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SeaWorld Orlando Christmas

SeaWorld Orlando’s Christmas Celebration Joyous Family Fun

The 2012 Edition of Seaworld’s Christmas Celebration is back and better than ever. They’ve expanded the Sea of Trees and added lots of little touches that make the evening special. Add to that all the returning favorites and it’s clearly one of the best deals… Read More »SeaWorld Orlando’s Christmas Celebration Joyous Family Fun

An Orlando Journey Into the Future

Unless you are living under a rock (which would be incredibly uncomfortable), you realize the affect that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has had on the Orlando tourism community. Everyone is filled to the brim with new projects that, they hope can match and/or topple Harry Potter in the themed and immersive environment category… or the bring in millions of people and billions of dollars category too! I thought, you can never look too far into the future… so here is a preview to what will, supposedly, make you travel to the Orlando area in the coming years!

Positive Coming Attractions:

  • This December 6th, the east coast’s Carsland equivalent will finally be unveiled in the Magic Kingdom. New Fantasyland containing: Enchanted Tales with Belle, Gaston’s Tavern, Be Our Guest Restaurant, Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid, Ariel’s Grotto, Pete’s Silly Sideshow, and officially, Storybook Circus, will FINALLY open after years of “looking-over-the-wall” photo updates. In 2013, the Princess Fairytale Hall will open, in the former Snow White’s Scary Adventures building. And the expansion will finally be ending (unless they announce a phase 2 with Pixie Hollow…I wish!) with the opening of the Seven Dwarves Mine Coaster. Can you believe that this was all announced back at the first D23 Expo in 2009?! If feels like so long ago!
  • Test Track will re-open at the end of this year after a rather extensive rehab and rethemeing. The concept of being inside of a computer seems like a great fit for an aging Future World attraction that needed a lift (and a nip…and a tuck…). We will see how Tron-y this new Test Track looks this December.
  • Although not at a theme park, I am super excited for Spiltsville to be coming to Downtown Disney. We have one in Tampa and it is an awesome place. This incarnation will be a two story, 36-lane bowling alley version of the usual 1 story, 12-lane concept. The uniqueness of Splitsville comes from two factors, first being that while you bowl, a waiter comes to your table…as it is a sit-down (or play-up?) restaurant as well as a bowling alley (BTW, best chicken tenders anywhere!). The second factor comes from the design of the place, the lanes aren’t set up in the normal long, side-by-side fashion of the old-fashioned alleys, they are scattered throughout the building giving it a much more personal experience. Get ready to bowl your brains out in late fall of this year.
  • Seaworld has also jumped on the immersive environment bandwagon by announcing Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin. This will take the place of the former penguin exhibit at the park. Not a lot of details have been announced about the project as of now, but the concept art is astounding. A publicity photo was recently released and has led to speculation that the ride in the land will be using a trackless ride system similar to the one used on Pooh’s Hunny Hunt at Tokyo Disneyland. I am really excited to check it out in the spring of 2013.

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SeaWorld Returns Trainers to Water with Killer Whales, but only Off-Stage

In a move they telegraphed widely last week, SeaWorld has returned its trainers to the water with Killer Whales. SeaWorld says it is taking the re-acclimation process slowly, but having trainers interact with the killer whales in the water is an important part of their… Read More »SeaWorld Returns Trainers to Water with Killer Whales, but only Off-Stage

SeaWorld Takes First Steps Toward Returning Trainers Into Water With Killer Whales

Where we last left the SeaWorld Killer Whale OSHA case was that a judge had declined to hear SeaWorld’s appeal and that trainers would not be allowed to be in the water with the animals without a barrier. SeaWorld pointed out in their appeal that… Read More »SeaWorld Takes First Steps Toward Returning Trainers Into Water With Killer Whales

SeaWorld Faces Setback in Quest to Return Trainers to Water with Shamu

SeaWorld is appealing an administrative judge’s opinion on whether the company is violating workplace safety rules when allowing trainers to swim with killer whales at its theme parks. The conservation minded theme park ran into a roadblock when the first stop on the appeals course,… Read More »SeaWorld Faces Setback in Quest to Return Trainers to Water with Shamu

Asian Small Clawed River Otters from Discovery Cove

FreshWater Oasis at Discovery Cove features a family playful Otters. I shot a short video of them frolicking in their play area and then interviewed one of the animal care team who introduced me to an otter named Boris. Get ready for a moment of… Read More »Asian Small Clawed River Otters from Discovery Cove

Freshwater Oasis now open at Discovery Cove

Last week I had the pleasure of being invited to spend an afternoon at Discovery Cove to explore the newly opened Freshwater Oasis. The latest addition to SeaWorld’s boutique park includes face-to-face encounters with playful otters and curious marmosets. Unlike other areas of the park,… Read More »Freshwater Oasis now open at Discovery Cove

SeaWorld Aquatica Now Offering Swim Lessons

Let’s say you want to enjoy SeaWorld Aquatica’s thrilling slides, double wave pools and pristine beaches, but are a little unsure of your, or your children’s, swimming skills. Well, SeaWorld has your back. They’re now offering “Learn to Swim” lessons. Locals can take them over… Read More »SeaWorld Aquatica Now Offering Swim Lessons