Pets are not allowed inside any SeaWorld or Busch Gardens park, but this is one of the few theme park groups where you can still board your dog for the day right at the gate. All five of the big parks we checked, SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld San Diego, SeaWorld San Antonio, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Busch Gardens Williamsburg, run a pet kennel outside the entrance. The prices and the level of care vary a lot, from a free open-air run in San Antonio to an air-conditioned, staffed building in Tampa.
Everything below comes from each park's own FAQ and kennel pages, read in October 2026: the SeaWorld Orlando FAQ, the SeaWorld San Diego FAQ, the SeaWorld San Antonio kennel services page, the Busch Gardens Tampa Bay FAQ and the Busch Gardens Williamsburg FAQ. Prices can change, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the day.
SeaWorld and Busch Gardens kennels at a glance
| Park | Price per day | Where it is | Key rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| SeaWorld Orlando | USD 25, USD 20 for Pass Members | Front entrance, right side of the entry plaza | 31 kennels from small to extra large; card only, no cash |
| SeaWorld San Diego | USD 25 | Left of the parking lot toll booths | No reservations; about 4 by 8 ft, outdoors under cover; bring bowls and food; pick up within 30 minutes of closing |
| SeaWorld San Antonio | Free | Off the main guest parking lot | Outdoor, open air, covered, unattended; locks and keys provided; no overnight |
| Busch Gardens Tampa Bay | USD 25, USD 10 for Pass Members | Front of the main parking lot, across from the first tram stop | Air-conditioned and staffed; shot record and rabies tag required; you feed and walk |
| Busch Gardens Williamsburg | USD 13 per pet online | England Parking Lot | Climate controlled; needs Preferred Parking; water provided; you feed and walk |
Can you bring a dog into SeaWorld?
No. Each SeaWorld FAQ answers the question the same way: pets are not permitted in the park, but there is a kennel outside, and service animals are permitted inside. Busch Gardens Williamsburg puts it in one line for both of its parks: with the exception of service animals, pets are not allowed in the theme park or in Water Country USA. The same rule covers Water Country USA, the water park that shares the Williamsburg kennel, so check the water park's own page before a combined trip.
There is a good reason these parks are strict. They are zoological parks as well as ride parks, with marine mammals, birds and big cats on display. A barking or frightened dog near an animal habitat is a welfare problem for the park's animals, not just an annoyance for other guests.
Emotional support animals do not count as service animals under the federal definition, so plan for them to use the kennel like any other pet.
SeaWorld Orlando pet kennel
SeaWorld Orlando has the largest kennel of the group. The FAQ says there are 31 kennels ranging in size from small to extra large, in a pet boarding building at the front entrance on the right hand side of the entry plaza. The price is USD 25 per day, or USD 20 for Pass Members, and payment is by card only. Cash is not accepted.
The kennel is a practical option for a SeaWorld day on an Orlando trip, especially since Universal and Disney handle pets very differently. Universal has no kennel at all, and Disney's on-site option is a separate pet care company. Our guides to the Universal Studios pet policy and Disney World pet policy cover those parks if you are doing more than one.
Florida heat is the main thing to plan around. Bring water, a bowl and a familiar blanket, and plan to come out at least once or twice during the day to walk your dog. On the hottest summer days, a dog that struggles in the heat may be happier at a day care with indoor play areas.
SeaWorld San Diego pet kennel
SeaWorld San Diego describes its kennel as a pet facility that costs USD 25 per day. It runs first come, first served, and the park does not take reservations. The kennels are about 4 feet by 8 feet, outside under some cover, and located to the left of the parking lot toll booths.
You must bring your own bowls and food. Water is available on site, and you can visit your pet during the day. The park says it is not responsible for your pet, and you must pick up within 30 minutes of park closing. Because spaces cannot be reserved, arrive early on summer weekends and holidays if you are counting on a spot.
SeaWorld San Antonio pet kennel
San Antonio is the most generous of the group on price. Its kennel services page says there is no charge for the use of the pet kennels. The trade-off is that they are basic: outdoor, open air and covered, and unattended. Locks and keys are provided for each kennel.
To find them, enter the main guest parking lot and take either the first or second road to the right. The kennels are at the far left. The park suggests bringing pet food or snacks and possibly a blanket, and it provides bowls and a water hose so you can give your pet water yourself. Guests are asked to check on their pets periodically, and pets cannot stay overnight.
An unattended, open-air kennel in South Texas summer is a real heat risk. The cover helps, but on a 100 F day we would not leave a dog there for long stretches. Check the forecast, and if it is very hot, look at day care instead. Our guide on how hot is too hot for a dog explains the warning signs of heat stress.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay pet kennel
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay offers the most complete kennel service of the five. Its FAQ says the on-site kennels are at the front of the main parking lot, across from the first tram stop, in an air-conditioned facility that is staffed from park open until park close. The cost is USD 25 per day, or USD 10 for Pass Members, excluding Fun Card holders.
