SEA WORLD ORLANDO FL
by Paula Hughes Court
Known as Orlando’s best kept secret, Sea World Orlando FL is a great
theme park for adults and children of all ages. Covering over 200 acres,
the adventure park offers world-class shows, thrilling rides and hands-
on animal encounters. Unlike Orlando's other amusement parks, Sea
World Orlando is large and spread-out so you'll never feel crowded.
Several reasonable Orlando hotels are located close-by on
International Drive, so your best bet is to visit in the morning, go back to
your hotel for lunch and a swim, them return to Sea World in the cooler
evening hours.
If time is limited, the following attractions are the ones that you don't
want to miss.
SEAWORLD ORLANDO FLORIDA THRILL RIDES:
KRAKEN:
Kraken is the newest, highest, fastest, and longest roller coaster in
Orlando. It's also floorless with open-sided seats, which means the
riders feet dangle. The roller coaster reaches speeds up to 65 mph.
Height requirement is 54".
JOURNEY TO ATLANTIS:
Part water-ride, part roller coaster, the Journey to Atlantis ride combines
the excitement of both into this one-of-a-kind water-coaster. The ride
includes two of the steepest, wettest, fastest drops to be found in any
theme park. Height requirement is 42".
WILD ARCTIC:
Guests have a choice of two ways to visit the Polar Exhibit, they can
walk through, or they can enter by way of the Wild Arctic ride, a
simulated motion-based flight over the frozen Arctic. Though tame-
looking in appearance, this ride is not for guests who experience
motion-sickness. Height requirement is 42".
SEAWORLD ORLANDO'S ANIMAL EXHIBITS:
MANATEES: THE LAST GENERATION:
If you're short on time, skip the movie and go straight to the aquarium
where you can view gentle endangered Florida manatees. The
attraction was named the best new zoological exhibit in the country by
The American Zoological Association.
PENGUIN ENCOUNTER
Guests ride a 120-ft. moving walkway through this icy exhibit featuring
more than 200 playful penguins. Children love this exhibit, so don't
miss it. The exhibit holds four species of penguins and is kept at a
freezing 30 degrees. Six thousand pounds of snow falls daily inside the
simulated penguin habitat. On your way out, be sure to visit the puffins.
WILD ARCTIC EXHIBIT
Don’t miss the Wild Arctic where you’ll be transported into a simulated
twilight zone of the Arctic circle. Children will enjoy watching the baby-
faced beluga whales toss balls around, but don’t forget to visit the
enormous walrus on the lower level. He loves interacting with visitors.
KEY WEST AT SEAWORLD
If you want to handfeed the dolphins, go straight to this area when the
park opens and get in line for the dolphin food (a cup of fish). The
dolphin's appetites diminish quickly so morning is your best time to do
this. There's also a smaller tank holding gentle stingrays that park
visitors are allowed to touch.
CLYDESDALE HAMLET
Children (and adults) are always amazed at the size of these giant
Budweiser Clydesdales. Don't miss a walk through their stalls to see
them up close. During daily petting sessions, guests can have their
photo taken with a Clydesdale.
SHARK ENCOUNTER
Travel through the world's largest, underwater acrylic tunnel and find
yourself just inches away from dangerous predators in Shark
Encounter. Slithery eels, frightening barracuda, venomous fish and
toothy sharks make their home in this coral reef habitat.
SHOWS:
Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island:
This is my family's favorite attraction at SeaWorld Orlando. The park's
talented sea lions, otters, and a giant walrus join the actors in a tale of
pirates and lost treasure. This is a not-to-be-missed show. Get there
early, the mime working the crowd before the show is hilarious.
Shamu Rocks America:
Both of the Shamu shows are great, but this nighttime show is a perfect
ending to the day. The killer whales and their trainers perform high-
energy routines to loud rock music. Take note of the splash-zone signs.
Trust me-you will get wet if you're sitting in those seats and the water is
ice cold!
PRIVATE ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS
Along with the opportunities to touch stingrays and feed dolphins,
SeaWorld also offers special programs for a limited number of
participants who desire an even closer animal encounter. Surprisingly
inexpensive, the one-hour programs include tours of rescue and
rehabilitation facilities, a behind-the-scenes arctic tour where you can
pet a penguin, and a predators tour of the shark tank where you can
even touch a white-spotted bamboo shark. For the truly adventurous,
SeaWorld offers the chance to scuba dive enclosed in a shark tank in
the Shark Encounter attraction.
BEST FOR SMALL CHILDREN
Shamu's Happy Harbor is a wonderful place for small children to run
off some energy. Pack a bathing suit for the kids so they can play in the
water jungle gym. Older children will enjoy climbing in the large netted
areas.
Contact SeaWorld, Orlando at www.seaworld.com or 1-800-327-2424.
Admission is $53.95+tax for adults and $44.95+tax for children ages 3-
9.
Behind-the-scenes tours are $15.00 for adults and $12.00 for children.
