What would you like to see at a SeaWorld hotel?

Guests of SeaWorld Orlando may soon be able to stay at the park’s first overnight accommodations, begging the question: What would you like to see at a SeaWorld hotel?

Turtle at SeaWorld Orlando — _{Photos courtesy of SeaWorld}

SeaWorld Orlando’s first hotel

“The company has submitted a developmental plan review application with Orange County for the ‘Starboard’ project,” according to Blooloop. The hotel, if approved, will have 504 rooms, a rooftop bar, and a conference area, all spread across 15 stories on a 29-acre plot of land.

Blooloop reported the hotel would be located near the intersection of International Drive and Central Florida Parkway.

Currently, SeaWorld Orlando offers vacation packages that pair park tickets with a stay at a nearby hotel. Several establishments are SeaWorld Hotel Partners. Operated independently from SeaWorld, they provide discounted dining and merchandise, and come with SeaWorld’s stamp of approval in terms of quality. An upper tier SeaWorld Official Hotel Partner adds shuttle transportation to the park.

What Could a SeaWorld Hotel Look Like?

At SeaWorld Orlando, guests experience attractions themed to aquatic animal habitats, mythology, and “Sesame Street.” Could one of these ideas form the basis of a future hotel?

Perhaps the new hotel will match SeaWorld Orlando’s overall aesthetic and tone. If so, a color palate of cool colors like blues and greens comes to mind. An educational component would seem likely, whether through onsite presentations about conservation or unique animal encounters. Would any animals live at the hotel? Could guests’ rooms feature aquariums of their own?

Maybe the hotel would focus on a specific habitat or one single animal. Would guests be interested in an entire hotel devoted to, say, sharks or penguins? Perhaps.

Journey to Atlantis is SeaWorld Orlando’s flume coaster. The concepts of Atlantis-adjacent mythology present an entirely different style guide to the hotel designers. While certainly a wildcard, if the development team has any mandate (or desire) to choose a hotel theme from stories or worlds already represented in SeaWorld Orlando, there are only so many themes from which to choose, and mythology is one of those themes.

A “Sesame Street”-themed hotel at SeaWorld Orlando could add a fun choice to Orlando’s selection of character-based hotel experiences. Several Walt Disney World hotels go all-in on a specific stories, from “Toy Story” at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort to “The Lion King” at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. While none of Universal Orlando’s hotels focus on a specific film or series, guest can opt for a “Jurassic World” or “Despicable Me”-themed room at Loews Royal Pacific Resort or Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, respectively.

_{“Toy Story” and “The Lion King” photos courtesy of Disney. “Jurassic World” and “Despicable Me” photos courtesy of Universal.}

It would be natural for SeaWorld to desire an alternative to this über-themed genre of hotels, using its own licensed characters. Additionally, it’s fun to imagine the playful quirks of a hotel operated under the care of Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, and their “Sesame Street” friends.

More Hotels Coming to Orlando

SeaWorld isn’t the only Orlando destination investing in onsite stays. A Disney Vacation Club tower is currently under construction at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

Disney Vacation Club tower at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort — _{Image courtesy of Disney}

Meanwhile, Universal Orlando will open its Stella Nova Resort and Terra Luna Resort, operated by Loews, in early 2025. The properties will be located near Universal Epic Universe, a new theme park opening by summer of that year.