I don’t know about you, but I love Halloween! It is such a fun time of year with all the parties going on everywhere!
Last year was little man’s first Halloween, but at 6 months, he was more cute than anything else. We didn’t do too much more than a “costume” and some pictures. This year he’s big enough to go and have fun!
I jumped on the opportunity to take him to SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular this year! Costumes, candy, dance parties and characters, what fun!!
We really had a great time at SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular! Overall it seemed to REALLY be geared towards the little ones, and that was perfect for us. My favorite things are that this special event is included in your regular park admission, it is during regular park hours (i.e. no late nights!) and there are lots of activities going on during Spooktacular!
Little man’s favorite things are the bubbles everywhere, the trick or treat trail (where he could hold his bag closed and try to give his candy/snacks back to people), the dance party and the characters!
One of the things available at a small addition fee was cookie decorating. He had so much fun playing with his cookie and eating it!
It wasn’t very crowded at all while we were there, it was quite nice! Unfortunately this event is only available a few days in the season – just weekends in October, so we were only able to go once. Next year it is definitely on our must do list! Have you been to SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular? What was your favorite part?
This week’s Wordless Wednesday takes us to a Halloween Spooktacular of fun that truly is an underwater FantaSEA full of unique characters, candy, and Family fun at SeaWorld Orlando.
SeaWorld Orlando now Caring for Orphaned Manatee Calf Rescued from
Beaches of Cape Canaveral Air Base
An orphaned manatee calf was rescued today from the beaches of Cape Canaveral Air Base in Brevard County, Fla., by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The estimated two-month-old male was spotted on the beach by turtle nesting surveyors near a turtle mound.
The nearly 90-pound calf was transported by the FWC to SeaWorld Orlando, where the SeaWorld Animal Rescue Team and veterinary staff performed a complete health exam, took blood samples and began providing an antibiotic treatment. The calf will receive around-the-clock care, including regular tube feedings, and his health will continue to be monitored.
The calf joined three other orphans, who are also receiving rehabilitative care at the park. Manatee calves normally nurse for one to two years. They depend on their mothers not only for nutrition, but also for learning about feeding and resting areas. SeaWorld Orlando uses a special formula created by the park’s animal care team specifically for manatee calves to ensure they are receiving proper nutrition.
So far in 2013, SeaWorld has rescued 16 and returned 8 manatees back to their natural environment. In collaboration with the government and other members of accredited stranding networks, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment operates one of the world’s most respected programs to rescue ill and injured marine animals, with the goal to rehabilitate and return to the ocean. SeaWorld animal experts have helped more than 22,000 animals in need – ill, injured, orphaned and abandoned – for more than four decades.
If you see an injured marine animal, you can help by calling the FWC hotline at 1(888) 404-3922 or by dialing *FWC on a cellular device.
A highlight of the Halloween Party season in Orlando for our family is Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld Orlando!
Halloween Spooktacular events at SeaWorld Orlando take place weekends in October on the 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, and 26-27 from 12 to 8 pm, and Trick-or-Treat stations, special characters, Penelope’s Party Zone, and more are all included with your admission! There are also special Halloween Spooktacular themed cookie decorating, merchandise, and games which are available at a very reasonable extra charge.
While the party is filled with great activities, characters, candy, and fun here are our favorite highlights of Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld Orlando!
Pick Six:
Halloween Spooktacular Orlando Highlights
1. Decorations
I absolutely adore how SeaWorld Orlando is transformed for Halloween Spooktacular! You’ll find fishy looking pumpkins, tons of bubbles, colorful banners, and scenes that really transport you to a Halloween ‘Fantasea’! Zoe especially loves the bubbles everywhere!!!
2. Characters
When you think of SeaWorld you may not think of meeting characters, but you should! This year Pirate Shamu and friends are meeting and dancing with guests at Penelope’s Party Zone in Bayside Stadium. This is a HUGE improvement from last year’s meet and greet location, because the characters really know how to boogie and really who doesn’t want to dance with Shamu???
3. Free Activities
Since Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld Orlando is during the day and centered around family fun, there are really great free activities for kids of all ages! For the younger guests at Halloween Spooktacular, there are coloring easels with stools and play areas. And for the older guests, there are pumpkin foam crafts to make and iPads with big screens set up to play the SeaWorld Turtle Trek game! These activities are all found in Penelope’s Party Zone, and I will warn parents that you will spend a lot of your Halloween Spooktacular time here!
4. Cookie Decorating
Every year there is a special treat to decorate, and this year’s cookie decorating doesn’t disappoint! On the upper walkway of Bayside Stadium you will find the cookie decorating tents where you can purchase a cookie decorating kit for $5.50, which includes a cookie, icing, decorating sprinkles & candies, and your choice of water, apple juice, and milk. What I especially love about this area is that it is a place where you and your children can sit away from the party to grab a snack and let them unwind for a spell. If you are a SeaWorld Orlando Annual Passholder, you will receive a discount on the cookie decorating kit!
