Dine with Shamu?!

[yummymummywales]

Hi All,

Just after some opinions from all you experienced DIS'ers out there - have any of you done Dine with Shamu? Did you think it was worth it? How long does the experience last for?

Many thanks,

 

[MissionMouse]

They say the tables you are assigned relate to when you actually book Dine with Shamu. We booked early...don't recall how early, but ended up pretty close to the entrance of the food serving room. We arrived early and they were already setting people to the tables. Tables are at a 90 degree angle from the water edge wall(rocks)..two tables of four.

Dining is outside and the food line is inside. Servers bring you your drinks. We thought the food was good and better than most of the other SW dining places. You can return to the buffet as much as you like. There are some trainers discussing specifics of Shamu accompanied by multiple swim arounds, jumps, and pose shots performed at key wall outcropping allowing shamu to be partially out of the water for photo ops. It ended with the trainers going from table to table to respond to question and sign the Dine with Shamu lanyard ID's. Our two girls really enjoyed the experience with our oldest wanting to talk to the trainer. Overall a good experience..we would not do it everytime we visit SW, but would recommend people do it a least once if you have any level of interest. The dining experience provides a great opportunity to create unique memories and experiences. Worth is something you would have to determine but we do not regret doing Dining with Shamu.

 

[truck1]

I was there during the beginning of the summer, and some things may have changed.
When we went, you still get the same seating and food etc. The changes are that the trainers no longer come out to the tables, and you go during a Believe show. You can watch the show on a large monitor, but its no longer, eat then go to the show.Also, its a fixed view on the monitor.They still do the swims and talks, poses, etc, and you still have the unlimited buffet.
Also, the check in is now at the underwater viewing entrance, and the entrance is the walkway near there.You can request a table near a slide out, but depending on when you reserve your seats, they may or may not be able to accomodate. Also has a lot to do with how many whales are in the tank and which whales. The younger whales may not know how to slide out yet.

Again, this may have changedfrom the beginning of the summer.

 

[inkkognito]

Here is my report from earlier this year: http://bit.ly/RUNuj

They definitely assign the tables on when you book. We booked early and got a great one, although another couple actually tried to steal our table while we were up getting food. Uh, no! The trainers don't come around and talk to you, which was kind of a bummer, but the food and service were both good and seeing the whales was fun. Overall a great experience.

 

[Dolphina]

do they still have those nice backstage passes?

 

[cloggie68]

We were there last May and we loved it. Had our reservation changed from 6.30 to 3.00 pm on the day because our kids were rater tired at the end of our trip and 3.00 pm was better for us. We got a table in the sun which we didn't want and they changed it for us, we had a great (shady) spot on the side of the pool.
There were no backstage passes but you can take a peak at our photos here

 

[truck1]

One of the reasons I got when I asked about the trainers coming to the tables was told that it interfered with the rest of their duties at the stadium.Not sure how true it is or if it was a budget thing ( I think they used to schedule extra people for the Dine, but if their budget got cut, guess what went with it.Also noticed that there seemed to be less trainers during the day and night shows)

 

[truck1]

We were there last May and we loved it. Had our reservation changed from 6.30 to 3.00 pm on the day because our kids were rater tired at the end of our trip and 3.00 pm was better for us. We got a table in the sun which we didn't want and they changed it for us, we had a great (shady) spot on the side of the pool.
There were no backstage passes but you can take a peak at our photos here

Nice pictuer of Tillikum on the slide out. Ill have to post mine when I get the chance.

 

[Dolphina]

We were there last May and we loved it. Had our reservation changed from 6.30 to 3.00 pm on the day because our kids were rater tired at the end of our trip and 3.00 pm was better for us. We got a table in the sun which we didn't want and they changed it for us, we had a great (shady) spot on the side of the pool.
There were no backstage passes but you can take a peak at our photos here

great photos!

 

[Dolphina]

how does the group photo you get as a memory look like? i saw one on the net with a whale picture in the background. is it like that in orlando?