up and introduced himself. You guys, he was seriously amazing. He did everything he could to really make us feel like VIPs. I have definitely never felt so special at a theme park! It was so worth the money for us.
Since we were there early, Ricardo was able to take us right in. The looks from everyone waiting in line were oddly satisfying. Since we were in the park before they technically opened, we were able to stick our hands into the cleaner fish tank. That was an odd sensation.

We were also able to pet some bamboo shark. This was just so much fun without all the other people in the park being in our way. We walked around the park a little bit, looking at spider crabs and the outdoor penguin exhibit.
We soon heard people coming, meaning they had opened the gates and we could just see a flood of people stampeding into the park. This is when we decided to head off to our first animal interaction.

Our first animal was the beluga whale. They told us what to expect, and then we headed into their tank area. We stood and knelt next to the tank while we learned all about their bodies and diets and habits. It was amazing. These are truly amazing animals. We got to touch Klondike and feel her fatty head. I know that sounds weird, but it was amazing. This may have been my favorite animal interaction all day.

After that, we headed off to get our first snack. We settled on churros and they were surprisingly delicious. I don’t expect much out of park food, but these were really good. We ate them as we walked to our next animal interaction.

We walked through a closed off section into the dolphin arena. We played with Malibu. She was so much fun and my son just loved getting splashed by the dolphin’s tail. The trainers seemed fake nice, but whether they wanted us there or not, they did their best to not make it obvious so I guess I couldn’t ask for much more.

We had a couple minutes before our next encounter so we went through the shark walkthrough. In general, I wasn’t thrilled with how many people were in there all at once, but I’m not really one for crowds. I actually liked that you just get on the moving sidewalk and then don’t have to move until you get off. It makes it much easier to look around and it means that people aren’t just standing there so everyone gets a chance to look around. We also stopped to see the baby otter that was there. He was so cute!

Our next animal interaction was the sea otters! They were so adorable. This may have been one of my son’s favorites. We got to feed them treats through these little holes in this plexiglass wall. We were able to stay there for quite a while, watching the otters swim around, eat their snacks, and listen to the trainers talk about these special animals.

After we were done admiring the baby otter one more time, we headed off for lunch. We ate at Mama Stella’s, which you’ll read more about later. While we ate, our guide took his lunch break as well. He met back up with us just as we were finishing eating.

We had a couple minutes before a show, so we got some reusable cups. These were included in our VIP tour, so we did get one for each of us. If they hadn’t been included, we probably still would have gotten one. I always think the refillable cups are worth it. The last thing you want to do while walking around a lot is get dehydrated.

We then made our way to the sea lion and otter show. Since it was October, it was Halloween themed. My son thought it was seriously hilarious. He was cracking up. Plus side, since we were there on a VIP tour, we showed up only a couple minutes before the show and were given amazing seats! These aren’t just the seats you get when you pay for the passes, an employee was actually standing, waiting for us up close.

Then, we decided to see some more animals while we waited for our next animal encounter. We saw the beautiful flamingos. We pet and fed some rays. My son has always loved all kinds of rays. Yes, we’ve fed rays before, but it was still nice to do it again.

Then, we headed over to the seals and tossed them some fish. I’ve definitely never fed so many animals in one day. It was so much fun.

Finally, it was time for our sea lion encounter. We got to hang out with Diesel. We took pictures, we did some training. We threw some treats. It’s just such a fun experience. I can’t imagine someone doing one of these tours and not having the time of their lives.

The whole day, I knew our last animal encounter was going to be with the sea turtles. I, however, chose to keep that a secret from my son. You see, recently, he had really gotten into sea turtles. They were and still are one of his favorite animals. We walked over to the sea turtle area and saw them in their underwater exhibit with everyone else. My son was already so happy just looking at them. He was having the time of his life, but we had to pry him away so that we could go into the employee only area. The trainer was a little busy at first so we hung out and looked at some cleaner shrimp and some fish that spit in order to get their food. We had such a fun time just hanging out “backstage”.

Finally, the trainer returned and we were able to go above the enclosure. She talked a lot about these amazing creatures. My son was almost in tears he was so happy. We were able to throw a full box of lettuce out to the turtles to eat. It was amazing to watch them. It was also fun to see that their favorite part is actually that hard stem part that we humans usually throw away. It was amazing. We did eventually have to leave though.

After we left the turtles, Ricardo let us know that we still had a snack that we could get so we got some ice cream bars. Owen loved this. He had been asking for one all day. Then, we sadly had to say goodbye to Ricardo. It was obvious that he loves his job and I just couldn’t be any happier with our experience during this tour. One of my favorite parts was having someone to take our picture anytime we wanted. As someone always taking the pictures and rarely being in them, I definitely appreciated this!

