Penguin Encounter Anyone?

[Gotta Love Eeyore]

I am looking for reviews or information on Sea World's Penguin Encounter. Has anyone taken this tour? It looks pricey for only 45 minutes, but the website doesn't give enough info on what you actually do during that time.

Thanks for any input or help you can give me!

 

[scjo68]

We are booked to go on it in exactly a week!
I'll post feedback when we return.

 

[chiamarie]

You get to go behind the scenes and meet a puffin and a penguin; as well as an aviculturalist (person who works with birds).

 

[steve_rob]

We went on this last year and really enjoyed it. You go backstage at Penguin Encounter, but don't actually go out into the snowy bit, instead just standing at the gate and they bring penguins out to you to touch. It's amazing how powerful they are - there might be masses of soft feathers but if they want to go somewhere (they are VERY inquisitive) it takes a lot to hold them back!

You also have a talk with at least two different keepers and meet a puffin, who is extremely friendly, because he is their park ambassador and so is very used to being around people (plus I think he might have been hand reared?)

The best part of our tour though, I cannot guarantee you will get. We turned up only to find out that the only people on it were me, my wife and one other couple. That meant we got a lot of attention from the trainers, could ask all the questions we wanted, plenty of time stroking the birds and taking photos etc. Whereas with a group of say 12, we might have felt a bit rushed.

 

[myramsy]

We did the penguin encounter a few years ago and loved it! We would do it again for sure! My DS loved the fact that he got to pat a penguin...its a great time!

 

[scjo68]

We are looking forward to it.
Question: I booked and paid for he tour online a while ago. In looking over my trip documents, I have a receipt for the tour, that I printed out. But it says at the top "This is not your eticket". Was I supposed to have etickets, or is the confirmation/reciept enough? I can't remember what it said to do when I booked it. We already have our admission tickets. This is just the penguin tour I am wondering about.

 

[chiamarie]

We are looking forward to it.
Question: I booked and paid for he tour online a while ago. In looking over my trip documents, I have a receipt for the tour, that I printed out. But it says at the top "This is not your eticket". Was I supposed to have etickets, or is the confirmation/reciept enough? I can't remember what it said to do when I booked it. We already have our admission tickets. This is just the penguin tour I am wondering about.

Your Etickets for park admission, you should be able to go straight to the turnstiles with. Once in the park you need to go straight to the reservations desk to check in for your Penguin Tour. When you check in, they'll give you your tickets for the tour, as well as tell you when and where to meet your tour guide.

 

[scjo68]

OK thanks!
One more question-
I really want to ride Manta. (alone-family won't ride it )
If we check in for the tour at opening, will I still make it to Manta pretty soon after opening? I assume it is best to go right to Manta at rope drop. Or, can the rest of the family check in for us, and give us all outr tickets for the tour?

In other words, do all members of the party have to check in personally for the tour, and how long does it take to check in?

 

[chiamarie]

OK thanks!
One more question-
I really want to ride Manta. (alone-family won't ride it )
If we check in for the tour at opening, will I still make it to Manta pretty soon after opening? I assume it is best to go right to Manta at rope drop. Or, can the rest of the family check in for us, and give us all outr tickets for the tour?

In other words, do all members of the party have to check in personally for the tour, and how long does it take to check in?

Just one person needs to check the family in, that should be fine.

 

[scjo68]

We are back and I must say that we really enjoyed the Penguins up close tour.
We got there at rope drop, and as pp said, My family was able to check in while I went diectly to Manta. Manta was great, BTW.

We were told where and when to meet later for the tour. They told us about their penguins and how they care for them. THen we got to go into the Penguin Encounter enclosure (COLD) but we were off to the side of the big display room where you go by on the moving sidewalk. We were able to touch and pet a couple of the penguins. They also would let us get our picture taken with them. The couple of penguins we interacted with came right over to us, like they were curious about us.

Then we went back in where it was room temperature, and we got to see two puffins close up. Our original guide had warned us that we may not get to touch the puffins, but we did get to hold them. So we really are glad we took the tour. It took about 45 minutes total.

Also, we really enjoy Sea World. THis was our third time visiting the park. I will say that Sea World gets very hot. Our last two visits to SW were during Winter. The transition from winter to summer touring was not that difficult at WDW, since there are so many inside attractions. SW, however seemed to have mostly outdoor attractions, as well as unshaded outdoor areas (like that bridge over to Shamu!) so we felt really wiped out and drained from the heat on our SW day compared to our WDW days.

I am glad we did SW, just be prepared for the heat if you go in summer. Getting a front row seat at the shows is a good way to cool off!

 

[polopony]

Thanks for the helpful review!

 

[Gotta Love Eeyore]

Thank you so much everyone for all the information. I've booked this tour for next week as a surprise for my kids and I can't wait!!!

You guys are the best.