SeaWorld "Behind the Scenes" Tour - review with photos

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Monday, May 2nd: SeaWorld’s “Behind the Scenes” Tour (part 1)


Our Behind the Scenes Tour had been booked in advance of our visit as something special and new for our final full day of vacation. The birthday promotion being offered to pass members (buy one tour, get one free) meant that it was only $58 for our trio: paying for two admission at $29 each and getting the third one free. Of course, we could have had two free admissions with our two full price purchases, but we are long since used to coming out a bit short on BOGO offers as an odd-numbered group.





After winning a VIP Tour from the Surprise Squad back in August 2014 and enjoying that experience immensely, we had always wanted to partake in another of the various tours that are offered at the park. We couldn’t pass up such a great price, and had no hesitation in adding this to our itinerary.


I can’t recall if our tour was 11:15 or 11:30, but regardless, we didn’t have long to wait in the designated meeting spot (outside of the Turtle Trek retail store) until our guide.....who, if memory serves me correctly, was named Ashley.....came out to greet us. Our group was really small….only six of us in total: our three, plus another mom and dad with their only child (age 9), also a boy, and ironically enough, also named Jacob. Ashley was super excited to have such a small, intimate group: the last tour she hosted had a whopping 17 participants. After a quick round of introductions and answer to the requisite question “where are you all from?” (the other family were Florida residents), we kicked off the tour at the newly-opened-to-the-public manatee rehabilitation area.





Previously only available to park guests via the Behind the Scenes tour, this space was opened to the general public following our visit at Christmas 2015, so we were excited to see what it looked like . SeaWorld did a great job at incorporating this formerly back-stage area into a great space which is not only beautiful to look at, but also provides yet another opportunity for guest education and family-friendly learning. Regardless of how many times I visit, I never leave SeaWorld without taking away another tidbit of information about one of their animals that I didn’t know beforehand .





Ashley was super knowledgeable about each of the various stops on the tour, and filled us with all sorts of interesting facts about manatees, the behaviours, and their natural threats in the wild. We stopped to watch a few of them snack on some of the many pounds of spinach that they are fed each day by SW animal care staff.








I’ve got a rather soft spot in my heart for these enormous “sea cows” . They are just so gentle and peaceful, despite their massive size: the kind of animal you’d just like to wrap your arms around and hug.


Next, we made our way up to the special pool where the more injured manatees are housed as they are nursed back to health. Ashley explained some of the reasons that the manatees end up in SeaWorld’s care, some of the strategies used to help them regain their health, and the types of things they do during their rehabilitation to ready them for a return to the wild.





I am pretty sure the fellow above might have been the guy who appears to have been hit by a boat. Some of the injuries suffered by these beautiful creatures were just heartbreaking to hear about, but those lucky enough to be rescued by SeaWorld stand a good chance at long-term survival. Those that can’t be sufficiently rehabilitated back to their natural habitat will either find permanent homes at a SeaWorld park or another suitable facility as deemed by the government department which regulates them.


After the manatee area, our little group of 7 moved onward into the employees-only backstage area for a tour of some of the equipment utilized by the various arms of the SeaWorld Rescue Team.





Let me tell you……there were some seriously expensive and amazingly awesome watercraft and vehicles back here . After reading about some of the amazing rescues performed by SeaWorld employees, one often has to wonder…..how do they do it? Well, they sure have some incredible tools at their disposal. That certainly has to help.





Boats are specially designed and modified to allow for the seamless transition of sick or injured animals from water to boat so that the veterinarian staff can administer the proper care, then release again when possible. Every possible consideration was given to the safety of both the human staff members and the animals they assist when these boats were created for SeaWorld’s use.





There were a multitude of small buildings scattered about which housed food preparation facilities, veterinarian care areas, and offices. It takes a crazy amount of people to care for not only the various animals needing special medical attention in the back-stage area, but also the thousands and thousands of animals who call the park home.





We were shown several massive containers of various sizes which are used to safely transfer animals that require full water immersion in order to survive. Not only does SeaWorld have need to transport injured animals to the park from their various habitats, but they often accept animals from other parks who need to be relocated for an assortment of reasons.





This one is especially for the transport of Killer Whales. Ashley noted that SeaWorld tries to ensure a staff member travels right alongside each animal to ensure they have constant care and attention throughout their journey.





At the Aquarium Health Center, we were introduced (from a safe distance out of arms reach…..no touching either the animals or water) to a variety of sea turtles who were in need of SeaWorld’s tender loving care. Virtually all were rescues that would be returned to the wild as soon as they were returned to a condition of health that helped ensure their longevity in their natural habitats.








We got an exclusive inside and outside look at SeaWorld’s animal ambulance……where once again, they have thought of virtually everything.