5. Animal Interactions
Zoe ALWAYS loves the animal interactions that she finds when we visit SeaWorld Orlando, and she loves them even more when she can take a picture with them in her Halloween costume! The day we attended Halloween Spooktacular, Zoe met a Tawny Frogmouth, who was super soft and sweet!
6. Trick-or-Treating
I left our favorite highlight for last…Trick-or-Treating! At Halloween Spooktacular Trick-or-Treating is no joke! You can enter the Underwater Fantasea Path near Shamu Stadium or at the path near the Dolphin Nursery, and the path takes you through the center of all the Halloween Spooktacular fun with 12 Trick-or-Treating spots. The lines are clearly marked which keeps things really organized, and the type of candy being distributed is clearly displayed so you can see if you want to stop or if you need to start thinking of a candy trade to make! You also don’t have to worry about bringing a bag for your treats, because they have high quality paper bags and maps at both entrances to the path!
When you do go to Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld Orlando, make sure that you follow SeaWorld on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for great details and information! If you are sharing pictures also make sure to tag your pictures with #SeaWorldSpooktacular, because SeaWorld wants to hear from you and they are even holding contests for attendees!
I hope that you enjoyed our Pick Six for Halloween Spooktacular at SeaWorld Orlando, and I’d love to hear what you love the best about this family-friendly and fun filled Halloween event!
When I was younger I used to dream about having a penguin that lived in our freezer, so when I had the opportunity to see one up close I jumped that the opportunity!
Earlier this year SeaWorld Orlando opened Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, and now the park is offering the Penguins Up Close Tour where guests can experience what it is like to work and live in this attraction and habitat.
The Penguins Up Close Tour is approximately 45 minute long, and is a walking tour that takes guests behind the scenes at the Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin to see what it takes to keep these beautiful birds happy and healthy.
The tour is led by an Animal Care Specialist who is extremely knowledgeable about the birds and exhibit, and beyond happy to answer any and all of your questions!
A look at Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin from the Penguins Up Close Tour
It was fascinating to learn about their health care routines, feeding breakouts, and just how much manual labor goes into maintaining the penguin’s habitat.
For me the absolute highlight of the tour is that you get a rare opportunity to interact with and touch a penguin! It was beyond amazing! It also becomes apparent how easily Animal Care Specialists tell them apart, because their personalities shine in this encounter!
Seasonal pricing for the Penguins Up Close Tour starts at $59 ages 10 and up and $39 ages 3-9 plus tax. SeaWorld Orlando Pass Members can also save 10% by booking online or calling 1-888-800-5447!
The Penguin Up Close Tour is offered several times a day, and because of the space in the attraction the groups are quite small which creates a very intimate environment where you really get the chance to experience the offerings instead of jockeying for space.
The Penguins Up Close Tour was absolutely amazing, and having the opportunity to interact with the penguins was a dream come true for me! I cannot recommend this tour highly enough for animal enthusiasts!!!
There are a few things to keep in mind when booking the Penguins Up Close Tour:
It is 30° inside of Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, and while there is some adjusting to the temperature stops included in the tour make sure to wear appropriate clothing. You will be chilly!
There are slick surfaces on the walking tour, so you will want to wear shoes that are okay to get wet and have some tread on them for safety’s sake.
You are allowed to take pictures with your phone and cameras, however you will want to be careful about condensation on your lens.
Participants must check in at the Information & Reservations Counter at least 30 minutes prior to the tour start time.
All guests under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Small groups will be combined to form a tour group of about 12 guests.
Children under 3 are free but need a tour reservation.
Late arrivals may miss tour components or may not be accommodated due to limited tour availability.
Tour times, prices and components are subject to change and availability.
Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice are non-refundable.
SeaWorld Orlando’s Animal Rescue Team returned 75 sea turtles to a weed line off the coast of Jupiter, Fla. A weed line is made up of sargassum sea weed grass and acts as protection and a source of food for the young turtles during the first two years of life. Ten green, three hawksbills, 61 loggerheads and one leatherback were returned to the ocean.
SeaWorld Orlando Returns 75 Sea Turtles
to Waters Offshore Jupiter, Florida
SeaWorld Orlando’s Animal Rescue Team returned 75 sea turtle hatchlings to waters off Florida’s east coast today. Ten green, three hawksbills, 61 loggerheads and one leatherback were transported by the Republic VII to a “weed line” about 14 miles offshore Jupiter, Fla.
A weed line is made up of sargassum sea weed grass and acts as protection and a source of food for the young turtles during the first two years of life.