We definitely wanted to see the Orca show and one was starting soon, so we headed over that way. Since we were given our front-of-the-line tickets to use the rest of the day, this includes a special area to sit in during shows, as well. It was a great show and we had a great time. Owen wanted to sit in the splash zone, but Tom and I did not.

Since we had spent all of our tour seeing animals, we decided it was time to ride some rides. We didn’t even come close to riding them all, but we rode a couple. I’ll talk about those below.

We also took time to change into Halloween shirts. We decided to do family costumes without actually getting costumes so we went as Taco Bell sauce packets. It was fun. And since we dressed up, we bought Owen a bag and he went trick or treating. He was able to get some candy. It was fun.

We also saw the dolphin show. We decided to sit at the top of the splash zone and honestly, got only a couple of drops. But it satisfied Owen’s want to be in the splash zone. It was a great show. We seriously loved it.

We also went to the arctic area. It was beautifully themed! We saw the belugas, walruses, seals, and penguins. It was so much fun and nice and cool. It was a great relief from all of our running around.

Before we left, we stuck our hands in the cleaner fish tank again. Our day was so full! We entered before the park opened and we stayed just past closing. And we still didn’t see and do everything we wanted. Our VIP tickets did come with a second day’s ticket, but we just didn’t have time in our schedule to make that work.

Our only negative experience the entire day happened when we went to the underwater Orca viewing. We really wanted to see the Orcas, but we could only see one Orca and it was sleeping in the back of the tank so we really couldn’t see it. But even this, isn’t really that negative. So if the worst thing that happens to you is that you don’t get to see an animal, I think you’re doing pretty good!

Overall, if you can afford it, DO THE VIP TOUR!

Rides:
Electric Eel
High Thrill
The tallest, fastest roller coaster in San Diego is here - a multi-launch coaster with high-energy twists, electrifying loops and inversions.
My husband rode this by himself and he thought it was fun, but the rest of us are not into going upside down.

Tidal Twister
High Thrill
Feel the thrill of this unique dueling roller coaster ride featuring high-speed turns and upside-down twists.

Journey to Atlantis
Water Rides, High Thrill, Quick Queue
Inspired by one of the sea’s favorite legends, this popular flume ride returns with an all-new look and smoother ride experience! Explore a lost civilization, and experience an action adventure with splashing thrills!
We got soaked on this ride. And personally, I loved it. My son enjoyed the large drop, but the rollercoaster part of the ride really freaked him out and he didn’t want to ride it again.
We did have to get a locker for this ride.

Abby’s Sea Star Spin
Good for small children, Low Thrill, Quick Queue Junior
Take the kids for some whirling, twirling fun on a classic spinning teacup ride. You control the spin with the wheel at the center of your starfish-inspired riding cup.

Aqua Scout
Good for small children, Low Thrill, Quick Queue Junior
Laugh out loud as six mini submarines spin, bump, and bounce you around.

Bayside Skyride
Low Thrill, Quick Queue
Take a break on this roundtrip skyride and treat yourself to beautiful views as you soar above the park and scenic Mission Bay on a gently gliding gondola. Guests under 56” must be accompanied by a Supervising Companion. Please note there is a $6 entrance fee for guests age 3 and older.

Elmo’s Flying Fish
Good for small children, Low Thrill, Quick Queue Junior
Younger kids love this up and down ride across an imaginary ocean - on a flying fish that looks surprisingly like a favorite Sesame Street character - Elmo.

Manta
High Thrill, Quick Queue
Buckle up for a multi-media family launch coaster that lives up to its name. Two thrilling launches send riders soaring and diving in the spirit of world’s largest ray.
My husband and son rode this right before the park closed and they loved it. It looked like a TON of fun.

Oscar’s Rockin’ Eel
Good for small children, Low Thrill, Quick Queue Junior
Oscar the Grouch might be grumpy, but his eel pal is one slippery character! Hang on as he spins and slithers you along on a side-to-side slide of an adventure.

Octarock
Low Thrill, Quick Queue Junior
Swing high and reach for the sky as the swing rocks back and forth.
Riptide Rescue
Medium Thrill
Set out on your own sea turtle rescue mission aboard a boat on this classic spinner ride. But hold on - like SeaWorld’s actual rescues, it can take quite a few turns.

Sea Dragon Drop
Good for small children, Low Thrill, Quick Queue Junior
Take an exciting ride on our child-sized shot-n-drop tower.

Shipwreck Rapids
Medium Thrill, Water Ride, Quick Queue
Cool off on one of Southern California’s favorite water rides. A winding river turns to rolling whitewater rapids before plunging through a waterfall finale.
We actually rode this one twice. It was a blast. And you never know who’s going to get soaked. That’s actually why we had to ride it twice. My son didn’t get wet enough the first time!

Tentacle Twirl
Low Thrill, Quick Queue Junior
Take to the skies in this exciting, jellyfish-themed swing ride.

