Dine With Shamu

PLEASE PLEASE don’t spend your money on this. We thought it would be an awesome experience with the whales. We aren’t huge eaters, so the Buffett wasn’t the selling point. We were hoping the food would be goodas a bonus, but I definitely wasn’t impressed (more on that later).
The «show»
— so it isn’t much. The whales aren’t even as close as you’d think they were going to be. And what really made it annoying about paying so much was on the opposite side of the tank (which isn’t that big) anyone at the park can get just as close and watch everything you are seeing for FREE! When we realized that we thought of how we could have bought any of the food in the park (which there are some good options) for half the price of what we spent on «dine with shamu» and say their with our daughters and seen it all.
The price
— WAY TOO EXPENSIVE for what you get. Glad my two daughters were free
The food
— mediocre at best. Pretty darn BASIC. The chicken was decent. The deserts were ok. But nothing stood out and made me want to eat more of it. I enjoyed the fish and chips I had the next day from the pineapple hut place way more. And they cost $ 9.
SAVE YOUR MONEY AND SPEND IT ON BUYING STUFFED ANIMALS OR FISH TO FEED THE SEA LIONS. THIS IS NOT WORTH $ 40 per adult.

If you have the opportunity to try the Dine with Shamu experience, I definitely recommend it. That is especially if you have small children and need a spot to relax. This is our third time dining with Shamu and we love it. The food is nothing spectacular but it is a step up from your typical buffet (I am not a buffet person). They have plenty of options to meet the needs of your family. The kids usually go with the pasta and chicken nuggets. There is a wide selection of salad, starches, seafood, and a small carving station. You cannot forget about dessert. The cheesecake is tasty and the Shamu shaped cookies are a perfect treat. The price has gone up to $ 40/​adult and $ 20/​kid. With tax the total cost was $ 129. Gratuity is not included and alcohol is extra.
This time we did lunch on Valentine’s Day 2016 and it was packed. I recommend making reservations in advance. Do it online. It makes the process easier. You need to check in about 15 minutes prior to designated time and you will get a table number and get in line. The other 2 experiences we had we were able to purchase the day of but not on this V-​day.
The dining experience lasts about one hour. They will seat your party and ask for you to wait for your drink orders to be placed before you get your food. The process moves fairly quickly and the food line is a breeze. Feel free to get in line as many times as you like and stuff that face. I loaded up on the ribs and shrimp. I was surprised that the ribs were actually good. During the meal the trainers are giving a narrative about the orcas and have them do a few jumps. The presentation lasts close to 20 minutes but is mainly informal. I like the experience because we are able to sit down and have a decent meal plus the servers will take your drink orders in case you feel like having a margarita or beer like the wife and I (at an extra cost).
This time we were seated at table 22. The table was off to the right (one table from the end) if you are looking straight out from the restrooms to the pool. Hopefully, you will have a memorable dining experience and remember that pretty much every seat is in a splash zone and I have never had the privilege of being splashed.

The two stars are for the closeness to the water and the friendliness of our waiter.
150.00 for a party of 4 and nothing good to say.
We made an online reservation and arrived early. We were seated at a table for 6, and it was nice. We sat down and to our suprise there were puddles on our chairs and we were now wet. It was a cold 54 degree day, so we weren’t looking to dry fast.
We complained and it really wasn’t acknowledged at all.
The good is terrible, not one thing I can say oh ya that was good. The ribs had a lot of grissle, the potatoes lacked flavor, the bread was hard. The desserts were plain and boring.
The service was food and the staff were quit nice.
I did not learn any extra from the orca presentation that I hadn’t already learned from watching the show.
I will not return and do not recommend it.
Oh and as soon as we exited the buffet line and went back to our large table to sit down, our waiter tried to move us to a smaller table that was crowded between people. I declined; they realized they gave us the wrong table.

Great food and excellent customer service. Our waitress was very accommodating and good with the kids. Additionally, we had a minor billing issue and management resolved it immediately– even compensated for our inconvenience. The program itself was also very good. Lots of photo opps and orca education. We will do this again!

This was the second time we attended this fun and informative dining experience. We did it with our kids and recently took our Godchildren there on their first visit to Sea World and southern California.
Like other reviews mention, this is a great way to experience the Killer Whales up close and personal. The trainers do an excellent job of explaining the whales’ behaviors and the cues they use to coach these magnificent animals.
This is NOT about the food which is pretty terrible. Everything tasted like it came out of a public school cafeteria so don’t expect a gourmet meal. It ain’t happening.
It’s pricey and I understand why but the seeing the expressions on those little faces is priceless in comparison not to mention the memories they’ll have for a lifetime.

Kids had a blast! Make a reservation to get a table at the glass. They have you pay up front. Lunch is buffet style and the food is amazing. Kids have choices and they are healthy and fun. There is a dessert section as well. The trainer talks for a minute and then they do a small training with the whale during lunch and — with a few big jumps — answer questions before letting lunch continue. At $ 40 a head, it’s a little pricy but worth it. Gratuity is not included.

