SeaWorld is quietly laying groundwork with Orange County planners that could turn some of its support land across from the park into apartments, with a new filing that would allow up to 300 multifamily units along Sea Harbor Drive. The paperwork references multiple parcels across from the main parking lot, along with engineering consultants and nearby office properties, hinting at a possible makeover for a stretch of International Drive just outside the park gates.
According to GrowthSpotter, SeaWorld submitted a "change determination review" that lists four parcels, two owned by the park operator and two neighboring tracts, and asks for permission to build up to 300 multifamily units on currently undeveloped land along Sea Harbor Drive. The filing identifies the Sea Harbor Office Center and the Renaissance Orlando Resort as nearby parcels and names Kimley-Horn as the consultant on the application. GrowthSpotter notes the site along Sea Harbor Drive is now used for food-service facilities and stormwater retention, and that a separate hotel proposal tied to the area was pulled last year.
What parcels and neighbors are involved
The Sea Harbor Office Center, at 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, is an eight-story office building just off International Drive, according to its leasing materials. Cushman & Wakefield markets the property as having large floor plates and a sizable parking garage, traits that make it a prominent neighbor for SeaWorld and other tourism employers. That combination of visibility and access has helped turn this slice of Sea Harbor Drive into a recurring focus for hospitality and redevelopment concepts in recent years.
Park owner weighing options
SeaWorld's parent company has been signaling for more than a year that it is open to squeezing more value out of real estate around its parks. On last year's third-quarter earnings call, CEO Marc Swanson said the company had "recently received specific proposals that we are actively evaluating," wording that suggests everything from outright land sales to new entitlements or joint-venture projects might be on the table. A transcript of that discussion is posted at Investing.com.
The timing of the new filing is not random. United Parks & Resorts released its fourth-quarter results on Feb. 26, 2026, and held an investor call the same day, bringing fresh attention to how the company handles non-operating real estate around its attractions. That kind of investor scrutiny could put any park-adjacent entitlement activity under a brighter spotlight as it moves through county review. The earnings release and call details were published by United Parks & Resorts on Feb. 26.
Why developers are circling I-Drive
Developers already view the International Drive area as prime territory for apartments and conversions, and recent filings and sales near SeaWorld's corridor have reinforced that story. Office-to-apartment plans and multifamily deals tracked by Orlando Business Journal show the area around the park has become a magnet for multifamily investors. Taken together with similar local coverage, it helps explain why a 300-unit entitlement across from a major theme park would likely attract serious interest.
Next steps
The Sea Harbor Drive move appears to be an early-stage change-determination review, a step that typically triggers staff analysis, potential neighborhood meetings, and formal public hearings before any changes to zoning or entitlements are signed off. Orange County's planning staff outlines a specific review track for applications that seek different land uses or higher intensities, and public input, plus traffic, utility, and environmental studies, can all shape the final decision. The process for major land-use changes is detailed by Orange County Comprehensive Planning.
Local reaction and past hotel plans
Neighbors along I-Drive can expect the usual questions to surface if the apartment idea advances, including worries over traffic, parking and whether hundreds of new residents fit comfortably next to a major theme park campus. GrowthSpotter has reported that SeaWorld previously floated two park-adjacent hotel projects, a 504-key SeaWorld Vacation Village concept and a 250-room plan known as "Project Canopy," before withdrawing those applications in 2025. Hotel trade coverage described Project Canopy as a 250-room property with a tree-top restaurant and spa, underscoring that the company has weighed both hospitality and residential concepts for the same bank of land; HotelJolt offers a recap of that earlier proposal.
County records and company commentary to investors will show whether this latest filing is simply a way to test the waters or the start of a full-scale pivot toward housing across from the park. If the application moves ahead, residents and businesses along the corridor can expect public notices and meetings that spell out traffic plans, building design and timing. For now, the review request is a clear sign that one of Orlando's marquee park operators is exploring a new role for land long reserved for back-of-house and hospitality support.
