Picture report: Complete!!! Video added!

[the_princess]

When: 20-28th of Oct '08

Who:
Me, Stephanie...

A big fan of all sea animals especially dolphins. On this trip I got a huge thing for killer whales and manatees as well.
I've been to Seaworld once before. Marts last year, when a little baby shamu was born (4 days old, so cute) So it was great fun to get back there and see how big she is now.

My mom, Maj-britt...

Loves loves loves the manatees, if she could, she would keep on in a pool in her garden (just kidding, Denmark is too cold for manatees)
But she did spend a couple of hours every day together with them.

Where: We stayed at the Renaissance Orlando Resort at Seaworld. It's right across the street from Seaworld, which was perfect, we could walk over there in 5 mins. The hotel was really beautiful (just been refurbished) and really amazing with a light seaworld theme. Nice big rooms and a really helpful staff.

Well, this was a quick intro... Next up: Killer whales, manatees, backstage tours and much much more

 

[Elfstar]

Looking forward to more!

 

[the_princess]

We did spend a couple of days (more like 5 days) at Seaworld, but I'm not going to put dates on the pics since I don't remember what we did when and how many times.
So instead of making long comments, I'll let the pics do the talking
Enjoy

First up: Manatees

This is my moms favourite. It has lost a part of the tail in a boat accident and can't be released back into the sea.

Backstage at Believe. It's quite similar to Dine with Shamu (the food is the same - and quite good as well) But at Backstage, they don't guarantee that there will be a killer whale in the pool. They show a "making of the show" video, and then you have reserved seats at the show. Quite good seats, but since the stadium was half empty, we moved down to the splash zone.
We were lucky cause they used our pool (which is the second deepest pool, the deepest is obviously the show pool) to warm up one of the whales.

Next up: Believe, more killer whales, tours ect...

 

[cswtmom]

Great photos, thanks for sharing , can't wait for more to come

 

[the_princess]

I went to see Believe twice since I love killerwhales. My mom had enough after the first time so she went down to the manatees while I had some fun with Shamu.
I'm not a big fan of Believe, It's so much "believe in your dreams, you can do anything". I like Shamu Rocks, but back to that later.

The cute Baby-Shamu was born last time we went to Seaworld in March last year. I'll post one of my pics from when she was 4 days old later in the report. Does anyone knows her name, I can't remember and it's killing me!

Killerwhales are amazing animals

An animal that scared me was the stingrays. To feed them you have to keep your hand with the fish underneath them so they can suck it up into the mouth. I don't know why but that was scary. Check out my very concentrated face

Clyde and Seamore take Pirate Island.... So much fun. We went twice just to see how much of the show they planned cause some of it looked very improvised... Well, it's not! But still a lot of fun.
Get there early so you won't miss this guy.

Up next: Tours, Shamu Rock and other animals at Seaworld

 

[Oceanlove]

Glad you had a great time. The baby killer whale's name is Malia.

 

[the_princess]

Pacific Point Preserve - Another place where we could spend a long time just watching the seals and sealions play around.

Watch out for the birds, they will kill for a fish

Strike a pose

We went on two of the backstage tours. The first one was the predator's tour where you go backstage at the Shamu Stadium (which was why I wanted to go) and backstage at the shark encounter and get to touch a shark (this was why all the other families wanted to go)

Backstage at Shamu's stadium

Our guide was really good. I think her name was Becky. Well anyway, she knew what she was talking about.

At the shark encounter

Yes, this is the big, scary shark you get to touch

A sign used in a shark movie, can anyone find the spelling mistake?

A little reminder before you enter the park

Next up: the manatee-tour, Shamu Rocks, Dine with Shamu ect.

 

[LindaBabe]

cool report! Can't wait to go next month!

 

[klokkeblomst]

Great pictures

 

[kendallt]

Can't wait to hear about the rest of your trip! New update soon?

 

[the_princess]

Hi everybody and happy new year.
I haven't forgot about this, I'm just really busy at the moment at work, but I'll get back soon and tell about the rest of my trip.... And of course show lots of pics.
A huge thanks for reading!!!!!

 

[QJ411]

Great report so far, thanks for sharing & the awesome photos! Can't wait to check it out next month!

 

[the_princess]

Well, I think it's time for a new update. Once again thanks for reading, feel free to ask questions or leave comments.

Nexts up is the night show, Shamu Rocks. IMO this show is so much better then Believe. I loved the choice of music and the whales were amazing.
When I did the predator tour, I asked our guide if the whales were in any way disturbed by the loud music, cause it is a lot louder then at Believe. But she said that it didn't bother them. They could hear it and feel the vibes in the water but if it was hurting them in anyway they would refuse to do the tricks.

I booked the Save-a-species tour back home as a surprice for my mom since she loves manatees.
The tour is really worth the money. You get to go backstage at the rehabilitation area where they keep the wild animals that are going back out into the sea as soon as they are healthy enough.
The guide showed us all kind of things they use to help the animals, it was very interesting.
Dolphins

Manatees

We also got to see the polar bears and pet a baby penguin.

The last stop was at a bird aviary.

Dine with Shamu.
They did the show with the baby whale, Malia (thanks Oceanlove) It's was great to see her this close. Like I told earlier, we got to see her when she was 4 days old, so it was nice to see her again.

Next up: Blue Horizons, dolphins and Makahiki Luau

 

[snowbunny]

Great photos...what times approximately did your tours begin and end?

 

[hereyago]

Thanks for the pics and the report.

I took DD10 to SW about 4 years ago. We did the Predator tour and the touching the penguin one. She is really into animals. THe Predator tour was so cool because a few of us were waiting and our tour guide didnt come, but they sent over a actual orca trainer who started the tour telling us about how they can get the whales to come over and do medical exams.

our regular tour guide showed up, but before the trainer left, I asked for her to be in a picture with my DD. She knelt down beside my DD and I have the picture hanging up and there was a whale peaking his head out of the water in the background.

 

[the_princess]

Great photos...what times approximately did your tours begin and end?

The tour where on several times a day, 3 times for most days. Each tour takes about an hour.
I just had a look at the Seaworld homepage and I can't find the tours anywhere, so maybe they stopped doing them ... I hope not

Thanks for the pics and the report.

I took DD10 to SW about 4 years ago. We did the Predator tour and the touching the penguin one. She is really into animals. THe Predator tour was so cool because a few of us were waiting and our tour guide didnt come, but they sent over a actual orca trainer who started the tour telling us about how they can get the whales to come over and do medical exams.

our regular tour guide showed up, but before the trainer left, I asked for her to be in a picture with my DD. She knelt down beside my DD and I have the picture hanging up and there was a whale peaking his head out of the water in the background.

What a great story. I'm glad that we did the tours, They are really worth the money.

 

[tink too]

I've just found your report - it's great.

Loving your photos of the backstage tours, too.

 

[honeybee8200]

Thanks so much for doing this. I've seen so many WDW reports and its nice to see a Seaworld one.

 

[the_princess]

Thanks for reading, I'll make an update in the next couple of days...

 

[Cindeegyrl]

Great report! We are going to Sea World in March and your pics just make me more excited to go.

Can't wait for the next installment!