Name

Gulf World Marine Park

Description

Gulf World Marine Park is a dolphinarium located in Panama City Beach, Florida. It has been open since 1970, and is one of only a few institutes in the United States to house rough-toothed dolphins.

Nearby attractions

Pier Park

600 Pier Park Dr, Panama City Beach, FL 32413

Club Wyndham Panama City Beach

14700 Front Beach Rd, Panama City, FL 32413

Hampton Inn & Suites Panama City Beach-Beachfront

15505 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413

Calypso Resort and Towers (Towers I & II)

15817 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413

Radisson Beachfront Hotel - Panama City Beach

15325 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413

Origin at Seahaven

15100 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413

Ron Jon Surf Shop

16150 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413

Seahaven Beach Hotel

15285 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413

The Flamingo Hotel and Tower

15525 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413

Ramada by Wyndham Panama City Beach

15405 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413

Nearby restaurants

Sharky's Beachfront Restaurant

15201 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413

Shuckums Oyster Pub & Seafood Grill

15614 Front Beach Rd, Panama City, FL 32413

Dave & Buster's Panama City Beach

15701 L C Hilton Jr Dr, Panama City, FL 32413

Diego's Burrito Factory & Margarita Bar

15514 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413

Señor Frog's | Panama City Beach

15005 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413

Barefoot Hide-A-Way

15405 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413

All American Diner

15406 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413

Angry Tuna Seafood Company

701 S Pier Park Dr Suite 155, Panama City Beach, FL 32413

Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe - Panama City Beach

15463 Panama City Beach Pkwy Ste B, Panama City Beach, FL 32413

Ford's Garage Pier Park

601 S Pier Park Dr STE 103, Panama City Beach, FL 32413

Keywords

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Gulf World Marine Park

United States Florida Panama City BeachGulf World Marine Park

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The Coolest Hotels You Haven't Heard Of (Yet)

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Posts

Checked out Gulf world while in pcb and definitely a fun day full of activities for the kids #vacation #beach #pcb #thingstodo #florida #pcbbeach #gulfworld #gulfworldmarinepark #liveanimals #attractions #petting #summer

firefly_mjfirefly_mj

143

Captain Yu on Vacation in Panama City Beach

JacobJacob

The Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City Beach was a delightful experience. We visited when there are fewer tourists around, which was a delightful time to go. We were able to view the animals up close and without a crowd. One of the most impressive aspects of the visit was being able to ask questions about the animals. The trainers we talked to were always very open and knowledgeable about the animals they worked with. They were polite, friendly and encouraged questions. They obviously had a rapport with the animals with which they were working and extensive knowledge of their habits and what they liked and did not like. The sea lions and seals were delightful to watch. The amount of fish they consumed was hard to believe. They always wanted more and were incredibly motivated by the food. The animals were obviously well-fed and healthy. The stingrays were fun to feed and feeding them started a frenzy from a few of the animals eyeing the fish. The process and explanation by the attendant was educational. A few shows throughout the day are included with the price of admission. The shows demonstrated the athletic abilities of the animals and were a delight to watch. There are also "animal encounters" available. Some of these are expensive. Having visited and asked a lot of questions, I had a better understanding of the amount of work involved in providing a healthy environment for the animals there. The Gulf World Marine Park is worth a visit.

RalphFLARalphFLA

This place is a MUST GO vacation attraction. From the moment you walk inside you are greeted with nature. The birds are out free and not behind glass, they must be trained very well to know not to fly or wander off, or attack customers. It was great to see them up close! They also have the sea lions that will come out every now and then and you’re able to view them from a close range. It was cool to see all of the turtles, fish, alligators, and sting rays too. They even had an employee who held an iguana and allowed for us to touch it! It was a very cool experience. There are open spaces for a picnic, or break from walking. There’s even a kids area where all of the children can go and play. Plenty of signs and back drops for pictures too. They do have a concessions stand inside for food and drinks, it is a bit pricey so I would suggest bringing your own. I did not see a water fountain and it was extremely hot out today so dehydration is a concern when visiting. Please bring a water bottle if you can’t buy anything or don’t want to stand in the long line. The establishment was fairly clean and does have a bathroom and an air conditioned space within the facility. My favorite part about visiting today was the dolphins! The mermaids/trainers are amazing at guiding the dolphins. It was so lovely to see. The program was also very informative while also being entertaining. I would definitely recommend coming here if you haven’t already.

