Could This Be a Big Sign That the Theme Park Industry Is Coming Back to Life in California?

SeaWorld San Diego has been closed for quite some time now due to the global pandemic.

©SeaWorld

But it will be reopening in a limited way very soon.

SeaWorld San Diego will be reopening to the public later this week with a special “Zoo Days: Bayside BBQ & Brews” event. The event will begin on August 28th.

©SeaWorld

According to the SeaWorld San Diego website, this is a limited-time, ticketed eventAll guests, including Pass Members and Fun Card Holders will need a “ticket-based reservation” to attend during Zoo Days. The event will be held on Fridays through Sundays (plus Labor Day) from August 28th through September 27th.

©SeaWorld, Screenshot from SeaWorld Website

As pat of the experience, guests will have access to “40 acres of SeaWorld’s expansive outdoor park grounds” and have the chance to taste some BBQ, craft and domestic beer, wine, cocktails, or non-alcoholic beverages.

©SeaWorld, SeaWorld San Diego Instagram

Each Zoo Days ticket includes a tasting lanyard that will provide guests with six food or beverage items of their choice.

©SeaWorld, SeaWorld San Diego Instagram

Certain open-air animal exhibits will also be open to guests including Sea Lion Point, Otter Outlook, Dolphin Point, and Explorer’s Reef Touch Pools. Some animal presentations will also be available with socially distant seating.

©SeaWorld, SeaWorld San Diego Instagram

Guests will also get the chance to say hello to some of their favorite Sesame Street characters.

©SeaWorld, SeaWorld San Diego Instagram

The SeaWorld website notes that there will be “enhanced health and safety measures” utilized in the park. Tickets can be bought online and are $74.99 for those 10 and older, and $64.99 for kids ages 3-9. All tickets are date specific, so you’ll need to select the day you wish to visit when you purchase the ticket.

©SeaWorld

According to the SeaWorld website, “All guests, including Fun Card holders and Pass Members must purchase a date-specific ticket online and prior to arriving to the park to experience Zoo Days.” But, Fun Card Holders and Pass Members can get discounted tickets to Zoo Days.

We’re curious to see what this may mean for other theme parks in California, including Disneyland.

Disneyland Gate

Disneyland Park and Disney’s California Adventure are currently closed and, according to the Disney website, “will reopen at a later date, pending state and local government approvals.”

Disney California Adventure Park

Portions of Downtown Disney are currently open, and Disneyland Resort Hotel reservations are available for mid-September, but guests with bookings through September 12th have been asked to cancel or modify.

Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen Express

Could we see limited-time, ticketed events like the one at SeaWorld over at the happiest place on Earth? Does SeaWorld San Diego’s limited reopening signal a move toward potentially reopening more locations in California? Disneyland Resort is in Anaheim, which means it may experience different complications with local laws and local approvals than SeaWorld’s experience with the city of San Diego. We’ll certainly keep you updated as to what we find.

Click here to see what’s new at Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort in California.

What do you think about this limited-time event? Let us know in the comments.