I give the show 5 stars but the food was so disappointing. You would think that 40.00 a plate would get you some delicious food. Unfortunately you get old tasting bland chewy meat and a couple chicken nuggets.

I give 1 star for the food, 5 stars for the whales, therefore average of 3. The food is buffet style. The tri tip was terrible — it was so tough and over cooked my son couldn’t even chew it and had to spit it out. Couldn’t even cut through it with the knife provided. The salmon was good. The chicken dry. Kids did not like the Mac n cheese, but did like the mini corn dogs and chicken nuggets. Desserts were dry and tasteless. Left the dinner hungry as the food was near intolerable. However, the whole purpose was to get a closer look at the whales, which we had. The trainers did a great job providing whale education. Always have your camera ready, as when the whales do a trick you literally have less than 10 seconds notice from the trainer before it’s over.

My kids loved it. It’s a little pricey but worth it if you & your kids are Shamu fans. The trainers do a good job to get them toward the glass so you can get a good pic. It’s very peaceful & nice to dine & watch them swim. The set up was buffet style & it was very classy & well set up. Staff very friendly & attentive.
The food was pretty good, my fav was the salmon I got double of it. The Dumplings & turkey was good as was the clam chowder. The bacon-​mashed potatoes were very good with a good amount of bacon to give it that great bacon taste. The veggies were a hit with me & the kids, they were well sautéed & prepared. The shrimp scampi tho was a bit bland tho & the Caesar salad was ok but needed more dressing. The deserts were pretty good, carrot cake cupcakes & Shamu cookies hit the spot after a good meal.
We got a a nice pic of the fam with a frame & a Shamu background. But we had to pay $ 15 for it which was a bit of a disappointment cuz well I paid $ 100 for me my wife & 8 year old daughter (my 2 year old was free) for only a hour long buffet & show. And it was worth it but I think when you pay that much you should get that family pic for free. But it’s ok, over all it was well worth it & we will for sure come back & do this again! When you make reservations make sure to ask to be seated by the glass it’s a better experience.

Just came back from Sea World. I bought this special lunch for my gf. We were seated right at the center. Got the best view in the house. My gf loved it. It was a very special birthday gift for her that she enjoyed very very much. The food was just ok though. Was expecting better.

I did say this is my first time seeing Shamu so close up. He came out and did a number of tricks during our dining here.
The staffs here were friendly and had great service.
The only thing is that this a buffet, you are looking at about 10 different food choice only. There was only 1 pasta. 1 salad. Some chicken nuggets and 1 meatball. 4 kinds of dessert.
So don’t think of this as a «super buffet» style. It’s more like a «home potluck» style.
Four stars for Shamu yay!

Arrived about a half hour early in an attempt to get choice seating. I had made my reservation for two a few weeks prior but had changed the dining time and added a third person the morning of. So when we were seated it was not the area I would have preferred. I inquired about our table, being one of the first parties to arrive. The wait staff explained seating was arranged by reservations. So because I added a third person and changed the time mine was made today. Completely get it and makes sense. I appreciate the explanation. The service was what you would expect at a restaurant. Wait staff was attentive and helpful. The food was set up in a buffet style but very decorative and classy. I had the tri-​tip and found it was cooked very well. My guests had salmon which they both enjoyed. It reminded me of service you would receive at a really nice wedding. The show was amazing. Who gets to eats dinner next to a pack of killer whales? Remember to tip the wait staff. They don’t require it and I noticed most people decided not to which disappointed me. Would and will return when I am back in town.

I booked the «Valentines Dinner with Shamu» for the girlfriend and I this year. I chose the 8:30 dinner and show.
I had no idea what to expect, it had been 10 years or more since I’ve been to Sea World. We arrived to an empty parking lot, but were greeted at the front gate and given a table number after confirming our reservation. Staff guided us along the way to the dining area.
The lady was given a rose upon entering, which was a nice touch. Greeted at every turn by overly helpful Sea World staff. The GM (or at least that’s who I assumed him to be) personally showed us to our table, which was right next to the tank. Unbelievable. Champagne toast. Beer/​wine included. Five course meal. I wasn’t expecting much on the dinner, since I’m assuming the whales are the draw, not the chicken and steak. But the food was delicious, timing of the courses was excellent, and our server was polite and very accommodating. The whole thing went down like a 5 star restaurant.
There was a live jazz band strumming along for our meal. After about an hour, the trainers came out and did about a 10 minute special show with 5 of the killer whales. It was so amazing to be there in that private area, getting a personal show. Granted, there was about 100 people there, but the staff made it feel like it was your home.
After it was over, we hung out for a few minutes and finished our drinks. On the way out we were warmly thanked by the host staff and then even given a parting gift of some cupcakes (this was after we had dessert included already!). It was amazing the level of service they provided.
I’m really not a water person but Sea World really pulled this off well. My date said it was the best Valentine’s night ever, and I agreed. We’re going to try to go back again next year.

Went this afternoon and enjoyed myself thoroughly. Made reservations online earlier this week and showed up at 330 for the 4 pm. We had time to view the under water area and even pose in front of a «step and repeat».
$ 40 per person seemed expensive but when considering the price to get a Hot Dog at most theme parks it was well worth it. The interaction was entertaining and informative. The server Miguel was on point and checked on my party several times to ensure everything was up to par.
By far the cleanest park and restaurant I have been to in the theme park realm. I spoke with a gentleman named Tim who I assume was the manager and he went out of his way to make sure everything was perfect. He even offered helpful hints to maximize the fun for the rest of the day.
Tourists and locals need to rejoice and experience this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Me and my girlfriend went to Seaworld for her birthday. I wanted to give her a nice birthday dinner, so i decided to book a reservation. The wait staff is friendly, seating was excellent, although there were a couple of dead June bugs on the glass, which was a little gross, and lets not forget, the Killer Orca’s.
The whale’s did great tricks, splashing me and my girlfriend from time to time, but hey, the staff did warn us that we might get wet, so people complaining about getting wet /​having there dinner get wet are just plain idiots.
The food was great. Hot tri-​tip, finger-​ling potato’s that were steaming hot, molten chocolate cupcakes, all delicious. If you want an unforgettable experience at SeaWorld, this is a must see!

If you are not from San Diego and don’t go to Sea World often, it is a great way to start your day. We went for breakfast (which I would recommend since it’s cheaper– and my favorite place for lunch is Shipwreck Reef Café) Our server was nice but a little awkward. They probably do a total of 15minutes show. The buffet was okay. For the price you pay, I didn’t expect much more. I was a little irritated that the syrup for the French toast came in a bag. I really like that the trainers walked around the pool so that everyone will get a good photo of the whales!
Basically, if you are going to do this, do it for breakfast and start your day there. It will save you time of going to see the Shamu show as well. Since the trainers no longer go in the tank with the whales, you wont miss much from the show, you are getting an up close look at the whales in action, so there is no need for you to wait to find a seat at the show.

The food is okay, a little more variety of things would be cool. The desserts do kinda suck. But the whole point of it is the fact that you get to see shamu so close. I had table 7 (best table possible) and literally had the whales 4 feet away from me opening its mouth and doing a bunch of random things up close ha. Worth the 40 $ to be honest, I mean where else can you do something like this?

Yes i was suckered in only cuz i wanted the experience to dine with Shamu, as if I got to see something that maybe not everyone sees (I really did it for the kids). Well i was right. I paid for a dinner that was def not worth it. I am serious. I saw what, maybe 10 min of the show and that was about it. And i could of stood right by the pool area and caught a show for free. Its a buffet type dinner. I barely ate anything (nothing was edible) except the tilapia. The tri tip was ok, but they were quite stingy in giving me a slice… oh yeah, i stood there with my plate still waiting until i was asked if i wanted another… come on… really? And lets not talk about dessert. I felt so ripped off i had to eat dessert. Chococlate cupcakes i was told the whipped cream tasted like shampoo… my kids wiped it off. The carrot cake cupcake was just wrong. and i just didn’t want anything else. I am never going to do this again.
Yes i know tourist trap places will never change, but i actually like Sea world but i will buy something outside of the park to bring in. JUST NO NO NO… don’t do it.

you’re going for the whales… so sit at the seats closer to the entrance (need to request)…we didn’t, so we didn’t see as much up close
The Good:
…the bird stealing fish
the bad:
…food is buffet style… pretty close to ‘Dennys’
…the guy serving the tri-​tip must be a master carver… i’ve never seen anyone slice tri-​tip so paper thin,(i’ve eaten thicker beef jerky)…& then the best… he put 3 very thin slices on my plate, & when I asked for more — he paused & gave me a look like «really dude» & then he concentrated real hard and was able to slice two pieces thinner than the first… extremely skillful (kudo’s to him… saved the company money)
…birds are pretty aggressive in trying to take your food off your table
…my child only ate the fries… not even the dessert
the ugly:
…i spent $ 110.00 for this experience… what an experience, i’m the ‘motley fool’
*note: loved watching my daughter (& other kids) get upset/​shocked when she found out that they were serving fish also… fish at seaworld — that’s great

First Unilocal review disappointment. With an average score of 4 stars by 7 reviewers, was expecting a significantly better experience. Food was ‘meh’. Ok, the tri-​tip and the tilapia were decent, but the rest was pretty bad.
Poorly organized. Didn’t tell us that the food was buffet and in a room off to the side. So many people realized once the trainer started talking about the whales that it was time for dinner. Ended up missing 10 minutes of the 30 minute presentation.
Nickel and dime you for everything. For the $ 40/​adult, could have provided an included beer or glass of wine, but those were $$ extra. Likewise, the photo they took as we entered was another $ 10. For what we were paying, could have provided this as an included item. Would have been a nice touch as a souvenir of paying $$$ for this add-​on experience.
One more thing (and perhaps this is not the fault of Seaworld). Due to an «incorrect behavior» by the whales, we were COMPLETELY doused with water including in our food.
Bottom line: reasonable experience for the kids, but for $ 120 for the family, it would be a better idea to stand by the side of the Shamu area and watch the entire thing from 30 feet away for free. Get your food outside. There are a few restaurants in Seaworld and from the looks of it, the food isn’t bad.