An Educational Day Out at Sea World (Seaworld Adventure Park (Florida))

Member Name: Hot_Pants

Product:	Seaworld Adventure Park (Florida)
Date:	09/02/05 (302 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fun, Rides, Learn about manatees

Disadvantages: Get wet

I was a bit apprehensive about visiting Sea World. So many people had said to me about how cruel it is to keep animals in captivity.

Having visited Sea World in Orlando, my mind has been changed. I am convinced that these animals are happy to be there, although I did feel that some of the enclosures were a little small. Sea World rescue animals, and are keen to inform the general public on caring for animals, and our ecosystem. So, here is my opinion on the park.

We visited Sea World just after New Year, so we had the benefit of visiting at the quietest time of the year.

Where is it?

Sea World is easy to find. It is located near downtown Orlando at the intersection of Interstate 4 (I4) and the Bee Line Expressway.

The park opens at 9am, and closing hours depend on the time of year.

Car Parking

Well, on this holiday we were quite lucky. Being with my brother in law who is disabled, we parked our van in a disabled parking space which is right opposite the entrance. Car parking cost $8, whether you are disabled or not. They offer preferred parking which is about $10, which with the current exchange rate is just over £1, so well worth it.

Security

In this day and age, this bit is really important. I was quite impressed with the level of security. On entering the park, the security guards check everyone’s bags, camera cases etc, even the kids if they have them. I found that the queue moved quite quickly, and the checks were efficient.

Tickets

The current prices are on the website. (Currently $59.95 for adults, and don’t forget to add the tax!) I would recommend you buy before you arrive at the park, as queuing for the tickets will probably be the biggest queue you see! You can get free entry into Sea World for a week if you visit Discovery Cove.

Who is it suitable for?

I would say that the park is suitable for everyone, whether you like roller coasters, animals, shows, or learning about the environment, then this park is for you.

Let’s start with the shows

The show that everyone has heard of is the Shamu show.

Shamu is a Killer Whale, and has his own stadium. The park is well signposted, and you cannot miss the stadium. The stadium is set out on 2 levels. The front seats and walkway are in the soakzone. Be warned, soak zone means you could get absolutely drenched. The view from the front of the rear section is excellent, and if you have any camera equipment, I strongly suggest you head for the upper seats.

While waiting for the show to start, a quiz is shown on the big screen, giving adults and kids alike a chance to learn about Killer Whales. This was great for keeping the kids entertained.

The show was fantastic. Watching the killer whales perform was amazing. How on earth something that size can get themselves out of the water, and into the air is just beyond comprehension. Definitely a show not to be missed.

Next is the Clyde and Seamore take Pirate Island show. This is hilarious. It is set up like a pantomime, with the sea lions, otters and a walrus joining in the acting. The kids were in hysterics, and so were we! The set is brilliant, and is a Pirate ship to the rear of a water tank. The animals appear from above and below the pirate ship, and dive into the water from heights. I can’t wait to see this again when we go next Christmas.

If acrobatics are more your thing, then Oddysea is a must see. This amazing show of flips, tumbles, comedy, and acrobatics was just brilliant. The costumes were bright and colourful with a sea theme, and the show started in the most bizarre way, with some guy getting up from the audience, and walking around on the benches. I thought this was some sort of “pre show”, but it flowed seamlessly into the show itself.

Pets Ahoy is a show that we missed unfortunately. It is apparently a show of animal acrobatics, and utilises animals that have been rescued from animal shelters.

Over at Key West where the dolphins are housed, there is a new show planned for summer 2005. This will be on our must see list for next time.

Rides

Kraken is my favourite. This is the fastest, tallest and longest roller coaster you will find in Orlando at the moment, and it is also floorless. We rode on the middle of this beast, and I have to say that we then had the bug, and had to ride again, waiting for the front row. WOW, this was definitely worth the wait (half an hour at the beginning of Jan for a front row seat – the other seats you can just walk onto!!). As you sit in the coaster, there is nothing above or in front of you, and when they remove the floor, there is nothing below you either. This was the most intense experience I have had on a roller coaster, and will be heading straight there on my next visit.

Journey to Atlantis was a ride we avoided due to visiting on a chilly day. It is a roller coaster come water ride, so prepare to get wet. One I hope to try out next time so that I can update this op.

One ride I’m not sure whether to put here or elsewhere is the Wild Arctic. Here you have 2 choices – either walk into the Polar Bear enclosure, or go by air. What isn’t clear before you get in there is what “by air” means. You will wait a lot longer to go by air, but you get to ride a helicopter simulator before entering the enclosure. It was a really good ride, and worth the wait. Other animals you will find in there are Beluga Whales and Walruses. One tip is to go during the Shamu show if you get the opportunity, or head straight there before everybody else gets out of the stadium. As it is opposite the entrance to the stadium, that tends to be the first place everybody heads after the show.

Other Animals

My favourite is a lagoon containing Bottlenose Dolphins at Key West. Here you can feed the dolphins at certain times of the day, reach over the wall to touch the dolphins, or visit the underwater viewing area. Take care if you want to touch the dolphins – remove anything that could dangle over the walls as the dolphins love to pinch camera cases etc. Don’t splash the water as this spooks them, just hold your hand steady, and if they are curious about you, they will swim over to take a look. Try to aim for under their chin, not the top of their head, and they will be more likely to stay around for a longer look at you!

The Manatee Rescue area is a brilliant place to visit. I couldn’t believe it when I saw them eating lettuce underwater – not the odd leaf, but whole lettuces thrown into the water. How they cope with eating them with no hands had me fascinated. Here you can learn how to help the Manatees to avoid extinction.

You can attend feeding time with the seals at Pacific Point, travel along a moving walkway to see the penguins in their man made Antarctic habitat (with a yummy faint smell of fish!), visit the sharks, barracuda, venomous fish etc in their underwater tunnel, the tropical rainforest with many species of birds, the dolphin nursery with the mothers and their calves, see the stingrays in their lagoon and have the opportunity to touch them, and see rescued turtles at Turtle Point. There is so much to do, I suggest you try to visit more than once to fit everything in.

Eating

There are plenty of places around the park to pick up drinks and snacks (not cheap!). We chose to have dinner in the park, and managed to get a reservation at the Sharks Underwater Grill. On entering, the shark tank goes from one end of the restaurant to the other. The food and service was good, although in comparison to the other parks, I felt the food was expensive. You have to remember to add on tax, and service charge to the menu prices. There are about 9 different places to eat, so you should find something to suit all tastes.

You can take your own food and drink into the park, and as long as you don’t go on a hot day, I would recommend you do so. It will save on the waiting time for a table, and the huge cost involved with eating there.

Atmosphere

I found the whole park to be a relaxing place to visit. The staff obviously love working there, and were keen to answer any questions. As you enter the park, there is music playing, and the crowds heading through the gates seem to disperse quite quickly.

The staff encourage you to interact with most of the animals, and at various places around the park, you can buy fish to feed the dolphins, sea lions etc. There is even food for the sharks!

Finding your way around

As you enter the park, you will find maps waiting for you. Everything is well spaced out, so pick up a map, and plan your day. There is also a separate show times guide, so make sure you have an alarm on your watch so that you don’t miss any.

Anything Else

There is so much more I could tell you, but that should have whetted your appetite. There is lots of information on the web site which is www.seaworld.com

Thanks for reading.

Sam xxx

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