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SeaWorld Makes Big Change, Will Not Open Florida Location in 2026

As attendance at SeaWorld drops (again), United Parks & Resorts has confirmed that one Orlando location will not open in 2026 as planned.

For decades, SeaWorld theme parks have promised guests an up-close look at marine life, with U.S. locations in Orlando, San Antonio, and San Diego (a fourth in Abu Dhabi is operated by Miral).

A family entering SeaWorld San Antonio
Credit: SeaWorld

Blackfish Impacts SeaWorld Parks

Once primarily known for its signature orca shows, the company built its brand on a mix of education and entertainment. In addition to marine life exhibits, its parks feature high-speed roller coasters, water attractions, and interactive experiences, positioning SeaWorld as a competitor to traditional theme parks like Disney and Universal.

In 2013, the documentary Blackfish ignited a firestorm of controversy, accusing SeaWorld of mistreating orcas and misleading the public about their well-being. The film detailed the tragic death of trainer Dawn Brancheau and raised concerns about the psychological toll captivity takes on these animals.

Killer whales jumping out of the water at SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld San Antonio.
Credit: SeaWorld

In response, SeaWorld faced mounting public backlash, declining attendance, and the eventual phasing out of its orca breeding program. Since the documentary’s release, its parks have shifted away from presenting its orcas as the main attractions, with thrill rides instead stepping up to take their place.

However, attendance has struggled to recover fully, and guests have expressed frustration over rising costs, such as the 9% service fee added to purchases within the park.

Attendance Takes a Hit at SeaWorld and Orlando Openings are Delayed

At its latest quarterly earnings call on February 26, United Parks & Resorts CEO Marc Swanson confirmed that attendance was down roughly 79,000 guests in Q4 2024 from Q4 2023. Revenue dipped by $4.6 million during that same period, while net income dropped by $12.2 million.

Journey to Atlantis at SeaWorld Orlando
Credit: SeaWorld

Overall, attendance was 21.5 million guests in 2024, which was a decrease of around 0.3 percent from 2023. These numbers encompass all parks under the United Parks & Resorts banner, including Busch Gardens.

While not directly linked to this decline in attendance, Swanson confirmed on the same call that they’ve also delayed plans for SeaWorld Orlando’s hotels, the first of which was supposed to open in 2026.

“We are taking our time to make sure we optimize the outcome here and no longer expect to have our first hotel opened in 2026,” Swanson said.

Orca Stadium at SeaWorld Orlando
Credit: Chad Sparkes, Flickr

In 2023, SeaWorld made a big move into the hotel game, filing plans for a 504-room resort right next to its Orlando theme park. Not stopping there, the company later dropped proposals for another hotel at Discovery Cove, signaling its shift toward full-on resort-style experiences.

Unlike its two biggest rivals in Orlando – Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World Resort – SeaWorld Orlando doesn’t have its own hotel. It does, however, have official hotel partners owned by other companies, such as Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld, Fairfield Inn and Suites Orlando at SeaWorld, DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld, and Hilton Garden Inn Orlando at SeaWorld.

When Will SeaWorld’s Hotels Open?

For now, there’s no fixed date for either SeaWorld hotel. With 2026 off the cards, the earliest guests can expect to stay on property at SeaWorld Orlando is 2027.

SeaWorld Orlando Roller Coaster
Credit: SeaWorld

We also don’t know all that much about the hotels in question, other than the fact that their project names are “Project Starboard” and “Project Canopy.”

During a November 2024 earnings call, Swanson stated, “We are excited about the opportunity to monetize … unused land holdings and have hotels integrated into our properties.” How these opportunities will ultimately take shape, however, remains unclear.

Are you excited for SeaWorld Orlando’s hotels?

Chloe James

Chloë is a theme park addict and self-proclaimed novelty hunter. She's obsessed with all things Star Wars, loves roller coasters (but hates Pixar Pal-A-Round), and lives for Disney's next Muppets project.

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