SeaWorld Orlando

For the SeaWorld chain of parks, see SeaWorld.
SeaWorld Orlando
Slogan The Voyage Begins...
Location 7007 SeaWorld Drive Orlando, Florida, United States
Coordinates 28°24′39″N 81°27′45″W / 28.41083°N 81.46250°W / 28.41083; -81.46250Coordinates: 28°24′39″N 81°27′45″W / 28.41083°N 81.46250°W / 28.41083; -81.46250
Theme Conservation and the Ocean
Owner SeaWorld Entertainment
Opened December 15, 1973 (1973-12-15) [1]
Operating season Year-round
Area 200 acres (81 ha)
Rides
Total 13
Roller coasters 5

SeaWorld Orlando is a theme park and marine zoological park, located on the outskirts of Orlando, Florida. It is owned and operated by SeaWorld Entertainment. When combined with its neighbor Discovery Cove and Aquatica, it forms SeaWorld Parks and Resorts Orlando, an entertainment complex consisting of the three parks and many neighboring hotels. In 2013, SeaWorld Orlando hosted an estimated 5.1 million guests, ranking it the tenth most visited amusement park in the United States and nineteenth worldwide.[2]

Park layout

As of summer 2014, SeaWorld Orlando has been separated into different areas, called "seas".[3] Each with a unique themed element. Starting at the lower center and continuing clockwise they are:

Port of Entry: The main entrance of the park features a Florida-inspired theme with lush tropical landscaping and a large artificial freshwater marina with a Shamu-themed iconic lighthouse. It is the guests gateway to the many seas of SeaWorld.[3]

Sea of Shallows: This area showcases most of the shallow water sea animal exhibits at the park as well as the Dolphin Theater. In addition, the Manta rollercoaster travels through this section and Turtle Trek, a dome theater show also reside here. All of the Key West at SeaWorld area is inside of the Sea of Shallows. It is designed to mimic the appearance of the city of Key West, Florida with architecture and landscaping reminiscent of the area. Animal exhibits in this portion of the park include cownose rays, southern stingrays, green sea turtles, hawksbill sea turtle, loggerhead sea turtle, Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, greater flamingos, West Indian manatees, American alligators, bottlenose dolphins, and brown pelicans. The stingray and dolphin habitats offer opportunities for guests to feed the animals.[3]

Sea of Legends: The Sea of Legends is dedicated to the mysterious myths and other tales told about the sea. Journey to Atlantis, a boat ride with roller-coaster elements, bases its story from the legend of the lost city of Atlantis. Next to the gift shop there is an aquarium with animals in an environment made to look like Atlantis. Also found here is Kraken, a floorless roller-coaster where the rider plays the part of the Kraken racing through the ocean.[3]

Sea of Ice: Sea of Ice, originally named Antarctica, is themed around the Antarctic continent. Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin is the sole attraction in this area. It is a dark ride where the guests follow a young penguin on a journey home after a harsh storm. The ride exits into the penguin exhibit area.[3]

Sky Tower

Sea of Delight: Sea of Delight includes a sub-area named The Waterfront, which resembles a seaside Mediterranean village. The majority of the parks restaurants are here as well as many shops. The park's Sky Tower ride is also here, it was integrated into the theme of The Waterfront village when the area opened in 2003. The only land animal show at the park, Pets Ahoy, is located here inside of the Seaport Theater. Outside of the Waterfront is where the Sea Lion and Otter Stadium viewing area stands.[3]

Sea of Mystery: The Sea of Mystery is a less themed area compared to the others in SeaWorld. It houses the shark underwater viewing and the Shark's Underwater Grill. The Nautilus Theater, showing Cirque du Soleil style shows, and Sea Garden, up close animal area, also are located here. Mako, a Bolliger & Mabillard steel hypercoaster will join the area in 2016.[3] Will become more themed and be called Shark Wreck Reef.

