December 21, 2011

Bands, Brew & BBQ 2012 Line-Up

Bands, Brew, & BBQ is back for 2012 and bigger than ever! With concerts on Saturdays AND Sundays you won't want to miss a beat of all the fun. SeaWorld partners with favorite local restaurants to bring an even richer variety of BBQ and great grilled food. 

There’s a thirst-quenching beer garden featuring nearly 60 craft beers from 21 different domestic and international breweries. This year's line-up is one of the most star-filled yet with last year's American Idol winner Scotty McCreery and rock legends Foreigner.

2012 Line-Up:


Saturday, February 11: Foreigner
Sunday, February 12: Gary Allan
Saturday, February 18: Trace Adkins
Sunday, February 19: Kenny Rogers
Saturday, February 25: Doobie Brothers
Sunday, February 26: Ronnie Dunn
Saturday, March 3: Sarah Evans
Sunday, March 4: Scotty McCreery

December 11, 2011

SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration 2011 Review

SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration has become Orlando's best kept secret! It is honestly the best and most Christmas oriented event in town. With the Sea of Trees being expanded to over 100 trees to a new live nativity which may be the best show ever put on by SeaWorld Orlando.

First off let's talk about the returning favorites to this years Christmas Celebration. The Sea of Trees are back and bigger than ever! They have been expanded to include over 100 massive trees lit up and dancing to your Christmas favorites.

Also returning are the fantastic shows: Shamu's Christmas Miracle, Clyde and Seamore's Count Down To Christmas, Winter Wonderland On Ice, and Holiday Reflections! 


New for 2011 is my personal favorite part of the event, O Wondrous Night: The Greatest  Story Never Told. It takes place in the Nautilus Theater and is a very religious live nativity. It takes a spin on the classic nativity from the point of view of the animals. It is one of the best shows I have seen yet to date in a theme park and THE best show I have seen at SeaWorld Orlando. It will leave you feeling that the true meaning of Christmas is still alive. 





Also new for 2011 are various street performers. From a Latin band to a quartet of a capella singers. It really brings the Christmas feel to the streets. 

Lastly, The Polar Express Experience returns where you can literally take a ride on The Polar Express!

Overall, SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration is the premier Christmas event in Orlando. With a more intimate experience than other parks you can see all the shows and still have time to take in the attractions and other Christmas offerings throughout the night! It is truly a Christmas Celebration!  

December 9, 2011

SeaWorld Orlando Hosts An All-New Festival That's "Just For Kids"

Just For Kids features awesome concerts by the most popular children’s musical acts -- LazyTown, Max & Ruby, the Doodlebops and Choo-Choo Soul. Concerts are included with park admission, and there will be even more fun in store at Just For Kids. Details about all of the activities, music, treats, and more will be released very soon – so stay tuned and mark your calendars! The event will take place on Saturdays from January 14th through February 4th.


The 2012 Lineup:




For more information and for the best deals, visit SeaWorldOrlando.com.

November 15, 2011

Pilot Whale Rehab Update

To treat the whale’s curvature of the spine, SeaWorld Orlando animal experts and veterinarians worked with Orlando-based Jewett Orthopaedic Clinic to develop a custom-fitted brace that could be adjusted slowly over time, during daily physical therapy sessions. Vets and animal care experts hope the brace will help straighten the whale’s spine and tail, allowing it to regain use of its tail and allowing it to swim normally. 

This is the first time a custom-fitted orthopedic device of this kind has been used on a large whale.

According to Jon Peterson, a senior member of SeaWorld Orlando’s animal rescue team, it’s too soon to know if the brace will work but staff remain committed to doing anything possible to help care for the recuperating animal. 

November 2, 2011

SeaWorld Orlando Fun Cards for 2012 Now Available

SeaWorld has just announced that they will start selling their 2012 Fun Card today, and has a list of upcoming events, just read on:

It’s SeaWorld’s best value, just for Florida residents: Pay for a day’s admission and come back again and again – with no blackout dates -- to experience all of SeaWorld’s remarkable 2012 events, plus this year’s Christmas Celebration. 

SeaWorld’s 2012 event line-up includes:

·        NEW!  Just for Kids!
Spend super-fun Saturdays at this all-new kid festival for ages 2-9. Performances by kid-favorite entertainers, such as Choo Choo Soul and Max and Ruby, as well as fun, family activities will take place Saturdays, Jan. 14 – Feb. 4.


·        Bands, Brew & BBQ
2012’s Bands, Brew & BBQ will be twice as fun when the park hosts rockin’ concerts Saturdays AND Sundays this year, on Feb. 11-12, 18-19, 25-26, and March 3-4. That’s four weekends of smokin’ hot concerts, sizzling BBQ and a thirst-quenching beer garden to wash it all down.


