SeaWorld San Diego Discounts and Deals
LAST UPDATE: 8/29/17
SeaWorld San Diego runs many promotions that can save you money. Check below for the latest SeaWorld San Diego discounts, coupons and offers.
If you need tickets to SeaWorld and other Southern California attractions, it’s worth checking out the available multi-attraction ticket discounts to see if they can save you extra money. Be sure to compare the final cost of a multi-park pass to the combined cost of the individual tickets; the best deal varies depending on the specific attractions and the discounts that are currently available.
In addition to SeaWorld San Diego, there are SeaWorld parks in both Orlando and San Antonio. Click SeaWorld Orlando or SeaWorld San Antonio to check out tickets for those parks.
All offers are subject to change without notice. Always call ahead and confirm before driving out of your way to take advantage of a particular offer!
Jump to:
- SeaWorld San Diego Gate Prices
- SeaWorld San Diego Ticket Discounts
- Discounts on Multi-Park Tickets that include SeaWorld
- Other Deals
- Hotels near SeaWorld San Diego
SeaWorld Gate Prices
Regular admission is $94.99 for adults and $88.99 for kids (3-9). Children ages 2 and under are free.
1-Year membership (365 days’ admission, free parking, discounts on additional admission, merchandise and food discounts) is $159 for adults or children.
2-Year Platinum membership (2 full years’ admission plus admission to Aquatica San Diego and 9 other SeaWorld parks (excluding Discovery Cove), free parking, discounts on additional guest admission, merchandise and food discounts) is $395 for adults or children.
Parking is $17 per day for cars, $40 for RVs and campers, $17 for motorcycles and from $22 for Up-Close parking.
SeaWorld San Diego Discounts
Jump to:
- SeaWorld Website
- SeaWorld San Diego Memberships
- Discount Tickets from aRes
- Fast Food & Grocery Store Promotions
- Costco Discounts
- AAA Discounts
- FREE Tickets for Military
- FREE Teachers Fun Card
- FREE Preschool Fun Cards
- California Residents
- American Express Membership Rewards Points
- Hilton Honors
- Air Miles
- Multi-Park Tickets & Passes
SeaWorld Website
Check the SeaWorld San Diego website for current special offers, but make sure you compare their offers to deals listed below. Check out the Multi-Park Tickets & Passes section on this page before purchasing multi-park passes (SeaWorld + San Diego Zoo, Universal Studios etc.) on the SeaWorld site. You can often find a slightly better deal than what’s offered on the SeaWorld site. There is a $5.99 service fee per order added to online purchases.
- New!Kids Go FREE tickets are available for single-day visits in October! Save up to $88.99! Kids ages 3-9 get a FREE single-day ticket with each full-price adult single-day ticket purchased. Advance purchase is required. Limit 6 FREE child tickets per order. Available on the SeaWorld San Diego website. Tickets must be purchased by 10/31/17 and are valid for use 10/1/17 – 10/31/17.
- Save $35 per ticket with advance purchase of Single-Visit Weekday SeaWorld San Diego tickets! Get a single visit weekday ticket for $59.99. Available on the SeaWorld San Diego website. Ticket must be purchased by 9/5/17 and is valid for one visit any day through 9/30/17.
- Save $20 per ticket with advance purchase of Any Day SeaWorld + 2nd Day FREE San Diego tickets! Get an any day ticket with one FREE additional visit for $74.99. Available on the SeaWorld San Diego website. Ticket must be purchased by 9/5/17 and is valid for one visit any day through 9/30/17.
- 2017 Fun Cards for SeaWorld San Diego are available for the gate price of a single-day ticket! $94.99 adults, $88.99 kids ages 3 – 9. Fun Cards include admission through 12/30/17. These passes are not available at the park, and some blackout dates apply.
SeaWorld San Diego Memberships
You can purchase membership passes for SeaWorld San Diego, good for 1 year. The 1-year pass costs $159 for all ages (less than two regular adult one-day admissions). Membership is marketed primarily to locals but you do not have to be a Southern California resident to buy this pass. It has no blackout dates and includes a host of benefits, including unlimited admission for 12 months to SeaWorld San Diego; FREE general parking; up to $20 off single-day guest admission and 20% off guided tours; 10% off food and merchandise; savings on sleepovers and summer camps; savings on Animal Interaction Programs at SeaWorld San Diego (September – May only); exclusive members-only events and previews; and 50% off admission to other participating SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment locations, excluding Discovery Cove.*
*Participating SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment locations include SeaWorld San Antonio; SeaWorld and Aquatica®, SeaWorld’s Waterpark in Orlando; Busch Gardens Africa and Adventure Island® in Tampa Bay; Busch Gardens® Europe and Water Country USA® in Williamsburg; and Sesame Place® in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. Present your active SeaWorld San Diego Membership when visiting participating parks.