Three of the 74 hatchlings had been receiving care at SeaWorld Orlando for the past several months. These hawksbill hatchlings were found by beachcombers and had likely been washed on shore due to harsh sea conditions. SeaWorld’s Animal Care Team assisted in providing medical and rehabilitative care, including feeding assistance, antibiotic treatment and radiographs, prior to today’s return.
Other juvenile turtles being returned today:
Nineteen hatchlings – 18 loggerheads and one leatherback – had been receiving care at the Volusia County Marine Science Center. The rare leatherback hatchling was brought to the facility after being found near New Smyrna Beach, Fla., with a severe curvature and inability to reach the sea on its own. The center provided medical care, including fluid injections and feeding assistance, for a few weeks until it was healthy enough to swim properly. Two of the eighteen loggerheads were brought in after being washed back to shore and the rest were newly hatched turtles that never made it back to the water on their own.
Ten green and forty three loggerhead hatchlings had been receiving care at the Loggerhead Marine Life Center. These young turtles never made it to the water after hatching and were recovered by beachcombers near Juno, Fla.
One by one, each turtle was carefully placed in the water near the sargassum sea weed line. Young turtles spend the two years of their life in the weed line. Jellyfish could be seen near the weed line, which are a main source of food for leatherbacks and can be a secondary source of food for other sea turtles as well.
Each turtle’s health was evaluated and all were medically cleared prior to today’s return.
In collaboration with the government and other members of accredited stranding networks, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment operates one of the world’s most respected programs to rescue ill and injured marine animals, with the goal to rehabilitate and return to the waters. SeaWorld animal experts have helped more than 22,000 animals in need – ill, injured, orphaned and abandoned – for more than four decades. So far this year, SeaWorld Orlando has rescued 52 turtles and returned 47, not including today’s return.
All turtle rescue footage produced by SeaWorld under FWS Permit Number MA7701911
If you see injured marine animal, you can help by calling the FWC hotline at 1(888) 404-3922 or by dialing *FWC on a cellular device.
Join SeaWorld Orlando every weekend in October for silly, spooky fun at Halloween Spooktacular. During this daytime event, families will be immersed in an underwater “fantasea” filled with trick-or-treating, dancing with sea fairies and pumpkin fish and sea-themed arts and crafts.
SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular takes place weekends in October: 5-6, 12-13, 19-20 and 26-27, from 12 to 8 p.m., leaving the littlest of trick-or-treaters wide-eyed for all of the fun-filled activities. Halloween Spooktacular is included with park admission.
Spooktacular Highlights Include:
NEW this year: Spooktacular Dance Party
Princess Penelope and her undersea friends invite guests to join the Spooktacular Dance Party, where children can dance along to a Spooktacular mix of line-dancing favorites as clouds of bubbles fill the evening air. The party will kick off at the front of the park every event night an hour before SeaWorld’s park closing time.
Waves of Trick-or-Treat Fun
Offering more than two million pieces of sweet treats, costumed youngsters can trick-or-treat “under the sea.” Each trick-or-treat station features an assortment of ghoulish goodies including Tootsie Roll, Jelly Belly jelly beans, Airheads and other candy favorites.
Penelope’s Party Zone
Located at SeaWorld’s Bayside area, this dynamic underwater environment comes to life each day with a live DJ, a variety of interactive crafts to choose from, countless bubbles floating overhead and colorful pumpkin fish gliding around!
Sweet Treat Decorating
Kids and parents alike can have a “splash” creating their own sweet treats at the cookie decorating station. Kids will be able to decorate and devour their spooky cookie when they purchase a kit that comes equipped with a cookie, frosting and toppings.
Jelly Belly® Bean Art to Come to Life at Spooktacular
Jelly Belly artist in residence, Kristen Cumings, will use more than 10,000 Jelly Belly jelly beans to create a portrait of rockhopper penguins, reflecting SeaWorld’s all-new, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin. Guests can watch as this handmade jelly bean creation comes together in front of their eyes during the final weekend of Halloween Spooktacular, Oct. 26 and 27. Kids can join in the fun too, with the opportunity to decorate a Halloween Spooktacular mural with a variety of Jelly Belly jelly beans.
Not included with admission to SeaWorld Orlando’s Halloween Spooktacular, but always a really fun time is…
Count von Count’s Spooktacular Breakfast
This is Zoe with a special greeter at the Count Von Count Spooktacular Breakfast last year
1-2-3… Dine with me! Don’t walk around on an empty stomach, stay 1 step ahead of hunger! What goes great with your 2 morning eggs? How about infinite hugs from Count von Count, Elmo and his furry friends! Featuring a delicious buffet sprinkled with the hottest characters in town, the Count’s Spooktacular Breakfast is a fun-filled experience sure to delight kids and parents alike. You can “count” on it! Adults $24, Child (2-9) $14.
