Planning a Family Visit to SeaWorld Orlando’s Seven Seas Food Festival: Insider Tips from the VP of Culinary

There is always something exciting happening at Orlando’s theme parks. And one of Orlando’s most exciting theme parks, SeaWorld Orlando, is in the middle of its longest signature festival of the year. SeaWorld Orlando’s Seven Seas Food Festival is more than a fun way to add a little extra flavor to a day at the park. Between rides, animal encounters, and live entertainment, families can explore food booths featuring global flavors, sweet treats, and refreshing drinks throughout the park.

To learn more about how the festival comes together, we spoke with Amber Alloway, Vice President of Culinary for SeaWorld Orlando, who shared a behind-the-scenes look at the planning process and how the team keeps families in mind when building the menus. After our conversation, we visited the festival ourselves to sample a few dishes and see how it all fits into a family park day.

How the Festival Menu Comes Together

Planning for the Seven Seas Food Festival starts months in advance. Alloway said the team begins by reviewing guest favorites from previous years before brainstorming new dishes with SeaWorld chefs.

“First, we look at the data and see what our best-selling items were. Those are the ones that stay,” she explained. “Then everyone brings ideas about new things they’d like to see.”

This year, the festival features three menu rotations, meaning new items appear throughout the season. Seasonality also plays a role as spring ingredients come into peak availability.

Before anything makes the final menu, chefs spend several weeks tasting and refining dishes.

“We spend about four weeks tasting a couple hundred items,” Alloway said. “Most humans eat with their eyes first. If it looks good, then we think about how it smells and how the flavors come together.”

Designed With Families in Mind

While the festival highlights international cuisine, there are also plenty of familiar and kid-friendly options.

The All-American section features comfort food favorites like mac and cheese topped with smoked pork, chicken, or brisket from Voyager’s Smokehouse pitmaster.

There’s also a partnership with Undeniable Dairy, offering nostalgic treats like flavored milks and milkshakes that younger guests tend to love.

“It’s something kids can have fun with,” Alloway said.

Families will also find chef demonstrations on select dates throughout March, April, and May where SeaWorld chefs prepare dishes on stage and offer free samples.

Easy to Explore During a Park Day

One of the best things about the festival is how naturally it fits into a typical SeaWorld visit. Food huts are spread throughout the park, making it easy to grab a bite between rides and shows. This year, the festival expanded to 27 food huts, giving guests even more options.

Menus are intentionally streamlined to keep lines moving and ensure quality.

“We wanted the menus to be thoughtful and strategic, not too many items at each booth so the team can execute everything well,” Alloway said.

Tasting lanyards also make it easy to sample several dishes. The Quick Bite lanyard, which includes five samples, is especially popular for families who want to share and try a few different things.

A Few Favorites From Our Visit

During our visit, several refreshing drinks were perfect for a warm Florida afternoon. The Coconut Limeade and Watermelon Agua Fresca were both light and refreshing, while the Strawberry Milk felt like a fun, nostalgic treat.

On the food side, we especially enjoyed the Coconut Rice and Beans and Hawaiian Macaroni Salad. The Razzle Dazzle Raspberry Cupcake was another highlight, offering a colorful presentation and bright raspberry flavor.

We also tried the Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich, which features crispy breaded chicken with sautéed onions and mushrooms. On the day we visited, it was served on a different bun than the advertised pretzel bun, and the breading was slightly thicker than a traditional schnitzel style, though it still made for a hearty and satisfying sandwich.

One item we didn’t get the chance to try but will definitely be adding to our list next time is the Churro Pretzel on a Stick, a cinnamon sugar pretzel that looked especially popular with families.

Behind the Scenes

Creating the festival requires coordination across many teams at the park.

“When you look at a space and think you want to put a hut there, it takes about seven different departments to make that happen,” Alloway said. “Engineering, entertainment, construction, marketing. It’s really a group effort.”

For Alloway, one of the most rewarding moments comes when guests finally experience the food the team spent months creating.

“Going from concept to creation and then hearing guests enjoy it is really exciting,” she said.

Seven Seas Food Festival at SeaWorld Orlando
Address: 7007 Sea World Dr, Orlando, FL 32821
Festival Menu
Offered Thursdays-Sundays only, January 30 – May 17, 2026

Our thanks to SeaWorld Orlando for providing tickets and samplers for our family to experience the festival ourselves!