never again seaworld [Archive] - The DIS Discussion Forums

halld6479

06-07-2006, 07:14 AM

we went to sea world yesterday and paid the extra to do the polar expirtion so grandson could get to touch penguins that he loves so much at $16.00 a person we were given a walk covering an hour of everything but the penguins finally we reach their area, each person was told they could touch the lower back with two fingures once then we were hurried back out to the end of the tour. after waiting over 35 minutes to get into see the new show believe it was 95% talking and video and three whales not out performing more then 5 minutes, we were told the show was over and thank you for coming. nothing more said, it was nothing but 30 minutes of advertising for the AB company. SO for the cost of tickets to enter park and tickets for the tour it fall way short of us placing it on our must see list

Princess89

06-07-2006, 07:52 AM

I have a question. Did you feel that Sea World was worth it at all? I was looking into doing SW the first week in FL actually getting the flex pass. Do you think its worth getting it or just doing Universal?

RabFlmom

06-07-2006, 08:07 AM

So all you did was the tour and went to one show?

We have never felt the need to do a special tour,so not sure what they should entail.
We still love the park because we can enjoy so much without the lines and spend as long as we like in each exhibit.

We haven't seen Believe yet. They may have fixed something that wasn't broke when they changed it to a "Broadway Production" type show. I think most of us that enjoy the dolphins and whales like to just watch them perform their normal "tricks" that they do in the wild. I don't think a show with a storyline is needed. Sounds like they have done the same dumb thing as Disney and the Safari at Animal Kingdom. The storyline of the Safari adds nothing to going out and seeing the animals-except be sort of annoying. LOL
Wondering if the whales were not willing to work the show the day you were there. They adjust shows and even cancel them if the whales are in a mood or whatever. Even though it is a theme park for people, the animals take priority and they go with the flo when the animals decide to do what they want to instead of doing what the trainers would like them to do. One time when we were there a mom and young whale refused to leave the show pool so they could begin the regularly scheduled show with the other whales. About 20 minutes later they moved to a back pool and basically the show then was the splash portion of the old show and it was over. No big deal to us.

scammermom

06-07-2006, 10:33 AM

Sorry you had a bad experience.
SW is one of our favorite parks. My daughters love to feed the dolphins and pet them at Dolphin Cove. The new shows are a little over the top but still quite enjoyable. And if you didn't see the Sea Lion Pirate show and/or Sea Lions Tonight, then you missed the best attractions. They are hilarious.

halld6479

06-07-2006, 07:06 PM

we did the walk thru displays and the kids rode the roller coaster and that was it. I ask the kids if they would want to try it again sometime while down there and both teenagers said no we went to see shamu the sealion show was not going tobe a couple hours after all the disappointments so we gave up and left at around 6. I would do universal

maryk

06-07-2006, 10:12 PM

We too just returned from SW. We love SW and have done it several times.

As for the Believe show, I don't think it is as nearly as good as the old shamu show. Like someone said, we just like to see them do tricks and jump. Shamu and his size are just amazing. We saw the show 4 times in 3 days. Had to get soaked you know !!! Each time we saw it, it changed. You do have to remember they are animals, and the trainers main job is the safety and happiness of the animals, not the people. On Thurs, the first show got cancelled due to the whales not wanting to work, the afternoon show was short and not very exciting, but the last show of the night, they brought out the big shamu and WOW, that was a show. I do agree, the story is a bit corney.

The dolphin show is fun. Broadway a bit, but still fun.

The absolute best is the Sea Lion Tonight show, But you need to see all the other shows to get the most humor out of it.

All in all, though still our most favorite park. Not hurried, and if you do everything and all shows. It takes at least 2 full days.

We will go again. Just not next year, They need time to change the shows a bit.

queenarmadillo

06-08-2006, 06:08 AM

I think it is well worth a day at sea world if you are going to be there for any length of time. If you arent particularly interested in the zoo/ informational aspect of it, the shows are still incredible. I try to schedule all ours as early in the day as possible (and we see almost everything) and then if one is cancelled it can be fit in in the evening. If everything goes according to schedule (and my schedule has only ever been ruined by lightning, never by grumpy whales in the 10 years or so Ive been going)then you get some spare hours in the evening to shop or wander around or go on rides or whatever until the evening shows start. Don't leave before them, they are the best bit of the day (although unless they have changed the fireworks show in the last 2 years I would leave before that--uninspiring fireworks and more ridiculous sentiment than even disney could get away with).

