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Marine parks & thrill coasters

SeaWorld & Busch Gardens

Two sister parks, two very different days. Marine life and coasters in Orlando; African-themed thrills 90 minutes west in Tampa. Most visitors do both with a single 2-park ticket.

Pick your park

Two parks, one operator, very different days

Both are owned by the same company — and that's why the 2-park ticket is a real bargain. But the on-property experience is wildly different. Here's how to pick.

SeaWorld Orlando

$99–$129per person, per day

Orlando's marine theme park. Five world-class coasters — Mako (Orlando's tallest), Manta (face-down flying), Pipeline (stand-up surf coaster, 2023), Kraken, and Penguin Trek (2024, best first coaster in Orlando). Headline animal experiences with orcas, dolphins, manatees, penguins. Sesame Street Land for kids under 5. Howl-O-Scream in October, Christmas Celebration through New Year. Park is the same size as Magic Kingdom but with fewer visitors, so wait times stay reasonable.

Best for: families with kids under 8, anyone who loves marine animals, and Orlando-area visitors who don't want to add a Tampa day-trip.
Read the full SeaWorld guide →

Busch Gardens Tampa

$110–$140per person, per day

Tampa's African-themed thrill park, frequently ranked the best US coaster lineup outside Cedar Point. Iron Gwazi (2022) is on every "best coasters in the world" list. SheiKra is one of the original 200-foot dive coasters. Cheetah Hunt has a one-of-a-kind three-launch layout. Phoenix Rising (2024) and Phoenix Risen add to the roster. The Serengeti Plain safari is a real African-style game drive — zebras, giraffes, antelope. Howl-O-Scream and Christmas Town in season. Walking distance to Adventure Island water park.

Best for: coaster enthusiasts, teens and adults, and trip-planners building a 2-park ticket day. Add Adventure Island for the full Tampa loop.
Read the full Busch Gardens guide →
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The 2-Park Ticket is the real reason to think of them together

SeaWorld and Busch Gardens are operated by the same company, and the 2-Park Ticket bundles unlimited admission to both parks for 14 consecutive days — usually for around the same price as a single-park gate. If you're already planning to visit one, the marginal cost of adding the other is close to zero. The 4-Park Pass adds Aquatica (water park) and Adventure Island (Tampa water park) for around $50 more.

Affiliate disclosure: Suertay earns a commission when you book through some of the links above — at no extra cost to you. We always show every option we know about, including direct booking with the park, regardless of whether it pays us.
Pick the right one

Which one for which traveler

Short version, by who you're traveling with.

Families with young kids

Kids under 8 in your group

SeaWorld. Sesame Street Land, the marine animal exhibits, and Penguin Trek (a real coaster at 42") all make SeaWorld one of Orlando's strongest parks for the under-8 crowd.

Coaster enthusiasts

You're chasing coasters

Busch Gardens. Iron Gwazi alone is worth the 90-minute drive from Orlando. Add SheiKra and Cheetah Hunt and you have arguably Florida's best coaster day.

Both in one trip

7+ day Orlando trip

2-Park ticket. Roughly the same price as one park alone. Do SeaWorld on a busier day, drive to Busch Gardens on a quieter mid-week day. The 4-park version adds the water parks.

Animal experiences

Marine life is the goal

SeaWorld. Orcas, dolphins, manatees, penguins, sea turtles. Discovery Cove (the all-inclusive sister property) is 10 minutes away if you want to take it further.

Day trip from Orlando

A change of scenery

Busch Gardens. 90 minutes west on I-4 makes it the easiest "non-Orlando" theme park day. Combine with Adventure Island (water park, walking distance) for the full Tampa day.

Seasonal events

Halloween or Christmas

Both run Howl-O-Scream (mid-Sept through Oct) and Christmas Celebration / Christmas Town (Nov-Jan). Howl-O-Scream is included for all parks on the 2-park ticket; check the dates for your trip.

Frequently asked

SeaWorld & Busch Gardens questions

Is the SeaWorld + Busch Gardens 2-Park ticket worth it?
Yes, if you're doing both anyway. The 2-Park ticket bundles SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa at roughly the same price as a single-park gate — typically $130–$170 depending on date. The math only works if you actually visit both within 14 consecutive days. If you'll only do one, buy the single-park ticket.
How far apart are SeaWorld and Busch Gardens?
About 90 minutes by car. SeaWorld Orlando is in the International Drive area; Busch Gardens is in Tampa, just east of downtown. Most visitors who do both rent a car and stay in Orlando, then drive to Tampa for a day trip. There's no shuttle service between them.
Which is better for kids?
SeaWorld, for kids under 8. Sesame Street Land has full Big Bird / Elmo theming with kid-sized rides, Penguin Trek is one of Orlando's best first coasters (42" minimum), and the marine animal exhibits keep small kids engaged. Busch Gardens skews older: the coasters are world-class but most have 48"+ height requirements, and the African theme appeals more to tweens and adults.
Which has better roller coasters?
Busch Gardens, by most coaster-enthusiast rankings. Iron Gwazi (2022) regularly tops "best in North America" lists; SheiKra is one of the original 200-foot dive coasters; Cheetah Hunt has a unique three-launch layout. SeaWorld has five coasters too — Mako, Manta, Pipeline, Kraken, Penguin Trek — but the Busch Gardens lineup edges it for thrill-seekers. SeaWorld wins for animal-experience integration.
Can I use Quick Queue at both parks?
Yes. Quick Queue is sold separately for each park, but if you're on the 2-Park ticket, you can buy Quick Queue at each park as needed. There's also a Quick Queue Unlimited option (~$65/day at each park) for unlimited line-skipping on all rides.
Continue exploring

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