- If you plan to buy a 1-year pass, doing so in advance on the SeaWorld San Diego website means you don’t have to pay the $17 parking on your first day, since the pass includes parking. For passes purchased at the park, free parking starts after the first visit.
Discount Tickets from aRes
Discount Tickets from aRes
aRes Travel offers discounts on SeaWorld San Diego tickets, which you can purchase instantly online and print out (thus no shipping fee). They are an extremely reliable ticket vendor we’ve been recommending for years. They have decades of experience selling Southern California attraction tickets, and have excellent customer service, with real people you can talk to. You can buy from them with confidence. A $2 convenience fee per ticket is added to online orders.
- New!Kids Go Free tickets are available for single-day visits with adult ticket purchase now through October 31, 2017! There is a $2 convenience fee per ticket. Purchase one Adult Single Day Admission and select one Child Single Day Admission free.
- New!Get SeaWorld 7 Days for Price of 1 tickets for just $72.99! Save up to $22 per ticket! There is a $2 convenience fee per ticket. These tickets give you unlimited admission to SeaWorld San Diego for 7 consecutive days for less than the price of a single day ticket. Purchase by 9/30/17. Valid until 12/31/17.
- New!Most SeaWorld tickets available through aRes are now mobile-friendly and straight-to-turnstile!
Fast Food & Grocery Store Promotions
Fast food restaurants and grocery stores frequently offer SeaWorld discounts. When we hear about them, we will list them here. If no expiration date is listed, the date is unknown and the offer may end at any time.
Costco Ticket Discount
Some Costco stores in Southern California carry discounted SeaWorld San Diego tickets from time to time. These are often a great deal, so it’s worth checking with your local store.
Costco.com sometimes offers a very good discount on SeaWorld San Diego tickets and you don’t have to be a Costco member to buy through their site. (Non-members pay a 5% surcharge, however.) There is a shipping charge when ordering from Costco.com. Thanks to Kimberly for info.
AAA Discounts
AAA members can usually get admission discounts, and sometimes discounts on other things such as food or merchandise.
- AAA members normally get $3 off single-day tickets at the gate.
- AAA members get 10% off single-day tickets purchased in advance. Visit aaa.com/seaworld to purchase.
FREE Tickets for Military
Through 12/31/17, members of the military (active duty military, active reservists, National Guard, Coast Guard) and as many as three direct dependents may enter SeaWorld, Busch Gardens or Sesame Place parks with complimentary admission. You must register in advance at www.wavesofhonor.com and complete a form, which you take with you to the theme park along with valid ID.
FREE Teacher Fun Cards
SeaWorld San Diego offers a complimentary Teacher Fun Card plus 2 free Single Day tickets to all active and certified K-12 California and Arizona credentialed school teachers. The Fun Card is valid for unlimited admission to SeaWorld® San Diego through 12/31/17. Click here for more info.
FREE Preschool Fun Cards
New!Check back in January 2018 for information on the 2018 Preschool Fun Card offer. 2017 Preschool Fun Cards are no longer available. San Diego and Orange County resident kids age 5 and younger can receive complimentary unlimited admission to SeaWorld San Diego through 12/30/17 with the 2017 SeaWorld Preschool Fun Card. Click here for more info. First 10,000 registered preschoolers will receive complimentary Fun Card; after first 10,000, $10 per Fun Card will be charged.
California Residents
California residents sometimes enjoy special discounts, which can be purchased on the SeaWorld San Diego website. Resident ID and credit card used to purchase your tickets are both required at point of park entry.
American Express Membership Rewards Points
If you have an American Express card that earns Membership Rewards points, you can redeem those points for Sea World San Diego tickets. Thanks to Kristin K for info.
Hilton Honors
You can redeem Hilton Honors points for SeaWorld San Diego tickets. Click here to read about this award (choose country, then Gift Cards & Certificates/Entertainment). Click here to read more about Honors.
Air Miles
Reader reports that Canadians can redeem Air Miles for select SeaWorld San Diego tickets. Thanks to Dawn N for info.
Discounts on Multi-Attraction Tickets that include SeaWorld
If you know you want to visit other attractions as well as SeaWorld, there are a number of discount pass options available that can save you a lot of money, and eliminate the hassle of buying all of your tickets individually. We’ve scouted out some of the best discounts you can find from reputable companies and describe them here. For more details and pricing just click on the pass name.
Jump to:
- Go San Diego Card
- Build Your Own San Diego Pass
- Attraction Package Deals
- Southern California CityPASS + Legoland California
Go San Diego Card
Go San Diego Card is an all-inclusive pass that allow you to visit as many attractions as you want within a set number of days (usually 3 to 7 days). You pay one discount price for the number of days you choose. Note that SeaWorld is only included on 3-, 5- and 7-day Go Cards. These work well if you are visiting at least two or three major attractions plus some less expensive attractions. The more attractions you visit, the more you save.