jon46

06-08-2006, 04:41 PM

It is also nice in that it has a lot of trees (shade) on hot days. also benches for us old people. John :moped:

plgrn

06-08-2006, 06:00 PM

After being at Disney World, there is no comparison to Sea World! The staff was rude, the crowds were horrid, and there wasn't anything to keep you entertained while waiting for a show or in line for a ride like Disney does. It's just not magical! :wizard:

Discovery Cove however is WELL worth the money. The staff there makes the extra effort and the crowd control is supreme. Even if you don't spring for the dolphin swim, there are sting rays and fish to swim with and touch, plus the aviary. Plenty of animal interaction.

Just my 2 cents...WDW really spoils you. :teeth:

JuneChickie

06-08-2006, 09:44 PM

WE too just got back from Sea World and also did Discovery Cove.
The "Believe Show" was a joke ,, yak , yak,, yak ,, mostly watching
about how the trainer grew up on the big screen.
The whales did their little thing but not worth all the time and
effort we put into seeing it. Might skip that part next time because
there are other shows that are much better.
I have a Big Screen at home.
That SAid *******
THe rest of Sea World is wonderful and well worth the money in our opinion.
They even have a Dog and Cat show that is a MUST See for every family.
I'd go to sea world to see that over the "Believe SHow" .
We saw all the shows and enjoyed them very much.
Went to all the walk thru's .
It is a wonderful place to visit ,, We will make a Must see everytime we go
to Florida from now on.

robvia

06-09-2006, 07:38 AM

It's all a state of mind I guess.
That's why I try to not let little things ruin my trip.

You could have taken the kids over to the Key West area and fed a dolphin for $5, they may have enjoyed that.

Also, what time did you arrive the park? If you arrived at 10-11am, then the crowds were probably there and made your waits longer. People who show up at 11am and don't have an attack plan usually have a bad day. But then again, you did a tour, so you probably arrived on time.

Wow, I'm surprised about all the comments about Believe being a dud. They did a great job with Mistify.

ozarkmom

06-09-2006, 09:09 AM

We loved Sea World!

tink,too

06-09-2006, 03:36 PM

We love Sea World! :love: Can't wait to go back in October! :)

Sorry to hear about "Believe" but how do you argue with an Orca? :confused3 If they don't want to work, the trainers would just have to go with the flow! :rotfl: Hopefully they will have any problems sorted out by the time we get there! :teeth:

JuneChickie

06-09-2006, 07:33 PM

Just so you know ,, It's not that the whales wouldn't do the show,,, they were there
and did the show,, the point is there wasnt' much of of the show centered around them ,,, most of the "Believe" is up on the "big screen" , its about the trainers
life and thats mostly what they talk about. Alot of the show is focused around
the person they pick out of the audience to " give " the whale a fishy.
Yes , Shamu did swim around and get everyone wet . But he has less of a role
in the new show. So its not that the whales would Not preform ,, its that the
show focuses less on them. ,,,,,,,,

Sea World is a great place to go . And we will go there with every trip to
Florida we make. they have alot of other shows that are much better
than just seeing Shamu. And they are worth the money to see for sure.
Plus they have many walk thru's with other animals that are great too.

matthew&haleysmom

06-09-2006, 09:33 PM

Sea World is a great place to go . And we will go there with every trip to
Florida we make. they have alot of other shows that are much better
than just seeing Shamu. And they are worth the money to see for sure.
Plus they have many walk thru's with other animals that are great too.[/QUOTE]

I agree. My dd 6 still says the best part of Florida is Sea World. She is a huge animal lover!

Cass

06-09-2006, 09:37 PM

We enjoyed Sea World, feeding the sea lions was a riot also that little Pets Ahoy show was awesome :)

dvc_john

06-11-2006, 10:32 AM

Everybody has their own opinion, and mine is that 'Believe' is way better than the old Shamu show. I've seen it several times, and think it's great. However, if not everything is working correctly (like the video screens or something), then it won't be as good. I think there is at least as much whale activity in this show as in the old. The old show had a lot of 'yak, yak, yak' also.

Also, 'Blue Horizons' alone is probably worth the price of admission, IMHO.

