Zack and the penguins at SeaWorld.

Orlando is home to several of the most-visited theme parks in the world, making it a popular destination for families on vacation. This is especially true over Pesach, when several programs take place each year, including Hilton Lake Buena Vista, Waldorf Astoria Orlando and The Ultimate Pesach. A great way to spend Chol Hamoed, or any time of year, is at SeaWorld, which offers some of the most thrilling roller coasters in the area while blending aquatic animals and live performances in an entertaining and educational way. I recently visited SeaWorld with my dad on a quick one-day trip to Orlando, where we checked out the park’s latest attractions and tried several kosher options.

(Please note: The kosher food is likely not kosher for Passover, so please plan your meals accordingly, but regardless, for those in Florida, I recommend reading on to learn more about SeaWorld for your visit and if you’re reading this and going not on Pesach, then I hope you find the kosher food information useful.)

Zack and his father at SeaWorld.

On Dec. 15, 1973, SeaWorld opened its gates to visitors for the first time, becoming the second theme park in Orlando two years after Magic Kingdom. It was the third SeaWorld park overall, following locations in San Diego, California and Aurora, Ohio. (The Ohio park closed in 2000.) For its first few decades, the park focused primarily on shows featuring aquatic animals rather than rides, but beginning in the late 1990s, it expanded to include more attractions. Today, SeaWorld welcomes millions of guests each year and is one of the 10 most-visited parks in the country.

Over the years, I have visited SeaWorld multiple times: once as a kid in middle school, once on my high school TABC senior trip, once with my wife, Ahuva,a few years ago in January 2023, and most recently on this trip with my dad. We booked a 6 a.m. flight from Newark to Orlando, landed around 9:30 a.m., took an Uber to the park, and entered by about 10:30 a.m.. We spent the day there until 5:30 p.m., then headed back to the airport for our return flight home.

I am not entirely sure how I convinced my dad to go, but we both had a great time. It has been amazing seeing the park grow through the years, and each time I visit the park adds new attractions for me to try. And even more so, it was cool hearing from my dad how different it was when he visited as a kid in the 1980s, when it was almost entirely focused on shows, including watersport performances in the lagoon.

What I enjoy most about SeaWorld are its coasters and shows. The park features some very intense roller coasters that are great for thrill-seekers. My personal ranking is as follows:

Pipeline: The Surf Coaster

Roller Coasters Ranked:

#1: Manta – I first rode Manta when I was in elementary school, shortly after it opened. Growing up, I had always wanted to ride Superman: Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Great Adventure, but I was always too short. Superman looked like such a cool coaster because it reclines riders in a flying position, making you feel like you are soaring like the Man of Steel himself. Getting the chance to ride Manta, which is very similar but themed as a stingray, more than lived up to my expectations. I loved the flying sensation, especially during the loops where you are lying completely on your back while moving at high speeds. I have ridden Manta several times since then, and each time it is still just as magnificent making it my top coaster.

#2: Pipeline: The Surf Coaster – This is one of SeaWorld’s newest coasters, opening in May 2023, and it is the park’s only stand-up coaster. The ride vehicle is designed to look like a giant surfboard, and with its aqua blue track and stand-up seats, riders feel like they are actually surfing big waves. I have only ridden a couple of other stand-up coasters before, most notably the now-defunct Green Lantern, and they were honestly very painful, often jerking riders’ heads against the restraints. Pipeline was the complete opposite, and is one of the smoothest and most comfortable coasters I have ever ridden. I especially loved the overbanked turn, where the coaster tilts almost completely on its side, nearly going upside down, creating an incredible rush while standing up.

#3: Journey to Atlantis – I love log flume rides, and there is arguably no better one than Journey to Atlantis. The ride features an interesting storyline in which riders set out on a boat to search for the lost city of Atlantis, before falling into the trap of a Siren and plunging down a 60-foot drop to escape. The ride even includes a partial roller coaster element, making it a unique hybrid of a coaster and a log flume. Riders only need to be 42 inches tall, so it’s great for the whole family!

Zack and Ahuva Greenberg by the Atlantis ride.

