SeaWorld San Diego Set to Reopen Fan-Favorite "Journey to Atlantis" with New Narrative Story Elements

The story focuses on The S.E.A. Collective, which has appeared in other SeaWorld Parks around the globe.
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The S.E.A. Collective (no, not that one Disney fans), is heading to SeaWorld San Diego as the reopening of the fan-favorite ride, Journey to Atlantis, draws near with new immersive storytelling elements.

What’s Happening:

  • The return of a legendary ride to SeaWorld San Diego - Journey to Atlantis - is set to be reopening soon.
  • The first water coaster in San Diego has been reimagined and now fuses dynamic storytelling into the thrilling drops and splashes of one of the park’s icons.
  • Featuring an immersive queue experience, full of LED lights, stunning projection mapping, and mesmerizing water effects, the excitement begins as soon as guests enter the reimagined attraction.
  • Guests will be awed by a transformative pre-lift and elevator adventure unlike anything ever experienced on a previous quest to Atlantis at the park.
  • The park has revealed that the new narrative will incorporate The S.E.A. Collective (Science. Exploration. Adventure.). a daring crew of young scientists and explorers, who arrive in San Diego’s Mission Bay determined to uncover Atlantis’s ancient secrets.
  • Throughout the queue, guests will overhear mission chatter from the S.E.A. Collective and view expedition maps and hints to find the mythical Kraken - an ancient sea monster feared for centuries who has awakened and is ready to strike Atlantis.
  • SeaWorld fans might recognize the S.E.A. Collective from their adventures throughout SeaWorld Abu Dhabi as well as Infinity Falls at SeaWorld Orlando. Allusions and references nodding to those adventures can be found in the queue as well.

  • The story unfolds in three immersive chapters - Discovery, Descent, and Escape.
  • In Discovery, the queue becomes a hub of S.E.A. Collective research, with mysterious maps, bold theories, and murals of Atlantis’s rise and fall. Guests learn about the city’s builders - Mermaids and Atlanteans - who now guard it from ancient threats.
  • In Descent, riders board a boat to explore the sunken city, only to face a dramatic Kraken attack brought to life with projection, lighting, and water effects.
  • Finally, in Escape, riders race to the surface in a vertical elevator climax, ending in an exhilarating splashdown.
  • The family-friendly ride features both flume and coaster elements, culminating in a large splashdown. Riders board eight-seater boats and experience a chain lift hill, turns and a final drop into a splash pool.
  • This hybrid flume-coaster ride has a height requirement of 42 inches and offers something for the whole family, blending coaster thrills with captivating storytelling.
  • First introduced in 2004 as San Diego’s first water coaster, Journey to Atlantis has long been a guest favorite. In 2024, SeaWorld San Diego set out to reimagine the attraction with fresh narrative layers and immersive media designed to thrill guests like never before.
  • Fans and regulars (and likely a good portion of our readers) of SeaWorld Orlando have long held their version of Journey to Atlantis to a high standard, being substantially different and more elaborate (previously) than the other versions at SeaWorld parks, including San Diego’s. The new changes are sure to spark the envy of Florida guests, as they watch that once landmark version stay mostly stagnant in recent years. Perhaps if successful, these changes will make their way to the East Coast as well, though nothing official has been announced at this time.
  • As of press time, SeaWorld San Diego has not revealed a specific date for the return of Journey to Atlantis, only that it will be “opening soon."
  • SeaWorld San Diego Pass Members will be the first to ride, with exclusive ride time on Journey to Atlantis ahead of the ride reopening to the general public.
  • Earlier this year, the park opened up a new jellyfish exhibit, “Jewels of the Sea", which you can see in our video below.

What They’re Saying:

  • Tyler Carter, SeaWorld San Diego Park President: “Journey to Atlantis has always been a guest favorite, and with these revisions and additions, we’ve transformed the experience to be more than a ride—it’s a full-sensory adventure. This ride is great for all ages, and the next-level features and fresh storytelling will provide a thrill to a whole new generation of explorers."

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Tony Betti
Originally from California where he studied a dying artform (hand-drawn animation), Tony has spent most of his adult life in the theme parks of Orlando. When he’s not writing for LP, he’s usually watching and studying something animated or arguing about “the good ole’ days” at the parks.
View all articles by Tony Betti