Sea of Fun: Formerly Shamu's Happy Harbor, Sea of Fun, is a children's area hosted by Shamu, the park's orca mascot. The area is located adjacent to Shamu Stadium and features family activities including Shamu Express (a junior rollercoaster), a net climbing structure, and a water play area.[4] Signage here still refers to it as Shamu's Happy Harbor, although management and the map use the updated name.[3]

Sea of Power: Sea of Power is host area of the SeaWorld's iconic killer whale shows. The Shamu Stadium is located in the center with the Wild Arctic indoor pavilion nextdoor. Wild Arctic is a combined attraction which includes a motion simulator followed by an indoor animal exhibit hosting beluga whales, Pacific walrus, harbor seals, and formerly polar bears. During the Christmas holiday season, Wild Arctic is transformed into the Polar Express Experience based on the Warner Bros. film of the same name. Guests ride the Polar Express to the North Pole where Santa Claus waits to greet them. Shamu Stadium currently hosts "One Ocean" as its main show with "Shamu Celebration: Light up the Night" and "Shamu Christmas Miracles" showing seasonally.[3]

Attractions

SeaWorld Orlando has many live shows and attractions including rides and animal exhibits. One of these attractions. Turtle Trek, actually combine the two, with both an animal exhibit followed by a 3-D movie.

Rides and attractions

# Name Opened Description
* Mako 2016 (Under Construction) An upcoming hypercoaster named after the fastest species of shark in the oceans. Dubbed the longest, tallest and fastest roller coaster in the Orlando area.
Mako at SeaWorld Orlando
1 Kraken 2000 A floorless roller coaster themed after the legend of the Kraken sea monster.
Kraken at SeaWorld Orlando.
2 Manta 2009 A flying roller coaster and aquarium exhibit featuring rays, sea dragons and other species.
Manta SeaWorld Orlando.
3 Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin 2013 A themed area headlined by a motion-based trackless dark ride featuring live penguin exhibits.
Empire Of The Penguin ride at SeaWorld Orlando.
4 Journey to Atlantis 1998 A water flume ride with dark ride elements themed to the mythical Atlantis.
Journey To Atlantis at SeaWorld Orlando.
5 Shamu Express 2006[5] A Zierer family roller coaster with cars themed as Shamu.
6 Sky Tower 1973 400-foot tall rotating Gyro tower.
7 Wild Arctic 1992 An indoor series of exhibits featuring beluga whales, walruses, harbor seals, and formerly polar bears, 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 watch the film without the motion and proceed directly to the exhibit.
8 Turtle Trek 2012 An outdoor/indoor exhibit featuring sea turtles, West Indian manatees, and American alligators. The highlight of the exhibit is a theater dome where a 3D computer-animated film details the average journey of a sea turtle. The theater is a 360° dome with 3D content completely surrounded the audience. The theater and media was developed by Falcon's Treehouse, LLC.
9 Sea Carousel 2007[6] A carousel themed with caricatured marine mammals and fish.
10 Jazzy Jellies 2006[5] A balloon tower style ride that lifts up and spins controlled by riders with a disk.
11 Swishy Fishies 2006[5] A spinning teacup ride themed with fish.
Swishy Fishies kid's teacup ride at SeaWorld Orlando.
12 Ocean Commotion 2007[6] A Rockin' Tug ride.
13 The Flying Fiddler 2007[6] A kiddie crab-themed Frog Hopper-style freefall attraction.
14 Paddle Boats 1978 Flamingo-themed paddle boats that can travel all around the park's central lake. Additional fee is required.
15 Net Climb 2006[7] A four story net climb play area with tire swings and slides.

