journey to atlantis at seaworld san diego

Journey to Atlantis (SeaWorld San Diego)

Journey to Atlantis is a water roller coaster located at SeaWorld San Diego in San Diego, California, USA. The ride combines roller coaster elements with water ride elements. It opened in 2004 and was manufactured by Mack Rides .

Journey to Atlantis opened on May 29, 2004.

Single cars . Riders are arranged 2 across in 4 rows, for a total of 8 riders per car.

The safety sign

The ride's queue line

External Links

Dive Into Fun on the 16 Best SeaWorld San Diego Rides

Although it may be known more for its killer whales, bottlenose dolphins and other sea creatures, SeaWorld San Diego rides also offer an ocean of fun. From thrill rides like roller coasters and water rides to family rides like carnival-style attractions with aquatic flair, the San Diego SeaWorld has it all. But in between peeks at beluga whales, sea lions and other marine animals, which SeaWorld rides should you make time for when visiting the West Coast? Read on as we dive into the best SeaWorld San Diego rides for thrill seekers of all ages.

The Best SeaWorld San Diego Rides for Guests of All Ages

For most people, the claim to fame of the SeaWorld parks is their sea creatures. They are called Sea World, after all. However, whether you’re at SeaWorld Orlando, San Antonio or the original in San Diego, each theme park has another thing going for it: a line-up of exciting rides. And we aren’t just talking about a few attractions to keep kids entertained in between the latest showing of Orca Encounter or a visit to Explorer’s Reef or another animal exhibit. Although, you will certainly find those, too. No, along with up-close views of the denizens of the deep, parkgoers at SeaWorld San Diego can also get their adrenaline fix by going on some of the most thrilling rides in the state, some of which boast superlatives like the fastest, longest and tallest attractions of their kind in the region.

Needless to say, if you’re a thrill-seeker or you have a budding adrenaline junkie on your hands, then this is one theme park that you definitely won’t want to miss. So, what SeaWorld San Diego rides are sure to make a splash on your next Southern California vacation? Join us as we break down each and every can’t-miss attraction, from high-intensity thrill rides to more easygoing offerings made with kids and families in mind. Let’s dive in!

Thrill Rides

Do you like screaming your lungs out as you hold on for dear life on a roller coaster? Or maybe you prefer the thrills and chills of splashdown on water rides. Whatever you prefer, SeaWorld San Diego’s heart-pounding thrill rides are a must for your next theme park day.

Arctic Rescue

The polar ice caps are melting, and the arctic animals that live there need your help. All you need to do is jump on your snowmobile and punch the throttle to reach them quickly and bring them to safety before it’s too late. Or at least that’s the inspiration behind Arctic Rescue, one of the newest roller coasters at SeaWorld San Diego. With ride vehicles designed to look like snowmobiles, this straddle coaster isn’t just the longest on the West Coast, at 2,800 feet. It’s also the fastest straddle coaster, too, with three thrilling launches and a top speed of 40 miles per hour. All you need to do is imagine the icy wind blowing through your hair as you race to the rescue.

Height Requirement: At least 48″

Thrill Level: High

Electric Eel

Ready for an exciting ride inspired by one of the ocean’s most hair-raising creatures? Climb in for a trip on Electric Eel. While not quite the fastest roller coaster at SeaWorld San Diego, it is super speedy, maxing out at a quick 62 miles per hour. Along with a 150-foot drop, Electric Eel boasts some truly high-energy twists, electrifying loops and an inverted heartline roll that are sure to get your pulse racing, along with multiple launches that send you hurtling forward and backward. All in all, this is easily in the running for the most thrilling roller coaster at SeaWorld San Diego.

Height Requirement: At least 54″

An emperor penguin might not be able to use its wings to fly, but they are capable of some pretty incredible aquatic acrobatics, twisting, turning and diving to catch Antarctic krill before launching back out onto the ice. Emperor, another new roller coaster at SeaWorld San Diego, pays tribute to that underwater ballet. Not only is Emperor California’s only floorless dive coaster, but it’s also the fastest (63 miles per hour), tallest (153 feet) and longest dive coaster (2,411 feet long) in the Golden State. As your feet dangle below you, you’ll hold on for dear life as you take on exhilarating loops like a hammerhead turn, barrel roll, flat spin and Immelman turn, along with a 90-degree, facedown vertical drop down 14 stories.

