SeaWorld San Antonio is closing its gates to the public this weekend. Guests planning to visit the Texas-based marine theme park or its adjacent water park, Aquatica, on Saturday, May 3, 2025, may need to reschedule their trip, as both locations will be closed for a private event.
SeaWorld Entertainment, the company behind SeaWorld San Antonio, has operated marine-themed parks worldwide for more than six decades. Since opening its first park in San Diego in 1964, SeaWorld has expanded to include parks in Orlando, Abu Dhabi, and San Antonio. These parks combine thrilling rides and water attractions with animal rescue and rehabilitation messaging.
While SeaWorld’s parks are best known for live animal performances and roller coasters, the brand has changed significantly in recent years. Following the release of the 2013 documentary Blackfish, which spotlighted SeaWorld Orlando’s orca Tilikum and raised questions about the treatment of marine mammals in captivity, the company shifted its focus to conservation. SeaWorld eventually ended its orca breeding program and introduced new educational attractions emphasizing rescue efforts.
One example is the “Rescue Jr.” play area, which launched at SeaWorld San Diego and later expanded to other parks. In 2024, SeaWorld San Antonio confirmed that it would bring a version of the conservation-themed experience to its location. The area includes water features, themed rides, climbing structures, and rescue vehicles, offering hands-on engagement for younger guests.
Unfortunately, the public won’t be able to experience Rescue Jr.—or any of SeaWorld San Antonio’s attractions—on May 3. According to the park’s official Instagram account, both SeaWorld San Antonio and Aquatica will be closed on that day due to a private booking.
Park Update: SeaWorld and Aquatica will be closed on Saturday, May 3, for a private event. We look forward to welcoming you back for a full day of fun on Sunday, May 4!
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Though details about the private event haven’t been shared publicly, it’s not uncommon for theme parks to close temporarily for full buyouts, special corporate functions, or exclusive gatherings. Guests who were planning to visit that Saturday are encouraged to adjust their travel plans accordingly.
SeaWorld San Antonio and Aquatica will resume normal operations on Sunday, May 4.
Should theme parks close for private events during regular guest hours? Share your opinion with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
As out of touch as they have become I believe Disney is bound for extinction. Fire Eiger and Kennedy, shake up the board, kill the political activism….it may survive, but at this rate I see Disney a ghost town in 10 years. Thankfully I sold my 20,000 shares before it basically became a glorified penny stock
Why would Sea World San Antonio shutter the Park on May 3rd for a “Private Event” and destroy a visitation for Families looking forward to going there!? Just because someone is rich enough to pay for the day for X amount of guests it doesn’t give them the right to remove accessibility to the other people in the world who would like to attend that day!!?
No they shouldn’t be be closing their theme park just because somebody booked a private event if someone books a private event that should be separate from the theme park cuz it’s a lot of people that don’t came from far and near that I’m traveled and spot their own hard money on tickets and everything and kids be excited just to come see the shows get on the rides and get wet with now they can’t because y’all are close it’s very heartbreaking to know people will do something like this at the last minute and book a private event it’s not fair to the public and I’m pretty sure it’s other things water parks places they can go but they probably don’t want to drive that far and they can’t get their money back cuz it’s not refundable some people don’t pay online some people just come to see her on just pay at the gate and everything but it’s not fair to the public that you guys have some clothes for private event so people want to start having these private events they have to call 30 days in advance to so y’all guys can have a heads up and y’all can talk it over with your manager the the park manager and who else is in charge to see what you guys can do cuz if y’all going to have a private event that should always be separate from the theme park that’s just like saying if I was to show up and I paid my money and then I get turned around oh we’re closed for today until Sunday I’m going to be probably upset it’s going to hurt my heart I’m going to be hardly upset and now it’s going to be a lot of people complaining to corporate about it cuz now if they call corporate it’s going to be a problem that’s why when people want to books private events they need to have a building far off somewhere on the theme park that’s not part of the park if these people want to book the private events they need to have a separate building that’s not part of the theme park or it’s a part of the theme park and if it’s a part of the theme park that building needs to be separate from the theme park that way they can still have their private events without you guys closing