Go San Diego Card: If you want to fit in as much as you can in 3- to 7-days using one simple pass for one price, consider this all-inclusive pass. MouseSavers readers get an extra $25 discount on their purchase of $225 or more. This pass includes SeaWorld San Diego, Legoland, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Knott’s Berry Farm, harbor tours, museums, plus multiple other attractions in the San Diego area.
The 3, 5 and 7-day Go San Diego Cards includes daily entry into SeaWorld for the duration of the card.
Skip the ticket line at SeaWorld when you choose Instant Delivery at checkout. You can go straight to the turnstiles and present your pass on your smartphone for immediate entry.
Build Your Own San Diego Pass
Select where you want to go from dozens of attractions and build your own custom pass. You’ll save 20% off gate prices when you select 2 or more attractions. You have 30 days from first use to visit your selected attractions.
Build Your Own San Diego Pass: This build-it-yourself pass can include any combination of SeaWorld San Diego, Legoland, the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Wild Animal Safari Park and the new Aquatica San Diego, and many other attractions. You can add Los Angeles and Las Vegas attractions to this pass! Passes are good for 30 days from first use.
San Diego Attraction Package Deals
You can often save the most money if you find a San Diego Attraction Package pass that includes all the attractions you want to visit. You can save 27% to 39% off gate prices! These passes are already fully discounted. Promo codes do not apply. You have 30 days from first use with all of these passes. One favorite with MouseSavers readers is:
- Top San Diego Attractions – Save 23% off gate prices at SeaWorld, San Diego Zoo, Legoland and visit the USS Midway Museum.
- New!SoCal Theme Park Pass – Save 21% off gate prices at Universal Studios plus choose 3 more major parks. Choose between San Diego Zoo OR Safari Park, Legoland OR SeaWorld San Diego and Knott’s Berry Farm OR Six Flags Magic Mountain. This pass is found in San Diego Value Packages.
- To view all of the Attraction Package options on the Go Card site, click here.
Southern California CityPASS California
Southern California CityPASS includes discounted admission to SeaWorld San Diego, Disneyland and Legoland California. The San Diego Zoo or Safari Park can be added as an option on this pass.
Click here to get an overview of all the multi-attraction passes that we’ve found to offer terrific value.
Other Deals
AAA Discounts
AAA members may qualify for a discount on the higher-end meals where you get to view or interact with animals, such as Dine With Shamu! Be sure to ask when reserving or paying.
According to MouseSavers.com reader Susan B, AAA membership gets you 2-for-1 on the Bayside Skyride or Skytower. We have not confirmed this independently, but it’s worth a try!
Discounts for Passholders
- Annual Pass Members save 20% on all Up-Close Tours. Reserve on the Pass Member website.
Hotels near SeaWorld San Diego
Looking for a place to stay near SeaWorld San Diego? Choices are plentiful in the San Diego area near SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo, and getting around San Diego is fairly easy by car. If you don’t have a place in mind, we suggest checking out the hotels below. Our recommendations are not the cheapest places you can find– there are plenty of those out there– but we feel they offer a very good value for your dollar. As with our preferred hotels for Disney, we suggest accommodations that will enhance your stay while not breaking the bank. That said, if you are used to Orlando area pricing, you will be in for some sticker shock. Low rates for decent but average hotels start at around $80-$120/night, mid-range hotels start at around $120 and can run upwards to $275/night or higher in peak seasons.
SeaWorld is located at 500 Sea World Drive, San Diego, California 92109.
If you don’t know where to start, we suggest checking out:
- Holiday Inn Express, San Diego-SeaWorld – Less than 1 mile from SeaWorld and about 5 miles from the Zoo and downtown San Diego. Modestly priced standard hotel that includes FREE full hot breakfast and free internet.
- Best Western Plus Island Palms Hotel, Shelter Island (SW & Zoo). Located about 5-1/2 miles from SeaWorld and 8-1/2 miles from the Zoo, this hotel on Shelter Island offers standard rooms and suites with marina views.
- Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa – 2 miles from SeaWorld on Mission Bay. Deluxe resort and spa with beach access.
- Hilton Garden Inn, San Diego Oldtown/SeaWorld Area – Brand new hotel in San Diego-Old Town near Historic State Park and trolley station, minutes to SeaWorld, the Zoo and downtown.
Hotel Websites
Sometimes the best offers are directly through the hotels’ own websites, and if you are a member of a specific loyalty program, you probably want to search across all of that hotel company’s brands. For example, Hilton owns DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, Waldorf Astoria, etc. Here are links to the overall parent company websites where you can search their whole portfolio– use San Diego, California, zip code 92109 to find hotels closest to SeaWorld:
- Starwood Hotels (Westin, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton)
- Hilton Hotels (DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, Hampton, Homewood Suites)
- Marriott Hotels (Courtyard, Fairfield, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, TownePlace Suites)
- Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG) (Candlewood Suites, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites)
- Choice Hotels (Clarion, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites)
- Wyndham Hotel Group (Howard Johnson, Ramada, Super 8, Travelodge)