I love Sea World, but...

[TommyTutone]

It will always hold a special place in my heart, between touching the skates, and for this most recent trip, my son touching a dolphin for the first time. I live the Clyde & Seymour show as well as Shamu of course.

That said, the park just seems to reek of desperation, at least on this most recent trip. I loved Kraken, especially the 5 minute wait to get on. The Atlantis ride, however, lacked any solid theming that was remotely entertaining. I might have enjoyed it before, but this time around, it was lame. Throw in the fact that my 40 1/2 inch son could ride Splash Mountain, but not Atlantis, makes it even worse.

Along those lines, the two 'thrill' rides, mixed with a show featuring cats and dogs (which I admittedly loved), plus the fake Cirque de Soleil gives the impression that they really don't know what they are doing.

Lastly, and this could well be my imagination, it seems that they have a far higher 'shop to attraction' ratio than the Disney counterparts. It seems like they always wanted to sell something and, combined with the confusing map layout, made it difficult to get your bearings at any time (with rare exception).

I know I will ALWAYS go back, but the flaws are really standing out this time around.

 

[figgy4me]

I would like to add ------ The ski show is still missing in action. And, while I like the dolphin & whale show, I would like it more with less diving and "gymnastic-type" activities. Would prefer more dolphin - less human - and please put some fans back up in the stadiums...

 

[iHEARTflorida]

i remember when a little kid would get the chance to sit on shamu, and older guests to go up on stage and feed, stroke etc.. with them

and

at the dolphin show when they would get a little kid on stage and tell em to jump in the water

 

[Kuffam]

I agree, it seems Sea World & Busch Gardens have taller height restrictions on their rides than Disney even for the same ride. Plus Sea World Orlando needs more thrill rides, It seems San Diego has more (or at lease a raft ride).

 

[iHEARTflorida]

I agree, it seems Sea World & Busch Gardens have taller height restrictions on their rides than Disney even for the same ride. Plus Sea World Orlando needs more thrill rides, It seems San Diego has more (or at lease a raft ride).

yes but these parks are based more on the animnals and the experinece of seeing them, instead of thrill rides

 

[Lindy Loo]

The show was really cool when they had a kid up on the stage, with Shamu, brushing their teeth etc. We laughed so much, when a 5 yr old little girl nearly did jump in, when asked. Even the diver, said, my thats close !!!! I think if she wasnt stopped, she would have. Her parents were need us in the crowd and videod it all off the big screen. Whata great keepsake!

She came back after the show and said the best part was instructing Shamu to splash the crowd!

 

[kimbac3]

I agree about the park layout. What a headache. I wish they had more interactive experiences. Although...touching and feeding dolphins was the coolest thing!!!!!!!

 

[DTop]

Geez, I find the map to be very simple to follow. I mean the place is in essence a circle (ok, maybe a loop). How in the heck can you get lost? Just keep walking and you'll end up where you want to go. Just for grins, I took a walk around the entire park and did it all in about 15 minutes!
Disney is much bigger and more confusing than little old SW. For rides and animatornics, I go to Disney. For animals, I'll take SW any day. Why complain about the rides at SW? It's like complaining about the wildlife at WDW.

 

[kimbac3]

Geez, I find the map to be very simple to follow. I mean the place is in essence a circle (ok, maybe a loop). How in the heck can you get lost? Just keep walking and you'll end up where you want to go. Just for grins, I took a walk around the entire park and did it all in about 15 minutes!
Disney is much bigger and more confusing than little old SW. For rides and animatornics, I go to Disney. For animals, I'll take SW any day. Why complain about the rides at SW? It's like complaining about the wildlife at WDW.

I think it's more that we always seem to miss things. Things are tucked away and easily missed.
Kimba

 

[DOOM1001]

I would like to add ------ The ski show is still missing in action. And, while I like the dolphin & whale show, I would like it more with less diving and "gymnastic-type" activities. Would prefer more dolphin - less human - and please put some fans back up in the stadiums...

The Ski show they used to have a couple of years back was replaced with Fusion which blends a ski show with other things like powerboats, dancing,jet skis with kites and so on.I however totally agree with you on their new shows!!!

 

[RabFlmom]

Personally, I would love to see them bring back the old waterski show that they had in the late 70s and 80s. They had all the Superpower characters and they did a show around them. My son loved it. His baby pictures are mostly him with Batman or Superman, etc, After each show they had a meet and greet with the characters and it was just really a cool experience for the kids. With the new Superman and Batman movies this would be a great time to bring it back. Fusion is just sort of lacking the umph to want to see it a second time. .

 

[robvia]

The shops were added a couple years ago, it's called The Waterfront area. The idea was to keep people in the park to hang out, instead of going to I-Drive. The suits had this grand idea that everyone would have a few drinks at the bar next to the sky tower, let the wife shop, and spend lots of money. They also added Sharks, a fancy restaurant.

I agree, I'd rather have another ride to go on. When I'm in the park, my favorite place to eat is Voyagers for the pizza and beer. I'm not there to hang out and shop, that's the last thing I want to do. So yeah, I'd say that walkway area is a waste.

The reason why the theaming on Atlantis is subpar, is because it's a water ride inside a building, and I've been told it's very hard to keep all the effects working. The water causes lots of damage, and it costs too much to fix the effects.

 

[Nellas Elensar]

I am a Sea World veteran...been going there since I was born (in 1983), every year, almost. I can tell you that the park changed a lot since then, and some of the changes were good and some are bad. I really enjoy the Pets Ahoy show (the show with the cats and dogs) and Blue Horizons a lot. However, I dislike Mistify and Believe (the fireworks displays of old were more accessible and prettier; Mistify isn't that interesting or accessible for everyone [in order to get a good spot you have to arrive more than an hour before hand]; the old fireworks displays took place at Bayside Stadium, where everyone in the park can sit down and watch the display). Believe just lacks Shamu; the storyline was very loose and lame. I loved Shamu Adventure and Shamu's evening shows, but Believe was a disappointment. I loved Cirque de la Mer (the original fake Cirque du Soleil; based on an Incan legend) better than Odyssea, which replaced it. I have never seen Fusion, but I bet it's not as good as the old water ski shows. The stingrays have always been a big draw for my family, as well as the dolphins. I really miss the "Trainer for a Day" program, which I notice they don't have anymore at Sea World (I know that DC has it now). Journey to Atlantis is my favorite thrill ride at any park, including Disney. I have never ridden Kraken, but eventually I will. I love the simulator at Wild Arctic, although I think they've "toned it up" quite a bit; I can't ride it now. I also miss the stationary observation deck at Shark Encounter (the new name for Terrors of the Deep), where you can just stand/sit and watch the sharks swim past you. Now, you have to go into a restaurant for this experience. No way am I eating at an expensive restaurant just to be able to see the sharks from that angle. Feeding the Sea Lions and Seals is fun, but you have to have a strong arm to be able to throw the fish far enough so that the seals/sea lions get it and not the birds. And above all, I really miss the aquarium, but not the tide pool!!! I also miss the extreme comedy in the Clyde and Seamore show (they have increasingly gotten less and less comedic over the years with the current show, Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island, almost to the point where it's not enjoyable to watch anymore).

Nellas Elensar