·        Jack Hanna Weekend
Join celebrity animal expert Jungle Jack Hanna for a fantastic weekend on the wild side, March 24-25, featuring amazing animals from all over the world. 


·        Viva La Música 
This Hispanic festival spices up SeaWorld Saturdays in April and early May while showcasing traditional Latin food, specialty drinks, and Grammy and Latin-Grammy-award winning performances. Join the fiery fiesta on April 14, 21, 28, and May 5.


·        Summer Nights 
The after-dark excitement at SeaWorld continues all summer, June through August. When the sun sets, waves of fun wash over the park with fantastic nighttime shows, thrilling coasters under the stars, and a nightly fireworks and fountain finale.


·        Halloween Spooktacular 
Orlando’s favorite family-friendly Halloween event is back and better than ever, as an underwater “fantasea” takes over SeaWorld weekends in October.  Children (and adults, too) can trick-or-treat, encounter whimsical sea creatures, and catch silly and spooky shows on Oct. 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, and 27-28.


·        SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration 
From elves to Elmo, and Santa to Shamu, SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration inspires lifelong family memories as waves of holiday spirit splash over the park in a watery, wintery wonderland. This heart-warming holiday event takes place select nights from Nov. 23 – Dec. 31.

·        New Year’s Eve at SeaWorld 
Celebrate our connection to the sea, sea life and the world we share as we ring in the New Year, SeaWorld style. Kick off the New Year on Dec. 31, with a spectacular musical celebration and bold fireworks that create an unforgettable evening.

Regular, single-day SeaWorld admission is $81.99 for adults/$73.99 for children ages 3-9.  The Fun Card is valid from the date of purchase and good throughout all of 2012 with no blackout dates.

Fun Cards are available at the park’s front gate, at SeaWorldOrlando.com or by calling (888) 800-5447. 

September 12, 2011

Exclusive Deal for FL Residents at Discovery Cove


SeaWorld has just announced a new deal for all those wanting to go to Discovery Cove living in the state of Florida! Purchase a day at Discovery Cove for a discounted price, get unlimited access to SeaWorld until January 2012! Florida residents can enjoy a perfect day for $199 plus tax per person for Dolphin Swim Day Resort admission and $129 plus tax for Day Resort admission. Offer includes an unlimited admission pass (no 14-day restriction) to SeaWorld Orlando valid through January 31, 2012 (pass is only valid after Discovery Cove visit).


Admission includes a freshly prepared breakfast and lunch, snacks and beverages throughout the day, (including alcoholic beverages for those at least 21 years of age), dolphin-safe sunscreen, snorkel equipment, locker rental, wetsuits and towels.

Proof of valid Florida residency for reach adult is required upon check-in at guest reception.

If you want to take advantage of this amazing deal, go to www.DiscoveryCove.com or call 1-877-434-7268.

July 29, 2011

Pilot Whale at SeaWorld Doing Great

Looks like SeaWorld's new rescue and rehabilitation facility is being put to great use already! Here is SeaWorld's statement on how 301 is doing:

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Vice President of Veterinary Services, Dr. Chris Dold, checks in on pilot whale 301 with SeaWorld animal care specialist Lori xx at SeaWorld Orlando’s new Cetacean Rehabilitation Facility. The 2-year-old, once-stranded, female whale is eating well and swimming around the pool – both great indicators of her progress and easy transition to her new surroundings.



"When will Waterwork come back?"

Normally the articles we post deal with strictly news and updates about SeaWorld, but after seeing so many tweets by our followers and my personal interest in this topic, I took the time to write an editorial. I'd love to hear your suggestions.

SeaWorld has been known for the education, interaction, entertainment, and care of marine mammals, and considered one of the best marine mammal parks in the world. After the incident with Tilikum, the killer whale, back in February 2010, as many of us know, some major changes in the park has changed, most noticeably, the "waterwork" aspect with killer whales. Waterwork is the interaction between killer whale and a trainer in the water. The killer whale trainers at SeaWorld Orlando, San Antonio, and San Diego have not fully entered the water with the whales since this time, and left many guests wondering, "When will the trainers go back in the water?"

First off, working with killer whales in the water takes a large amount of time; for new trainers, they spend 2-4 years interacting with the whales prior to entering the water. The process is slow, yet gradual before the trainers start performing many of the high flying behaviors one would see in the show.

Second off, the trainers cannot instantly jump into the water now after over a year of staying out. Right now, SeaWorld states that the trainers are working with the whales in the medical pool (this pool includes a false bottom that can be raised to a higher level as needed) to start having the whale accustomed to being in the water with the trainers again.