Height Requirement: At least 52″

Journey to Atlantis

For a dive coaster of a different kind, don’t miss Journey to Atlantis. While not a traditional roller coaster, Journey to Atlantis is one of two water rides at SeaWorld San Diego, deftly combining a roller coaster-like track with dark ride thematic elements and aquatic thrills like winding river turns and a waterfall finale. This fun ride is a true SeaWorld classic and a great attraction for guests young and old.

Height Requirement: At least 42″

Soar through the air just like the world’s biggest ray gracefully glides through water on Manta, a family-friendly multi-launch coaster. Unlike its Orlando counterpart, Manta at SeaWorld San Diego is more of an easygoing family coaster that you don’t need to be a thrill seeker to enjoy. Setting the scene is an underwater viewing area filled with as many as 60 rays and hundreds of fish, followed by a tunnel with projections of the giant creatures, which helps to immerse riders into the feeling of swimming through the deep blue before being launched on a journey that features a 54-foot dive plunge.

Shipwreck Rapids

Hoping to really cool off on a hot San Diego day? Shipwreck Rapids is for you. For this chilling and thrilling ride, guests set out on a nine-person raft, navigating their way through plenty of winding river turns, soaking water jets and generally turbulent waters. The highlight of this water ride is, of course, its waterfall finale, which is bound to get you absolutely drenched. The theming here is also pretty great, as you’ll float by several marooned ships during your voyage. All in all, this is a fun ride for everyone from younger and older kids up to adults.

Thrill Level: Medium

Family Rides and Rescue Jr. Attractions

As much as we love blood-pumping attractions like roller coasters and water rides, they certainly aren’t everyone’s speed. Yes, even ones inspired by marine animals like emperor penguins and manta rays. Fortunately, there is so much more to SeaWorld San Diego than pulse-racing rides. After all, SeaWorld is, at its heart, a family affair. Along with added-cost attractions like Bayside Skyride and the SkyTower (yes, we’re sad to say that not all SeaWorld San Diego rides are included with your park admission), younger guests and their families can also enjoy a slew of low-thrill attractions that feel as if they’ve been ripped from Disney’s Fantasyland or the midway of your local carnival.

Located in a newly reimagined area known as Rescue Jr., formerly Sesame Street Bay of Play, this family-friendly land is chockful of laidback attractions your little ones are bound to love. Sad to see rides like Elmo’s Flying Fish, Abby’s Sea Star Spin and Oscar’s Rockin’ Eel go? Don’t worry—although they might not look the same, these animated attractions have simply been rethemed and now pay tribute to the animal rescue efforts of the SeaWorld team. And for those who are hoping to come face-to-face with Big Bird, Cookie Monster or another favorite Sesame Street character, all you need to do is head over to Sesame Place , a new Sesame Street-themed park located on what was once the San Diego outpost of SeaWorld’s Aquatica water park.

Perfect for younger kids, Aqua Scout is a mild-mannered spinning ride with vehicles shaped like submarines. Some light bouncing along the way is just enough action to get little ones’ hearts pounding.

Height Requirement: At least 36″

Thrill Level: Low

Bayside Skyride

Sea World San Diego isn’t only inspired by the ocean and, particularly, the many amazing animals that call it home. It’s also located right on the water. And the best way to take it all is from SeaWorld San Diego’s Bayside Skyride, which has been offering guests breathtaking views of the area ever since the park opened in 1967. Priced at $6 per person, admission to Bayside Skyride isn’t complimentary . That said, we think this gondola ride is worth the cost to take in the beauty of Mission Bay from up to 80 feet in the air.

Height Requirement: None, but guests under 56″ must be with a supervising companion

Another ride made with young children in mind, Octarock is a pint-sized swing ride. Simply hop in what looks like a souped-up front porch swing and enjoy the breeze as it rocks back and forth.