We’ll be heading to SeaWorld Orlando’s Halloween Spooktacular, and will be bringing you all sorts of great tips, tweets, and pictures!
Make sure to Like SeaWorld Orlando on Facebook or follow on Twitter and Instagram for the latest details about SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular. #SeaWorldSpooktacular
An adult male manatee brought to SeaWorld Orlando on Saturday, Aug. 31, by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission continues to recover and receive care for its watercraft injuries. The manatee was found in the Tomoka River near Daytona Beach, Fla.
SeaWorld Orlando Now Caring for
Male Manatee Rescued
Near Daytona Beach, Florida
A male manatee brought to SeaWorld Orlando on Saturday, Aug. 31, by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission continues to recover and receive care for watercraft injuries. SeaWorld veterinarians performed radiographs to see if there were internal injuries to the spine and chest. The manatee was found in the Tomoka River near Daytona Beach, Fla.
Estimated to be approximately 8.75 feet in length and weighing around 680 pounds, the manatee was rescued because he had watercraft injuries and was suffering from a pneumothorax, likely caused by the watercraft injuries. When a manatee has a pneumothorax its body cavity fills with air and it cannot stay submerged.
A SeaWorld Veterinarian monitors the condition of a rescued adult male manatee. He is suffering from watercraft injuries and pneumothorax, likely a result of the watercraft injuries. Pneumothorax causes the body cavity to fill with air and the manatee cannot stay submerged.
Today SeaWorld Orlando animal care experts took radiographs of the manatee’s chest cavity and performed a “chest tap” to relieve the animal of built up pressure and air. He also was given antibiotics. The manatee is in guarded condition and will be monitored closely during the next few days.
So far in 2013, SeaWorld has rescued 15 and returned 8 manatees back to their natural habitat. In collaboration with the government and other members of accredited stranding networks, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment operates one of the world’s most respected programs to rescue ill and injured marine animals, with the goal to rehabilitate and return to the ocean. SeaWorld animal experts have helped more than 22,000 animals in need – ill, injured, orphaned and abandoned – for more than four decades.
Animal care experts took radiographs of the adult male manatee’s chest cavity to see if there were internal injuries to the spine and chest after he received watercraft injuries. The manatee is in guarded condition and will be monitored closely during the next few days.
All manatee rescue footage produced by SeaWorld under FWS Permit Number MA7701911.
If you see injured marine animal, you can help by calling the FWC hotline at 1(888) 404-3922 or by dialing *FWC on a cellular device.
Celebrity wildlife expert Jack Hanna returns to SeaWorld Orlando on September 14-15 for Jack Hanna Weekend, accompanied by many of the world’s most amazing animal ambassadors.
Included with park admission, this special limited-time series takes place at Nautilus Theater on Saturday, September 14, and Sunday, September 15. Shows will be at 1:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m., and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Recognized around the world for his boundless enthusiasm for animals and conservation, “Jungle Jack” helps us share in his wondrous connection to wildlife and the world we share. Hanna’s past “co-stars” have included clouded leopards, chatty kookaburras, penguins and majestic eagles.
NEW: Dinner with Jack Hanna – September 14 & 15, 5:00 p.m.
Guests can enjoy a delicious buffet dinner at Dine with Shamu®, where they will mingle with Jack Hanna and meet his animal friends up-close. This VIP dinner offers a delicious menu, while “Jungle Jack” entertains guests with animal facts, tales of his adventures and answers questions from attendees. Additionally, guests will receive one complimentary family photo with Jack, one complimentary adult beverage (for guests 21 and over) and special reserved seats at the 3:15 p.m. show. Cost is $59 for adults, $49 for children ages 3-9. Children under 3 are free but require a reservation. Pass Members receive 10% discount.
Breakfast with Jack Hanna at Sharks Underwater Grill® – September 14 & 15, 9:00 a.m.
Meet Jack Hanna and his animal friends up-close during a special breakfast at Sharks Underwater Grill®. This VIP experience features a hearty breakfast, while “Jungle Jack” teaches guests about some of his animal friends, speaks about his animal encounters and answers questions from those in attendance. Guests will receive one complimentary family photo with Jack and special reserved seats at the 1:15 p.m. show. Cost is $49 for adults, $39 for children ages 3-9. Children under 3 are free but require a reservation. Pass Members receive 10% discount.
To learn more about Jack Hanna Weekend and all of SeaWorld Orlando’s events, visit SeaWorldOrlando.com and follow us on Facebook.