One issue that may prevent One Ocean to include waterwork for some time is the building of a false bottom in the main stage area. This process will take quite a bit of time, as we have seen with how much time construction on Dine with Shamu has taken. If the Entertainment Department decides to hold off on waterwork performances, it could be up to two years before we see those behaviors integrated into the show.

So, what does this all mean? Will it be tomorrow, or will it be in 2 years? Honestly, no one can put an exact date on when this will happen. With the One Ocean show originally designed with the trainers out of the water, the trainers must then go through rehearsals with the whales and the show director, the corporate side of SeaWorld, specifically zoological operations, the entertainment department, and the CEO, must together decide if waterwork to resume. My prediction is within the next year, either late 2011, or early 2012. Once the Dine with Shamu pool is open with the new false bottoms (it looks like it will be open late August), the trainers can safely work on the amazing behaviors that we all love. Hopefully then, we will all see waterworks back to the way it was.

July 23, 2011

Summer Nights 2011 at SeaWorld

SeaWorld Orlando's lineup of nighttime festivities are truly something you cannot miss! SeaWorld's Summer Nights is a special event the will run through August 14th. Here are some of my insider tips after spending a few nights at the park:

-Make sure to try to have two nights to spend at SeaWorld Summer Nights! There's so much to do, it is quite difficult to cram it all into one night!

-Sea Lions Tonight is beyond funny, and The Mime from the daytime show returns, not only during the preshow, but makes several cameos in the show!

-Shamu Rocks will get the headbanger buried inside you and make you get up and cheer for all that Shamu and Crew has in store! The two best spots to be in the show is center higher up for the Eruption guitar solo; the second being next to the fountains! SeaWorld integrated the fountains made for One Ocean into the new show, so be sure to get SOAKED!!!

-After you had your Shamu Soaking for the night, this is where the two nights come in handy: SeaWorld set up Summer Nights perfectly so you have at least one hour between the end of Shamu Rocks and the park's firework spectacle, Reflections (and the park's closing). If you want a late night rush, head over to Manta, Kraken, and Journey to Atlantis across the park, or if you want to relax and enjoy the night wwith some great music and entertainment, check out Summer Nights Central, located next to Bayside Stadium!

-There's two ways to experience Reflections, now with music from One Ocean! You can get a seat at Bayside Stadium where they do a great preshow as well! You can also check it out from The Waterfront, a good idea if you decide to ride the rides or check out the animals sleeping ;-)

And for the summer, SeaWorld has a new ticket called "Summer Nights After 3PM Ticket!" for only $49.99! Head over to SeaWorldParks.com for more info! And if you have any other tips, make sure to tweet us @SWONation, at twitter.com/swonation

Stranded Pilot Whale Now in SeaWorld Orlando’s Care


Early Saturday morning, SeaWorld Orlando’s animal experts and rescue team transported a young pilot whale to the park’s new Cetacean Rehabilitation Facility. The 9-foot, nearly 600-pound whale was being cared for in Key Largo, Fla., by SeaWorld staff and other volunteers after it and 20 other pilot whales beached themselves in the lower Keys in early May.

The National Marine Fisheries Service and other animal experts considered the two-year-old female whale to be a “dependent calf” that could not be returned to the wild and was in dire need of extensive hands-on treatment. For the five-hour trip to Orlando, the whale was carefully placed in a stretcher and then into a large, water-filled transport unit in a cooled truck. The whale was continually monitored by park animal experts and chief veterinarian, Dr. Chris Dold, during the trip. According to Dold, “It’s still too early to tell her long-term prognosis, but she traveled well, she’s getting settled into her new surroundings, and we’re cautiously optimistic about her future.”

This pilot whale calf is the first resident of SeaWorld's new, 40,000-gallon rehabilitation pool, a facility designed specifically to rehabilitate whales and dolphins rescued from the wild. At the facility, the park’s animal experts will monitor the whale round the clock, performing physical examinations and additional testing. SeaWorld’s goal is to have her join the company’s other pilot whales in the near term.

June 22, 2011

SeaWorld Orlando Releases Three Green Sea Turtles Back into Their Native Waters

Today three green sea turtles were released back into waters of Florida’s east coast. All three turtles were rehabilitated by SeaWorld Orlando’s animal rescue team. The first turtle to be released --a quite large, 20-inch turtle-- was brought to SeaWorld’s rehabilitation facility in January of this year with pneumonia. Considered a sub-adult, this female green sea turtle was given around-the-clock care by the Park’s turtle specialists. She was released today in Eddy Creek, and the aquarium team has confidence she will do just fine back in the wild.
A turtle that was recently brought to SeaWorld for a shell infection and barnacles also was released today. Barnacles can cause stress and disable the flippers of the turtle. After carefully removing the barnacles, the aquarium team nursed the young turtle’s shell back to health. Turtle specialists are optimistic about the turtles release back into Cape Canaveral. The day of turtle releases ended with the third green sea turtle which was rescued in December of 2010 for fishing line ingestion, which is a common injury for sea turtles. SeaWorld’s care team aided this turtle back to health by removing the line and monitoring the turtle’s weight until it reached a healthy benchmark. The fastest of the three turtles took off into the waves, which aquarists say is a good sign.
“Today’s release went well, and we’re happy that the turtle’s are fully recovered and are safely back into their natural habitats,” said Dan Conklin, SeaWorld Orlando’s Supervisor of Aquarium.
 
