SeaWorld vs Busch Gardens: which to visit?
SeaWorld Orlando wins on location and marine life; Busch Gardens Tampa wins on world-class coasters and its Serengeti safari. They're sister parks about 75 minutes apart — and a combo pass lets you skip the debate and do both.
SeaWorld Orlando
Right in Orlando, SeaWorld blends marine-life habitats and shows with a strong coaster lineup (Mako, Kraken, Pipeline). It's the easier add to a theme-park trip since it's in town, and it leans more family-friendly across ages.
Busch Gardens Tampa
About 75 minutes west, Busch Gardens pairs a Serengeti-style safari and animal collection with some of Florida's best thrill coasters — Iron Gwazi, SheiKra, and Cheetah Hunt. If big coasters are the goal, it edges out SeaWorld.
Do both with one pass
Because they're sister parks, they bundle naturally. A Go City or SeaWorld-parks combo pass covers both (often plus Aquatica) for well under two separate single-day tickets — the smart move if you have a spare day to drive to Tampa.
Want both parks? A Go City pass bundles SeaWorld and Busch Gardens at a discount versus single-day gate prices.
Compare passes →Cost it out: SeaWorld vacation cost and Busch Gardens Tampa cost.
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