Is SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular Worth Visiting?

I took all four of my kids, ages 2 to 9, and not only did my baseball-obsessed oldest willingly miss his first double-header of the season for the Halloween extravaganza, but he happily announced “Yeah, that was totally worth it!”

Below, I’m sharing my itinerary for a full day at the park with kids. It’s packed with SeaWorld’s best family-friendly attractions–plus our favorite Spooktacular activities–and, while kids’ tickets are free with a full-priced adult ticket, it makes for a pretty unbeatable value. Read on for the complete schedule and inside tips before planning your next trip to SeaWorld.

Your Ultimate Halloween Spooktacular Itinerary at SeaWorld

SeaWorld is filled with marine life exhibitions and shows, rides and roller coasters, and seasonal events like the Spooktacular. Here’s my recommended guide for visiting SeaWorld if you want to make the most of your day while catching the top Halloween festivities.

Insider tip: Download the SeaWorld app before getting to the park! Not only will it give you helpful walking directions, but it includes a detailed schedule of the day’s events.

10:00 am Arrive at SeaWorld

Get to the park right as it opens to maximize your day! While lines are shorter, head straight to the more popular attractions like Penguin Encounter, the Turtle Reef, and, our favorite, Jewels of the Sea: The Jellyfish Experience.

11:45 Lunch at Explorer’s Cafe

Beat the crowds by getting a jump start on lunch. Explorer’s Cafe serves up burgers, chicken tenders, wraps, salads, and other familiar fare that makes it a perfect pitstop for families. This is our go-to because we find the waits to be shorter.

Photo by SeaWorld

12:30 pm The Pirate Sea Shanty Band at SkyTower Lawn

Once you’ve recharged, kick off the Halloween fun with a band of scallywags at this endearing live music performance that takes place multiple times a day throughout the Spooktacular. Kids will love singing along to The Scurvy Squad’s selection of old and new sea shanties–mine sure did!

1:00 pm Don’t Miss the Trick-or-Treat Trail and Spooktacular Pumpkin Hunt

Around 1:00 pm, the Trick-or-Treat Trail opens up throughout the park. My kids loved searching for the 10 stations marked by orange umbrellas, where they happily collected different treats, from retro candy to Goldfish. Note that Halloween costumes are encouraged, but definitely not required. Each kid needs to have a bag so bring one from home or purchase a reusable trick-or-treat tote for $4.99 at the park.

Insider tip: For some extra trick-or-treating fun, buy a Spooktacular Pumpkin Hunt map at the SeaWorld store. Find all the pumpkins hidden in the park while searching for candy, and redeem the map for a special prize!

Photo by SeaWorld

1:30 pm Ride Manta, Arctic Rescue, and Electric Eel

SeaWorld may be known for its marine life, but it’s packed with can’t-miss rides and coasters too! My boys loved braving Arctic Rescue and Manta so much that we rode each one twice. Right now, Manta also features a Halloween-themed multimedia experience to get you in the spirit.

Insider tip: The day we visited, wait times were pretty short. But if you’re hoping to hit all the rides without slowing down, consider purchasing a Skip the Line pass for $19.99 per ticket.

3:30 pm Meet the New Axolotls at the Bayside Aquarium

Make sure you pop by the Bayside Aquarium and check out some curious and adorable little axolotls. My kids are obsessed with these quirky little creatures right now, so it was very exciting to see some in real life!

4:00 pm Spookley’s Dance Party at the Waterfront

Join Spookley the Square Pumpkin for an interactive storytime and dance party in the festively decorated Waterfront area. Spookley and friends tell his classic tale, and stop to sing a few songs along the way. My little girls were bumping and grooving along throughout the whole 15-20 minute performance.

If your kiddos just want to meet Spookley and snap a picture, he also does meet-and-greets a couple times a day in the same location.

4:15 pm Meet a Mermaid at Rescue Jr.

Don’t miss the opportunity to meet and snap a photo with a “real” live mermaid over at Rescue Jr.! This was a total highlight for my girls.

Afterwards, spend some time in the Rescue Jr. play area. My kids ran around for an hour! There are some splash pad elements, so just make sure to bring a change of clothes.

5:00 Meet Belugas and Walruses at Wild Arctic

Head to the multi-level Wild Arctic exhibit, where you can check out beluga whales and walruses from both above- and below-water viewing areas. We also got to meet some playful sea otters, and learn about how they were rescued and rehabilitated by SeaWorld.

Kids are sure to love the frozen ice walls and interactive tunnels and caves that really make it feel like you’re in the arctic.

5:30 pm O.P. Otter’s Spooktacular Surprise at the Mission Bay Theater

Wrap up the day with an indoor Halloween-themed dance party with O.P. Otter. This not-so-spooky show features many of SeaWorld’s costumed characters as they celebrate the season with some sneaky shenanigans. It’s intended for all ages, but I would say it is best for the under 5 set.

6:00pm Dinner at Calypso Bay Smokehouse

Nothing like a BBQ dinner to top off an action-packed day at the park. Make Calypso Bay Smokehouse your last stop, for ribs, tri-tip, mac and cheese, and baked beans. We always leave full!

Insider tip: For a particularly memorable visit, you can also opt to Dine With Orcas. This needs to be booked in advance.

Is SeaWorld’s Howl-O-Scream Too Scary for Kids?

You’ll note that my itinerary wraps up by 7:00 pm–which is when, through November 1, the park transforms into a much more frightening Halloween experience. Unlike the Spooktackular, SeaWorld’s Howl-O-Scream contains very scary, intense adult content and is recommended for ages 13 and up.

Kids Visit SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular for FREE

If you’re planning to visit the Halloween Spooktacular, it’s best to buy your SeaWorld tickets in advance–access to the event is included with general admission. Opt for Single Day or Two Day Tickets, or purchase a 2026 Fun Card for unlimited visits for the rest of 2025 and all of 2026. You can also choose add-ons like All Day Dining for flat rate meals and Quick Queue to skip the lines. Either way, be sure to make the most of the major deal running through October: Kids ages 3-9 go FREE with any paid adult ticket!

Purchase your tickets here and explore the SeaWorld website for more park details.

Photos by Kylie Williams unless otherwise noted