RabFlmom

06-11-2006, 06:23 PM

We walked into the 2:30 Believe show after watching Fusion yesterday at 1:45. People were walking out complaining there were no seats as we were walking up the ramp. A little girl was crying because her parents were making her leave. There were plenty of seats(not in the splash area) and they didn't close the stadium for about 10 minutes after we got there. We were up at the top so we could get a breeze from the "windows" up there.

As for the show. It is different. Sort of boring when they do the movie stuff about becoming a trainer if you believe you can. They did have the whales do a lot of splashing the crowd. They did the stand and ride on the whale. They did do the out of the water leap with the whale a couple of times. They did get a girl from the crowd to help them, but it was really sort of lame. I don't think she ever got to touch the whale or anything but help them dance in front of the crowd. LOL They did most of the same things they showed off in the old show.
The screens were cool but music was sort of too mello or something. Did I like the show? It was just OK. I missed the humor of the old show. Part of the thing I like about SW is the audience participation and playing a joke on unsuspecting tourists (usually involving getting them wet). It always made me laugh.

I think if you have never seen the old show, you might enjoy it; because they do showcase one or 2 of the whales. They are so beautiful. Would I ever stand and wait an hour in line to see this show? No.... But you have to know that I had my first Gold pass in 1978 and saw my first Shamu show in 1976.

What they show on the screens was sort of an infomercial. I could see sitting inside an airconditioned theater watching the movie, adding more footage of training sessions, and having a trainer talk about how they train the whales. It would be interesting to do a show on training the baby.

rejobako

06-16-2006, 12:40 PM

Count us as big fans of SeaWorld. I like the layout of the park -- aside from EPCOT, I feel less "crowded in" at SeaWorld than at the other Florida theme parks. The shows are usually well-done, and because you're dealing with real animals instead of animatronic ones, the performances can be radically different. Some better than others, but always entertaining. For this reason, I think SeaWorld tends to be more appreciated by locals who visit the park more often on annual passes, etc.

At this point I suppose I would make a suggestion to those who insist on comparing every Orlando experience to Disney. I love Walt Disney World. It's a fantastic place, and more often than not, they offer a first-class theme park and resort experience.

I like going to the county fair too, but compared to Disney, it's not that great. So when I go the fair, I try not to compare it to the feeling of walking into the Magic Kingdom. That way I'm more likely to avoid gnashing my teeth in indignation because the fair doesn't offer me any fun distractions as I'm waiting in line for ride tickets. And in spite of myself, my family and I usually manage to have a great time at the fair, even if Mickey is nowhere to be found.

I'm not pointing any fingers in this thread, but if you read these forums it becomes clear that some people will simply refuse to enjoy themselves unless each new experience is as good as their best one. Experience SeaWorld, or any amusement park, for what it is, rather than what it is not, and I'll guarantee you you'll want to go back. And if not . . . .well, sucks to be you. ;)

raven69david

06-17-2006, 11:27 AM

SeaWorld Orlando is awesome and definetly worth going to if you're in Orlando on vacation. If given a choice between SeaWorld and Universal Studios i'd do the obvious. ;) However, SeaWorld is a great place to go to if you have kids or are a kid at heart. The animals and park are awesome. The new show Believe is ok, but not better than shows past. I forsee them changing it in the very near future due to all the negative feedback they've received from the show.

I literally live next door to SeaWorld San Antonio and love the park, however it does not compare to SeaWorld Orlando. I'm pretty sure the show Believe in San Antonio is the same show in Orlando. I missed SeaWorld last trip due to poor planning on in-laws part :furious: so i'm unable to compare them both.

kurtech

06-19-2006, 12:43 PM

rejobako

06-19-2006, 01:30 PM

Let me preface by saying my family went for free as part of the Salute to Heros program, and I wouldn't ever go back. I felt like we wasted a day that could have been spent at WDW. There's a lot of hurry up and wait. We went to the shows 35 and 45 minutes early as their schedule suggests, but then waited in the 96 degree sun until 15 minute before show time so we could be trampled by those who waited until the last minute and then tried to skip in front of us.

Our kids rode the Shamu express - a 35 second roller coaster ride and even though there was a short ride, waited over 30 minutes for it. That was the only ride they did as we couldn't justify letting them cook in the hot sun for any other lines.

There really isn't much to do there. The Shamu show was a bit dissappoining. You only see Shamu for the last minute or so of the "Believe" show.

