SeaWorld San Diego vs LEGOLAND California

See what makes the neighborhoods surrounding each park special and plan your day around your visit.

Having Fun on the Beach at Carlsbad City Beach

Tour Carlsbad’s Attractions

LEGOLAND California is located in San Diego’s Carlsbad neighborhood. Bring the kids to the beach at North and South Ponto Beach or Carlsbad City Beach. With a Go City San Diego pass, you can save on surfboard rentals and other beach gear.

Stay near the park at an official hotel, the LEGOLAND California Resort Hotel or LEGOLAND Castle Hotel. For other options, see our article on hotels near LEGOLAND.

Other fun things to do in Carlsbad include visiting the famous flower fields in the spring and shopping at Carlsbad Village or the Carlsbad Premium Outlets, one of our picks for the Best Malls in San Diego.

Little Girl Enjoying a Huge Ice Cream Cone at Belmont Park in Mission Beach

See What’s Happening in Mission Bay

SeaWorld San Diego is far from the only fun thing to do in Mission Bay Park. There are plenty of beaches with opportunities to sail at El Carmel Point, swim at Crown Point Beach, and have a picnic at Vacation Isle Park. Swing by Mission Beach’s boardwalk to visit Belmont Park for more thrill rides.

Mission Bay is also a bit closer to Downtown San Diego, the Gaslamp Quarter, Old Town San Diego and the San Diego International Airport (SAN), so if you're set to stay in one of those areas, I think this could be useful information.

If you’re looking for a family-friendly hotel that’s close to SeaWorld San Diego, we’ve got you covered with our Best Hotels near SeaWorld San Diego article!

Both SeaWorld San Diego and LEGOLAND California are jam packed with things to do, all of which are fun for the whole family.

Moving Walkway Inside Shark Encounter Entrance at Seaworld San Diego

Rides

SeaWorld San Diego features both thrill rides and more relaxed family rides, so there are options for kids of any age. There are currently 16 different rides in the park, ranging from rollercoasters and drop rides to rafting, flumes, and spinning swings.

LEGOLAND Theme Park has plenty of rides as well, including kart racing, coasters, and a deep sea adventure. Each ride has a unique LEGO twist, and many allow kids to build their own LEGO creations.

Other activities in the park include a boat cruise, rock climbing, and slide races. All water rides can be found at the LEGOLAND Water Park, which requires separate admission, but makes for a great way to cool off during San Diego’s warm summers.

Emmets Superstore Live Show at Legoland Ca

Presentations and Shows

See shows starring kids’ favorite LEGO characters at LEGOLAND California. Properties like LEGO City and NINJAGO inspire live shows, a martial arts performance, and an interactive training session. Other presentations in the park include dance parties and the Once Upon a Brick stage show.

At SeaWorld San Diego, presentations involve shows put on by animals and their trainers. They combine entertainment with education about some of the ocean’s most famous inhabitants. Shows include the Orca Encounter, Dolphin Adventures, and the Sea Lion & Otter Spotlight.

Dolphin at Seaworld San Diego

Marine Life

SeaWorld San Diego is famous for its marine life shows and encounters. Visit the park’s aquarium to learn about the hundreds of species inside, including:

• Harbor seals
• Sharks
• Beluga whales
• Bat rays
• Jellyfish
• Orcas
• Moray eels
• Sea turtles
• Pilot whales
• Penguins
• Sea otters
• Walruses
• Sea lions
• Dolphins

Plus animals from the land and sky such as:

• Macaws
• Curl-crested aracaris
• Flamingos
• Sloths

Some exhibits have interactive elements like touch tanks and the chance to feed seals and sea lions.

At LEGOLAND California, guests can add on admission to SEA LIFE to walk through an aquarium. Though smaller compared to SeaWorld’s heavy focus on marine animals, you can still see plenty of creatures from the deep.

SeaWorld San Diego spans over 200 acres, with tons of space for rides, shows, and marine animal tanks. LEGOLAND is a bit smaller at 120 acres, but it’s also more densely packed with things to do, with less space dedicated to animal housing and show stages.

You can easily spend a full day or even two days at both parks, especially if you visit during the busy season, when you can expect to wait a little longer on lines. One day will be enough for most families, but if you want to add in some shows and animal experiences without feeling rushed, you certainly won’t run out of things to do by day two.

Pizza Mania Dinning Option at Legoland Ca

Dining and Resting

Traversing both SeaWorld San Diego and LEGOLAND California requires a lot of walking. If you’re looking for somewhere to take a break, there are plenty of snack bars, restaurants, and benches throughout both parks. In addition to the standard fare of park food and snacks, there are some special options too.

At LEGOLAND, you can find themed restaurants like Everything Is Ramen and Benny’s Rocket Fuel which make taking a break for lunch just as fun as the rest of the park.

SeaWorld’s unique opportunity to Dine With Orcas invites guests to learn about killer whales while enjoying a buffet-style meal.

Now let’s take a look at the different tours and backstage passes you can optionally purchase at both parks.

The Big Shop at Legoland California

VIP Tours

Both SeaWorld San Diego and LEGOLAND California offer VIP experiences for families who want to see and do it all.

LEGOLAND’s Ultimate VIP Experience lets you travel the park with a tour guide and take home some cool souvenirs. You’ll also get to go behind the scenes at your choice of location, with options for factory and model shop tours.

The SeaWorld Ultimate VIP Tour includes front-of-the-line access to rides, a personal tour guide, animal encounters, and reserved seating at shows. The itinerary can be tailored to your family’s preferences.

Killer Whale at Seaworld San Diego

Animal Encounters

Unique to SeaWorld, park guests can take animal encounter tours with live feedings, informative presentations, and the chance to swim with dolphins or be surrounded by penguins. Other animals with up-close encounters at SeaWorld are sloths, belugas, killer whales, walruses, otters, sea lions, and turtles.

When is the Best Time for a Visit

Both SeaWorld San Diego and LEGOLAND California are most popular during the summer, but in the off-season you’ll see cheaper tickets and fewer crowds.

Honestly, there’s hardly a bad time to go to either park but the fall is my favorite with slightly lower crowds and incredible weather.

Sesame Street Bay of Play at SeaWorld San Diego

Other Family-Friendly Attractions

Family attractions are all over San Diego. Other attractions that kids will love include Sesame Place San Diego, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and Birch Aquarium at Scripps all of which are some of the best things to do with kids.