When SeaWorld Parks & Recreation were finalizing the new Freshwater Oasis at Discovery Cove, they were very vague and secretive about the opening date, right up until the new attraction was complete and made available to guests for the first time. That was summer of 2012......we were planning an August visit, and the "will it be open, or won't it?" was killing us while we waited!!!
I would guess that they will be the same with Empire of the Penguin at SW. One day they will just say "woohoo! its open!" without much advance notice to the public.