#4: Kraken – Kraken is one of SeaWorld’s most intense roller coasters, despite being one of its oldest rides, having opened in June 2000. It is a floorless coaster, where riders’ feet dangle freely, and the green track twists through multiple loops and inversions, resembling a giant squid from a distance. It is one of my favorite floorless rides and is a great option for thrill seekers.

#5: Mako – Named after the fierce mako shark, Mako is Orlando’s tallest and fastest coaster, featuring a 200-foot drop and reaching speeds of up to 73 miles per hour. The ride is known for its long, smooth layout filled with airtime hills that create a weightless feeling as the train rises and falls over each hill. I rode Mako a few years ago with Ahuva. She is not as into roller coasters anymore since they tend to make her uncomfortable, so I can usually only convince her to go on one per day. I am glad I chose Mako, as it is easily the most thrilling ride in the park and a must for roller coaster enthusiasts. A fun detail is that the trains are designed to resemble real mako sharks, with gill features on either side.

#6: Penguin Trek Cross – This is SeaWorld’s newest coaster, opening in July 2024, and it fits perfectly within the Antarctica-themed section where it is located. This was the first ride my dad and I went on during our visit. At first, it feels like a very calm ride, slowly moving through an ice cave past glaciers and screens showing penguins swimming peacefully. Then a thunderstorm appears and the coaster suddenly launches, reaching speeds of up to 43 miles per hour. When we first got on line, we assumed it would be more of a kiddie coaster, but were pleasantly surprised by how deceptively fast and thrilling it was. Still, it is one of the less-intense coasters in the park, and riders only need to be 42 inches tall. After the ride, the exit leads through a real penguin exhibit, where penguins can be seen waddling and swimming, which is a great finishing touch.

Zack and Ahuva by the beautiful lagoon.

#7: Ice Breaker – This is the only ride in the park I have not yet ridden. Ice Breaker opened in 2022 and is one of SeaWorld’s newer coasters. What makes it unique is its series of launches, where the train moves forward and backward along the track multiple times before completing the full ride. From watching it and hearing others talk about it, it looks like a fun and dynamic ride that combines speed, reversals and smooth transitions. I hope to ride it next time!

#8: Super Grover’s Box Car Derby – SeaWorld has a great area for younger kids themed to Sesame Street, featuring kid friendly rides, character meet and greets, and a parade. The section’s premier ride is Super Grover’s Box Car Derby, a purple coaster that serves as a perfect first coaster for younger kids. I rode it a few times and thought it was fun, with some nice drops and twists and turns. It is definitely worth checking out when visiting with a younger audience.

 

Other rides:

Along with the coasters, SeaWorld has two other major attractions. One is Infinity Falls, a river raft ride. Ahuva and I rode it on a previous trip, and it is a great way to cool off on a hot day. Fair warning: It is very easy to get soaked. The other major attraction is Expedition Odyssey, a flying theater ride similar to Soarin’ at Disney and RiseNY in New York. My favorite part of the experience was the underwater scenes, which made it feel like being in a submarine watching fish swim below. After Expedition Odyssey, we entered a large aquarium viewing room with beluga whales, where they swam gracefully and surfaced to blow from their blowholes.

Zack and Ahuva at the park entrance.

Shows:

Orca Encounter – SeaWorld has several highly entertaining shows, but my favorite was Orca Encounter. It takes place in a large stadium with seating surrounding a massive saltwater pool, with the first 15 rows designated as the splash zone. The orcas perform impressive tricks like waving, flipping, jumping, and splashing the crowd. My dad and I saw the show on our trip, and were laughing so hard whenever guests got soaked. What stands out most is the emphasis on the bond between trainers and orcas, built through positive reinforcement such as massages and food.

Dolphin Adventures – Dolphin Adventures is another entertaining show set in a stadium, similar to Orca Encounter but on a slightly smaller scale. The show features dolphins performing high jumps, flips and synchronized movements alongside their trainers, along with a few interactive moments that engage the audience. I saw it with my wife on a previous trip, and we both really enjoyed it.

