The San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld San Diego are among the many prime San Diego sights. Each deal with animals to a sure diploma, however the choices and vibe at every differ considerably.
Many guests, particularly when in San Diego with children, will doubtless decide to hit up each of those big-name theme parks. However let’s say you’re extra restricted and wish to decide on or prioritize one.
On this article, I’ll break down the SeaWorld vs. San Diego Zoo query by highlighting the principle components that may most definitely affect which attraction you choose.
With this sensible comparability, you may resolve which one is greatest in your trip. Now we have annual passes to each sights, and I discuss to folks about these theme parks day by day. I do know who enjoys their visits and who doesn’t.
It can save you on tickets, excursions, and resorts via my affiliations. In case you make purchases via the hyperlinks on this put up, I could also be compensated. Additionally, costs at theme parks change quickly and will differ from what’s on this put up. Verify earlier than you go.
Admission Comparability
Winner: Normally San Diego Zoo, until you’re lively navy or SeaWorld tickets are on sale.
Concerning the ticket worth, San Diego Zoo edges out SeaWorld San Diego as a higher-value vacation spot. Why? The tickets are normally inexpensive – however not at all times.
What Admission Will get You on the San Diego Zoo
Costs keep comparatively steady as a result of tickets by no means go on sale. For that reason, we’ll use the net worth since it’s $2 lower than should you had been to buy on the gate.
Nevertheless, keep in mind that I’ve low cost San Diego Zoo tickets that may prevent much more on 1-Day tickets than is listed beneath.
Listed below are the essential costs and particulars:
- 1-Day Go: Costing $65 for adults and $55 for youngsters ages 3 to 11, the 1-Day Go gives admission in addition to a Guided Bus Tour, a trip on the Skyfari Aerial Tram, and a seat on the Kangaroo Categorical Bus everytime you need it. It can save you an extra $2 per ticket should you select a Worth Day.
- 1-Day Go Plus: This ticket—$71 for adults and $61 for youngsters—provides to the above a screening on the zoo’s 4D Theater. It can save you an extra $2 per ticket should you select a Worth Day. (The price of a 4D film is $7 per particular person and might be added on on the park. It’s cheaper to do that and purchase my low cost tickets.)
- 2-Go to Go: The two-Go to Go, which prices $110 for adults and $100 for youngsters, lets you mix a go to every to the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Alternatively, you should utilize the go for a reduced two visits to 1 or the opposite vacation spot.
There are additionally restricted, or limitless zoo visits obtainable via San Diego Zoo membership plans. A few of these embody blockout dates.
Parking is free. And, I’ve an unique low cost on 1-Day tickets.
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What Admission Will get You at SeaWorld San Diego
As a result of they provide gross sales all year long, you’ll hardly ever pay full worth at SeaWorld San Diego. However, this makes a worth comparability trickier. Right here the gate costs for the commonest tickets.
- Date-Particular Tickets: Tickets for a single day’s admission start at $99.99. This admission contains entry to many of the rides and reveals inside SeaWorld San Diego, although the Skytower and Bayside Skyride price an extra charge. This ticket is almost at all times on sale or might be bought at a reduction.
- Ticket & All-Day Eating Bundle: For a retail worth of $144.88, you may add to your single-day admission an entree and facet or beverage each hour at SeaWorld San Diego. That is additionally normally on sale.
When the tickets go on sale, they are often as little as $59.99 for a day’s admission, bringing a one-day go to near the Zoo. A Ticket & All-Day Eating Bundle might be as little as $89.99.
Now we have tons of recommendation for getting low cost SeaWorld San Diego tickets. You’ll pay to park at SeaWorld San Diego.
Different choices embody a SeaWorld Annual Go, which moreover a 12 months’s value of SeaWorld admission, lands you free parking, free visitor tickets, and sure in-park reductions. Enjoyable Playing cards additionally present limitless admission.