Queen LovelyQueen Lovely

I love that this place takes in animals that can not return to the wild! A rehab for the animals but I can’t help to think some of these animals needed to be separated. I was able to do an encounter with this lovely sea lion Cooper! He did some tricks he hasn’t performed before. I would not recommend some of the tricks for younger kids because he is heavy. However he is a smart sea lion. He was free to go if he didn’t want to do tricks or interact with us. And that’s one reason I really loved this! I also had tons of questions about him and his species and the trainer was very kind and educational! We were only in the pool for about 20 minutes. I wish we could have done more. But I’m glad the staff had some boundaries on what could and could not be done. The turtles were moved inside the building and they were attacking each other. The sharks in the tank outside were attacking each other as well. I tried saying something but I don’t think there was anything they could do. The shark was trying to tare off the other nurse sharks tail. And they were at it for hours. There is a touch area for the sting rays where you can pet the top of them. You can also feed them. However there was a customer picking them up out of water many times and laughing at it. Telling his kids to come pet them. The staff members near by didn’t seem to care. Kids were leaning over the wall and one almost fell in. Again nobody seemed to care. I almost ran over to the kid because I thought he was going to fall in and his parents were not paying attention. The dolphin swim adventure was really cool. You can take pictures with the dolphin and he takes you for a short ride on his belly. The dolphin was treat motivated. I don’t think the dolphin would have participated if he wasn’t getting treats the whole time. Overall this was a great experience. But a friendly reminder these animals have their own minds and should be respected. Don’t do anything that could provoke them. Listen to the trainers. And please watch your kids.

Davis DestinyDavis Destiny

290

I am writing to express my disappointment with the recent experience my family and I had at Gulf World Marine Park on June 29th. On June 28th, I called to inquire specifically about the Royal Swim and whether it still included the foot push. The representative assured me that it did, but mentioned that there was no availability for that day, so I scheduled our visit for the 29th. However, after completing the swim with dolphins, the session ended without the foot push. When I inquired, I was told that the foot push was not being conducted due to health reasons. I then asked to speak with a manager, who informed me that they have not been able to offer the foot push for some time and would not be able to in the near future. He also refused to issue a refund for the difference in price, citing the website's note that "behaviors are subject to change." While I understand that certain behaviors may need to be altered due to the dolphins' well-being, I am extremely dissatisfied with the fact that I was misled during my initial inquiry. It is unacceptable to provide false information to customers to secure a sale. Had I been informed of the change, I would not have spent $1,000 for an experience we have done many times before. The foot push was the primary reason for our visit, especially since my two younger children had never experienced it. The photos from the experience were not good- the photographer stood behind my kids so you see the back of their head more than the front. This lack of transparency and poor customer service has significantly tarnished my perception of Gulf World Marine Park. I have always recommended your park to friends and family, but after this experience, I can no longer do so in good faith. I hope that Gulf World will take this feedback seriously and consider better communication practices to ensure future guests do not face similar disappointments.

Lindsey McLainLindsey McLain

Get more from Wanderboat AI

Nearby Attractions Of Gulf World Marine Park

Pier Park

4.6

(8.5K)

Click for details

Club Wyndham Panama City Beach

4.3

(1.8K)

Click for details

Hampton Inn & Suites Panama City Beach-Beachfront

4.4

(943)

Click for details

Calypso Resort and Towers (Towers I & II)

4.4

(909)

Click for details

Nearby Restaurants Of Gulf World Marine Park

Sharky's Beachfront Restaurant

4.2

(5.2K)

Click for details

Shuckums Oyster Pub & Seafood Grill

4.4

(2.6K)