To each his own. I might inquire as to when you attempted to ride Shamu Express. My daughter and I rode it 5 times consecutively less than 2 weeks ago (it was her first "real" coaster, and once she got the hang of it, she was hooked), all in the span of about 40 minutes. That little coaster is always packed just after "Believe", because many of the people filing out tend to head for that area since it's just outside Shamu stadium.

Personally, I've seen pushy people etc. everywhere -- I'm not sure why SeaWorld would especially concern you if you can deal with it in other parks. If you showed up early as you stated, I'm sure you filed into the stadium and got a seat. If a few rude people cut in front of you, it's a shame you let that leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Forgive me for making assumptions, but when your post contains the "we could have spent the day at WDW" preface, I can only presume you entered the park with a chip on your shoulder to begin with. As I said earlier, if you insist on making that comparison, you're probably prone to being disappointed. I suggest you try going into non-Disney theme parks with the goal of having a good time instead of worrying about whether you'd have a better one at Disney. On the other hand, if it has to be Disney for you, then I suppose it's your right to stay with what makes you happy. That leaves more room for the rest of us at the other Florida theme park experiences.

Nellas Elensar

06-20-2006, 11:28 PM

after waiting over 35 minutes to get into see the new show believe it was 95% talking and video and three whales not out performing more then 5 minutes, we were told the show was over and thank you for coming. nothing more said, it was nothing but 30 minutes of advertising for the AB company.

Did you go to the 5:15 p.m. performance of Believe then on the 6th? I went to that one. What a waste of time! Fortunately, I had gone to the first one that day and saw the show in its entirety.

Nellas Elensar

snookhams

06-21-2006, 07:43 AM

[QUOTE=plgrn]After being at Disney World, there is no comparison to Sea World! The staff was rude, the crowds were horrid, and there wasn't anything to keep you entertained while waiting for a show or in line for a ride like Disney does. It's just not magical! :wizard:

Discovery Cove however is WELL worth the money. The staff there makes the extra effort and the crowd control is supreme. Even if you don't spring for the dolphin swim, there are sting rays and fish to swim with and touch, plus the aviary. Plenty of animal interaction.

I realy must agree we have often found staff at Seaworld not as courteous as those at Disney. In fact for this reason we will no longer visit Busch Gardens, and had the same but not quite as bad as at Seaworld. We do still go to Seaworld normally on our first day as it is a much gentler pace and gives us time to recover from the Jet Lag

RabFlmom

06-21-2006, 08:41 AM

The staff was rude, the crowds were horrid, and there wasn't anything to keep you entertained while waiting for a show or in line for a ride like Disney does. It's just not magical!
<<<<<<<

Still trying to figure out what Disney CMs do to keep you busy in the lines waiting for rides. LOL My son is a CM so we are there often. I can't remember anything I do in lines waiting for rides at WDW except winding round and round and talking to my family. There are tvs in most of the lines at SW that educate you about the animals so they keep me interested. I don't really see a difference in the CMs from DW or SW except maybe I end up in conversations that teach me something more at SW than at any Disney Park. Can't remember any DW CMs talking to me the last few times I have been there. They seem to come up to me at SW, so maybe it is my smile and and my unabashed pleasure in watching the animals. LOL I think on any trip to a park you have to go in with a good attitude about things. If you are pleasant than everyone you meet will be pleasant-well with the exception of the commando park goers who do everything to schedule and forget to smell the roses along the way. They seem to be the pushy, hit you in the heels with their stroller types. LOL

As for the crowds, they have been huge this year. Unlike DW they have an increase in attendance in the parks rather than just maintaining . With the growth there is some learning to cope that they are having to do. Hopefully it can only get better.

Going to SW first and then on to DW tonite for the fireworks, so I will have another day of comparison. Love having the advantage of living close-even after all these years(30 and counting)

HesMyFairytale

06-21-2006, 11:34 AM

Sea World is one of my favorite parks and i will be taking my gf here for the 1st time in july. I dont understand the comments of how there is nothing to do there. I have been there numerous times and always had a good time. I am 21 years old and i find plenty of stuff to do. People cut in lines everywhere you go....the weather will be just as hot at Disney as Sea World....and Sea World isn't magical b/c its not supposeed to. Disney is supposed to be magical. You have to go there with an open mind and a good attitude and you may have one of the best times at any park

kurtech

06-21-2006, 12:45 PM

havencruiser

06-21-2006, 01:38 PM

I would definitely recommend a visit to SW! As a matter of fact, we are going to Orlando this week to stay at our new DVC "home" and we are not going to WDW. We have been there twice so far this year and DD15- a marine biology fanatic-- asked that we go to Sea World and Universal instead. She went to SeaWorld camp last year and actually solidified her career aspiration while there. She learned the title for what she always wanted to do.....be a marine mammal rehabilitation specialist.
We have done the tours and exhibits and shows and rides and it never fails to keep her attention. Sure...it's not magical like Disney but neither is Universal.

