Guests are not happy about the current state of SeaWorld.SeaWorld’s theme parks have faced scrutiny for years, surging with the release of the 2013 documentary Blackfish, which raised public awareness about the treatment of captive orcas. The film sparked widespread backlash, prompting corporate partnerships to dissolve and ticket sales to plummet.Since then, SeaWorld has grappled with ongoing criticism, including concerns about animal welfare, breeding programs, and the long-term effects of captivity. Protestors and activists continue to challenge the park’s practices.Credit: Darren Tolley, UnsplashGuests Grow Increasingly Frustrated With SeaWorldMeanwhile, even SeaWorld’s most loyal guests have started to criticize the state of its theme parks in recent years. Earlier this year, guests slammed the visibility (or rather, the lack of visibility) of its orcas at SeaWorld Orlando in particular.A guest who worked at the park 15 years ago wrote on Reddit: “Big focus on the shows and all the animal exhibits. I went back… and while it’s good, I still feel like it doesn’t have the same spark or energy that it used to have.”Another echoed this sentiment, attributing changes to the backlash sparked by Blackfish: “They have transitioned from becoming an animal-centric park with a few rides to a thrill park with a few animals.”Credit: Joseph Stalin, UnsplashGuests have also criticized SeaWorld – which spans three parks in San Diego, San Antonio, and Orlando – for the quiet inclusion of a 9% fee on food and merchandise purchased at the parks. When it comes to food, guests have also criticized a perceived decline in quality in recent years, with one specific chicken dish receiving heavy backlash in April 2025.SeaWorld San Diego CriticizedAccording to some guests, SeaWorld San Diego specifically isn’t in a great state right now.A guest who visited on July 1 slammed the lack of operational attractions at the Southern California theme park. “Our recent visit to SeaWorld San Diego was nothing short of frustrating and disappointing,” they wrote. “We had checked the official website before our trip and saw that Arctic Rescue and Journey to Atlantis were listed as closed. While that was already disheartening, we decided to go anyway, thinking at least the rest of the park would be operational.” However, upon arriving at the park, they discovered that Electric Eel was also not in operation, despite the fact that it was “never mentioned online.”Credit: SeaWorld“Unfortunately, things only got worse once we were inside,” they wrote on Reddit. “We then discovered that Rescue Rafter and Sea Dragon Drop were also closed. None of this was communicated ahead of time, and we had absolutely no way of knowing unless we were already through the gates. That’s nearly all the major thrill rides closed with zero transparency.”The guest was also particularly frustrated that two of the few open attractions – the SkyTower and Bayside Skyride – came with an extra fee. “That fee was never mentioned online or during ticket purchase,” they wrote. “It felt like they were nickel-and-diming visitors after already delivering a half-functioning park.”They aren’t the only guest to experience issues at SeaWorld San Diego this week. Another guest took to Reddit to share a negative account of their trip to the park, claiming that their unhappiness stemmed from an interaction with a SeaWorld employee.Credit: SeaWorld“We had a horrible experience [with] an employee at the sea lion show while trying to find an available seat,” they wrote. “He started screaming [in] our faces to [sit] down or get out of his auditorium, frightening my young daughter and my elderly father. When I asked him to stop screaming and allow us to go downstairs carefully (my father has reduced vision) he continued to yell at our faces [threatening] to call security. Another employee witnessed that (other than multiple people around us) and offered us a reserved spot. I believe she felt ashamed by her coworkers behavior.”SeaWorld has made efforts to rebrand in recent years, introducing new thrill rides and pledging changes to its animal programs. Still, for many guests, those moves haven’t been enough to offset growing frustrations. While every park has its off days, between operational setbacks, rising costs, and lingering controversy, SeaWorld’s image problem appears far from over – and guests are making their dissatisfaction clear.Have you experienced issues at SeaWorld San Diego?The post SeaWorld Destroyed, Guests Claim That It’s “A Half-Functioning Park” appeared first on Inside the Magic.