SeaWorld Orlando Penguins Up-Close Tour – Review With Photos and Video

Hi everyone!

Back in July, I was invited on the backstage Penguins Up-Close Tour at SeaWorld. It’s been nearly 20 years since I’ve been on a penguin tour at SeaWorld, and it was a treat for me to see it from a new perspective – with Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin as the backdrop!

The tour IS colder than it usually is outside in Florida. It was nearly 90 degrees on the afternoon I visited, and 30 degrees inside the habitat. It felt great to be in freezing temperatures on such a hot day, but I did need a sweater, pants, and closed-toe shoes.

The tour starts out with some fun facts about the penguins – including about their diet. But of course, everyone wants to see the penguins – and the tour doesn’t disappoint! When I took the tour back in the 90’s, the attendant held onto a penguin and we were able to touch it once. But with the Penguins Up-Close Tour, we had two penguins making the rounds at our feet. I would normally have spent more time on the interaction than I did – I was busy with photos and video – but it was a lot of fun to see the penguins scurrying about. Everyone had an opportunity to ask questions. The penguins were often inquisitive – there were several penguins on the opposite side of the fence who wanted to see what was going on with us! Each penguin has a unique personality, and may want to visit with guests one day, but not the next. The actual time with the penguins was probably 15-20 minutes.

The Penguins Up-Close Tour should be booked in advance, as there is very limited availability!

The tour lasts for 45 minutes, and the pricing starts at $59.00 for ages 10 and up, and $39.00 for ages 3-9, plus tax. This is in addition to park admission, and there is a 10% Passholder discount. The SeaWorld Orlando Annual Pass is a wonderful deal – we are Platinum Passholders for all the SeaWorld/Busch Gardens parks, and it allows us to enjoy the parks all year long!

Can you tell how much I enjoyed meeting the penguins? From watching one stare at my feet, to being able to touch another for a photo, it was a very memorable experience!

We also talk about the SeaWorld Up-Close Tour in our Mousesteps Weekly Show #63!