Almost all theme parks make sure to not only prepare a variety of food options to satisfy every guest’s individual palates and dietary needs, they also provide lots of different dining styles to accommodate a variety of itineraries and preferences. You’ll find snack stands for a quick bite. Counter service restaurants feature table seating but no servers and a limited menu. At the top tier, you’ll find full service, sit-down restaurants and speciality dining experiences. SeaWorld only has one full service restaurant, Sharks Underwater Grill and Bar, featuring beautiful aquarium views and extensive menu options. But there’s one other specialty dining experience at SeaWorld: Dine with Orcas.
Dine with Orcas is an outdoor dining experience next to the killer whale stadium. The experience costs $30 per person and includes buffet dining and an up-close encounter with these beautiful animals. I recently had the opportunity to experience this meal and (spoiler alert) I think it’s worth the price of admission.
Arriving at the Restaurant
When you arrive at the restaurant, you’ll give your party name to the host or hostess. You’ll be escorted to your table and directed to both the buffet area and restrooms. While the seating is outdoors, each table is underneath a roof for protection from the sun and weather. Fans and other outdoor climate controls keep the seating area as temperate as possible.
Penguins Up-Close: Meeting a New Friend at SeaWorld Orlando
The tables are basically situated in two long rows next to the killer whale’s pool. While only one row is directly next to the windows, each table does offer excellent viewing. If you’re unsatisfied with your view, don’t worry too much. SeaWorld gives you plenty of time to eat before the killer whales are even present in the pool next to you, and you do have the freedom to get up during the presentation. You can move to a different location to view the whales more efficiently and to take better pictures.
Enjoying the Dine with Orcas Buffet
After you find your table and order your drink, it’s time to get in line for the buffet! Remember that most people will jump into the food line right away, so take your time if you don’t want to wait.
While the menu is subject to change, my lunch buffet included:
- Assorted salads like caesar, greek, and a fruit salad
- Southern Fried Chicken with Creamy Mustard Sauce
- Blackened Salmon Filet with Black Bean and Corn Salsa
- Rosemary and Garlic Sirloin with Wild Mushroom Sauce
- Roasted Vegetables
- Mashed Potatoes
- Pasta a la Vodka
- Macaroni and Cheese
- Nacho Bar
- Kids’ Buffet with chicken nuggets, carrot sticks, hot dogs, etc.
The spread was pretty impressive (and mostly clean!), and everything looked delicious. My only worry during my first trip through the buffet line was fitting all of my chosen food onto my plate without it toppling over!
Here’s a glimpse of the kids’ buffet:
And my finished plate!
Honestly, the food at Dine with Orcas was just okay. I wasn’t thrilled with any of the meats. The chicken was very stringy and difficult to cut. The steak was way overcooked for my taste, and the salmon was pretty dry. However, I really enjoyed all of the salads, and the mashed potatoes were amazing! The food was good enough to fill up on, and there was plenty of time to grab a second plate if you desired.
Once everyone had their fill of the buffet, the servers brought dessert plates to each table. The plate contents are standard no matter the party size – meaning that my party of one received the exact same plate as the family of four next to me. Here’s the dessert platter:
Watching the Killer Whales
Once everyone had plenty of opportunity to enjoy the buffet and start their dessert, the killer whale trainers began their session. They demonstrated some of the relationship building activities conducted between trainers and whales and talked about some the challenges of working with such large animals. Of course, they asked the whales to demonstrate plenty of jumps and other poses so every guest was able to admire these beautiful creatures. The trainers made sure the whales visited each area of the pool so all the guests were treated to great views and picture opportunities. It was a short presentation, but there was plenty of time to learn about the whales, their care and natural behaviors.
Freaky Thoughts
As I previously mentioned, I wasn’t thrilled with the food. While there was plenty of selection, the quality just wasn’t what I expected at a specialty dining experience. The food more like what I would expect at one of the counter service locations.
However, when you consider that the food is unlimited (counter service servings often leave me unsatisfied) and your non-alcoholic beverages are unlimited, the value of this experience is suddenly much higher. Don’t forget to add that your family is guaranteed a table (no fighting to find a seat) and you get an up-close view of the orcas! When you consider that a commensurate meal at a counter service restaurant (entree, additional side, drink, and dessert) will cost you roughly $20-$25 per person (no refills or seconds included), $30 for Dine with Orcas is really an amazing value!
Special Tips for Dine with Orcas
- Reserve your table as soon as possible so your family’s spot is guaranteed.
- Bring cash to tip your server.
- Plan to arrive about 10 minutes earlier than your reservation time to ensure you are seated promptly.