Wild Arctic
Medium Thrill, Quick Queue
Flight simulator meets daring adventure as you embark on a thrilling jet-helicopter ride. Soar through the breathtaking, perilous, icy landscapes of the Arctic Circle. Put yourself in your pilot’s hands as he maneuvers treacherous frozen peaks and valleys en route to Base Station Wild Arctic.

Shows:
Dolphin Days
Outdoor, Some Splashes, Reserved Seating Available
Join our dolphin and pilot whale family as they show off their athleticism – and playfulness – in this favorite new show. Plus, hear what inspires their trainers.

Orca Encounter
See killer whales in the first experience of its kind. Dive deeper into the orcas masterful hunting techniques and complex communication codes. Learn about the role of family, the importance of play and what we learn from the whales in our care every day is actively helping whales in the wild survive. Witness natural orca behaviors while an expansive infinity screen brings their story to life. Leave with a deeper connection to one of the sea’s mightiest, most magnificent animals.

Sea Lions Live
Reserved Seating Available
Our wacky California Sea Lion comedy duo, Clyde & Seamore star alongside their Asian Small-Clawed Otter buddy, OP, in their very own TV variety show. The team performs their own versions of some of today’s most popular shows including, Super Seamore, Survival: Mission Bay and Dancing with the Pinnipeds!

Sea Rescue
Indoor, Inspirational, Educational
The award-winning Sea Rescue tells the stories of marine animal rescue, rehabilitation and return to the wild by the dedicated SeaWorld Rescue Team and partner organizations.

Sea Lions Tonite
No one knows how to steal the show quite like our resident comic duo, Clyde and Seamore. Catch them in this nightly spoof of our attractions and shows.

Halloween Spooktacular:
Watch silly and spooky live shows and presentations
Clyde & Seamore’s Big Halloween Bash (SeaWorld’s resident sea lion comedy team returns for some holiday fun. Clyde and Seamore spoof their favorite Halloween classics, with a little help from OP Otter of course, in Clyde & Seamore’s Big Halloween Bash. Be sure to wear your costume and dance along with Clyde, Seamore, and OP for this spooky celebration offered daily.)
Sesame Street Halloween Parade (1:30pm features 10 fantastic floats with Elmo, Count von Count, Bert, Ernie, Abby Cadabby, Zoe, Cookie Monster, Rosita, Big Bird and Telly)
Enjoy fun Halloween activities
Interactive Dance Floor (Come boogie on the dance floor with our candy and ocean-inspired characters.)
Enjoy a special themed area celebrating Dia de los Muertos.
Manta Madness (Climb aboard as you take an unexpected turn into the darkness. Spooky special effects and creepy sounds put you in the middle of the MADNESS.)
Trick-or-Treat for candy and goodies throughout the colorfully decorated park
Hours run from 2:30pm to 7pm
Bring a reusable bag (you can also buy one for as little as 99 cents at any park gift shop, which is what we chose to do)
Spooktacular Pumpkin Hunt
Search for animal pumpkins throughout the park!
Purchase a map and when you have found all of them, redeem for an exclusive pin.

Animals:
Killer Whales
Underwater viewing
Dolphins
Get inches away at this open water exhibit where you may get to touch, feed, or maybe even help give the dolphins training signals
Walruses & Beluga Whales
Penguins
Around 300 penguins in this exhibit
Sea Lions
You may even get the chance to feed them
Sharks
Underwater viewing tunnel
Otters
4 playful California sea otters (Clover, Coco, Mocha, and Pumpkin)
Turtles
Visit fresh and saltwater aquariums
Explorer’s Reef
Just inside the park entrance, you’ll find your first real amazing opportunity to interact with sea life. Explorer’s Reef is a series of touch pools, home to several species of reef sharks, and is a great way to begin your day.
Ocean Explorer Animals
Meet some of the sea’s most secretive residents, from the quick-camouflaging giant Pacific octopus to eerie moray eels to the massive Japanese spider crabs - the largest in the sea.

Where we ate:
Mama Stella’s Pizza Kitchen
Cafe line with outdoor patio seating
Pizza: California cheese, BBQ chicken, pepperoni, or the vegetarian
Pasta: chicken alfredo, chicken tender parm, meatball marinara, pesto shrimp, or spicy arrabbiata
Assorted desserts, chicken caesar salad, fries, seasonal fresh fruit, vegetarian caprese sandwich
I had the chicken strip parm, my husband had the pesto shrimp, and my son had the kids pasta. We also got a couple breadsticks and my husband and I shared a caesar salad. With our meal that was included in our VIP tour, we were aloud to get a lot more food than what we got, but we knew there was no way we could eat that much and we didn’t want to be wasteful. Everything was pretty good. It wasn’t amazing, but it was satisfactory.

Hopefully, all of this information helps you plan your trip to SeaWorld San Diego. And if you made it all the way to the end, I know you will because you thoroughly planned your trip.