About Jack Hanna
Animal expert Jungle Jack Hanna’s hands-on approach has won him widespread acclaim as Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, conservationist, author, television personality, and lifelong adventurer. Recognized around the country as America’s favorite zookeeper, Jack has made countless television appearances since 1983 on shows such as Good Morning America, The Late Show with David Letterman, Larry King Live, The Talk, The Maury Show, Fox News Programs, and CNN News Programs. He is the host of TV’s Emmy award winning Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild and Jack Hanna’s Wild Countdown. For more information, visit www.jackhanna.com
Everyone loves weekends, but SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Tampa now have a reason to celebrate the weekdays, too. Guests can explore Antarctica: Empire of the PenguinTM and the wonders of the sea at SeaWorld Orlando, or experience thrilling attractions and amazing land animals at Busch Gardens Tampa with the all-new $50 Weekday Ticket, on sale August 1 through December 20, 2013, for $50 for a single-day admission, Mondays through Fridays.
At SeaWorld Orlando’s new Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, families are transported into an icy world like they’ve never seen before where they can explore the majestic grandeur of the South Pole and see it through the penguins’ eyes on a first-of-its-kind family ride. Then, guests step off and explore a massive penguin colony of nearly 250 feathered friends – gentoo, rockhopper, Adélie and king penguins — in an expanse that envelops them in cool extremes, both above and below the penguins’ icy world. It’s a must-see, one-of-a-kind experience only at SeaWorld Orlando.
Busch Gardens Tampaoffers an unparalleled mix of animal encounters, captivating shows and thrilling rides. Dive like a bird of prey aboard the thrilling coaster SheiKra. Soar like an eagle, roar like a tiger, and discover shared family fun playing with your littlest ones at Sesame Street’s Safari of Fun. And, nowhere is the spirit of discovery more alive than on Cheetah Hunt, the breathtaking, multilaunch coaster sprinting across the Serengeti.
The $50 Weekday Ticket for SeaWorld and Busch Gardens is available online to U.S. residents at SeaWorldOrlando.comorBuschGardensTampa.com or by calling (888) 800-5447. The $50 Weekday Ticket is valid for one weekday’s admission to either SeaWorld Orlando or Busch Gardens Tampa and must be used by Friday, December 20, 2013.
For an additional $25, guests may add a day’s visit to Aquatica Orlando with the purchase of the SeaWorld Orlando Weekday ticket, or add a day’s visit to Adventure Island Tampa with the purchase of the Busch Gardens Tampa Weekday Ticket. Guests may only purchase the additional visit to a waterpark with the purchase of the $50 Weekday Ticket.
About SeaWorld Orlando Immerse yourself in wonder at SeaWorld® Orlando, where the aquatic world comes alive like no place else. Climb aboard and ride the mighty Manta®. Experience the power and grace of killer whales in the awe-inspiring Shamu® show One Ocean®. Share an epic voyage with sea turtles on the 3D 360 TurtleTrek®. And there’s nothing cooler than to see the world through the eyes of a penguin in the thrilling, chilling adventure of Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin™. An ocean of fun is waiting to be explored right here at SeaWorld Orlando. Jump in and dive deep.
About Busch Gardens Tampa Busch Gardens® Tampa is the ultimate family adventure, offering 297 acres of fascinating attractions based on exotic explorations around the world. A unique blend of thrilling rides, one of the country’s premier zoos with more than 12,000 animals, live shows, restaurants, shops and games, Busch Gardens Tampa provides unrivaled excitement for guests of every age.
Celebrate Independence Day at SeaWorld Orlando with a special Fourth of July extravaganza and even more Summer Nights fun next Thursday, July 4!
During Summer Nights, SeaWorld Orlando is open from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. so there’s plenty of time to explore the sea’s mysteries, learn about amazing animals, challenge thrilling rides and watch incredible shows.
What better way to celebrate the holiday than with traditional American fare? From July 3-6, a variety of all-American food will be served along Bayside Pathway, including bacon cheeseburgers, foot-long hot dogs, BBQ pulled pork sandwiches and kid meals, too.
And guests can enjoy the park even later on the Fourth of July. SeaWorld Orlando will be open until 11 p.m. giving families more time to experience the all-new Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, ride the coasters under the stars and enjoy the amazing Summer Nights shows, Sea Lions Tonite and Shamu Rocks.
There’s no other place to get your fireworks fix than at SeaWorld’s Fourth of July celebration during Summer Nights!
Beginning at 9:30 p.m., there will be an extraordinary performance at SeaWorld’s Bayside Stadium by SeaWorldCelebration Singers, an ensemble group of singersandanine-piece band, who will perform a variety of popular music ranging from traditional marches and patriotic tunes to classical favorites. The Fourth of July celebration culminates with awe-inspiring fireworks at 10 p.m.
