Legoland California Resort is reopening its Sea Life Aquarium on Friday, under California's new guidelines allowing indoor aquariums to operate in designated counties.
San Diego County, which is home to Legoland as well as SeaWorld San Diego, is now a Tier 2 - or Red - designated county, which allows indoor aquariums to operate at 25 percent capacity. Located next to the entrance of the Legoland California theme park, Sea Life hold 4,000 sea animals in its two-story aquarium, which includes a 200,000-gallon ocean tank featuring Spotted Eagle Rays and Grey Reef Sharks.
Tickets to the reopened aquarium will be $10 per person — or just $7 if you are staying at the Legoland Hotel next door — but they must be bought online in advance to reserve your date, as capacity will be limited.
All guests ages three and older will be required to wear face masks, and safe physical distancing will be required inside.
California's new guidelines for reopening businesses took effect this week, but the state still has not issued any industry guidance for theme parks, which remain closed across the state. However, a few parks have began partial operation under regulations that allow for shopping, outdoor dining, and zoos and aquariums to operate. For example, Legoland California has been opening its Miniland walk-through section to Legoland Hotel guests as well as guests who make a minimum purchase in the park's main shop.
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I'm not going to say whether I think Sea Life Aquarium should be open or not, I just think it's ridiculous that an indoor aquarium is allowed to resume operation while an outdoor theme park right next to it is barred from opening indefinitely. There is no reason for theme parks to be governed by stricter guidelines than aquariums, museums, and zoos, and I've got a feeling some lawsuits are right around the corner.
Well, at least Aquariums aren’t notorious for being overcrowded (and everyone congregating in the same spots).
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Lets hope these reopenings continue to carry relative good vibes. The Orlando parks have been open for a while now and haven't shut down. We are in unchartered waters here and all we can do is hope for the best. As for this aquarium in Carlsbad, its on my to see list for one day. I usually always try to hit up an aquarium if a city has one. I've only been to one Sea Life branded aquarium in Tempe, AZ and we enjoyed our time there.