SeaWorld and Walt Disney World are very different, but have one main thing in common: they’re both Orlando area theme parks. Here, I will compare them so you can decide which one is better for you and your family.
The two main things I would compare are safety and efficiency. I find that Disney World is more efficient in things like lines. Recently, when we went to SeaWorld for the first time, we turned away from a short wait time twice to put our stuff in the lockers and came back to a fast update, one of which was 70 minutes after it had just been 15. Disney rarely has that, and they don’t make you put your things in lockers for rides. Getting to that, SeaWorld makes you put all of your belongings in a locker, which they make you rent. Disney will let you the item(s) on the rides, but you may never see items again if you lose them. My family has lost a good water bottle, water bottle bottom and glasses in the parks, and we have never seen them since. Please note that in SeaWorld, it is the same way. To me, the SeaWorld parking is a bit better, but that may be because us pass holders (or at least us platinum pass holders) get free preferred with their pass. Disney will not do that. There, you must pay full like every other person if you want to be closer to the park. But if you are any type of pass holder, you can park standard for free. Just show them your card or Magicband and if they ask, ID, and you can get in no extra charge.
When it comes to safety, I feel better about it at Disney. SeaWorld requires face coverings, but they allow neck gaiters, unlike Disney. They also do not make you wear masks in pictures, which Disney does. Disney is soon starting to let people take maskless pictures. If you prefer not wearing a mask, you may be better off at SeaWorld. Because of Covid, Disney will also not let you walk around eating food. There, you must stay in one spot to take your mask off. I saw at least 5 people doing just that in SeaWorld.
Disney World and SeaWorld have more differences than just safety and efficiency. In Seaworld, we saw an employee pushing a cart through the park, some you will never see at a Disney theme park. SeaWorld also has bigger rides, while Disney has smaller, more family-friendly rides. The only upside-down ride in Disney World is Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. The unfinished Tron ride in Magic Kingdom will go upside-down, but it is far from ready. Along with ride are the shows and animals. Both places have shows, but the Disney shows have many more actors. The SeaWorld show, Dolphin Days, (great show, by the way) for example, just has the dolphins and trainers. The animals in SeaWorld are, of course, marine life, while really the only sea creatures in Disney World are the fish in Epcot. In terms of animals, Disney also has a petting zoo (and obviously other animals) in Animal Kingdom, Manatees at Epcot, and wild, unwanted snakes and alligators in the lakes. By the way, don’t ever get too close to a lake in Disney World unless someone says it’s safe.
Another category is the merchandise. Disney has a lot of character merchandise, but since SeaWorld only has the Sesame Place stuff, there’s not a ton of character items. I got a dolphin named Dorothy, and she is so fuzzy. Elliot got an eel, named Spencer. I have gotten things from Disney like my Frozen ll Olaf plush, Fluffy Rainbow Unicorn sweatshirt, and a cool Onward mug.
So these are some of the differences between SeaWorld and Walt Disney World. If this helped you find the right one for a trip to Orlando, your very welcome.
Adventures Made by MEE 