Click for details

Dave & Buster's Panama City Beach

4.3

(2.6K)

Click for details

Diego's Burrito Factory & Margarita Bar

4.6

(2.1K)

Click for details

Learn more insights from Wanderboat AI

Address

15412 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413

Map

Phone

(850) 234-5271

Call

Website

gulfworldmarinepark.com

Visit

Overview

4.1

(2.4K reviews)

entertainment

family friendly

Description

Gulf World Marine Park is a dolphinarium located in Panama City Beach, Florida. It has been open since 1970, and is one of only a few institutes in the United States to house rough-toothed dolphins.

Checked out Gulf world while in pcb and definitely a fun day full of activities for the kids #vacation #beach #pcb #thingstodo #florida #pcbbeach #gulfworld #gulfworldmarinepark #liveanimals #attractions #petting #summer

firefly_mjfirefly_mj

143

Captain Yu on Vacation in Panama City Beach

JacobJacob

The Gulf World Marine Park in Panama City Beach was a delightful experience. We visited when there are fewer tourists around, which was a delightful time to go. We were able to view the animals up close and without a crowd. One of the most impressive aspects of the visit was being able to ask questions about the animals. The trainers we talked to were always very open and knowledgeable about the animals they worked with. They were polite, friendly and encouraged questions. They obviously had a rapport with the animals with which they were working and extensive knowledge of their habits and what they liked and did not like. The sea lions and seals were delightful to watch. The amount of fish they consumed was hard to believe. They always wanted more and were incredibly motivated by the food. The animals were obviously well-fed and healthy. The stingrays were fun to feed and feeding them started a frenzy from a few of the animals eyeing the fish. The process and explanation by the attendant was educational. A few shows throughout the day are included with the price of admission. The shows demonstrated the athletic abilities of the animals and were a delight to watch. There are also "animal encounters" available. Some of these are expensive. Having visited and asked a lot of questions, I had a better understanding of the amount of work involved in providing a healthy environment for the animals there. The Gulf World Marine Park is worth a visit.

RalphFLARalphFLA

This place is a MUST GO vacation attraction. From the moment you walk inside you are greeted with nature. The birds are out free and not behind glass, they must be trained very well to know not to fly or wander off, or attack customers. It was great to see them up close! They also have the sea lions that will come out every now and then and you’re able to view them from a close range. It was cool to see all of the turtles, fish, alligators, and sting rays too. They even had an employee who held an iguana and allowed for us to touch it! It was a very cool experience. There are open spaces for a picnic, or break from walking. There’s even a kids area where all of the children can go and play. Plenty of signs and back drops for pictures too. They do have a concessions stand inside for food and drinks, it is a bit pricey so I would suggest bringing your own. I did not see a water fountain and it was extremely hot out today so dehydration is a concern when visiting. Please bring a water bottle if you can’t buy anything or don’t want to stand in the long line. The establishment was fairly clean and does have a bathroom and an air conditioned space within the facility. My favorite part about visiting today was the dolphins! The mermaids/trainers are amazing at guiding the dolphins. It was so lovely to see. The program was also very informative while also being entertaining. I would definitely recommend coming here if you haven’t already.

Queen LovelyQueen Lovely

I love that this place takes in animals that can not return to the wild! A rehab for the animals but I can’t help to think some of these animals needed to be separated. I was able to do an encounter with this lovely sea lion Cooper! He did some tricks he hasn’t performed before. I would not recommend some of the tricks for younger kids because he is heavy. However he is a smart sea lion. He was free to go if he didn’t want to do tricks or interact with us. And that’s one reason I really loved this! I also had tons of questions about him and his species and the trainer was very kind and educational! We were only in the pool for about 20 minutes. I wish we could have done more. But I’m glad the staff had some boundaries on what could and could not be done. The turtles were moved inside the building and they were attacking each other. The sharks in the tank outside were attacking each other as well. I tried saying something but I don’t think there was anything they could do. The shark was trying to tare off the other nurse sharks tail. And they were at it for hours. There is a touch area for the sting rays where you can pet the top of them. You can also feed them. However there was a customer picking them up out of water many times and laughing at it. Telling his kids to come pet them. The staff members near by didn’t seem to care. Kids were leaning over the wall and one almost fell in. Again nobody seemed to care. I almost ran over to the kid because I thought he was going to fall in and his parents were not paying attention. The dolphin swim adventure was really cool. You can take pictures with the dolphin and he takes you for a short ride on his belly. The dolphin was treat motivated. I don’t think the dolphin would have participated if he wasn’t getting treats the whole time. Overall this was a great experience. But a friendly reminder these animals have their own minds and should be respected. Don’t do anything that could provoke them. Listen to the trainers. And please watch your kids.