Lively Responsibility navy personnel take pleasure in complimentary admission to SeaWorld San Diego (as do as much as three of their direct dependents).
There are additionally varied upgrades obtainable for SeaWorld admission, together with Fast Queue Limitless for attending to the entrance of strains and Reserved Seating for reveals.
Combo tickets & SightSeeing Passes
The all-inclusive Go San Diego Go contains each San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld San Diego admission along with over 50 different native sights.
Utilizing this go removes admission as a think about figuring out which park to go to, plus you get entry to different well-liked museums, excursions, and sights.
As well as, a number of choices mix admission for the 2 sights:
Animal Reveals
Winner: San Diego Zoo
SeaWorld San Diego and San Diego Zoo boast quite a lot of animal reveals. That mentioned, there’s no query that the Zoo affords much more selection — not stunning, given animal shows are the core of its enchantment.
San Diego Zoo Reveals
San Diego Zoo is residence to just about 13,000 particular person animals representing greater than 650 species and subspecies.
A go to right here takes you on a tour across the globe’s spectacularly numerous ecosystems and reveals off simply how diverse and sumptuous their lifeforms are.
The Zoo’s zones vary from Africa Rocks, Asian Passage, and Misplaced Forest to the Reptile Home at Discovery Outpost. Animals calling the place residence embody (to call only some):
- Bonobos
- Orangutans
- Western Lowland Gorillas
- Baboons
- African Lions
- Malayan Tigers
- Snow Leopards
- Jaguars
- Mountain Lions
- Cheetahs
- Grizzly Bears
- Polar Bears
- Sloth Bears
- Tasmanian Devils
- African & Asian Elephant
- Hippos
- Giraffes
- Pink Pandas
- Meerkats
- Komodo Dragons
- Inexperienced Anacondas
- Alligator Snapping Turtles
- Chinese language Alligators
- California Condors
- Flamingos
- Secretary Birds
- Harpy Eagles
A couple of different issues to notice: The San Diego Zoo is carefully related to trendy efforts to preserve the enormous panda, together with a well-known captive-breeding program. However as of 2019, large pandas are not on view on the zoo.
Additionally, plant lovers will revel within the botanical collections on the zoo, which of their approach are simply as complete because the faunal roster. Self-guided excursions of the zoo’s gardens and plantings can be found.
SeaWorld San Diego Reveals
The reveals aren’t practically so diverse at SeaWorld San Diego. However partly, that’s due to the theme park’s narrower scope.
In any case, SeaWorld San Diego is an oceanarium and marine theme park. Which means sea animals and leisure within the type of reveals and rides dominate its focus.
That doesn’t imply there aren’t absorbing reveals like interactive contact swimming pools and aquaria at SeaWorld San Diego.
A number of the principally marine residents embody:
- Beluga whales
- Orcas
- Sharks
- Rays
- Moray eels
- Sea turtles
- Penguins
- Sea Otters
- Sea Lions
- Seals
- Walruses
- Pilot whales
- Bottlenose Dolphins
Even a couple of “topside” organisms make the SeaWorld lower, together with macaws, toucans, and two-toed sloths.
Younger and outdated alike ought to thrill on the probability to pet a smooth ray at Bay Ray Shallows or a starfish within the SeaWorld tide swimming pools.
The identical goes for the up-close seems to be at hulking marine mammals via plexiglass panes. And the innocent however thrilling gauntlet of toothy grins you go via within the Shark Encounter tunnel is a dependable spotlight.
Rides
Winner: SeaWorld San Diego
In the case of rides, SeaWorld San Diego, with out query, has extra to supply than San Diego Zoo.
Rides at San Diego Zoo
The handful of rides on the San Diego Zoo are principally low-grade thrills and excursions however nonetheless very nice.
Skyfari Aerial Tram
The gondola expertise provided by the Skyfari Aerial Tram, for one, contains fabulous top-down views of the zoo and its Balboa Park environment.
Guided Bus Tour
Different trip choices preserve you firmly on the bottom. The primary-come, first-served Guided Bus Tour is a 35-minute narrated introduction to the zoo’s format and inhabitants—positively advisable for first-time guests.
Kangaroo Categorical Bus
Not likely a trip a lot as sensible around-the-zoo transportation, the non-narrated Kangaroo Categorical Bus makes 4 stops on its circuit.
Discovery Cart Tour (Paid Improve)
An extended narrated tour is on the market through the hour-long Uncover Cart rides which is an upgraded expertise bought individually from admission.
Balboa Park Minature Railroad
The Balboa Park Miniature Railroad takes zoo goers on a quick three-minute, half-mile circuit via eucalyptus bushes simply exterior the Zoo.
Tickets price simply $3, however there are lower than fifty of those classic trains left working.
Rides at SeaWorld San Diego
You’ll discover a way more in depth unfold of amusement rides at SeaWorld San Diego.
These vary from low-key, toddler-friendly choices reminiscent of spinning teacups to a number of the gnarliest curler coasters within the Golden State.
Listed below are the principle thrill and household rides on supply.
Excessive Thrill Rides
- Emperor: California’s tallest, quickest, and longest dive coaster (143-foot vertical drop, 60+ miles per hour)
- Manta: Launch coaster
- Electrical Eel: San Diego’s tallest and quickest launch coaster
- Tidal Tornado: Dueling rolling coaster
- Journey to Atlantis: Flume trip
Medium Thrill Rides
- Shipwreck Rapids: Whitewater trip with rapids and waterfall
- Riptide Rescue: Spinner trip
Low Thrill Rides
- Bayside Skyride: Gondola trip (paid improve)
- Skytower: Tower providing 100-mile sightlines over Larger San Diego and out to the Pacific
- Elmo’s Flying Fish: Kiddie trip
- Tentacle Twirl: Swing trip
- Abby’s Sea Star Spin: Swinging teacups
- Sea Dragon Drop: Shot-n-drop tower appropriate for young children
- Octarock: Child-friendly swing
- Oscar’s Rockin’ Eel: Child-friendly side-to-side slide
- Aqua Scout: Bumping kiddie trip
SeaWorld San Diego debuted Sesame Place San Diego in 2022, which incorporates water sights, amongst them a 500,000-gallon wave pool and water slides. It is a separate theme park positioned in Chula Vista.
Reveals
Winner: SeaWorld San Diego
You’ll discover dwell leisure with an academic element at each parks.
Usually talking, the reveals on the San Diego Zoo are on a smaller scale and centered on training. Most could be higher referred to as talks or displays.
For flashier (splashier?) reveals centered extra on leisure, SeaWorld San Diego is the place to go.
Which park you favor primarily based on reveals alone relies on which sort of present is extra significant to you.
Reveals & Shows on the San Diego Zoo
Common Wildlife Care Specialist Talks reveal a number of the inside scoop on assembly the behavioral, dietary, and different wants of particular species on the zoo.
The San Diego Zoo presents its varied animal ambassadors in day by day reveals on the Africa Rocks stage, Rady Ambassador Presentation Space, and Wegeforth Bowl amphitheater.
Remember that the zoo additionally affords quite a lot of upgraded excursions and actions that, if not precisely “reveals,” are nonetheless partaking and thrilling experiences.
These embody the Loopy About Cats, Animals in Motion, and Early Morning Cheetah experiences, plus the Inside Look Excursions that absorb some behind-the-scenes goings-on associated to animal care.
Reveals & Shows at SeaWorld San Diego
Dwell reveals are positively on the coronary heart of the SeaWorld San Diego expertise.
The killer-whale present, Orca Encounter, is the defining draw, supplying you with a firsthand take a look at the sweetness, agility, and intelligence of the ocean’s apex predator.
Additionally well-liked are the Dolphin Days and Sea Lions Dwell reveals, every that includes its personal smooth and charismatic marine mammals.
There are slower-paced animal experiences as nicely, together with sea-turtle feedings and sea-otter displays.
And never the entire SeaWorld reveals must do with sea life. The Sesame Road Meet-and-Greets permit kids to rub shoulders with their favourite Sesame Road characters. The Cirque Electrique performances embody acrobatic and jet-skiing thrills on the Bayside Amphitheater.
Night fireworks present a daily spectacle as nicely (test the calendar as they don’t happen day by day).
Crowds & Measurement
Winner: San Diego Zoo
Each the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld San Diego are main vacationer sights.
In any case, we’re speaking in regards to the most-visited zoo within the nation and the unique SeaWorld location. Count on giant crowds, particularly on weekends and throughout the summer season or vacation seasons.
However, do they really feel crowded? Let’s discover out.
San Diego Zoo Crowds & Measurement
The San Diego Zoo covers 100 acres, with some hilly terrain to navigate.
You’ll be able to anticipate loads of firm, significantly across the bigger water-dwelling animals reminiscent of polar bears and hippos. That’s as a result of friends are inclined to hover across the glass that showcases them swimming underwater.
Nevertheless, the dimensions of the zoo and its spread-out reveals means it hardly ever feels uncomfortably filled with folks.
However preserve the hilliness of the zoo’s grounds in thoughts (which is nothing anybody ever complains about). You could get a little bit exercise throughout a typical zoo go to, particularly should you push a stroller round.
The Kangaroo Bus and Aerial Tram turn out to be useful while you want a break from strolling or are visiting with extra mobility-challenged buddies or relations.
You don’t wait in line for a lot at San Diego Zoo since there aren’t any rides and other people have a tendency to maneuver via the reveals at an affordable tempo.
SeaWorld San Diego Crowds & Measurement
Given the most well-liked sights at SeaWorld are rides and reveals, anticipate a considerably extra crowded really feel. You’ll spend time ready in strains since rides are among the many hottest issues to do there.
SeaWorld San Diego is a giant place, too, overlaying some 172 acres. (Although it doesn’t really feel practically 2x the dimensions of the Zoo.)
Who Visits?
Winner: San Diego Zoo
For sure, there’s fairly a little bit of crossover on the subject of the Seaworld San Diego vs. San Diego Zoo audience.
Each spots rank among the many metropolis’s greatest household sights, although their enchantment—particularly on the subject of the San Diego Zoo—isn’t in any respect restricted to kiddos.
SeaWorld affords a higher-octane vibe given its thrill rides and extra spectacle-oriented reveals, however the zoo delivers a broader and richer general expertise.
Who the San Diego Zoo Will Enchantment to the Most
The San Diego Zoo is an all-ages vacation spot. It’s actually an excellent place to carry children, particularly youthful kids nonetheless reliably wowed by firsthand encounters with the animal kingdom.
However, I can inform you that retirees, newlyweds, singles, and even enterprise vacationers exit of their approach to go to. Even locals will head over very first thing within the morning to stroll via the gardens and varied areas for train (at a brisk tempo or in the proper sections, it’s a exercise). On the lookout for yard inspiration? Most of the 700,000 crops are labeled.
The Zoo’s a very potent draw should you or any person in your celebration has a particular curiosity within the pure world or conservation. That mentioned, a roaring huge cat, gargantuan elephant, or inquisitive nice ape is prone to captivate nearly anyone, younger or outdated.
Who SeaWorld San Diego Will Enchantment to the Most
SeaWorld San Diego’s attract is normally stronger for the youthful crowd.
Smaller kids will discover the contact swimming pools and the Sesame Road Bay of Play space intriguing. Many locals have season passes throughout the toddler years as a result of, nicely, there’s Elmo, Abby, Cookie Monster, and the gang featured in tame rides, merchandise, and characters roaming the park.
Teenagers like it for curler coasters. Apart from the historic coaster at Belmont Park, these are the one ones in San Diego. They usually’re huge and quick.
