SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment today announced the temporary closure of all of its theme parks due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).

UPDATE – 03/27/20: SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment announced that the parks will now be stay temporarily closed no reopening date yet announced.

As reported by the Orlando Business JournalSeaWorld has said in a filing with the SEC that it will temporarily put 90 percent of its workforce on leave from April 1. Employees will not be paid a salary during this period of leave, and the actual length of this period is unknown.

The parks will close on March 16 and will remain closed until the end of the month. Parks affected by the closure include:

• SeaWorld Orlando
• SeaWorld San Diego
• SeaWorld San Antonio
• Discovery Cove
• Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
• Busch Williamsburg Gardens
• Sesame Place Philadelphia
• Sesame Square San Diego
• Orlando Aquatic
• Aquatic San Diego
• Adventure Island
• Water Country United States

Busch Gardens Williamsburg will specifically close on March 14.

During the shutdown, essential staff, including animal care experts, will continue to ensure the health and safety of the animals in the parks. SeaWorld’s animal rescue and rehabilitation operations will also continue to function.

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment will continue to pay our full-time Ambassadors during this period.

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment also shared a list of frequently asked questions and answers regarding the situation:

How long will the park be closed due to the coronavirus?
All of our theme parks will be temporarily closed from March 16 until the end of the month.

Will I be reimbursed for my ticket or my experience?
Due to the recent change in operations, you will be refunded for any tickets or experiences in the park that you were unable to use during the period of temporary park closure.

Can I postpone my trip / event to a later date?
Yes, to guess which plans are impacted by the recent change in operations, we will allow a new reservation until 2021, free of charge.

I booked my trip to SeaWorld through a third party provider, can you help me?
Customers who have booked travel with a third-party reseller should contact the reseller directly for assistance.

I have a vacation package. Can I get a refund for my ticket if I cancel my trip?
We would be happy to reschedule your vacation package or refund you if you are within the 72 hour cancellation window.

I work for a business or for-profit organization. Will my deposit be refunded if:

• I want to cancel my planned event due to coronavirus issues?
• My company / organization is restricting travel and we can no longer attend our planned event?

Please contact the park sales team for further information and assistance in modifying your event reservation.

I was planning to go to the park on a school trip or as part of an educational camp experience while the park was closed. Can I get a refund?
Due to the recent change in operations, we will reimburse school trips or educational camp experiences without penalty. Please contact the Parks sales team for more information.

Can I get my …

• Past
• TSA
• Fast queue all seasons
• Photo key

Annual passes, season passes, and membership products are non-refundable.

What are you doing to protect the animals in your care from the coronavirus?
At present, there is no evidence that the coronavirus is transmissible from humans to animals. According to the CDC, no animal in the United States has been identified with the virus. The welfare of our animal ambassadors is always of the utmost importance to us, and we continue to monitor developments closely.

Our veterinarians and animal care specialists have put together a world-class health surveillance program designed to detect disease as early as possible. In addition, our veterinarians reviewed the list of symptoms caused by coronaviruses in animals as well as the response plans. Any new information provided by the CDC, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and local public health units is reviewed daily by our veterinary professionals to determine if the risk to animal health has changed.

Stay tuned for more updates on coronavirus-related shutdowns as they are released, and check out our page updated regularly with all theme park closures in the United States.