REVIEW OF SEAWORLD'S DISCOVERY COVE
REVIEW OF DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM
REVIEW OF DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE
by Paula Hughes Court
Known as Orlando’s best kept secret, Sea World Orlando FL is a great
theme park for adults and children of all ages. Covering over 200 acres,
the adventure park offers world-class shows, thrilling rides and hands-
on animal encounters. Unlike Orlando's other amusement parks, Sea
World Orlando is large and spread-out so you'll never feel crowded.
Several reasonable Orlando hotels are located close-by on
International Drive, so your best bet is to visit in the morning, go back to
your hotel for lunch and a swim, them return to Sea World in the cooler
evening hours.
If time is limited, the following attractions are the ones that you don't
want to miss.
SEAWORLD ORLANDO FLORIDA THRILL RIDES:
KRAKEN:
Kraken is the newest, highest, fastest, and longest roller coaster in
Orlando. It's also floorless with open-sided seats, which means the
riders feet dangle. The roller coaster reaches speeds up to 65 mph.
Height requirement is 54".
JOURNEY TO ATLANTIS:
Part water-ride, part roller coaster, the Journey to Atlantis ride combines
the excitement of both into this one-of-a-kind water-coaster. The ride
includes two of the steepest, wettest, fastest drops to be found in any
theme park. Height requirement is 42".
WILD ARCTIC:
Guests have a choice of two ways to visit the Polar Exhibit, they can
walk through, or they can enter by way of the Wild Arctic ride, a
simulated motion-based flight over the frozen Arctic. Though tame-
looking in appearance, this ride is not for guests who experience
motion-sickness. Height requirement is 42".
SEAWORLD ORLANDO'S ANIMAL EXHIBITS:
MANATEES: THE LAST GENERATION:
If you're short on time, skip the movie and go straight to the aquarium
where you can view gentle endangered Florida manatees. The
attraction was named the best new zoological exhibit in the country by
The American Zoological Association.
PENGUIN ENCOUNTER
Guests ride a 120-ft. moving walkway through this icy exhibit featuring
more than 200 playful penguins. Children love this exhibit, so don't
miss it. The exhibit holds four species of penguins and is kept at a
freezing 30 degrees. Six thousand pounds of snow falls daily inside the
simulated penguin habitat. On your way out, be sure to visit the puffins.
WILD ARCTIC EXHIBIT
Don’t miss the Wild Arctic where you’ll be transported into a simulated
twilight zone of the Arctic circle. Children will enjoy watching the baby-
faced beluga whales toss balls around, but don’t forget to visit the
enormous walrus on the lower level. He loves interacting with visitors.
KEY WEST AT SEAWORLD
If you want to handfeed the dolphins, go straight to this area when the
park opens and get in line for the dolphin food (a cup of fish). The
dolphin's appetites diminish quickly so morning is your best time to do
this. There's also a smaller tank holding gentle stingrays that park
visitors are allowed to touch.
CLYDESDALE HAMLET
Children (and adults) are always amazed at the size of these giant
Budweiser Clydesdales. Don't miss a walk through their stalls to see
them up close. During daily petting sessions, guests can have their
photo taken with a Clydesdale.
SHARK ENCOUNTER
Travel through the world's largest, underwater acrylic tunnel and find
yourself just inches away from dangerous predators in Shark
Encounter. Slithery eels, frightening barracuda, venomous fish and
toothy sharks make their home in this coral reef habitat.
SHOWS:
Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island:
This is my family's favorite attraction at SeaWorld Orlando. The park's
talented sea lions, otters, and a giant walrus join the actors in a tale of
pirates and lost treasure. This is a not-to-be-missed show. Get there
early, the mime working the crowd before the show is hilarious.
Shamu Rocks America:
Both of the Shamu shows are great, but this nighttime show is a perfect
ending to the day. The killer whales and their trainers perform high-
energy routines to loud rock music. Take note of the splash-zone signs.
Trust me-you will get wet if you're sitting in those seats and the water is
ice cold!
PRIVATE ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS
Along with the opportunities to touch stingrays and feed dolphins,
SeaWorld also offers special programs for a limited number of
participants who desire an even closer animal encounter. Surprisingly
inexpensive, the one-hour programs include tours of rescue and
rehabilitation facilities, a behind-the-scenes arctic tour where you can
pet a penguin, and a predators tour of the shark tank where you can
even touch a white-spotted bamboo shark. For the truly adventurous,
SeaWorld offers the chance to scuba dive enclosed in a shark tank in
the Shark Encounter attraction.
BEST FOR SMALL CHILDREN
Shamu's Happy Harbor is a wonderful place for small children to run
off some energy. Pack a bathing suit for the kids so they can play in the
water jungle gym. Older children will enjoy climbing in the large netted
areas.
Contact SeaWorld, Orlando at www.seaworld.com or 1-800-327-2424.
Admission is $53.95+tax for adults and $44.95+tax for children ages 3-
9.
Behind-the-scenes tours are $15.00 for adults and $12.00 for children.
REVIEW OF SEAWORLD'S DISCOVERY COVE
REVIEW OF DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM
REVIEW OF DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM LODGE
FAMILY TRAVEL FUN
SEAWORLD THEME PARK, ORLANDO
SEAWORLD THEME PARK, ORLANDO
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