Now Open – SEA LIFE Florida

It’s been an absolute bumper period for Orlando and its newest attractions. And here comes another one! After Epic Universe at Universal Orlando and two new shows at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, LEGOLAND Florida has joined the party with its latest attraction, SEA LIFE Florida.

Not to be confused with SEA LIFE Orlando at ICON Park, this latest opening from the UK’s Merlin Attractions group features a whole new way to experience an undersea adventure while also enjoying all the fun and entertainment of the LEGO park. It has been more than a year in the making (and caused some major disruption to the park entrance), but the end result is another eye-catching addition to the worldwide SEA LIFE series of aquariums (all 53 of them), with lots to recommend it, especially for children in the 2 to 12 age group.

June 6 was the big debut day celebration, and we were able to go along for the ride and be among the first visitors to see the fully completed aquarium. The opening festivities included steel drum-playing entertainment and a cute kelp-cutting ceremony, to underline the SEA LIFE difference.

What is SEA LIFE Florida?

Just to start with, while it is within the gates of the LEGOLAND park, SEA LIFE has a separate entry fee for its array of aquatic exhibits, very much like the stand-alone Peppa Pig Theme Park right next door. The additional fee to visit is $25 per person, but if you go online, it is currently being offered as a joint ticket with LEGOLAND from just $89/person (but up to $134 at peak periods). There is even a one-day ticket that includes the Peppa Pig park as well from $114 to $149/person.

Like all its sister SEA LIFE aquariums, this one is divided into a series of interconnected sections and exhibits that highlight the diversity, colour and ecology of our oceans, with a very strong environmental and educational message along the way. In this instance, there are 11 separate set-piece exhibits that weave through this aquatic wonderland, plus a souvenir photo opportunity right at the start and the inevitable Gift Shop at the end!

Unlike SEA LIFE Orlando, there is no children’s play area to let the kiddies loose in, but then there is the whole of the LEGOLAND park just outside the doors, including all the fun of its Miniland and plenty of LEGO building challenges, so the kids will never be short of something to do. In total, there are fully 3,000 amazing animals on show, featuring 150 different species of marine life, from the smallest coral reef fish to Blacktip Reef Sharks.

What do you do first?

There’s nothing complicated or brain-teasing about entering a SEA LIFE attraction, and they haven’t messed with their successful formula here. You simply enter through the main doors (just inside LEGOLAND’s main entrance, on the right) and follow the prescribed trail through the 11 different sections, emerging at the end in the eye-catching gift shop.

It all starts in classic Florida fashion with an exhibit featuring a Freshwater Swamp, full of the fish and other unique plants and animals typically found in these Sunshine State environments, notably largemouth bass, bluegill and the comical-looking Florida gar. There is then the Key West Harbor and the hands-on exhibit of the Rockpools, where visitors can (carefully) touch sea stars and anemones, and the eternal fascination of the Seahorse Nursery, with three different kinds of these cute species, including the Big Belly Seahorse.

Continue on the winding path through the aquarium and you discover a vibrant Coral Reef (and the chance to Find Nemo!), and Stingray Bay, with several dozen of these graceful creatures – and windows provided thoughtfully at young children’s height. Then it’s the turn of Blackbeard’s Shipwreck, with some clever underwater scenery and the eye-catching Clown Triggerfish, followed by a profusion of jellyfish in Jelly Invaders and Colourful Caves, which highlights the amazing phenomenon of sea bioluminescence.

Finally, the undersea journey reaches the two largest sections of the Ocean Tunnel and the aquarium’s unique headline feature of the Theme Park Under The Sea. These habitats surround visitors with some of the most impressive animals, as well as the wonderful design elements that set this SEA LIFE apart from many of its sister exhibits. Here you can take your time for a slow wander through the Tunnel and enjoy the extensive viewing opportunity of what is a quite beautiful set-up of imaginary theme park-style attractions for the resident fish, stingrays and sharks that can be found in the huge 125,000-gallon exhibit.

There’s more

For those looking to extend their SEA LIFE time and learn more about how it works and the various environmental issues it highlights, there are a series of 40-minute Behind The Scenes Tours that are well worth trying. These take guests inside the world of the attraction’s aquarists who take care of all the animals, and explore exclusive back-stage area where thousands of marine creatures are cared for every day, including the Ocean Overlook for a birds-eye view of all the exhibits. The tours run two to three times a day and cost just $10 per person.

Hopefully it goes without saying that if you’re going to visit the SEA LIFE experience during your LEGOLAND day, you’ll want to do it during the hottest part of the day as it is fully air-conditioned and is a very welcome break from Florida’s summer heat and humidity. It is also right next door to the LEGOLAND & Co Coffee café, which serves up some tasty flavoured iced drinks as well as the usual espressos. If you need something more substantial, there’s also Pepper & Roni’s Pizza Stop and the all-you-can-eat Funtown Pizza & Pasta Buffet.

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