Additional details:
Headlining Summer Nights is the all-new Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, where guests can experience the epic world of Antarctica through the eyes of a special hero penguin named Puck; and Sea Lions Tonite, a hilarious, satirical show featuring Clyde and Seamore spoofing the other daytime SeaWorld shows that will have everyone in stitches.
New this year! Join the Party with Shamu & Friends as they dance the night away at the front of the park’s Village Square. The Party features an emcee on stilts who fills the square with music that the whole family can dance to, including popular line dancing songs and party favorites. With countless bubbles floating overhead and music wafting through the air, this celebration of summer is sure to provide non-stop fun for all ages! The Party begins every night one hour prior to park close and continues 30 minutes after park closing.
Rock the night away with Shamu during a spectacular killer whale show with more flash – and certainly more splash – than a rock concert! Shamu Rocks is a high-energy celebration of unprecedented proportions, combining awe-inspiring killer whales with a stunning light show, water fountain display and music from some of the hottest rock stars in the industry. And new this year is an electrifying twist on this classic favorite! The final Shamu Rocks show of the night includes a rockin’ fireworks finale will light up the night sky.
Sunday we got to visit Seaworld Orlando as they premiered their Summer nights 2013! After signing in we were split into two groups, one group were to go experience the recently added Antarctica: Empire Of The Penguin, and the other group was invited to try the new Expedition Cafe.
We were part of the group to eat first, so we were led to the cafe to see our options. Being a vegetarian I was quite happy to see quite a few options for a range of different diets! There was plenty of seating and guests were able to chose to sit outside or inside with AC.
Expedition Cafe
Once dinner was over we were lead by our guide over to the Antarctica: Empire Of The Penguin ride. We were so excited as we had not had the opportunity to ride this yet, so we had no idea what to expect from it! As we were walking to the ride, the surrounding skies seemed perfect, as they were getting a little gray so walking amongst the ice berg scenery seemed pretty magical juxtaposed amongst the gray gloomy sky!
Our guide told us that after the ride is when you get to see the actual penguin habitat. She informed us that the whole queuing system has been specially designed to help moderate guests body temperature as they go through the different stages. Guests are typically hot and possibly a bit damp from the humid Florida weather in summer here, and the penguin habitat can be quite shocking at a mere 30 degrees. So without ever really noticing it, each stage of the ride’s queue actually gets progressively cooler to dry you off and cool you down bit by bit, so that when you finally enter the habitat at the end, your body wont be as shocked.
The ride features a penguin family and more specifically a baby penguin named Puck, and it is Puck that we follow on his adventures into adulthood throughout the ride. At the beginning guests have the option to chose the “mild” version, or the “wild” version, which really just controls how much you rotate and spin during the ride. We chose the wild version as we wanted to feel the full experience for the first time on there.
Without giving away any spoilers, we really enjoyed the ride, it was a different technology that hasn’t really been used anywhere else yet. Its a cute little ride, that ultimately leads you to the most exciting part, the habitat.
The habitat is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before, as instead of being behind glass panels, you are actually IN the habitat, experiencing the same temperature and environment. The penguins are literally right in front of you in their enclosure, one little guy was even resting right under the wall we were leaning on! There are signs everywhere telling you not to touch the penguins….I can’t emphasize enough how much it makes you want to touch them with them being in touching distance! But there are handlers all around watching over them, and they were needed, as the amount of people using flash on their cameras was crazy, stop blinding the penguins people! LOL.
You can walk around the enclosure and see not only the ones resting out of the water, but even the ones swimming too! So you really do get an all-round look at their life here in the habitat.
For guests not wanting to ride, there is an access door that will take you directly in to the habitat once you get to the ride boarding area. You may find yourself waiting a moment, as these doors, just like the ride queue, help adjust your body temperature down for entering the habitat.
After the ride, we were taken to the a lake side area where we were treated to a dessert party, and a chance to talk to the other guests and to hear from one of the organizers there about their Summer Nights events.
Once we had relaxed at the dessert party, we were taken to our seats in the Sea Lion and Otter Theater to see the Clyde and Seamore Show. While waiting for the stadium to fill up, we were treated to watching their Mime entertain the crowd while they were entering, which was so hilarious and really got us in the mood & ready for the show.
The Clyde & Seamore show was so much funnier than we remembered it in previous years! The show now focuses on parodies of the other attractions and shows at Seaworld currently, such as Pets Ahoy, One Ocean and even The Kraken Ride! The way they used the walrus as their “Shamu” was so entertaining and such a hit among the crowd!
Next we made it over to the Shamu Stadium for “Shamu Rocks”. This show holds a very dear place in my heart, as my Husband had proposed to me at the Shamu show on the big screen there back in 2003! This week actually marked the 10 year anniversary of when he proposed back when we lived in the UK and were just out here vacationing. So the memories came flooding back on entering the stadium, and although they don’t do proposal packages anymore on the big screen, they do still show the crowd dancing while waiting for the stadium to fill up so it felt really great to be back on that week!
