SeaWorld Orlando’s Bands, Brew & BBQ festival features four more weekends of rocking concerts, mouth-watering BBQ, thirst-quenching beer and toe-tapping fun. Bands, Brew & BBQ takes place weekends in February through the first two weekends in March.
Sister Hazel plays Saturday, February 15.
Sister Hazel’s creative train just keeps rolling. The band’s well-received “Release” reached the band’s highest ever spot (#37) on the Billboard Album Charts, topping even their platinum disc “Somewhere More Familiar,” and they later kept the momentum going with “Heartland Highway” (Oct. 12, 2010, Rock Ridge Music), marking the band’s quickest album-to-album turnaround in their 15-plus-year career.
Comedian Larry the Cable Guy plays Sunday, February 16.
Larry the Cable Guy is a multiplatinum recording artist, Grammy nominee, Billboard award winner and one of the top comedians in the country. He has his own line of merchandise and continues to sell out theatres and arenas across the United States. Larry has created The Git-R-Done Foundation, which was named after Larry’s signature catchphrase, and has donated more than 7 million dollars to various charities. Larry most recently co-starred in the Tyler Perry movie A Madea Christmas. He also hosted Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy on History for three seasons. The show premiered in 2011 and was a huge ratings success. In each episode, Larry visited various sites across the country revealing bits of real history while immersing himself in new and different lifestyles, jobs and hobbies that celebrate the American experience. Larry was also the star of the CMT animated show Bounty Hunters, which reunited him with Jeff Foxworthy and Bill Engvall.
Both shows start at 4 p.m. at the park’s Bayside Stadium. Visit SeaWorldOrlando.com for more details.
Bands, Brew & BBQ also celebrates the food! Serious barbecue connoisseurs can taste it all and pick their favorites. Sample Orlando’s best barbecue from local smokehouses — Bubbalou’s Bodacious Bar-B-Que, Cecil’s Texas Style BAR-B-Q and Sonny’s BBQ® – plus SeaWorld’s very own Sweet & Smokin’ Barbecue. Sip on our ice-cold craft beer selection while enjoying live rocking concerts and exciting activities for the whole family to enjoy.
Even the little ones have their own area to get up close to animals, work on masterpieces at coloring stations, take photos with SeaWorld costume characters, learn from educators and play interactive games.
During Bands, Brew & BBQ, all Harley-Davidson® riders get free parking when they ride their hog to SeaWorld. And in between all the eating and line dancing, event-goers can take in the proudly displayed 2014 Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
Like all other events at SeaWorld Orlando, Bands, Brew & BBQ is included with park admission or any annual pass product.
The best way to experience Bands, Brew & BBQ is with a Fun Card; pay for a day and play all year – with no blackout dates – to experience all of SeaWorld’s remarkable events.
SEAWORLD® ORLANDO’S BANDS, BREW & BBQ™ HEADLINERS FOR WEEK TWO
GRETCHEN WILSON (FEB. 8), BILL ENGVALL (FEB. 9)
ORLANDO, Fla. (February 4, 2014) – SeaWorld Orlando’s Bands, Brew & BBQ festival features five more weekends of rocking concerts, mouth-watering BBQ, thirst-quenching beer and toe-tapping fun. Bands, Brew & BBQ takes place weekends in February through the first two weekends in March.
Grammy Award-winning Country star, Gretchen Wilson, plays Saturday, February 8.
Comedian Bill Engvall plays Sunday, February 9.
Both concerts start at 4 p.m. at the park’s Bayside Stadium. Visit SeaWorldOrlando.com for more details.
Bands, Brew & BBQ also celebrates the food! Serious barbecue connoisseurs can taste it all and pick their favorites. Sample Orlando’s best barbecue from local smokehouses — Bubbalou’s Bodacious Bar-B-Que, Cecil’s Texas Style BAR-B-Q and Sonny’s BBQ® – plus SeaWorld’s very own Sweet & Smokin’ Barbecue. Sip on our ice-cold craft beer selection while enjoying live rocking concerts and exciting activities for the whole family to enjoy.
