SeaWorld San Diego is celebrating National Roller Coaster Day on Tuesday, Aug. 16 as the Coaster Capital of San Diego. With the opening of Emperor this past March, the park now has five unique coasters that each provide something special for every type of thrill seeker, plus a variety of family-friendly and fun rides for guests of all ages to enjoy.

The best way to enjoy all the rides, again and again, is with a SeaWorld Fun Card. Starting Aug. 15, guests can purchase Fun Cards for $99.99, and get unlimited admission for 2023, plus free admission for the remainder of 2022.

A COASTER FOR EVERY TYPE OF RIDER

SeaWorld San Diego has five roller coasters for guests to enjoy – Emperor, Electric Eel, Manta, Journey to Atlantis, and Tidal Twister. Whether guests are looking for a family coaster, high-thrills, or a quick way to cool off, the park has a coaster for everyone.

The newest coaster, Emperor, is the tallest, fastest, and longest floorless dive coaster in California. Riders are suspended on a 45-degree angle before plunging down a 143-foot facedown vertical drop, accelerating more than 60 miles per hour into exhilarating loops, a tribute to emperor penguins’ amazing underwater diving abilities. Named after the Emperor penguin and its dive capability, SeaWorld partnered with Penguins International, an organization dedicated to penguin conservation and research that will focus on penguin awareness and the conservation needs of this special aquatic bird, to help spread the word.

Since opening five months ago, Emperor has averaged 100,000 rides per month and is now quickly approaching its 500,000th ride. The lucky 500,000th rider will receive a free single-ride Quick Queue* for every visit for the remainder of the year.

Electric Eel is San Diego’s tallest and fastest roller coaster. Featuring multiple-launch experiences, Electric Eel propels riders forward and backward as they speed through the ride’s station house accelerating to more than 60 miles per hour in seconds. Riders then rocket skyward nearly 150 feet where they brave an inverted “heartline” roll and a twisting loop for an exciting feeling of airtime as riders crest the top before breathlessly returning to the station. The ride features educational signage related to the ride’s namesake, the moray eel with a moray eel aquarium located next to the entry pathway.

For families looking for a thrill, Manta is SeaWorld’s exciting, double-launch family coaster. It features a 54-foot drop and twists and turns that make riders feel like they’re soaring and diving like a manta ray. Located within the ride landscape is a 100,000-gallon aquarium filled with California bat rays, diamond stingrays shovelnose guitarfish, as well as many native fish to the California coast.

The reef-themed aquarium includes eight acrylic viewing windows where guests can see marine life above and in front of them, and a shallow above-ground pool where guests touch and feed California bat rays. This hands-on experience allows our guests to make a connection with rays that may inspire them to project this amazing species by cherishing its ocean home, and the environment in general.

For those that want to cool off, Journey to Atlantis is a wet and wild water coaster experience on Greek fishing boats. Inspired by one of the sea’s favorite legends, Journey to Atlantis takes riders on an exploration of a lost civilization, where they experience an action-adventure with splashing thrills. Eight passenger boats take riders on their voyage, which includes a splashy, 60-foot plunge into a lake. One of the innovative elements of the ride gives passengers the illusion they’re not moving when actually they’re being elevated nearly eight stories inside the lift tower.

The unique dueling roller coaster Tidal Twister features high-speed turns and upside-down twists as the dueling-train roller coaster accelerates to 30 miles per hour, riders twist and bank as if they are riding the tide along a tight, figure-8 track that includes dynamic Zero-G roll at the center section. Two trains holding 16 passengers each load at opposite ends of the figure-8 and cross in the center, with guests facing both forward and backward on the trains.

A lower-height requirement of 48 inches makes this attraction a perfect ride for younger guests and families. Tidal Twister is adjacent to touch pools, the perfect location to spotlight SeaWorld’s continuing commitment to conservation awareness and action, focusing on sustainable aquaculture and coral reef protection. Tidal Twister is set to reopen in late August.

In addition to the thrills of coasters, guests of all ages can fill their day splashing, swinging, spinning, and enjoying many of the family-friendly rides located throughout the park. Fan-favorites and SeaWorld landmarks, Skytower and Bayside Skyride take passengers for beautiful views of Mission Bay. Guests can opt to make a splash and cool off on Shipwreck Rapids or spin round and round on Riptide Rescue. For kid-friendly fun, families are invited to enjoy Tentacle Twirl, Sea Dragon Drop, Octarock and Aqua Scout, plus Elmo’s Flying Fish, Oscar’s Rockin’ Eel, and Abby’s Sea Star Spin located in Sesame Street Bay of Play.

SeaWorld guests are encouraged to take the Coaster Challenge and ride all participating rides in one day and share the fun on their social media using #SeaWorldSanDiego and #CoasterCapitalSD.

In celebration of National Roller Coaster Day and the last few weeks of summer fun, SeaWorld is offering all guests free ice cream starting Monday, Aug. 15 for the remainder of August.

For more information, park hours and to purchase tickets, Fun Cards and Pass Members, visit SeaWorldSanDiego.com.