SEA LIFE Florida recently celebrated its grand opening inside LEGOLAND® Florida Resort. This interactive, family-friendly aquarium invites guests to dive into a fully immersive underwater experience designed especially with kids in mind.
Staying in line with fun child-friendly experiences, the “oh-fish-all” kelp cutting ceremony included live performances from sea-inspired characters, including a larger-than-life manta ray puppet. Special community guests included students from nearby Garden Grove Elementary and SEA LIFE Aquarium’s signature Sharky character.
Inside SEA LIFE Florida, guests will discover more than 150 species and 3,000 creatures, from stingrays and pufferfish to jellyfish. At the heart of the experience is a 180-degree ocean tunnel designed to be a “theme park under the sea.” The tunnel is specifically structured so even little ones can stand eye-to-eye with sharks and rays as they glide overhead.
At this “theme park under the sea,” guests can join the animals in their journey through an underwater castle, watch as they pass through a haunted house and find their spot on a Ferris wheel made out of clams. From specially filtered water systems to low-stress lighting and thoughtfully crafted habitats, every element prioritizes animal wellbeing.
“This isn’t just an aquarium – it’s a space where children can learn to care about the ocean by seeing it through their own eyes,” said President of LEGOLAND Florida Resort Franceen Gonzales. “We’re proud to launch SEA LIFE Florida as a place of both play and purpose.”
“This has been an amazing journey to bring this passion project come to life. We want to help children truly connect with animals, by bringing the animals to their level,” said SEA LIFE Florida Curator Sarah McMahon. “When they see a stingray glide right past their face or lock eyes with a curious octopus, something amazing happens. That spark of curiosity turns into respect. And respect is the first step to protecting our ocean.”
SEA LIFE Florida is located just steps from the entrance of LEGOLAND Florida and continues the Resort’s mission of being a multi-day destination with themed attractions built for families with children ages 2 to 12.
As part of the Resort’s sustainability efforts, all Parks across LEGOLAND Florida Resort – including SEA LIFE Florida, LEGOLAND Theme Park, Water Park, and PEPPA PIG Theme Park – will now offer reusable shopping bags Resort-wide.