Even the little ones have their own area to get up close to animals, work on masterpieces at coloring stations, take photos with SeaWorld costume characters, learn from educators and play interactive games.
During Bands, Brew & BBQ, all Harley-Davidson® riders get free parking when they ride their hog to SeaWorld. And in between all the eating and line dancing, event-goers can take in the proudly displayed 2014 Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
Like all other events at SeaWorld Orlando, Bands, Brew & BBQ is included with park admission or any annual pass product.
The best way to experience Bands, Brew & BBQ is with a Fun Card; pay for a day and play all year – with no blackout dates – to experience all of SeaWorld’s remarkable events.
With the start of a new year and with so much going on after the holidays, I thought it would be a great time to restart our Week in Review and play a little catch up on this week’s highlights and news from the Orlando and Central Florida Attractions and Venues!
Week in Review – December 30, 2013 to January 3, 2014
Walt Disney World Resort
The Disney Parks Blog announced a new contest where you can win a 5-day/4-night vacation for four to either the Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort.
We’ve just launched disney.com/resolutions where Disney celebrities are sharing how they plan to resolve to spend more time with family in 2014. A new video will be uploaded everyday in January.
On disney.com/resolutions, we are also awarding a vacation-a-day from December 31, 2013 through January 31, 2014! So enter every day for your chance to win because this is the year to spend more quality time with the people you love most. Good luck!
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Open only to individuals, who are, as of Entry, legal residents of, and physically located within, the 50 U.S., D.C., Puerto Rico or Canada (excluding Quebec) and who are not Minors. Sweepstakes starts 12:01 AM (EST) on 12/31/13 and ends 11:59:59 PM (EST) on 1/31/14. Click here for Official Rules.
runDisney
With Walt Disney World Marathon weekend right around the corner, runDisney was everywhere when they released details about the Limited Edition runDisney 2014 New Balance shoes!
With construction on Diagon Alley ramping up, A Celebration of Harry Potter drawing close, Cabana Bay opening reservations being taken, and CityWalk undergoing a HUGE transformation, the Universal Orlando Resort is buzzing with energy!
Diagon Alley Construction on December 29, 2013.
I don’t know about you, but I am so excited for everything that is coming to the Universal Orlando Resort!!!
SeaWorld Orlando
January is Passholder appreciation month at SeaWorld Orlando, and they are offering some great deals!
Bring a friend for FREE! SeaWorld® Orlando Pass Members receive a friend for free ticket*. Online registration is required. Valid for one single-day admission by January 31, 2014. Register Now.
Double Your Discount**
Save 20% on dining in all of our cafeteria-style restaurants
Save 20% on merchandise in our gift shops
*Pass Member must be present for guest to gain admittance. Free ticket offer valid for active SeaWorld Orlando 1-Year, 2-Year and FL Platinum Pass Members. Not valid for Fun Cards, Teacher’s Study Passes or Friends & Family Passes. Free ticket is non-transferable, not for resale and may be revoked for misuse.
**Offer only valid between Jan. 1-31, 2014. Must present active SeaWorld Orlando 1-Year, 2-Year, or FL Platinum Pass to receive savings. Not valid with any other discounts or offers. Not valid on All-Day Dining offers. Merchandise offer valid for in-park purchases only.
Amway Center
The Circus is coming to town!
Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus LEGENDS is coming to the Amway Center January 9-12, but Monday the circus train rolls into Orlando. Fantastic photo opportunities will be available as the Ringling Bros. pachyderm performers parade to the Amway Center.
The Ringling Bros.animal performers will unload at 8:00 p.m. and walk beginning at 8:30 p.m. Animals will unload at railroad tracks near 1035 W. Amelia, then travel east on Amelia, south on North Hughey Ave., then west on West South St. and enter the GEICO Garage behind Amway Center. (Note: route and time are subject to change without notice.)
Tickets are still available and start at $16. Ticketmaster service charges and facility fees not included. All seats are reserved. Tickets are available atwww.ringling.com or www.ticketmaster.com, at any Ticketmaster outlet, by calling 800-745-3000, or at the Amway Center box office (phone:407-440-7900). For group ticket sales and information, call 866-248-8740.
