Credit: Icon ParkOrlando tourists on International Drive between Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort can enjoy the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Aquarium Tour at SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium starting February 13, running through April 30. This pop-up event features character meet-and-greets, photo opportunities, and themed experiences, adding another activity for families visiting the area.
ICON Park, located on International Drive, attracts both tourists and locals with live music, themed restaurants, and attractions like the Orlando Eye and Madame Tussauds. Its constant foot traffic makes it an ideal spot for limited-time experiences without competing directly with Disney or Universal.
What the Animal Crossing Tour Includes
The experience comes included with regular SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium admission, which starts at $29 for adults and $24 for children. Florida residents get discounted rates, and ticket packages are available that bundle SEA LIFE with Madame Tussauds and the Orlando Eye, all located within ICON Park.
Character meet-and-greets with Isabelle, Tom Nook, or K.K. Slider happen on select weekends throughout the tour’s run. The characters appear February 13 through 15, March 20 through 22, and April 3 through 5. Those six days represent the only opportunities to actually meet the costumed characters in person, which matters for families with young Animal Crossing fans who want that photo with their favorite villager.
Even when characters aren’t physically present, the tour maintains Animal Crossing elements throughout the aquarium. Standees of various characters are positioned around the facility for photo opportunities. Themed descriptions written by Blathers, the museum curator owl from the game, accompany aquarium exhibits. An aquarium-themed backdrop featuring Animal Crossing characters provides another photo spot that stays up for the entire tour duration.
An Animal Crossing-themed stamp rally gives guests a scavenger hunt element as they explore the aquarium. And visitors with Nintendo accounts can earn 100 My Nintendo Platinum Points through a kiosk at the venue, adding tangible rewards for players invested in Nintendo’s ecosystem.
The aquarium gift shop stocks Animal Crossing merchandise during the tour, giving families another way to commemorate the experience beyond photos and stamps.
Why ICON Park Makes Sense for This
ICON Park operates in an interesting space within Orlando’s tourism landscape. It’s not a theme park requiring full-day commitments and high ticket prices, but it offers more than just shopping and dining. The location on International Drive puts it directly in the path of tourists moving between Disney World to the south and Universal Orlando Resort to the north.
For families spending a week in Orlando hitting multiple theme parks, ICON Park represents an easy evening activity or a lighter day between more intense park visits. The Orlando Eye provides views of the entire area. SEA LIFE offers an air-conditioned aquarium experience when Florida heat becomes overwhelming. Madame Tussauds delivers wax figure photo opportunities. None of these attractions require rope drop planning or Lightning Lane stress.
Adding the Animal Crossing tour to SEA LIFE creates a timely reason for Nintendo fans to visit ICON Park, who might otherwise skip it entirely. With SUPER NINTENDO WORLD opening at Universal EPIC Universe in 2025, Nintendo’s presence in Orlando has expanded significantly. The Animal Crossing aquarium tour capitalizes on that increased Nintendo awareness among Orlando tourists.
The Limited-Time Factor
The tour runs only through April 30, creating urgency for families who want to experience it. Character meet and greet dates are even more limited with only three weekends across the entire two-and-a-half-month run. That scarcity matters for Animal Crossing fans who specifically want photos with Isabelle, Tom Nook, or K.K. Slider rather than just standees and backdrops.
After Orlando, the tour continues to several other U.S. aquariums throughout 2026, suggesting this is a traveling experience rather than a permanent installation. The temporary nature fits ICON Park’s model of rotating special events and limited-time offerings that keep locals coming back and give tourists reasons to visit beyond the permanent attractions.
Fitting Into an Orlando Vacation
For families already planning Orlando trips around Disney World and Universal, the Animal Crossing tour presents an easy add-on rather than a destination unto itself. ICON Park sits close enough to both major resort areas that it doesn’t require significant travel time or a dedicated day away from the theme parks.
An evening visit to SEA LIFE after a morning and afternoon at a theme park makes logistical sense, especially for families staying on International Drive who can walk or take a short ride. The aquarium offers a completely different pace and atmosphere compared to theme parks, which can be exactly what tired families need after hours of rides and crowds.
The timing also works well, given that Universal EPIC Universe is still relatively new and drawing significant crowds. Families visiting Orlando in spring 2026 are likely building itineraries around experiencing Epic Universe and its highly anticipated SUPER NINTENDO WORLD area. Adding the Animal Crossing aquarium tour creates a Nintendo-themed complement to that Universal visit without requiring another full day at a theme park.
Planning Around Animal Crossing Character Appearances
The limited character meet-and-greet schedule means families who specifically want those experiences need to plan carefully. February 13 through 15 represents the first opportunity, arriving just days after the tour opens. March 20 through 22 falls during spring break season for many school districts. April 3 through 5 offers the final weekend before the tour’s April 30 closing date.
Families should book aquarium tickets in advance for character weekends, as those dates will likely see higher attendance than regular tour days. The inclusion in standard admission means no upcharge or separate ticketing, but capacity limitations could still apply during peak times.
For visitors who can’t make character weekends or simply don’t prioritize meeting costumed characters, the rest of the tour still provides Animal Crossing theming, photo opportunities, and the stamp rally throughout the entire February 13 to April 30 window.
The Broader Animal Crossing Orlando Context
ICON Park’s location between Disney and Universal creates synergy with both, while establishing itself as a more casual entertainment district. The Animal Crossing tour highlights how ICON Park uses popular trends and licenses that complement the major theme parks without directly competing with them.
Since neither Disney nor Universal features Animal Crossing significantly, ICON Park fills that gap, providing unique experiences for tourists. This approach allows secondary attractions in Orlando to leverage popular franchises for limited-time events, enhancing the overall tourism ecosystem without the large investments required for permanent attractions.