I don’t usually hear of or see many guests going with out children in tow. One exception could be when they’re working meals festivals or vacation occasions.
Eating
Winner: San Diego Zoo
Given they’re designed to be half- or full-day locations, it’s no shock that each the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld San Diego are nicely outfitted to fulfill appetites.
The Zoo, although, wins for the range of eating choices. Nevertheless, SeaWorld San Diego affords eating packages that would prevent cash should you plan to spend all day on the park.
Relaxation assured that grownup drinks are served in each parks! And each supply vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free choices.
Eating on the San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo affords a powerful lineup of eateries, snack bars, and watering holes nicely distributed all through the grounds. From on-the-go snacks and sit-down meals to grownup drinks, they cowl a number of cuisines starting from hearty to wholesome.
Named for a well-known, bygone silverback resident of the San Diego Zoo, Albert’s within the Misplaced Forest is a full-service restaurant and bar with a superb patio beside a small waterfall. Together with its day by day lunches and dinners, Albert’s affords a preferred weekend brunch.
Monitor down extra informal eating, in the meantime, on the following institutions:
- Busy Bee Café (Zoofari Social gathering Space)
- San Diego Zoo Sandwich Co. (Entrance Road)
- Entrance Road Candy Shack (Entrance Road)
- Safari Kitchen (Entrance Road)
- Lagoon Terrace (Entrance Road)
- Sydney’s Grill (Australian Outback)
- Hua Mei Cafe (Asian Passage)
- Sabertooth Mexican Grill (Elephant Odyssey)
- Treetops Cafe (Misplaced Forest)
That’s not all: You’ll additionally discover shut to twenty snack-and-refreshments-style retailers within the San Diego Zoo, from the Northern Frontier’s Ituri Hut and the Misplaced Forests’s Jungle Java to the Boardwalk Beer Backyard and Busy Bee Cocktails.
The San Diego Zoo additionally permits guests to usher in their very own meals and drinks (single particular person), although no glass containers, coolers, alcohol, birthday desserts, or celebration trays are allowed.
Eating at SeaWorld San Diego
SeaWorld additionally affords a spread of eateries and snack stations however not fairly the number of the San Diego Zoo. And if I’m to be frank, the standard of the meals isn’t nearly as good although it’s nice for a theme park.
Its eating places and refreshment stands embody:
- Large Fowl’s Bistro
- The Waterfront
- Calypso Bay Smokehouse (ribs listed below are well-liked)
- Mama Stella’s Pizza Kitchen
- Shipwreck Reef Cafe
- Craft Beer Bar
- Sea Lion Amphitheater Bar
- Explorer’s Cafe & Bar
You can even bundle all-day eating together with your ticket, which permits three objects at taking part eating places as a lot as as soon as per hour. There are some limitations, but when you’ll be spending time consuming, it may be a superb deal. It could actually additionally make strains lengthy throughout peak days.
SeaWorld San Diego affords a couple of particular eating packages and experiences. Essentially the most noteworthy is the Dine With Orcas deal, which gives a chef-curated meal on a non-public poolside patio with orca-viewing and knowledge.
In contrast to on the zoo, you can’t carry exterior meals or drinks into SeaWorld save for bottled water. Exceptions are made for child formulation guests with sure dietary restrictions or meals allergy symptoms.
Location
Winner: San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld San Diego are each simply accessible from Downtown San Diego. The Zoo will get the sting on the subject of the comfort of its location just because it’s a shorter Uber from Downtown resorts and Balboa Park is subsequent door.
However, significantly, there’s no must get too hung up on their areas. The drive time between the 2 is normally about quarter-hour.
San Diego Zoo
Located in Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo’s mere minutes from downtown and straight accessed by a bus line (the No. 7).
That location additionally means a complete host of different sights. A few of San Diego’s prime museums and gardens—are inside prepared strolling distance from the zoo.