Davis DestinyDavis Destiny

290

I am writing to express my disappointment with the recent experience my family and I had at Gulf World Marine Park on June 29th. On June 28th, I called to inquire specifically about the Royal Swim and whether it still included the foot push. The representative assured me that it did, but mentioned that there was no availability for that day, so I scheduled our visit for the 29th. However, after completing the swim with dolphins, the session ended without the foot push. When I inquired, I was told that the foot push was not being conducted due to health reasons. I then asked to speak with a manager, who informed me that they have not been able to offer the foot push for some time and would not be able to in the near future. He also refused to issue a refund for the difference in price, citing the website's note that "behaviors are subject to change." While I understand that certain behaviors may need to be altered due to the dolphins' well-being, I am extremely dissatisfied with the fact that I was misled during my initial inquiry. It is unacceptable to provide false information to customers to secure a sale. Had I been informed of the change, I would not have spent $1,000 for an experience we have done many times before. The foot push was the primary reason for our visit, especially since my two younger children had never experienced it. The photos from the experience were not good- the photographer stood behind my kids so you see the back of their head more than the front. This lack of transparency and poor customer service has significantly tarnished my perception of Gulf World Marine Park. I have always recommended your park to friends and family, but after this experience, I can no longer do so in good faith. I hope that Gulf World will take this feedback seriously and consider better communication practices to ensure future guests do not face similar disappointments.

Lindsey McLainLindsey McLain

Gulf World Marine Park

Plan your stay

Pet-friendly Hotels in Panama City Beach

Affordable Hotels in Panama City Beach

The Coolest Hotels You Haven't Heard Of (Yet)

Trending Stays Worth the Hype in Panama City Beach

Posts

Checked out Gulf world while in pcb and definitely a fun day full of activities for the kids #vacation #beach #pcb #thingstodo #florida #pcbbeach #gulfworld #gulfworldmarinepark #liveanimals #attractions #petting #summer

Captain Yu on Vacation in Panama City Beach

Nearby Attractions Of Gulf World Marine Park

Pier Park

Club Wyndham Panama City Beach

Hampton Inn & Suites Panama City Beach-Beachfront

Calypso Resort and Towers (Towers I & II)

Radisson Beachfront Hotel - Panama City Beach

Origin at Seahaven

Ron Jon Surf Shop

Seahaven Beach Hotel

The Flamingo Hotel and Tower

Ramada by Wyndham Panama City Beach

Nearby Restaurants Of Gulf World Marine Park

Sharky's Beachfront Restaurant

Shuckums Oyster Pub & Seafood Grill

Dave & Buster's Panama City Beach

Diego's Burrito Factory & Margarita Bar

Señor Frog's | Panama City Beach

Barefoot Hide-A-Way

All American Diner

Angry Tuna Seafood Company

Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe - Panama City Beach

Ford's Garage Pier Park

Basic Info

Address

Phone

Website

Duration · 2.5h

Reviews

Overview

Ratings & Description

Description

Checked out Gulf world while in pcb and definitely a fun day full of activities for the kids #vacation #beach #pcb #thingstodo #florida #pcbbeach #gulfworld #gulfworldmarinepark #liveanimals #attractions #petting #summer

Captain Yu on Vacation in Panama City Beach