Live entertainment

# Name Opened Description
14 Shamu Stadium 1984 The seven-million gallon home to the park's 7 killer whales. The park's current production is One Ocean, which is joined by the seasonal Shamu's Celebration: Light Up The Night and Shamu Christmas Miracles night shows.
Shamu Stadium SeaWorld Orlando Florida
15 The Whale and Dolphin Stadium 1984 Features dolphins, macaws, a marabou stork, and formerly an Andean condor in Blue Horizons, which also adds human acrobats and divers. False killer whales were once part of the show until the eventual death of the park's two specimens.[8] Four rescued pilot whales are also housed here and can be seen occasionally during the preshow (about 15-20 mins before the show) for Blue Horizons.[9]
16 The Sea Lion and Otter Theater 1990 Hosts "Clyde and Seamore," a pair of California sea lions in the comical presentation Clyde and Seamore's Sea Lion High. Otters and a Pacific walrus also partake in the show. This production is joined by the seasonal show Sea Lions Tonight which is a comedic production that pokes fun at other attractions at the park. The venue formerly presented Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island.
17 Bayside Stadium 1983 Formerly hosted water skiing shows on the park's central lagoon. Today, the stage is used for SeaWorld's numerous music concert series and other special events as well as the official viewing area for the seasonal Reflections firework show.
18 The Nautilus Theatre 1995 An acrobatic show similar in style and presentation to the works of Cirque du Soleil.
19 Seaport Theatre 1998 Features dogs, cats, and other animals that have been rescued from local animal shelters in Pets Ahoy!. This venue is also home to Abby's Treasure Hunt.
20 Seafire Inn 2001 Is both a restaurant and a theatre in the style of a dinner theatre. This venue was home to the Makahiki Luau until its closure in 2010..
21 Reflections 2006 A seasonal firework show on the park's central lagoon featuring fireworks, dancing fountains, and mist screens synchronized and inspired by the musical soundtracks of the park's shows and attractions. The show was formerly called Mistify. During the Holidays, there is a Holiday Reflections.

Animal exhibits

Animal Exhibits Gallery

Controversies

In February 2010, during a training session, one of the orca whales Tilikum pulled trainer Dawn Brancheau into the water and ultimately killed her.[10] An autopsy determined that Brancheau's death was attributed to blunt force trauma and drowning; injuries included her scalp being removed and her left arm being severed below the shoulder.[11] In August 2010, The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited SeaWorld of Florida LLC for three safety violations, following the death of an animal trainer in February. The total penalty was $75,000 and SeaWorld was required to keep a barrier between its trainers and the whales during shows.[12][13] This animal was one of the three killer whales responsible for an earlier 1991 trainer death at Sealand of the Pacific in Victoria, BC, Canada.[14][15]

Attendance

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Worldwide rank
5,926,000 [16] 5,800,000 [17] 5,100,000 [18] 5,202,000 [18] 5,358,000 [2] 5,090,000[2] 4,683,000[19] 21

Aquatica

Main article: Aquatica Orlando

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/SeaWorld/info
  2. 1 2 3 "TEA/AECOM 2013 Global Attractions Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 http://seaworldparks.com/seaworld-orlando/park-info/seaworld-park-map/?m=1
  4. ↑ "Shamu's Happy Harbor". seaworldparks.com. SeaWorld. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 "SeaWorld Florida". Screamscape. August 11, 2006. Archived from the original on August 11, 2006. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 "SeaWorld Florida". Screamscape. May 29, 2007. Archived from the original on May 29, 2007. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Photo TR: SeaWorld, IOA/Universal Updates!". Theme Park Review. May 24, 2006. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  8. ↑ Garcia, Jason (5 June 2012). "False killer whale Jozu dies at SeaWorld Orlando". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  9. ↑ Kirley, James (16 September 2012). "Too soon to tell if surviving pilot whales can be released". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  10. ↑ Hoare, Philip, "When killer whales attack", The Telegraph, 15 July 2013
  11. ↑ "Autopsy report" (PDF). Autopsy report. Office of the Medical examiner, district nine, FL. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  12. ↑ Kuo, Vivian, "SeaWorld appeal of OSHA citations denied" CNN, 13 April 2014
  13. ↑ Lee, Jolie, "SeaWorld won't appeal ruling pulling trainers from water at killer whale shows", USA Today, 21 August 2014
  14. ↑ "OSHA News release - US Labor Department's OSHA cites SeaWorld of Florida following animal trainer's death". https://www.osha.gov. OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration USA. Retrieved 13 December 2014. External link in |website= (help)
  15. ↑ "Seaworld Vs OSHA". http://theorcaproject.wordpress.com. The Orca Project. Retrieved 13 December 2014. External link in |website= (help)
  16. ↑ "TEA/AECOM 2008 Global Attractions Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2008. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  17. ↑ "TEA/AECOM 2009 Global Attractions Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 2, 2010. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  18. 1 2 "TEA/AECOM 2011 Global Attractions Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2011. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  19. ↑ "TEA/AECOM 2014 Global Attractions Attendance Report Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

External links

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