Coinciding with today’s release is this Friday’s, June 24, launch of "Turtle: The Incredible Journey", the first movie from SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment’s newly formed SeaWorld Pictures division, in theaters across the country and at Pointe Orlando and Oviedo Marketplace in Central Florida. It's a stunning family documentary and award-winning film that follows the life and migration of a loggerhead turtle from hatchling to maturity on a two-year adventure of more than 9,000 miles guided only by instinct. The film is a remarkable example of wildlife documentary filmmaking and is narrated by Academy Award nominee Miranda Richardson.

June 18, 2011

Summer Nights at SeaWorld Starts Tonight!

There’s no better place to be when the sun sets in Orlando than at Summer Nights at SeaWorld when waves of fun wash over the park with fantastic shows, thrilling coasters under the stars, and a nightly fireworks and fountain finale. 

Summer Nights runs June 18 through August 14 – and SeaWorld is open until 10 p.m. .

Headlining Summer Nights is Shamu Rocks, a larger-than-life experience where guests jam to a rock-n-roll beat;Sea Lions Tonite, an uproarious show featuring Clyde and Seamore that will have everyone in stitches; andReflections, the sky-filling fireworks and fountains finale that ends the night with a bang. 

New this year, Summer Nights Central, located on Bayside pathway, comes alive every night at 6 p.m.  Guests dance the night away at this family-friendly, nightly party as a DJ spins the latest tunes and rockin’, live bands perform each weekend.  In addition, beer, wine, frozen drinks and plenty of delicious snacks such as soft pretzels, melt-in-your-mouth cotton candy and tasty Blue Bunny® ice cream will be available.

And now, adults pay the kid’s price plus get a second day free at SeaWorld to enjoy the park on their schedule.  It’s the best way to experience Summer Nights.  For more information and to purchase tickets go to SeaWorldOrlando.com.

June 11, 2011

Grand Reef Opens At Discovery Cove Review, Pictures & Video!

Yesterday, Discovery Cove opened its first-ever expansion since the park opened in 2001, The Grand Reef. It is on a piece of previously unused land which is now a huge reef. It is home to a great deal of sea life including but not limited to: rays, fish, eels, and even sharks! Although some of them were in the previous reef, which has now been closed to make way for a new fresh water reef opening next year, it is a much bigger reef and a lot nicer than the previous one.
There are many ways to experience The Grand Reef. By taking the normal route and swimming with a complimentary mask and snorkel, wading through the shallow waters, taking a SeaVenture into the deep waters, crossing bridges above the water, and just relaxing and taking it all in from the shore. Throughout the reef there is a ton of man-made coral which is very colorful and striking against the brown and tan colors of the rocks and sand. The eels and sharks are separated from guests by huge slanted glass enclousres. The sharks are very easy to view but the eels are a bit hidden. 
Overall, The Grand Reef is a great addition to an already great park. The interactions with sea life is something you can't experience elsewhere and the theming of the area is superb! The beautiful water walls, rock work, and greenery make this reef even better. With only around 1,000 guests per day, guests can relax and enjoy everything Discovery Cove has to offer at their own pace. Keep checking back for more information on Discovery Cove and their future expansion which will open in 2012! 
























June 5, 2011

Turtle: The Incredible Journey Poster & Trailer Released!


The website for Turtle: The Incredible Journey is now live. It includes the poster, a trailer and event a nice description of the film. Remember, it is being released in select theaters on July 24th, 2011! This is sure to be a great film and a great start of SeaWorld Pictures. We can't wait to see what else is to come from SeaWorld Pictures in the coming years and we will be keeping you updated on everything SeaWorld Pictures! Check out the poster above and the trailer below. To visit the website click here: turtle-film.com

May 31, 2011

SeaWorld Orlando Releases Little Joe the Manatee in Lake Dexter

This afternoon, the SeaWorld animal care team released 1,515-pound Lil Joe the manatee into Lake Dexter in Astor, Fla. The SeaWorld team fitted Lil Joe with a tracking device before the release so that his health can be monitored.

Lil Joe was released into 
Lake Dexter where several other manatees already live and will help him get acclimated to his new environment. After the release,

Lil Joe was seen nibbling on nearby vegetation, which is a good sign. Here is a video of Little Joe's release: