SeaWorld Orlando – Florida, United States

SeaWorld Orlando is a theme park near Orlando, Florida. It is owned and operated by Busch Entertainment Corporation, a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch. The park, when combined with its neighbor Discovery Cove and the Aquatica water park, forms a larger entertainment complex devoted to Earth’s oceans and the array of life that inhabits them.

In 2007, SeaWorld Orlando hosted approximately 5.8 million guests, ranking it the seventh-most visited amusement park in the United States and #12 in the world. However, SeaWorld’s owners dispute that figure, claiming their internal attendance numbers, normally not released as part of the cited study, are approximately 6.2 million guests.

Park design

Unlike most other theme parks, SeaWorld Orlando is not divided into “lands” or sections. There are, however, some distinct areas within the park.

Key West at SeaWorld

Key West at SeaWorld is designed to mimic the appearance of the city of Key West, Florida. Exhibits in this portion of the park include stingrays, dolphins, sea turtles, manatees and alligators. The stingray and dolphin habitats offer opportunities for guests to feed the animals.

Shamu’s Happy Harbor

Shamu’s Happy Harbor is a children’s play area hosted by Shamu, the park’s killer whale mascot, that features family rides and a play fortress.

The Waterfront at SeaWorld

The Waterfront, the newest section of the park, resembles a seaside Mediterranean village and contains shops and restaurants, as well as the park’s iconic Sky Tower ride.

Clydesdale Hamlet

A signature component of the Anheuser-Busch theme parks is the stables of the famous Budweiser Clydesdales. Adjacent to the stables is the Hospitality House, where adult guests can sample Anheuser-Busch products and learn about the beer-making process.

Rides and attractions

SeaWorld Orlando has a vast array of attractions, including rides and animal exhibits, and even two that are a combination of the two.

Rides

Journey to Atlantis, a boat ride with roller coaster elements themed to the mythical Atlantis

Numerous children’s rides, located in Shamu’s Happy Harbor.

Animal exhibits

Shark Encounter, which features an underwater tunnel and a wide array of sharks, rays and venomous fish. At Sharks Underwater Grill, guests can dine while observing the sea life in the main exhibit tank.

Pacific Point Preserve, home to the park’s sea lions and seals.

Combined attractions

Wild Arctic, an indoor exhibit featuring polar bears, beluga whales and walruses that is designed to resemble a research station in the Arctic Ocean. Guests can take a motion-simulated helicopter journey to the exhibit, or may bypass the ride and proceed directly to the exhibit.

During the 2007 Christmas season, Wild Arctic was replaced by the Polar Express Experience, a temporary overlay based on the popular 2004 feature film.

Future attractions

On April 2, 2008 park officials announced to a gathering of travel and community leaders a major new attraction that will combine a thrill ride with an animal exhibit. The exact specifications and details were not immediately revealed, although it was noted that this would be the largest single investment in the history of any SeaWorld park, and that it would open sometime in 2009. It was further noted that the attraction would include a roller coaster, but that it would be much more than just a roller coaster. Regarding the design of the attraction, Joseph Couceiro, vice president of sales and marketing, said:

• “ What it’s going to be is the next generation SeaWorld attraction. What we do well is connect the world with the sea, presenting marine life in totally different perspectives. Also what we do well is put the guest in the midst of that. This is the next generation of that.”

Artists’ concepts of the new attraction were leaked onto the Internet in April 2008; however, SeaWorld officials have yet to acknowledge if the images are accurate representations of the attraction’s final design, although they have suggested that the roller coaster will have a “gliding” sensation. An official announcement has not been scheduled at this time.

Live entertainment

SeaWorld Orlando hosts a number of live shows, many featuring trained animals. During peak seasons (such as summer), the park will offer special shows in addition to the main performances.

• Shamu Stadium is the seven-million gallon home to the park’s killer whale performers. The park’s current production is Believe, which is joined by Shamu Rocks during busier seasons.
• The Whale and Dolphin Theatre features dolphins and false killer whales in Blue Horizons, which also adds human acrobats and divers.
• The Sea Lion and Otter Stadium hosts “Clyde and Seamore,” a pair of California sea lions in the comical presentation Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island. During the summer months, the pair lampoon the park’s other shows during Sea Lions Tonight.

New for the 2008 summer season of SeaWorld After Dark), the stage and lake are used for the Bayside Ski Jam, an all-new nighttime action-packed ski show. Additionally, the stage is used for SeaWorld’s numerous music concert series.

• The Nautilus Theatre is home to Odyssea, an acrobatic show similar in style and presentation to the works of Cirque du Soleil.
• Seaport Theatre features dogs, cats and other animals that have been rescued from local animal shelters in Pets Ahoy!.

During peak seasons, Mistify immerses guests in a vivid underwater adventure that encompasses both sea and sky. SeaWorld’s center lake is stage to the show featuring larger-than-life marine creatures on 60-foot mist screens, 100-foot fountains, flames on water and fireworks.

Animal Inventory

As of January 13, 2005, the current animal inventory that can be placed on breeding loans to other facilities included “2 beluga whales, 3 false killer whales, 9 killer whales, 79 dolphins, 79 California sea lions, 4 walrus, 6 manatees, 26 harbor seals, 9 Asian otters, 2 ant eaters, 4 polar bears, 2 dogs, 2 servals, 4 munjacs, and 2 sloths. This inspection encompassed both SeaWorld of Florida & Discovery Cove.” This list has grown since then with numerous births and breeding loan transfers from other facilities.

(F) represents female, (M) represents male, and (U) represents the undetermined sex of a calf.

• Blue Horizons

Pseudorcas include Jozu (M), Cassie (F), Suki (F), and Terri (M) whereas dolphins include Alejandro (M), Griffith (M), Lily (F), Mimi (F), Bretta (M), Bubba (M), Starkey (F), Sabrina (F), and Sebastian (F).

• Clydesdale Hamlet

Clydesdales include Bud, Busch, Classic, Kelly, and Prince, which are all males.

• Dolphin Cove

These dolphins are shifted between Dolphin Cove and Dolphin Nursery at SeaWorld Orlando and Discovery Cove, depending on pregnancies and space availability. Dolphins include Ajax (M), Akai (M), Ariel (F), Astra (F), Astra’s Calf (U), Bailey (M), Bailey (F), Belle (M), Bossa (F), Bunny (F), Calli (F), Capricorn (M), Carol (F), CJ (M), Clipper (F), Clyde (M), Coral (F), Dash (F), Davy (M), Deke (M), Diego (M), Dixie (F), Duffy (M), Duncan (M), Goofy (F), Haley (F), Hutch (M), Jade (F), Jag (M), Jenever (F), Jenny (F), Kendall (F), Kiwi (M), Latoya (F), LaToya (F), Lester (M), Marius (M), Natalie (F), Nellie (M), Nemo (M), Nova (F), Oscar (M), Peanut (F), Punta (F), Rascal (M), Ripley (M), Rose (F), Roxy (F), Scarlet (F), Scarlet’s Calf (U), Scotia (M), Sundance (M), Tango (M), Tanya (F), Tasha (F), Tiger (M), Thelma (F), Thelma’s Calf (U), Toad (F), Tyler (M), Yoko (F), Zinger (M).

• Shamu Stadium

Orcas include Katina, Kalina, Tilikum, Taima, Takara, Kayla, Trua, Nalani, and Malia.

• The Sealion & Otter Stadium

The walrus whom portrays Sir Winston in the show, is actually a female named Sloe Poke.

• Wild Arctic

The polar bears exhibit includes the famous human hand-raised Denver Zoo twins Klondike (M) and Snow (F), as well as two older polar bears named Johnny (M) and Liebchen (M). The beluga whales exhibit includes Juno (M), Aurek (M), and Klondike (M) whom were acquired on November 18, 2006 from Marineland (Ontario) on a breeding loan in exchange for Ikaika. The beluga exhibit also consists of an older beluga named Spooky (F). Furthermore, SeaWorld plans to acquire an female beluga calf named Maple from Marineland Ontario within the next few months.

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