Height Requirement: At least 31″

Rescue Rafter

SeaWorld Rescue missions are always a joint effort, and that’s exactly what Rescue Rafter pays tribute to. This giant boat with plenty of space for everyone mimics the feeling of surfing the waves of the deep, blue ocean with a mellow swaying motion and some surprise spins peppered in for good measure.

Rescue Riders

Formerly Elmo’s Flying Fish, Rescue Riders is a classic spinner ride à la Dumbo the Flying Elephant at Disneyland Park and Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Following the Rescue Jr. retheme, this high-flying attraction at SeaWorld San Diego now boasts ride vehicles inspired by jet skis.

Riptide Rescue

For this classic spinner ride at Sea World San Diego, climb aboard a speedboat and hold on tight as you set out in search of sea turtles to rescue. Riptide Rescue is pretty tame overall, with gentle lifts and a few twists and turns, making it a great choice for younger kids who aren’t ready to dip their toes into the park’s more exciting rides.

Height Requirement: At least 45″

Sea Dragon Drop

For young kids who aren’t thrill-ride ready yet but are still interested in testing the waters, Sea Dragon Drop hits the sweet spot. This fun-sized drop tower is nice and small while still throwing in a few easy drops to keep things interesting.

Located right near Mission Bay, SeaWorld San Diego is only a short distance away from some of the best views in Southern California. And there is no better place to take them all in than from the top of the SkyTower. Priced at $6 per person, this attraction isn’t free with your admission like most of the park’s attractions. However, thanks to its lofty height of 320 feet, this gentle attraction does offer breathtaking views of Mission Bay, the Pacific Ocean and San Diego’s historic skyline, with 360-degree panoramic vistas reaching up to 100 miles away.

Tentacle Twirl

We don’t know about you, but we love a good swing ride, Tentacle Twirl included. One of the more thrilling kid-friendly attractions at SeaWorld San Diego, this jellyfish-themed swing ride gets some decent height and turns surprisingly fast, making it a good time for kids and even adults.

Tidepool Twist

Get ready to twist and shout on Tidepool Twist, a spinning-teacup-style ride at SeaWorld San Diego. This arm-powered attraction includes fun facts about the sea creatures that call tidepools home, meaning that you just might learn a thing or two as you careen to and fro.

Well, that brings our SeaWorld San Diego rides guide to an end. What are your favorite rides at the San Diego SeaWorld? (Arctic Rescue, Electric Eel and Journey to Atlantis get our vote.) Do you go to SeaWorld for rides, animals or both? Let us know in the comments! Then, find out how you can score some savings on your park admission with our discount SeaWorld tickets .

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Journey to Atlantis - Sea World

500 Sea World Dr, San Diego , California 92109 USA

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• Not Wheelchair Accessible
• No Public Restrooms
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“A thrilling water ride”

Climb aboard Journey to Atlantis®, a water ride that combines soaking flume fun, thrilling coaster action and amazing special effects as you journey to a lost civilization—a journey that begins with a splashy 60-foot plunge and ends face-to-face with fascinating sea animals.

Reviewed by Britney M.

Bummed that during my recent visit, this ride was closed down. They were doing some construction to upgrade the ride. I was able to go on the Journey to Atlantis last summer at SeaWorld. It's a... Read more

Reviewed by Taura G.

Great ride in the hot Southern California weather. The gift shop next to the ride entrance sell rain panchos for anyone who does not want to get their clothes wet. On the hot day that we went, not... Read more

Reviewed by Mike K.

It's very fun and is great if you are hot. The wait time could be long but it's just because it's such a great ride. Make sure to be in the front or you will only get misted by the ride. Read more

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Journey to Atlantis

500 SeaWorld Drive, SeaWorld of California,, San Diego, 92109, CA

• Infants 0-2
• Little Kids 3-6
• Big Kids 7-9
• Tweens 10-12
• Teens 13-17

This water flume coaster ride should get every rider wet, but if not, just stand near the final splash zone to “catch a wave.” Riders will cruise through the ancient city of Atlantis, which suffered earthquakes and floods before descending below the sea, as riders experience at the end with a 60-foot plunge. Don’t worry if you do get wet — standing dryers are located next to the ride for $5.

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Journey to Atlantis - Sea World

Review Highlights

“ I get scared of the first drop every time I go on it, it's a rush for sure. ” in 4 reviews

“ Ya you will, but not at all soaked like you might worry about. ” in 2 reviews

“ your boat/pod/whatever-the-hell-you-call-it end up in an elevator where you twist and turn around much like a regular coaster.. ” in 5 reviews

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

500 Sea World Dr

San Diego, CA 92109

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This is so fun and it pumps you with adrenaline, it has 2 big drops into water, and also a good story. 10/10 would ride again!

Bummed that during my recent visit, this ride was closed down. They were doing some construction to upgrade the ride. I was able to go on the Journey to Atlantis last summer at SeaWorld. It's a lot of fun! Similar to your standard log ride drop- but the drop at Atlantis is big lol It is a lot of fun! I'm looking forward to the changes/ upgrades they make to this ride.

I love this ride

Closed temporarily

Great ride in the hot Southern California weather. The gift shop next to the ride entrance sell rain panchos for anyone who does not want to get their clothes wet. On the hot day that we went, not many people wanted rain panchos. The entrance to the ride is under a roof covered line waiting area but then it turns into an outside waiting line. You are advised to take off your hats while riding this ride, as the twists, turns, and drops causes they air to pull them off. I opted to keep my hat on and held it onto my head during the ride with one hand. Overall, this ride is super fun. The water is refreshing and doesn't smell bad after it hits you. The different turns, climbs, and falls make it a great ride. I would not recommend letting a child under 10 on this ride; it's pretty intense. The ride staff was nice and friendly. We will get on this ride again I ams sure.

See all photos from Taura G. for Journey to Atlantis - Sea World

It's very fun and is great if you are hot. The wait time could be long but it's just because it's such a great ride. Make sure to be in the front or you will only get misted by the ride.

Ride is always fun when it's working. It's always a long wait even if there aren't a lot of people waiting. The wait is brutal when its hot outside.

I absolutely recommend going there especially if you have kids. So much fun! Food is a little overpriced but delicious.

Great and entertaining - little one had a scare but once she was on, she loved it - easy up and down twice (with an elevator between) and not too crazy wet. Big drop first and then a smaller curved one second. They have pay-for-lockers to the side if you don't want to get anything wet. And the line wasn't that bad, actually. Was only about 5 minutes wait for us due to getting a slightly expedited Quick Queue was perfect.

Journey to Atlantis is in my opinion the best ride here and will remain so until the Electric Eel opens up in a few weeks. It's the huge attraction you see as you walk up from the parking lot. It's a great ride that is a mix of roller coaster and water ride. So expect to get soaked. It pulls and jolts you through in rapid pace. The ride is faster than the line to get in lol. Sometimes you wonder if it's worth it especially during hot summer days. I say yes. Keep in mind when you get soaked, you can dry up for $6 or wait until the sun does it for you but it takes about 1 hour. If you get here early I suggest making this the first attraction you visit to avoid the lines. Plus if you get wet, you'll dry up by the time you have lunch. It's a ride to have to ride at least once.

This is one of my favorite rides at Sea World. This one is a bit different then the Florida one. This one just goes up & down twice. The Florida one does the same but it has a person talking to you and etc. When you go down the first drop they take your picture.

For a ride, it's the best in the park. You don't get too wet, the ride has a good amount of thrills, it's the right amount of everything including wait time and size requirement. - If it's a full boat and you're up front there's a good chance your lap is getting soaked. - When you enter the ride area, take the right side line. It's shorter! - There is a family switchout program for this ride. - You can buy a rain poncho at the park ($10 I think) or look for them at Kohl's or 99 cent city for much cheaper!

No line weekdays (off season)

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Ranked: The Attractions of SeaWorld San Diego

Welcome back to another “Ranked” article here on Laughing Place. This time we’re heading to the original SeaWorld in San Diego, California. Opening in 1964, the park has gone through numerous changes over the years. Following backlash from the Blackfish  documentary, the park has wisely turned its focus away from animal shows and towards themed and thrill attractions. Over the last few years, we’ve seen the attraction roster be drastically increased into what we have today.

UPDATED 3/1/22: I had the chance to ride SeaWorld San Diego’s newest roller coaster, Emperor, and I have placed it into my ranking. I also was able to ride Riptide Rescue for the first time, so that has also been added. Read on to see where they both fit into the line-up.

I won’t be including any of the “kiddie attractions” from the Sesame Street Bay of Play or Ocean Explorer areas in this list. So with that, let’s countdown the Top  8   10  attractions at SeaWorld San Diego!

10. Tidal Twister

This truly is a weird “roller coaster.” The best benefit to Tidal Twister is that it takes up an extremely small amount of space, perfect for a landlocked park like SeaWorld San Diego. It’s a ride that takes a long time to get going, and then doesn’t really do much beyond that. Since the ride opened in 2019, it’s seemed to be closed more often than it’s been open, having not operated since before the pandemic. The attraction’s manufacturer, Skyline Attractions, has said on Twitter  that they are working with the park to get Tidal Twister up and running soon, so we’ll see what happens there.

9. Tentacle Twirl

The largest attraction in the relatively new Ocean Explorer area, Tentacle Twirl is your typical wave swinger attraction, just like Silly Symphony Swings  at Disney California Adventure . The ride features a fun color scheme and design that gives me strong Jumpin’ Jellyfish  vibes. Otherwise though, there’s not much to say about this run-of-the-mill ride.

8. Riptide Rescue

Riptide Rescue could almost be considered a grown-up Tentacle Twirl. The attraction has a similar circular motion as the aforementioned wave swinger, but throws in an extra spinning element. I was quite surprised by how fun this little, unassuming ride actually was. It’s nowhere near as dizzying as it may look, and the ride actually provides a couple decent pops of airtime. The location for Riptide Rescue can’t be beat, being placed right next to the water’s edge, providing some breathtaking views from the attraction and its queue.

7. SkyTower

The Skytower provides a six minute slowly rotating view of the beautiful San Diego scenery, including Mission Bay which the park is located next to. This is another attraction that has yet to reopen post-pandemic, but as it is the icon of the park, I can’t see them getting rid of this. Hopefully we’ll see the Skytower open again soon!

6. Shipwreck Rapids

One of SeaWorld’s earliest attempts at a well themed attraction is the park’s rapids ride, Shipwreck Rapids. Intertwined perfectly with the adjacent Shipwreck Reef Cafe, this beautifully themed rapids ride takes you through shipwrecks, caves and alongside some animal exhibits. My only complaint is a big one, that prevents me from riding it mostly every time is just how wet you get. There’s one waterfall that absolutely drenches you, no matter where you sit. If you’re visiting on a warm San Diego summer day, then be sure to check Shipwreck Rapids out.

5. Bayside Skyride

The Bayside Skyride offers one of the best views in any theme park anywhere, traveling over the water of Mission Bay and back. It truly feels like you’ve left SeaWorld and are just peacefully traveling into San Diego itself. The ride actually used to serve more of a transportation purpose, dropping guests off at the old Atlantis restaurant. Now however, the ride is just a pleasant scenic tour. A true gem at SeaWorld San Diego that I hope sticks around for a long time.

4. Journey to Atlantis

Believe it or not, Journey to Atlantis was SeaWorld San Diego’s first ever roller coaster. Which is more interesting considering it’s only really half a coaster, looked at more as a water ride. Not quite as extravagant as its Orlando counterpart, but far more than its San Antonio brother, Journey to Atlantis is a fun ride that doesn’t get you too wet. There’s a lot of moments you wouldn’t expect either, including a couple of brief coaster sections and an elevator lift.

Although Journey to Atlantis was technically the park’s first coaster, Manta is the park’s first true coaster. At the time Manta was built, there was a strict height limit for coasters in the park, so Manta had to stick incredibly low to the ground. Creatively, that may have worked in the rides favor, as it features two launches to pick up some speed, along with dives into trenches and some fun airtime moments. The theming for this coaster is pretty great too, taking you through an aquarium filled with manta rays in the queue, up to a Polynesian themed station that looks like something out of Volcano Bay. The ride and area surrounding it also feature a fantastic soundtrack created just for Manta that always ends up stuck in my head. I’ll include the Spotify playlist for it below, so it can get stuck in your head too.

SeaWorld’s newest roller coaster, Emperor, stacks up pretty nicely at the #2 spot. Emperor is, without a doubt, the biggest coaster yet at the park, as part of the park’s transformation into more of a thrill park. This is a 150 ft tall Bolliger & Mabillard dive coaster, similar to SheiKra at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay or Griffon at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, only 50 ft shorter. The ride itself is excellent, first providing an absolutely stunning view of the park and nearby Mission Bay, before dangling you over the edge of that 150 ft tall drop. If you’ve never rode a dive coaster before, this can be a pretty terrifying moment. From there, the coaster continues through some smooth, swooping loops. Nothing too impressive, but definitely fun! The one major disappointment I have with Emperor is the lack of placemaking and landscaping around the attraction. The coaster itself looks great, but there are no trees, nor shade structures in the queue. In fact, even the station only has two very small tarps to provide shade. SeaWorld definitely should do something about this before things get hot for the summer. Aside from that, Emperor is a fantastic addition to the original SeaWorld park!

1. Electric Eel

Now we come to my current favorite attraction at SeaWorld San Diego, Electric Eel. This Premier Rides Sky Rocket II is truly a blast. Pun intended, as this compact shuttle coaster blasts you off with a forwards launch, then a backwards and then a final forwards, each with increased speed to get you up to the top of the structure. Honestly, this ride shouldn’t be as fun as it is, but yet here it is at #1. The hangtime through the barrel roll at the top and the airtime dropping off that element are both absolutely elite. Even with the debut of the potentially more impressive Emperor next door, I still find Electric Eel to be the coaster that is just overall more fun!

I hope you all enjoyed this ranking of the attractions at SeaWorld San Diego. If you want to see some more theme park rankings, feel free to check out my other “Ranked” articles listed below:

• The Attractions of Islands of Adventure
• The Attractions of Universal Studios Florida
• The Attractions of SeaWorld Orlando
• The Attractions of Universal Studios Hollywood
• The Roller Coasters of Busch Gardens Tampa
• The Roller Coasters of Dollywood

Visitors Guide to SeaWorld San Diego

SeaWorld's original theme park opened in San Diego on March 21, 1964. As the park rents the land it sits on, and is limited in its development by the California Coastal Commission, SeaWorld San Diego traditionally has focused more on public education and animal care than thrill rides. But in recent years the park has expanded its roller coaster line-up.

Our recommendations below come from our ongoing survey of Theme Park Insider readers. Vote here to take part in our surveys and submit your picks for top attractions.

New for 2024

Jewels of the Sea: The Jellyfish Experience - Three new walk-through galleries devoted the various species of jellyfish will open in 2024.

Roller Coasters

Other Attractions

Other rides at the park include the Shipwreck Rapids river rapids ride, Skytower observation tower, and Bayside Skyride in gondolas above Mission Bay. There's a Sesame Street Bay of Play children's play area, too.

But the park is best known for its animal habitats and presentations, including Dolphin Adventures , Sea Lion & Otter Spotlight , and Orca Encounter .

SeaWorld San Diego is located on Mission Bay, about five miles from the San Diego airport.

Journey to Atlantis

Journey to Atlantis

Operating since

Make: Mack Rides GmbH & Co KG Model: Water Coaster / Custom

Aerial Imagery

Seaworld San Diego live wait times

Opens in about 7 hours

Humboldt penguins are at SeaWorld San Diego for the first time in over 40 years

( Watch the video of the Humboldt penguins above )

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Humboldt penguins are back for public viewing at SeaWorld San Diego for the first time in more than 40 years, the theme park announced Wednesday.

Humboldt penguins are known for the unique black markings on their chest and are usually found along the coasts of South America.

SeaWorld San Diego said they originally came to the theme park as part of a breeding program under the Association of Zoos and Aquariums that was aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the species.

The park said many of the penguins that were cared for under the program were brought to other zoos and aquariums. The 16 Humboldt penguins that are currently at the park are “non-breeding,” the park said.

Now there are eight individual species of penguins within SeaWorld San Diego, according to the park.

Guests can view the Humboldt penguins at their new habitat, Penguin Point, which was formerly Otter Outlook, as part of the park’s 60th anniversary this year.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.