LEGOLAND Florida
If your house is anything like mine, you have watched the trailer for ‘The LEGO Movie’ four times daily and I was excited to see that they are going to be having a weekend of activities in February!
httpv://youtu.be/fZ_JOBCLF-I
February 8 & 9, 2014 Enjoy fun for all with activities to celebrate “The LEGO Movie”, the first-ever, full-length theatrical LEGO adventure featuring an all-star cast and set to open in theaters February 7. Guests will enjoy a special movie-themed building activity, movie-themed scavenger hunt in Miniland USA and meet and greet sessions with costume characters Emmet and Wyldstyle, who play leading roles in this epic movie.
Busch Gardens Tampa
January is also Passholder appreciation month at Busch Gardens Tampa!
Double the Fun – Bring a Friend for FREE
During January, Pass Members can bring a friend for free! Online registration required. Limit one free ticket per active Pass Member. Offer valid between January 1-31, 2014. Other Restrictions Apply. Log in now to register your friend’s ticket and learn more about this limited time offer.
Triple the Savings – 30% off merchandise, food, and beverages
All month long, Pass Members get 30% off merchandise, food and beverages when you visit the park! Offer valid between January 1-31, 2014. Other Restrictions Apply.
Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex
A Falcon 9 rocket is targeted to lift-off during a dramatic SpaceX launch scheduled for January 3, launch time is subject to change but the launch window of 5:05 p.m. to 7:17 p.m. EST. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex guests may view the launch from the Apollo/Saturn V Center, the closest possible public viewing area, or special areas at the Visitor Complex.
Launch viewing from the Apollo/Saturn V Center, located in Kennedy Space Center, includes live mission control commentary and is available for Visitor Complex guests for $20 plus the cost of admission. Admission to the Visitor Complex is $50 plus tax for adults and $40 plus tax for children 3-11. Bus boarding for the Apollo/Saturn V Center begins at 3:15 p.m.
Launch viewing, featuring live mission control commentary, also is available from Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and is included in regular admission.
Ring in 2014 SeaWorld Orlando style by celebrating our connection to the sea, sea life and the world we share! A spectacular musical celebration with DJs and live bands, plus a bold fireworks display, send a wave of welcome to the New Year ahead.
SeaWorld Orlando Christmas Celebration™ is splashing waves of holiday spirit over the park (now nightly) the rest of December, and New Year’s Eve is included! Here in a wintery, watery wonderland, guests of all ages will enjoy loads of frosty fun as they watch stunning live shows inspired by the natural world, journey to the North Pole to meet Santa himself, then share a smile with a playful penguin at the South Pole while visiting the park’s newest attraction, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin®!
Enjoy added fun on New Year’s Eve as SeaWorld Orlando stays open until 1 a.m. and features additional entertainment. From a DJ spinning Latin-style tunes at The Waterfront, to top 40 hits playing at Wild Arctic, and local pop/rock artists Project DJ Slam performing at The Christmas Market, there’s plenty of music in the air. And the night wouldn’t be complete without fireworks lighting up the night sky! Kick off the New Year with a bang while watching an extended fireworks extravaganza during Holiday Reflections: Fireworks & Fountains Finale immediately following the last Winter Wonderland on Ice show.
Additional show times have been added for extended New Year’s Eve park hours; times listed below for all shows at SeaWorld Orlando:
Clyde & Seamore Countdown to Christmas at 6:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.
O Wondrous Night at 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Shamu Rocks at 9 p.m. and 10:45 p.m.
Shamu® Christmas Miracles at 7:30 p.m.
Winter Wonderland on Ice at 7:15 p.m., 9:45 p.m. and 11:25 p.m.(Extended Holiday Reflections: Fireworks & Fountains Finale immediately following 11:25 p.m. show.)