Balboa Park’s the most effective locations for strolling on the town and hosts a daily calendar of live shows and different particular occasions. And heads up: You can even trip the free Balboa Park Tram to get round within the neighborhood.
SeaWorld San Diego
SeaWorld is positioned on Mission Bay, about quarter-hour from Downtown San Diego.
The No. 8 and 9 Metropolitan Transit System buses supply public transportation to SeaWorld from the Outdated City Transit Heart. SeaWorld’s common neighborhood isn’t walkable to something.
However, whilst you’re there, you may take a brief drive to Belmont Park San Diego and the Mission Seaside space (parking on the seaside might be powerful throughout peak season).
Parking
Winner: San Diego Zoo
There’s ample parking at each the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld San Diego.
Parking on the San Diego Zoo
The zoo affords free parking in its Metropolis of San Diego-managed lot.
If the zoo parking zone is full, which is uncommon however does occur, strive in search of house alongside Park Blvd. or elsewhere within the Balboa Park neighborhood.
Parking within the Balboa Park parking heaps can also be free.
Parking at SeaWorld San Diego
You’ll pay for parking within the big SeaWorld lot: a separate charge from admission.
Common Parking is $25, whereas areas near the doorway price $30 or extra for Up-Shut Parking and $35 or extra for VIP Parking.
You’ll be able to pre-pay parking on-line should you like, however you may as well pay the attendant while you get there.
SeaWorld vs. San Diego Zoo: Summing Up
When all is alleged and achieved, the San Diego Zoo is the extra universally partaking vacation spot. The standard of its animal reveals and the breadth of on-site interpretation and training concerning its denizens and world conservation are excellent. It’s one of many world’s most extremely regarded zoological parks for good motive.
SeaWorld is actually additionally nicely value trying out, significantly should you’re visiting San Diego with children. Nevertheless it’s a bit extra one-dimensional, and could possibly be a costlier time out.
Right here’s a mind dump of questions folks ask me when evaluating each parks.
| SeaWorld San Diego | San Diego Zoo | |
| Reservations needed | No | No |
| Low cost tickets obtainable | Sure | Sure |
| Identical-day tickets obtainable | Sure | Sure |
| Non-profit park | No, however SeaWorld Leisure operates nonprofits dedicated to animal and habitat rescue. |
Sure |
| Accredited zoo | Sure | Sure |
| Kids’s sections | Sesame Road Bay of Play | Wildlife Explorers Basecamp |
| Free parking | No | Sure |
| Alternatives to the touch animals | Contact swimming pools with rays, feeder sharks, tide pool animals. | No, until you get fortunate throughout an upgraded tour. |
| Different sights inside strolling distance | No | Balboa Park is subsequent door. |
| VIP excursions | Sure | Sure |
| Herald meals | No (child meals and particular food regimen meals okay) | Sure |
| Stroller and locker leases | Sure | Sure |
| Gluten, vegan, and vegetarian eating choices | Sure | Sure |
| Grownup drinks on the market | Sure | Sure |
FAQs About San Diego Zoo or SeaWorld San Diego
How far aside are SeaWorld and San Diego Zoo?
The 2 theme parks are about 8 miles aside. The drive time with out visitors is about quarter-hour.
Are you able to go to SeaWorld San Diego and San Diego Zoo on the identical day?
In concept, sure, you may go to each parks on the identical day when you’ve got huge stamina. I might not advocate it, particularly with younger kids.
You’ll get probably the most out of each parks should you see them on separate days.
Which Zoo is Greatest in San Diego?
The reply relies on your pursuits. Most individuals will vote for San Diego Zoo. Nevertheless, there are three zoos in San Diego:
- San Diego Zoo
- San Diego Zoo Safari Park
- SeaWorld San Diego
Hopefully, this text helped you resolve between San Diego Zoo or SeaWorld San Diego. We’ve lined San Diego Zoo vs. San Diego Zoo Safari Park as nicely should you need assistance deciding between these two parks.
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SEAWORLD SAN DIEGO
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