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Credit: SeaWorldSeaWorld San Diego is finally updating one of its most iconic attractions.
Like all SeaWorld theme parks, SeaWorld San Diego has endured its share of controversies over the years. The bulk of these can be linked back to the documentary Blackfish (2013), which critiqued the park’s treatment and captivity of killer whales.
In the wake of the documentary’s release, public scrutiny has led to a profound shift in how the park positions itself, resulting in an increasing reliance on thrill rides rather than marine mammals for entertainment.
For example, trainers are no longer allowed to go in the water with their killer whales following citations from OSHA in relation to the death of trainer Dawn Brancheau, who was attacked by SeaWorld’s most infamous orca resident, Tilikum. SeaWorld also axed its orca breeding program in 2016, ensuring that its current generation is the final to reside in its parks.
To ensure a future beyond killer whales, SeaWorld parks—owned and operated by United Parks & Resorts—have invested heavily in new attractions, with Penguin Trek and Catapult Falls opening in Orlando and San Antonio in 2024 alone.
While SeaWorld San Diego may not have got new additions this year, its already stellar thrill ride lineup includes the likes of Electric Eel, which features the park’s highest inversion, along with the ever-popular Journey to Atlantis, the latter of which holds the status of being SeaWorld’s first thrill ride when it opened 20 years ago.
Major Overhaul for Journey to Atlantis
In celebration of two decades of Journey to Atlantis, SeaWorld San Diego has announced a major overhaul of the beloved ride.
Set to debut in 2025, this iconic attraction—which combines a log flume ride with elements of a traditional roller coaster—will remain true to its original concept but incorporate new features to enhance the overall experience.
“Next year, the ride will be reinvented,” said SeaWorld San Diego in a statement, “paying tribute to the original beloved version while adding new elements to create a more exciting and immersive experience than ever before.”
Guests can currently find different versions of the ride in San Antonio and Orlando, with the latter recently receiving damage during Hurricane Milton in October. Images shared online show a hole ripped in the side of the attraction, although fortunately, this damage seems to be artificial, as operations remain unaffected.
Delay for Jewels of the Sea Exhibit
In addition to the renovations planned for Journey to Atlantis, SeaWorld San Diego is also set to unveil a new interactive experience called Jewels of the Sea: A Jellyfish Experience. However, this exhibit’s debut has been pushed back to spring 2025.
Originally slated for a 2024 opening, the expansion aims to educate visitors about the intricate world of jellyfish through three unique galleries. This exhibit promises to offer a captivating exploration of jellyfish, highlighted by features such as one of the nation’s tallest jelly cylinders and interactive elements designed to foster engagement and learning.
The attraction’s educational components align with SeaWorld’s ever-increasing mission of promoting marine education and appreciation, glossing over some of the more controversial aspects of its past.
SeaWorld San Diego Controversies
The Southern California theme park has had a rough year controversy-wise. In July, mother Salina Higgins claimed that her 10-year-old daughter’s ride harness “malfunctioned” while riding Electric Eel and that her family was escorted out of the theme park after complaining.
However, park officials insisted that “the ‘harness’ this family is referencing is called a ‘comfort collar,’ which is intended for the rider’s comfort and is not a restraining device.”
In January, it was also revealed that SeaWorld San Diego had failed to settle a legal dispute with the City of San Diego over $12 million in unpaid rent during the pandemic. The trial reportedly won’t occur until at least 2025, although there have been unsuccessful attempts to settle the dispute in the meantime.
Meanwhile, activists have urged the park to pause its fireworks displays due to a rise in bird deaths. The San Diego Audubon Society claims that numerous dead elegant terns, a near-threatened species found on the Pacific coast, were discovered at Kendall-Frost Marsh Reserve just days after SeaWorld San Diego and Discover Mission Bay set off over 500 pounds of fireworks for the Fourth of July.