Recently I participated in my second non-Disney race at SeaWorld with the Vanessa Welch Reindeer Run. This three mile fun run was a great Christmas themed race through SeaWorld Orlando. It was a nice morning to start the Reindeer Run at 7:15am with a temp in the low 60s and slightly overcast skies. Not really knowing how this was going to be organized in comparison to most of my other races, I decided to get to the race at 6:30 so I could find my way around and meet up with my friend Doug. We found each other about half an hour before start time and got in the corral for joggers. There was also a corral for walkers scheduled to start about 15 minutes after the jogging participants.
Tons of people dressed up for this race, possibly a greater percentage of runners than for any other race in which I’ve participated. There were especially a lot of reindeer antler headbands for the Reindeer Run. This made for a fun atmosphere at the start of the race, which was a bit quieter than I was used to without a DJ to warm up the crowd and play music.
The first mile of the Reindeer Run was in the SeaWorld parking lot, then the rest of the three mile run was almost entirely in the park itself. There were so many cool things to see throughout the park like the Sea of Tree lights and the fountains, Santa Claus was there for pictures and there were decorations and lights on the course.
Race registration is only $25 and a portion goes to charity. There is no medal for this race, but you do get a long sleeve shirt with the Reindeer Run logo. I would definitely do this race again. It was a lot of fun and there were a lot of great things to see along the way. This was a great way to see SeaWorld and to get in the holiday spirit while contributing to charity. There were also costume contests after the race as well as a free kids run. I highly recommend this race if you’re looking for something fun to do next December. Have you done the Reindeer Run before? What were your thoughts?
Lots of costumesLoved this stockingSaw quite a few Buddy the Elf costumesLooking back in the corralLooking forwardDoug and me waiting to startKraken at sunriseSea of TreesPenguinsSantaSea of Trees selfieBandSnowmanTreeDolphins playing with a ballPolar Express
Follow us for more updates:
SeaWorld Orlando plays host to my favorite Christmas Celebration at any of the area theme parks and I’m so excited it returns this weekend! I attended this special event for the first time last year and loved it! It is included in regular park admission and takes place each weekend through the end of the year, and some weeknights the weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve (always double check dates and times on the website before heading out).
Most of the events during SeaWorld’s Christmas take place during the afternoon and evening. Special offerings include music from a capella singers, to Christmas carols played on a classical guitar to Elmo’s Christmas Wish featuring many of your favorite Sesame Street characters. I loved the whole vibe of the park in the evening with the lights and music throughout bringing Christmas to life.
There are fun shows including some of SeaWorld’s most famous residents with Shamu’s Christmas Miracles. Last year I didn’t get around to seeing Clyde and Seamore’s Countdown to Christmas, so it is near the top of my list of must dos this time around. I love their regular show, so I’m sure this one will be just as enjoyable and will be full of holiday spirit.
At the top of my list of things I want to catch that I missed last year is the very popular Polar Express Experience. I grew up reading Chris Van Allsburg books and he is still one of my favorite children’s book authors. Reading the Polar Express each year on Christmas Eve is still a tradition in my house. Another show on my list to see is O Wondrous Night, which is a telling of the Christmas story complete with live animals that would have been found in the manger.
Sea of Trees
Something that you should not miss is the Sea of Trees featured all along the waterfront area. The gorgeous trees are lit beautifully and dance to some of your favorite holiday hits! I cannot tell you how mesmerized I was by this fantastic show! Catch it several times throughout the night from different vantage points if you can.
Winter Wonderland is an incredible ice skating show set to Christmas music. SeaWorld visitors will appreciate the mix of characters with stories accompanied by some amazingly talented performers. This show often only takes place once during the evening, so make sure to check times of shows before arriving at the park so you don’t miss this great performance!
Throughout the night you will find entertainers roaming the park with comedy acts, strolling musicians, and maybe even some snowflakes. Select SeaWorld restaurants offer the All-Day Dining Deal and even include some special holiday menu items. You can also book Santa’s Fireside Feast in advance if you are looking for a buffet with a meeting with Santa at the end. In addition to unique food and beverages, SeaWorld has special merchandise available for the holiday season for sale at the Christmas Market and several other locations throughout the park.
