ORLANDO, Fla. — SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is planning to build a second on-site hotel in Orlando.

The company last week submitted plans with Orange County for “Project Canopy,” which calls for a 250-room hotel at its Discovery Cove resort.

Plans submitted by SeaWorld for a 250-room hotel at Discovery Cove. (Photo: Orange County)

Plans show that the hotel would be located near the park’s entrance off Central Florida Parkway on 50 acres of property that currently has a parking lot. The proposed hotel would include a restaurant, bar, pool, fitness center, retail space and nearly 7,000 square feet of meeting space.

Plans submitted by SeaWorld for a 250-room hotel at Discovery Cove. (Photo: Orange County)

The filing comes just a month after the company filed plans for its first hotel at SeaWorld Orlando. “Project Starboard” would be a 15-story, 504-room hotel with a rooftop terrace, restaurants, meeting space and an elevated walkway connecting the hotel to the park.

While SeaWorld hasn’t provided any additional details on the hotel projects, CEO Marc Swanson said on an earnings call in November that the company planned to open its first hotels in 2026.

Currently, SeaWorld is the only major theme park operator in Central Florida that doesn’t have its own onsite hotels. The company’s hotel strategy comes as other theme parks in the area ramp up their own hotel offerings.

Universal is building two 750-room hotels — Universal Stella Nova and Universal Terra Luna — next to its upcoming Epic Universe theme park, while Disney World has a new Disney Vacation Club tower under construction at its Polynesian Village Resort.

Meanwhile, at its parks, SeaWorld is gearing up to open new attractions the year. Penguin Trek, a family-friendly launch coaster is expected to debut this spring at SeaWorld Orlando. Aquatica Orlando will get a new “immersive” water slide called Tassie’s Underwater Twist this spring.