Nellas Elensar

06-21-2006, 09:35 PM

Sea World is one of my favorite parks. Always was and always will be, no matter what. I love the whales and dolphins and other sea animals. I love riding Journey to Atlantis. I love petting the dolphins and stingrays, as well as feeding them. IMO, Sea World outperforms Universal and Disney when it comes to their shows and attractions. You never see the same thing twice; the unpredictability is what makes it fun.

Nellas Elensar

FlaNative

06-22-2006, 08:54 AM

You never see the same thing twice; the unpredictability is what makes it fun.

Let me guess: When Disney buys Sea World to end the competition, you will NOT be a big fan of the replacement audio-animatronic robot Shamu? :rotfl2:

JuneChickie

06-22-2006, 02:24 PM

WELLLLLLLLLLLL ,,, I think Sea World is Magical !!! anytime I see healthy , well fed ,, well adjusted ,, and happy animals ,, I just love it. Sort of makes the world
for that moment in time feel " alright " all over ,,

My family absolutely loves Sea World and will go everytime we go to Orlando.
The shows are very very good and worth the wait , (except the new
Believe show) ,, we like the few rides they do have , but mostly we
go to see the animals.

I don't see why anyone would even want to compare a marineland to
disneyland. ONe is real and the other is imaginary. Two totally different
places to have good family and friend time.

Katwillow1

06-22-2006, 09:38 PM

I have never been to Sea World. HOWEVER...I did watch the BELIEVE video that someone taped and I can't wait to see it. I am taking my son (who happens to be 24) this Sunday and we are looking forward to seeing these creatures. BUT...I can say that we will most likely avoide ALL the rides as we aren't there necessarily to be entertained. We are looking forward to experiencing the different exhibits...ie: shark encounter, Key West (where the dolphins are), the Manatee exhibit (my favorite), The penguin encounter (and polar bears), Pacific Point, and maybe take in the Clyde & Seymour show...if we have time. Just to see these creatures, even through glass is totally awesome and breathtaking to me.

As for Busch Gardens....my husband and I just got back from a weekend there and frankly we don't have 1 complaint. We felt the staff was very courteous and friendly and loved the exhibits. The grounds were clean, the food pretty good, and the shows were fun.

brer rabbit 28

07-10-2006, 05:32 AM

I too did the behind the scenes of the arctic tour.It is clearly explained that you get taken around the back to see how they care for polar bears and seals.Then you go over to the penguin area where it is explained that the keeper goes in first to ensure the penguin is happy,then you are allowed in quietly and get the chance to stroke the penguin.I found it to be a brilliant experience and very well organised with animal welfare being paramount.If the penguin wasn't happy then it was no go.
As for the rest of seaworld-amazing place if you take the time to enjoy what is around you.So many amazing creatures that you can get up close to.
As for the shows,i fully support them being cancelled if the whales or dolphins didn't want to "perform".I like to think they are as happy as they can be for captive animals,i thought the days of forcing them to jump through hoops were behind us.Enjoy the animals for what they are,not how many times they can throw a performer up in the air.
No doubt i will get flamed for this but people who demand the "disney perfection" everywhere they go are going to have a dissapointing holiday.You are very lucky to get the chance to enjoy these things,chill out and stop looking for perfection.

noodleknitter

07-10-2006, 05:40 AM

My family loves Sea World. It is all about real live animals, and as Walt discovered they can't be made to perform exactly as wanted each and every time. That is real life!

I think this park is the most organized park in Orlando, and has awesome customer service.

TheWho

07-10-2006, 10:10 AM

dolphinrescuegirl

07-12-2006, 11:25 AM

I paid $200 for the four of us to go last week. I went because my 10 yr old wanted to see dolphins (fish). Was it worth it in reagard to value, probably not. Will I go next year if she wants to see dolphins again, probably. I think SW's problem is it's too close to WDW. It's tough to be in WDW shadow.