Flippers, Facts and Fun: The Sea Lion Experience – This is a more relaxed, comedy-style show featuring sea lions, with a mix of humor, light storytelling and crowd interaction. It includes playful segments along with insights into how the animals are cared for. I haven’t seen it yet, but it looks like a fun watch.

 

Kosher Food

(This section will not be helpful for those looking for kosher for Passover options, but it should be a useful guide for future reference. For Pesach, I recommend bringing your own food. It was confirmed to me by SeaWorld that you are permitted to bring in outside food due to dietary and or allergen restrictions if it is not in abundance, and brought in a small soft cooler approximately lunch box sized. Guests who require kosher for Passover accommodations should contact SeaWorld in advance via their allergy accommodations email at [email protected]. With prior notice, SeaWorld can provide an accommodation note that can be presented at the front gate and to security upon arrival.)

Zack and his dad with their kosher meals.

SeaWorld offers tasty kosher food options. When my dad and I went, we were directed to the restaurant Waterway Grill, located near the Infinity Falls river raft ride, which was serving Kosher meals. I have seen online that other restaurants may also offer kosher meals, so it is best to check with guest services on the day of your visit.

During our visit, the park offered a choice of four meals: salmon, turkey, meatballs and chicken. I was told that these are the standard selections and do not typically vary.

After we placed our order, the cashier checked with the kitchen to confirm which options were in stock and told us it would take about 1 hour and 15 minutes to prepare. Online, I saw other people post that it took them 45 minutes, so it seems to vary. In the meantime, I went on a roller coaster while my dad relaxed and got a drink at Starbucks.

Once I finished the ride, I met up with my dad and we headed back to the restaurant, and we went to the pickup counter, where our food was ready. My dad had the turkey dinner, which came with sliced turkey in gravy, sweet potatoes and green peas. I had the meatballs and spaghetti, which included three meatballs over spaghetti with tomato sauce, along with a side of green peas. All of the meals were Spring Valley frozen meals, served sealed and clearly labeled. I really enjoyed my meatballs and would definitely order them again if available. My dad also enjoyed his turkey, which was a nice, well-rounded meal.

Restaurants

Additionally, for larger groups, SeaWorld works with certified local vendors in the Orlando area to deliver kosher meals to the park. We also noticed that the park had an Eddy’s ice cream stand, Rita’s, and Dippin’ Dots.

Kosher Grill – When I visited with Ahuva, we ordered food on Uber Eats from the nearby restaurant Kosher Grill. The restaurant offers Mediterranean dishes and burgers and is about a 15-minute drive from SeaWorld. I ordered a pulled beef baguette sandwich, and it was delicious.

Address: 5615 International Drive Orlando, FL 32819

Phone: (407) 392-2292

Krembo Café – Even closer, Krembo Café is a dairy restaurant that opened in 2024 and is about an 11-minute drive away. It offers breakfast, pizza, and desserts.

Address: 8015 Turkey Lake Rd, Orlando, FL 32819

Phone: (407) 225-2944

If you are in Florida and looking for a mix of thrills and beautiful scenery, SeaWorld is well worth a visit. The park is centered around a stunning lagoon with wooden walkways, creating a really nice atmosphere throughout the day. Between the shows, family-friendly rides and top-tier coasters, there is something for everyone.

While we may not be splitting the sea this year like Moshe, for those in Florida, it is still worth heading to SeaWorld and enjoying everything the park has to offer.

Zachary Greenberg has been an avid reader of The Jewish Link since 2015 and a member of the staff since February 2022. His main articles cover fun things to do in the New Jersey and New York area, such as amusement parks, shows, fairs, museums and special events. Additionally, Zachary has been an editor and spearheaded the Chol Hamoed and Winter Break Activity Guides. Beyond writing for The Link, Zachary works full-time as the human resources information system analyst at the Orthodox Union, is the director of the Keter Torah Teen Minyan for boys, and is the TABC track coach. Please email him at [email protected] if you have any suggestions or questions. You can also follow his Instagram page @FunZacktivities and his YouTube channel www.youtube.com/c/ZacharyGreenberg18 for more content!