SeaWorld Orlando has announced the return of its popular Inside Look program, offering guests a rare opportunity to step behind the scenes and learn how animal care and conservation efforts operate at one of the world’s leading zoological organizations. The annual event will take place over two weekends — January 10–11 and January 17–18 — and is included with regular park admission.
Inside Look provides limited-time access to animal care areas that are not typically open to the public, allowing guests to meet the professionals who care for SeaWorld’s animals every day. Due to the program’s popularity, guests are encouraged to arrive early to take advantage of these exclusive experiences.
“Inside Look gives our guests a rare opportunity to step behind the scenes and see the extraordinary care and dedication that happens every day at SeaWorld Orlando,” Jon Peterson, Park President at SeaWorld Orlando, said in a press release. “From animal rescue to daily care, these experiences highlight the world-class operations within our park and the passion of our teams who work tirelessly to protect animals, inspire conservation, and help safeguard vulnerable species for future generations.
New and Returning Behind-the-Scenes Experiences
This year’s Inside Look lineup includes several all-new offerings, along with returning guest favorites. Among the highlights is access to medical pools where 14 recently rescued Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are currently receiving care. Guests will also, for the first time, be able to go behind the scenes at MEW Birds of Prey and inside the park’s renowned Antarctica penguin habitat.
New experiences include:
Inside Antarctica (Penguin Habitat): Guests can step inside SeaWorld Orlando’s Antarctica environment, home to six species of penguins, including emperor penguins. Led by animal care specialists, this experience explores how the team maintains the birds’ specialized cold-climate habitat year-round. Space is limited, and reservations are required in person.
Inside Birds of Prey: This experience offers behind-the-scenes access to the Mammal, Avian & Exotic Wildlife care area, featuring species such as owls and a bald eagle. Animal care specialists provide insight into training, care, and conservation efforts.
Returning experiences include:
Inside Marine Mammal Care (Dolphin Nursery): Guests can learn how specialized dolphin diets are prepared and see how learned behaviors support health checks and veterinary care.
Inside the SeaWorld Rescue Center: Visitors can meet filtration experts, veterinarians, lab technicians, and animal care teams who provide around-the-clock care to animals in need. SeaWorld Rescue Teams have assisted more than 42,650 sick, injured, and orphaned animals.
Inside Coral Rescue: Coral biologists share insights into efforts to protect and restore Florida’s Coral Reef and explain the importance of coral ecosystems.
Inside Manta Aquarium: Guests can take a rare topside look at the Manta Aquarium and learn how aquarists care for more than 3,000 marine animals across 10 aquariums.
Inside Shark Encounter: This experience includes a behind-the-scenes look at the 700,000-gallon habitat, including medical pools used for annual health exams.
Throughout the park, guests can also enjoy expert-led presentations, animal care specialist talks, interactive family activities, trivia challenges, and a scavenger hunt designed to highlight SeaWorld’s conservation work.
“At SeaWorld Orlando, we are always looking for ways to inspire guests to be advocates for animal conservation,” Keith Yip, Vice President of Zoological Operations at SeaWorld Orlando said. “Inside Look is a way to showcase the hard work our animal care specialists do behind the scenes and educate future generations about how they can help protect endangered species and marine habitats for years to come.”
Annual Pass Benefits
An Annual Pass is one of the most flexible ways to experience Inside Look and return throughout the year. Pass Members receive 12 months of visits, free parking, exclusive rewards, and savings on merchandise. Annual Passes are currently available at a discounted rate, offering savings of up to 35%, with some restrictions and blackout dates applying.
Free 2026 Preschool Card Now Available for Florida Families
In additional news for Florida families, SeaWorld Orlando and Aquatica Orlando have opened registration for their FREE 2026 Preschool Card, offering unlimited admission to both parks for Florida children ages 3 to 5 through Dec. 31, 2026.
The Preschool Card allows year-round visits and aligns with a full calendar of family-friendly events, including Inside Look, Just for Kids Weekend, Elmo’s Birthday Celebration, and seasonal festivals throughout the year.
Registration for the Preschool Card is open for a limited time and ends Feb. 3, 2026. The first visit must be completed by March 1, 2026.
Year-Round Family Fun at SeaWorld and Aquatica
Preschool Card holders can enjoy a wide range of attractions and events, including Sesame Street Land, the Seven Seas Food Festival running through early May, and upcoming attractions such as SeaQuest: Legend of the Deep, a new indoor family dark ride.
Seasonal events later in the year include Spooktacular during Halloween and Christmas Celebration during the holidays. Meanwhile, Aquatica Orlando, frequently recognized by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice awards, offers family-friendly water attractions and seasonal events such as Aloha to Summer.
Beyond its parks, SeaWorld has supported 541 marine conservation projects across all seven continents through the SeaWorld Conservation Fund.
For more information about Inside Look, Annual Passes, or the 2026 Preschool Card, visit SeaWorldOrlando.com or AquaticaOrlando.com.