Dolphins are not fish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so sick of people saying that! Fish don't come to the surface to breathe as dolphins do. Fish are fish while dolphins are mammals. Dolphins are extremely intelligent, sometimes more than cats and dogs. What fish have you ever seen trained? None! Sorry to go OT but just wanted to clear that up. I also have my flame suit on :duck: Dolphins are a really good way to get me to come out of my shell as they are one of my passions in life.

tinkersmama

07-14-2006, 04:46 PM

I don't think SW is in WDW shadow. I don't think you can even compare the two. I have passes to both and go to which ever one suits my mood that day. If I want a relaxing day watching sea creatures, then I go to SW. If I want a day of magic, then WDW hear I come. I love both parks. I just don't think you can really compare the two. (But then again, I don't think you can really compare WDW to Univesal or IOA.) I love all of them!!!! I'm addicted! :cheer2:

Tinkim

07-21-2006, 11:42 PM

WELLLLLLLLLLLL ,,, I think Sea World is Magical !!! anytime I see healthy , well fed ,, well adjusted ,, and happy animals ,, I just love it. Sort of makes the world
for that moment in time feel " alright " all over ,,

I have to agree. I absolutely love Disney World and it is magical but for me Sea World is also magical. It probably helps that I absolutely love dolphins and killer whales and all the other animals. Spending a day there where I can see them up close and even actually touch a dolphin is a day of pure magic for me. I've seen a bunch of people on the boards say they want to retire to Florida and work part-time at WDW but I keep telling my husband I would rather work at Sea World and still be a guest at WDW. :thumbsup2

marconat

08-04-2006, 07:22 AM

I was at Sea World in San Diego and I loved it there... my daughter loves dolphins, so this time we booked at Discovery Cove, to celebrate her birthday with these beautiful creatures :woohoo: , and we took the pass for Sea World also, since she is in love with Shamu... can't wait to see how Sea World is in Florida.... I'm sure to love it there too... :rotfl:

RabFlmom

08-04-2006, 04:36 PM

It is hard for me to even think that Sea World is in Disney's Shadow. There is no comparison. Disney has nothing like Sea World available to it's guests. I have to pay for my pass to SW but can get into Disney free almost any time I want. We spend more time at SW than we do at Disney. It is different every single time you go. The shows are never the same-different things happen because everything is live! The MK and other Disney parks have not changed a whole lot since they were open. You go on the same ride because you liked it the first time and it hasn't changed a whole lot since 1972, the first time I went.

disneynewbee

08-06-2006, 10:23 PM

I also agree that you can't compare the two they are two totally different experiences and my kids had a blast at both sea world and disney. I also don't get the statement that there is nothing to do. We ran out of time and never even made it to the dolphins. This year we have put aside 2 days for sea world to make sure we get to do everything. The kids are super excited.

makinorlando

08-07-2006, 09:21 PM

We are locals as well, and as much as we LOVE WDW, we love SW as well. Maybe as another poster mentioned, it's because as locals we are able to "take more time to smell the roses"......

DD9 loves to watch the dolphins in the Nursery - you never know when they will do some tricks! She has learned many things about dolphin mothers and babies from the educational staff who are stationed there. As she is always full of questions about animals! We also usually spend 15-30 minutes with the Sea Lions - just watching them and feeding them. i get a hoot out of them everytime. Even at nine, DD loves Happy Harbour and will spend a good 1/2 hr playing on the net, and although it is a short ride, she loves the new Shamu Express She also enjoys Wild Arctic - I walk through the queue line with her, and she goes into the simulator for the "ride" herself as I get motion sick on it! We spend several minutes watching the belugas, polar bears and walruses. One of our most memorable/funny moments at SW was watching one of the polar bears trying to get out of the water one day... he just coudn't get himself up there, everyone was cheering him on as he persisted and finally made it! I LOVE Blue Horizions - I just LOVE the music, and the colors! We love to laugh with the mime at Clyde and Seamore, and the new Sea Lions at Night is a new favorite! Odyssea and Pets Ahoy are good as well, we don't catch them as often due they way we tour and the schedules. We stop and admire the Clydesdales when they are out with the wagon. I enjoy watching the flamingoes, and DD likes to visit with the rays. We always visit the Manatees as well. We feed the dolphins on occasion, but sometimes it's just too crowded. Another favorite is a meal at Shark Encounter.... I agree that Believe is not as good as the old show, but my favorite was the Christmas show - with live musicians and a choir. It moved me to tears on TWO occasions (the first time the battery in my camcorder died, so we went back the next night!). Still Believe show the amazing intelligence, strenghth and ability of the whales!