The show is completely different to the one we remembered from back then, and it has obviously changed significantly over the years. The show now is very dance/rock music orientated, with many of the trainers actually participating in dance routines now as opposed to interacting with the whales. The whales have a lot of fun tricks and amazing moves, paired with all the water cannons and bright colors it really is a rock and roll show for everyone to enjoy. I do, however, miss elements of the older show where the trainers were more focused on the whales, as opposed to synchronized dancing by a guitarist on the stage and fireworks.
After the show we were invited to go experience Antarctica: Empire Of The Penguin one last time, which was really fun to now do at night time as well.
On the way out of the park we walked by the “Party with Shamu and Friends”, which had recently just ended, but normally they have a DJ and characters available for photos before you leave for the night.
We were so grateful to be a part of this new celebration that Seaworld now offer this summer through to August 11th 2013. It was a lot of fun for the whole family and i plan to go back to experience more of Seaworld’s Summer Nights 2013 soon, when will you go check it out?
What makes Aquatica, SeaWorld’s WaterparkTM, Orlando’s can’t-miss waterpark? By offering the latest and hottest deal for locals to enjoy Central Florida’s coolest beach again and again – including the After-2 p.m. Pass.
For the cost of a single day’s admission, guests can enjoy Aquatica after 2 p.m. throughout the rest of 2013. With no blackout dates and unlimited admission after 2 p.m., Orlando’s coolest beach is a hit for all ages time after time. Whether it’s tiny tots splashing around in Kata’s Kookaburra Cove®, teens sliding down Taumauta Racer® or adults relaxing on the laid-back beaches, guests can enjoy Aquatica all year long.
Aquatica, SeaWorld’s WaterparkTM, is a one-of-a-kind waterpark that could only come from SeaWorld®. Inspired by a whimsical take on the South Seas, the park immerses guests in the playfulness of the sea, taking them in, over and under the water with the world’s most unique water rides and animal encounters.
Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark, mixes animal experiences, waters from serene to extreme, high speed waterslide thrills and wide, sandy beaches to create a day of non-stop fun.
Aquatica, SeaWorld’s WaterparkTM, After-2 p.m. Pass is $50 for children, ages 3-9, and $55 for adults.
To learn more or to buy your After-2 p.m. pass, visit AquaticaOrlando.com, call 888-800-5447, or visit our ticket counters at Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark.
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Salutes Military with Waves of Honor Program
Program Provides Free Admission for Military Members and as many as Three Direct Dependents to SeaWorld®, Busch Gardens® Parks and Sesame Place®
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment™ is honoring the men and women of the U.S. armed services through its Waves of Honor™ military salute program. The program provides free admission to the SeaWorld® and Busch Gardens® Parks, and Sesame Place® for members of U.S. armed forces and as many as three direct dependents through 2013. Waves of Honor follows Here’s to the Heroes. Created in 2001, the program has awarded more than 6.7 million theme park tickets to service members and their families.
“It has always been our honor to host members of the military and their families at our parks each year,” said Jim Atchison, President and CEO of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. “Waves of Honor is our way to say ‘thank you’ to these dedicated service men and women who sacrifice so much to preserve the freedom we share in this country.”
Waves of Honor provides one complimentary admission per year to one of the SeaWorld® or Busch Gardens®Parks, Sesame Place®, Adventure Island® ,Water Country USA® or Aquatica® San Diego (weekdays only) for the service member and as many as three of his or her direct dependents.
Army Specialist Eric Espinosa and his daughter Alexis attend a special military tribute at SeaWorld® Orlando’s Shamu® Stadium in August 2012. Espinosa surprised Alexis at the park after serving a year in Afghanistan.
Any active duty military, activated or drilling reservists, or National Guardsman representing any of the five service branches is entitled to one complimentary admission to one of the participating parks under the program. He or she need only register, either online at www.wavesofhonor.com or in the entrance plaza of a participating park, and show a valid active military identification. All dependents 10 and older must present a valid military dependent identification for entry into the park. Dependents may take advantage of the offer without their service member, though an adult must accompany minor dependents.
SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa, and SeaWorld San Diego operate year-round. The remaining parks are seasonal. Each park’s operating schedule is available online.
Inactive, standby and retired reserve members, military retirees, U.S. Merchant Marine and civilian Department of Defense workers are ineligible for the program. The program does not include Discovery Cove® in Orlando or Aquatica® Orlando. Rules of eligibility can be found at www.wavesofhonor.com and are subject to change. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment reserves the right to terminate the program.