You are still responsible for your pet's day. Guests must bring pet food and walk their pets during the day, and you may bring a blanket for comfort. A current shot record and a rabies tag are required, so bring the paperwork and not only the tag. Service animals can use the relief stations at the Pet Care Center and at the Nairobi Train Station inside the park.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg pet kennel
Williamsburg runs a climate controlled kennel in the England Parking Lot that serves both Busch Gardens and Water Country USA. It is open from park open to close. There is one catch the FAQ spells out: you must buy Preferred Parking to park in the England lot, so add that cost to the kennel fee.
The kennel is sold as an online add-on at USD 13 per pet, and the park suggests booking ahead, though you can also arrange it when you pay for parking or at Guest Relations. You get one free change or cancellation if you make it at least 24 hours in advance. Other rules from the add-on page:
- Give a cell phone number at check-in and specify your pet's weight when booking.
- Bring food and a food bowl. A water bowl is provided and kept full.
- Visit, feed and walk your pet on a leash in the designated area, and pick up after it. Supplies are provided.
- Attendants avoid physical contact with pets but check them for signs of stress and contact owners when necessary.
- A USD 1 donation goes to the Heritage Humane Society with each rental.
How to plan the day around kennel visits
The parks expect you to look after your dog yourself, which shapes how you use the day. A simple plan works well for most families:
- Arrive 30 minutes before opening, settle your dog with a short walk, water and its blanket, then go in.
- Do the rides near the entrance first while lines are short, then head deeper into the park.
- Come back out around midday for a walk, food and a check on the shade. Keep your hand stamp or ticket for re-entry.
- Return once more in the mid afternoon, and leave a little early if your dog looks hot, restless or tired.
Each visit to the kennel takes 20 to 40 minutes once you count the walk to the gate, so a kennel day is a slower park day. Groups with two adults often take turns, so one person can stay in line while the other checks on the dog.
Park kennel, day care or sitter: which is better?
A park kennel is the cheapest and simplest option, at USD 13 to USD 25 a day, or free in San Antonio. It suits calm adult dogs that are used to crates, on mild days, when you are happy to step out of the park a couple of times.
A local dog day care usually costs more than a park kennel for a full day, so ask for the day rate when you book, but your dog gets supervised play, indoor space and staff who will notice if something is wrong. It is the better choice for young, social or high energy dogs, and for hot summer days in Florida and Texas.
A pet sitter who comes to your hotel or rental is the gentlest option for older dogs, anxious dogs and dogs with medical needs. You do not have to leave the park at all, and your dog stays in a quiet room. If your hotel allows pets, ask whether it can recommend a sitter. Our guide to hotels with no pet fee lists chains that welcome dogs without an extra charge.
Weather and the open-air kennels
Three of these kennels are outdoors. San Diego's runs are outside under some cover, and San Antonio's are open air and unattended. Orlando's sits in a building at the entry plaza, and Tampa and Williamsburg describe their kennels as air-conditioned or climate controlled. That difference matters most from June to September, when Florida and Texas afternoons regularly pass 90 F with high humidity.
Short-nosed breeds such as Bulldogs, Pugs and Boxers, very old dogs, puppies and dogs with heavy coats struggle most in the heat. For those dogs on a summer day, choose an air-conditioned option or leave them with a sitter. Rain is the other risk in Florida, where afternoon storms are common, so pack a towel.
Service animals at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens
Trained service animals are welcome in all of these parks, with some limits near animal habitats and on rides. SeaWorld San Antonio, for example, says service animals must stay on a leash or harness or under the handler's control, must be house broken, and must keep a reasonable distance from the park's animals. Each park publishes an accessibility guide that lists which rides a service animal cannot board. Our guide to service dog public access rights explains what park staff can ask you.
What to bring for a kennel day
- Vaccination records, including rabies. Tampa requires a shot record, and others can ask.
- Food, a food bowl and treats. Only San Antonio and Williamsburg mention providing a water bowl.
- A leash for walks, and waste bags.
- A blanket or bed that smells like home.
- Your phone number on the dog's tag and a charged phone, in case staff need to reach you.
Plan your park day around visits. Most of these kennels expect you to come back to feed and walk your dog, so leave the far end of the park for the middle of the day, when you are already near the gate.
When a kennel is not the right choice
A park kennel is a holding space, not day care. Staff, where there are any, will not play with or walk your dog. For a young, anxious or very social dog, a full day in a run can be stressful. A local day care, a boarding kennel, or a sitter at your hotel is often the better choice. Our guide to what vaccines a dog needs for boarding helps you get the paperwork ready.
If you are planning a wider theme park trip, compare these rules with the Six Flags pet policy guide, which lists which Six Flags and former Cedar Fair parks still board dogs.