DD is not quite tall enough for Kraken, and I won't do wither Journey to Atlantis or Kraken, so it's not that we go for the "big" rides at this time!

We also have passes to Busch Gardens along with our SW pass this year, we have been there on two occasions due to the longer road trip (90 miles compared to 25 miles to SW) but we totally enjoyed our time there as well. DD can't wait till she grows that last inch so she can ride all the coasters!

Well, that's our experience with SW. For us it's about taking our time and observing the amazing animals!

JMO!!!!

FigmentsBiggestFan

08-07-2006, 09:36 PM

makinorlando

08-07-2006, 10:00 PM

We were just at Sea World and had a blast! I do believe that any experience is what you make of it. We saw Believe and it was pretty good. I do remember more animal "tricks" before, but they did all they were supposed to. "Shamu" (I can't remember the orca's real name) splashing everybody is still the highlight of the show. That is one big orca!!

The best time we had was right after Believe when we headed to the underwater viewing area. Learned a lot by talking to the employee/worker/cast member there. The baby, Trua, is just too cute! His name means "Believe" in Icelandic (all of the orca's in Orlando have Icelandic names - none of which are Shamu. "Shamu" is their "family" name, and their stage one.) See, I can learn something! I did know that the original Shamu died many years ago, but I did not know that no others were named that.

Little Trua kept coming up to the windows where all the humans were and kept pressing his face against the glass. He was watching us as much as we were watching him and would interact with the people. We saw most of the shows and rode all the rides, but what I will remember for a long time is that not-so-little 8-month-old baby orca playing with all of us.

:thumbsup2

The day we were there for Believe - two of the males were out in the main pool when they were supposed to be in the back pool, of course the show was stopped for a few minutes, while they let them "swim" it off. The trainers (actually from what I learned at a Christmas show is that many are actually animal behaviorists/psycholgists - not just trainers) sensed that something had gone on with the other whales in the back pool, and they did not want to be there - they just swam around and around, occasionally doing a little "stunt"... then the mother came out.... all three swam for a while, and then one of the trainers in the back slapped the water, and one by one they all swam to the back pool, and the show was able to continue!

I guess MOM had a word with them to straighten them out! That is what the beauty of SW is - the animals are not coerced into performing, but are rewarded with great love, affection and lots of fish if they do what is asked of them. If they "misbehave", the trainers basically ignore them for a short time, and then will ask for the behavior again.

I love all of the names, but can NEVER remember them once I leave... I need to get the video out - my DGN taped it while I took pics!

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e291/makasper/Sea%20World/IMG_0075rs.jpg

FigmentsBiggestFan

08-07-2006, 11:04 PM

:thumbsup2

The day we were there for Believe - two of the males were out in the main pool when they were supposed to be in the back pool, of course the show was stopped for a few minutes, while they let them "swim" it off. The trainers (actually from what I learned at a Christmas show is that many are actually animal behaviorists/psycholgists - not just trainers) sensed that something had gone on with the other whales in the back pool, and they did not want to be there - they just swam around and around, occasionally doing a little "stunt"... then the mother came out.... all three swam for a while, and then one of the trainers in the back slapped the water, and one by one they all swam to the back pool, and the show was able to continue!

I guess MOM had a word with them to straighten them out! That is what the beauty of SW is - the animals are not coerced into performing, but are rewarded with great love, affection and lots of fish if they do what is asked of them. If they "misbehave", the trainers basically ignore them for a short time, and then will ask for the behavior again.

I love all of the names, but can NEVER remember them once I leave... I need to get the video out - my DGN taped it while I took pics!

Martha (MAK), thanks for that picture! Yep, he was the trainer that was there for us and he seemed to have a lot of fun. What I think is so great about the film in the show is that afterward I was joking around with DH and said that when I was young I wanted to be a SeaWorld trainer too. Then DH said that he wanted to be the same thing when HE was young!

I do remember the lady at the underwater viewing area saying that "Mom" does indeed rule the roost. Seems that whales aren't too different from humans! :rotfl2:

checkwriter

08-19-2006, 07:06 PM

We visited Sea World for the first time in many years, and were very disappointed. Our past experience had been of a nature-themed park that was low-key and easy to get around. This past spring we found it had morphed into a Disney wannabe, with huge crowds, a few big attractions, and a generally second-rate presentation. The Shamu show -- still under development then -- was very good, to be sure. But other shows we saw were amateurish and left much to be desired. Given the hundreds of dollars that we paid as a family for admission, then for food, etc., I would not return.