All-new adventure allows guests to experience the sights, sounds, thrills, chills and penguins of Antarctica, through the eyes of a special penguin hero named Puck
It’s been 16 long months, but finally the penguins have returned to SeaWorld Orlando!!!!
The new realm of Antarctica is an immersive area of SeaWorld full of beautiful icebergs, a base camp that you wish you could actually visit, food for the pickiest of eaters, merchandise with a heart, and most importantly a first-of-its-kind attraction leading you to a penguin encounter you won’t soon forget!
“We’ve taken our guests and fans on astounding journeys,” says Terry Prather, SeaWorld Orlando’s president. “But no one has ever experienced what we’re bringing to Orlando this year. The first-of-its-kind ride, the cold, the wind, the thrills and danger of Antarctica, coupled with getting up close to penguins in their freezing world is something only SeaWorld can do.”
As soon as you walk into the Antarctica area, you know that you’ve traveled someplace special! There are huge icebergs, mounds of snow, beautiful carvings, and rushing winds that put a chill in the air no matter what the Florida temperature may be!
At the Expedition Café, we are all visitors to Antarctica looking for a meal to warm us up from our frigid environment. In the café, you will find American, Asian, and Italian cuisines featured in a mess hall setting where you are free from queues. There are also hydroponically grown produce and herbs, call ‘freshies’, that are incorporated into your meals. With outside seating available under canvas type sails, and two Quonset-type huts provide seating for guests dining on a mix of cooked-to-order food and quick-serve delights is comfortable.
The outside of Expedition CafeSome of the ‘freshies’ grown…today was basil!
Glacial Collections gift shop is the place to shop for anything and everything a penguin fan could ask for! The retail shop’s color scheme of black, bright yellows, oranges and whites, and the penguin-shaped displays welcome guests to browse the cache of splendid penguin-related items.
My mini-Shelley Cup That Cares!
Glacial Collections is where you can also build your very own Cup That Cares!
Also new at Antarctica are souvenir cups created by SeaWorld and Coca-Cola®. The Cup That CaresTMis a novel reusable cup program with a twist of technology: An RFID (radio frequency identification) chip embedded in each cup interacts with software at Antarctica’sCoca–ColaFreestyle dispensers to calculate CO2 and tell guests how they are being more environmentally responsible by choosing to refill and reuse. And there’s more: SeaWorld will donate $1 from each Cup That Cares purchase to the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens® Conservation Fund, a not-for-profit foundation that helps protect wildlife around the world.
And finally we come to the showpiece of Antarctica… Antarctica Empire of the Penguin!
On board a first-of-its-kind trackless, all-family adventure ride, guests become one with the storyline as they follow Puck’s, a gentoo penguin who is beyond loveable, adventures. Each mobile simulator ride car allows guests to choose one of two levels of exploration – Wild Expedition or Mild Expedition – for various degrees of ride intensity. Designers say each version has multiple variations for a feeling of unpredictability, just like the continent of Antarctica.
“When our little hero penguin learns to waddle and slide, we’ll feel what it’s like as the car moves and reacts to the storyline. When he takes his first swim or barely escapes danger, our guests will feel as if they’re right there with him,” explains Brian Morrow, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment® creative director.
“On this adventure, we learn that we’re a lot like penguins. We’ll find we need each other and our families to survive,” said Morrow.
There’s one more family SeaWorld guests can join at Antarctica … and that’s a huge family of nearly 250 penguins. Stepping off the adventure ride, guests find themselves among a colony of Adelie, gentoo, king and rockhopper penguins in a 30-degree habitat filled with wind, snow, rock and chilly water. It’s what makes Antarctica the coldest theme park attraction in Orlando. New technologies combine to create a freezing – but dry – climate, allowing guests to spend time in the penguins’ amazing world.
Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin also includes educational elements. Kids can “measure up” to all 18 species of penguins carved into the rocks in the plaza. They can engage in kid-height and kid-friendly interactive touch screens and talk with SeaWorld educators to learn more about the importance of community and how penguin colonies work together and rely on each other for survival.
I seriously don’t want to go into too much detail, because I really believe this is one attraction you must really experience to understand it’s true message and beauty.
The official Grand opening of Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin will be held today, Friday, May 24th!
There will be an “Ice-cutting” ceremony beginning at 8:45 a.m. and includes a live performance by award-winning country artist Lauren Alaina, the voice of the Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin theme song.
SeaWorld Orlando will also be giving out special Antarctica bracelets for the first 700 fans through the front gate, admission is required. SeaWorld Orlando is also encouraging guests to wear black and white to show their penguin pride
If visiting SeaWorld Orlando was even remotely on your ‘To Visit’ list for your next trip to Orlando, you might want to consider moving it to the ‘Must Do’ list…I promise that you won’t regret it!