My favorite part of attending last year’s Christmas celebration at SeaWorld was hands down the amazing fireworks display called Holiday Reflections. This phenomenal show is I think best seen from Bayside Stadium facing the Waterfront. It incorporates music and water elements with the fireworks to put on one of my favorite fireworks shows anywhere of the entire year.
Winter WonderlandHoliday ReflectionsTreesPenguins
If you get an opportunity, I highly recommend that you visit SeaWorld Orlando for their Christmas event. It is such a great value since it is at no additional cost (of course other than food, drinks, souvenirs, etc.). I absolutely loved this special event last year and was disappointed when I could only go one night. This year will be different! I hope to find myself visiting at least a few times to go back and catch my favorite things I experienced last year and to check out the new to me shows and attractions I missed.
Have you been to SeaWorld’s Christmas? What is your favorite show or attraction? I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment launched AnimalVision,™ 24/7, on-habitat cameras streaming footage of penguins from Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin at SeaWorld Orlando, rays from Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark® in San Antonio and turtles from SeaWorld San Diego’s Turtle Reef®. AnimalVision.com offers an interactive website experience allowing visitors to create connections with amazing animals right from the comfort of home.
httpv://youtu.be/4a4dxRRaHs4
In celebration, viewers from across the nation had the chance to virtually “swim” with penguins at Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, SeaWorld Orlando’s newest attraction. Fans were encouraged to submit photos of their best penguin expressions through the official SeaWorld social channels and tune in to AnimalVision.com today at 1 p.m. to see themselves swimming with the penguins.
A SeaWorld diver was placed in the chilly 30-degree waters at Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin with an iPad displaying fan–submitted photos as penguins swam by. At SeaWorld San Antonio, viewers also had the chance to interview a SeaWorld educator submerged with rays at Aquatica San Antonio, and in SeaWorld San Diego, they learned fun facts about sea turtles in the park’s Turtle Reef®.
AnimalVision provides animal camera fans with an interactive experience that goes beyond simply watching the animals demonstrating their natural behaviors. The new platform features:
Video web portal designed to be viewed from any computer, smartphone or tablet
The ability to take, share and save photos of their favorite video moment
Live Twitter feeds share comments with other AnimalVision viewers and interactive “ask the experts” sessions with animal trainers and zoological staff
Education and conservation information and facts about each featured species
Downloadable games
Additional animal species will be showcased in the near future
Each of the six cameras is high definition for the best viewing experience possible, including multiple viewpoints of the habitats. The cameras at SeaWorld Orlando’s newest attraction, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin™, show four different species of penguins both in the water and up on the ice. At Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark® in San Antonio, more than 200 stingrays and tropical fish including various species of angel, tang and butterfly fish are seen from shallow and deep underwater viewpoints. Turtle Reef® at SeaWorld San Diego features more than 40 threatened green sea turtles ranging in age from four to 50 years old with a view of the 280,000-gallon aquarium they call home.
About SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment™ is a leading theme park and entertainment company delivering personal, interactive and educational experiences that blend imagination with nature and enable its customers to celebrate, connect with and care for the natural world we share. The Company owns or licenses a portfolio of globally recognized brands including SeaWorld®, Shamu® and Busch Gardens®. Over its more than 50 year history, the Company has built a diversified portfolio of 11 destination and regional theme parks that are grouped in key markets across the United States, many of which showcase its one-of-a-kind collection of approximately 67,000 marine and terrestrial animals. The Company’s theme parks feature a diverse array of rides, shows and other attractions with broad demographic appeal which deliver memorable experiences and a strong value proposition for its guests. In addition to its theme parks, the company has recently begun to leverage its brands into media, entertainment and consumer products. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., a publicly traded company (NYSE: SEAS). Copies of this and other news releases as well as additional information about SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. can be obtained online at www.seaworldentertainment.com. Shareholders and prospective investors can also register to automatically receive the Company’s press releases, SEC filings and other notices by e-mail.
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
![LEGOclubweekend [3]](https://onthegoinmco.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/LEGOclubweekend-3.png)