Next visit: Gatorland!!

DisOrBust

08-23-2006, 02:51 PM

I am sorry to hear bad things about Believe. Does anyone know if they st ill do "Shamu Rocks!" at night??? What is the sealion night time show??

TIA!
Sue

DTop

08-23-2006, 07:52 PM

I am sorry to hear bad things about Believe. Does anyone know if they st ill do "Shamu Rocks!" at night??? What is the sealion night time show??

TIA!
Sue
No Shamu Rocks America is no more. The sealion tonight show is a funny spoof on the other shows.

THUNDERMOUNTAINMOMMA

08-28-2006, 09:24 PM

Our family loves SW. Just saw the new fireworks/laser show in July, the kids thought it was the BEST! There are so many attractions and shows to enjoy. OHYEAH.... and I love my 2 free beers! :)

RabFlmom

08-29-2006, 05:54 AM

Checkwriter if you found SW boring, I imagine that Gatorland will be a bad experience too.
I think if you want more of a Florida nature experience, head out to one of the air boat ride areas on the St. Johns River or down in the Everglades. They can be awesome.
As I have said before SW has become the park to go to this year. Crowds have been the largest I have ever seen. If you run from show to show and do a commando type visit to the park you tend to miss out on a lot of the nature you can experience. For example if you spend time in the underwater viewing area of the dolphins during a non feeding time you can see how the dolphins play with objects. If there is nothing in the water(no toys given to them by CMs) you might see them pick up gravel from the floor to drop and catch over and over or you might see them make rings in the water that they play with till they disappear. It is so cool that you can sit there for an hour or more just watching them.

marivaid

09-12-2006, 07:38 AM

We went to Seaworld for the 3rd time this summer and FINALLY got to see Shamu.. beware though,if it rains they will cancel the show, and make you wait 'til the last minute to tell you too. The first time we tried to see it, it got cancelled. This time, the 2pm and 3.30pm shows were cancelled but we got to see the next one. Frankly at this point I didnt care if it was lame or not, I was NOT going to leave Sea World without seeing that darn whale.

The storyline is a little corny but I enjoyed the show. You dont see guys standing on killer whales noses everyday. I loved seeing them "ride" the whales too, and the jumps were very impressive. We sat in the soak zone,not worried because we'd never been soaked before. Oh boy were we wrong.
But it was a nice show. Probably not really worth waiting 4 hours for, but it was raining the whole time anyway so there was nothing to do but wait.

The show Blue Horizons is UNBELIEVABLE. We're going back to SeaWorld in December just to see it again. Seamore & Clyde is hilarious especially the night show (we made the mistake of going to see it the day before seeing most of the shows, so we only understood the jokes the next day!).

Don't let one bad review keep you from going. It's worth it!

iHEARTflorida

09-20-2006, 11:44 AM

i love seaworld, its amazing.

ok maybe they dont do as much with the animals as they used to, but they cant make them do anything they dont want

this year, at the beleive show, there were 3 whales in the pool and only one of them went out to the back pool, and the people stopped the show and said as you have probably noticed these two whales havnt left the pool, blah blah explained it, tokk there time, and the whales went out. they cant make them do any thing they dont want. on time we went, the cancelled the shows as the whales wouldnt perform.

as for you didnt get long enough with the penguins there wild animals, at lease you got to see a penguin how many other days in the year do u see at penguin up close like that.

think of the experience that Seaworld is giving you.

Jules224

09-22-2006, 06:13 AM

I have just quickly read through some of these posts and i don't think you can compare WDW and SW, we do all the parks when we go and i love doing MK to see the look on my kids faces but my favourite park is SW, we always plan to do 1 day there and end up spending 2 days there, can't believe people say there's nothing to do?
My DD is looking forward to seeing Shamu as much as she is Mickey Mouse this time.
We loved the Shamu shows last time we went (oct2004) so hope we enjoy the new believe show as much, i always enjoy the tricks etc but am also interested in learning about the animals aswell.
And i'll be going to night time show for Clyde and Seamore next time. :thumbsup2
I wouldn't miss SW for anything when we go. :)