One of the benefits of a SeaWorld annual pass is their regular special events! Ranging from food festivals to Sesame Street fun to educational experiences, these events are generally included with your pass/admission and add a bit of extra fun to your visit. One of my FAVORITE events is the Inside Look at SeaWorld!
What is Inside Look at SeaWorld?
Inside Look is a special, behind-the-scenes glimpse of SeaWorld’s animal care and husbandry operations. Occurring a handful of times each year, guests are invited to tour select backstage areas, listen to special Trainer Talks, and view rescue vehicles.
The available areas and experiences change each time (I’ve previously experienced the SeaWorld Rescue area, Sea Lion and Otter Primary Housing and the Manta Aquarium tour) , but there are a few constants. First of all, every experience offers a unique perspective on a beloved SeaWorld attraction. Secondly, The lines can get very long (more on this a little later).
January 2021 Event
There is one more weekend for this month’s Inside Look. Running from 11am-7pm January 16-17; available venues include Shark Encounter, SeaWorld Rescue Center, Manta Aquarium, Beluga and Seal Primary Housing, Manatee Dive Operations as well as several Trainer Talks and other presentations. During my Sunday visit, I got to experience the Beluga and Seal Primary Housing tour and the Shark Encounter presentation.
If you’d like to avoid tour spoilers, I’ll give pointers and helpful hints for visiting at the end of the post!
Beluga & Seal Primary Housing
The first location we visited was the Beluga & Seal Primary Housing unit. We queued outside a fence gate near the Wild Arctic attraction and waited for our turn. To maintain social distancing in tight quarters, only two groups were allowed in at one time.
As the tour started, we walked to the outdoor beluga pool. Here the whales can see some natural light, enjoy fresh air, and receive specialized attention from their trainers. If the whales need a medical check up or procedure, it is administered here. Our tour guide showed us some of the beluga’s toys and explained that the whales love their outside time!
After watching the belugas for a bit, we visited the Seal Sun Porch. Like the whales, the seals’ outdoor area features toys, a pool, and the opportunity for natural air and light. Just like humans, animals enjoy fresh air and a bit of sun (even if it is Florida weather).
Before ending our tour, the guide took us through a backstage corridor and animal food prep area. We exited through a special doorway into the Wild Arctic exhibit!
Shark Encounter
After enjoying the Beluga & Seal Primary Housing tour, I headed to the Shark Encounter! I waited in a shady alley between the Mako coaster and the exhibit building. While the wait for this experience was fairly significant (almost an hour), my son and I happily sat on a curb (There was almost always a place to sit) and played games almost the entire time.
When it was our turn, we walked up a set of small stairs (This location is not ADA accessible) to the shark medical pool. While this is most obviously an area for veterinarian visits and procedures, we learned that the sawfish are also required to eat in this pool. Apparently sawfish shake their heads from side to side while eating and their pronounced teeth pose a safety hazard to the other fish!
After the medical pool, we walked up another short set of stairs to view the main aquarium from above. We could watch the many sharks and fish while also viewing guests in the glass tube that runs along the length of the tank.
On our way out of the exhibit, the guide showed us a small dive shop AND a special surprise!
Helpful Hints:
If you choose to visit Inside Look, you should be prepared to strategize and stand in line! Here’s some additional information to help you plan your visit!
- Make sure to check the event operating hours. Inside Look does not necessarily coincide with the park’s opening and closing times.
- Get in line EARLY! Sometimes the queues close before the posted ending time to accommodate animal and staffing needs.
- Prioritize! Long waits can hinder your ability to see all of the featured areas in one day. Find your “must-see” area and experience it first!
While it takes a bit of extra planning and waiting to enjoy Inside Look at SeaWorld, it’s well worth effort! Have you experienced this event in the past? What areas did you visit? Let us know in the comments!