Inside, a variety of animal care items were at the ready in the event of an emergency call for assistance. A team could be dispatched in a matter of minutes.





While we got a glimpse of the dolphin care pool from afar, it was not part of this specific tour. We could see them, though, splashing and frolicking about as we passed by.





Our final backstage stop was at a special, covered pool where there were more turtles receiving specialized care and attention for very specific maladies. This particular little lady suffered from unresolved buoyancy issues which rendered her unable to sink below the water. In order to protect her from the sun while she received treatment (which may or may not end up being successful), she spent her days swimming in the safety and comfort of the constant shade.





Once we had concluded our tour of that specific area, we boarded a bus to be whisked to our next destination by a very friendly driver named Mr. Bob.





Every single second of the tour was packed full of informational tidbits, and even the short bus rides were no exception. With the help of a speaker system (which was immensely useful on the open-air bus) Ashley filled us in all sorts of relevant little nuggets of little-know SeaWorld facts and initiatives. Like I said, we learn something new every single time we are here….and this tour was like an information buffet.





From my seat on the bus, I may have just let out a little squeal of delight when I spotted one of their Shamu cars :








Ashley informed us that SeaWorld staff routinely visit schools and other groups in the area to make presentations, and when they travel from place to place they utilize these unmistakeable vehicles. So, now I know what job I want to apply for when we realize our dream of locating to central Florida: whatever specific occupation at SW that comes with a company car . Note the personalized license plate, too:





Bouncing along in the back of the bus (and enjoying the wind from the open windows for that brief and wonderful time……it was UNBELIEVABLY hot and we had been dying during that first portion of the tour), we got to see the final stages of construction for the nearly-completed but not-yet-opened Mako coaster, set to open in June.





Catching sight of that amazing track, Steve got all giddy just thinking about our autumn adventures: he could hardly wait to ride Orlando’s tallest, fastest, longest coaster in October!





We were just getting this party started, and let me assure you…..the best of this experience was yet to come! More of our Behind the Scenes Tour is coming up next.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Monday, May 2nd: SeaWorld “Behind the Scenes” Tour, continued


Mr. Bob chauffeured us to a rear entrance of the Shark Encounter exhibit for our next stop on the Behind the Scenes tour. Jake, in particular, had very much been looking forward to this specific experience: he has been openly fascinated with sharks since before he could talk. He accumulated a library full of shark books as a little boy, and by the time he went to Junior Kindergarten he could regurgitate facts and statistics from memory on dozens of species.


Discovery Channel’s annual Shark Week is an EVENT in our house. We rarely PVR an shows but always make exceptions on Shark Week .


Oddly enough, Jake’s fascination with sharks is also the reason why he rarely enjoys a swim in the beautiful waters of the Atlantic on the trips where we squeeze in a beach day . I guess the more you know, the more you have to fear .





Ashley brought us inside the back entrance into a small room which housed a couple of aquariums and a kitchen-type preparation area. She first gave us a tour of the prep room, pointing out the high standards of cleanliness to which the food preparation is held and the sole use of stainless steel appliances (which I believe she noted were due to the salt content of the food, perhaps?). She then transitioned over to much more shark-specific talk….especially that which pertained to hunting behaviours and attacks on humans (and how attacks on swimmers and surfers are often cases of mistaken identity as their silhouettes resemble seals and other prey to a hungry shark).





We were introduced to the small sharks that were housed in one of the tanks in the room as Ashley detailed what made each of those specific species unique. She explained that we would each have a chance to pet them, and demonstrated the proper way to do so…..apparently, they enjoyed having their backs rubbed in a very specific fashion (heaven knows we all wanted to do it right.....no one wanted to be the first to annoy a shark, no matter how small and adorable they looked). She explained that this was a familiar activity for these three sharks, and those that didn’t feel like participating would swim away. If they did so, we were to allow them the choice of remaining at arm’s length. No animals at SeaWorld are ever forced to participate in any specific activity or interaction, so we would make the acquaintance of those that were feeling social and respect the decisions of those that weren’t.





The above fellow was my favourite….that black spot on his side is actually a fake eye, used to confuse his predators. Very cool how nature provides safety for even the smallest of the ocean creatures!





All six of us took turns “petting” the sharks, rubbing their backs with our two fingers exactly as shown. And just as Ashley had said….they actually seemed to enjoy it .





Interestingly, they felt nothing like I had expected: rather than a “snake-like” feeling to their skin (which was what I had anticipated), they were actually very soft. Who knew?





I loved the fact that because we were such a small group, we had loads of time for photos and questions and a very personal experience. So, so fun!





There was an adjacent hand washing station where we were able to wash, dry and Purell our hands after our individual turns at the shark tank. While the other family enjoyed their personal shark encounters, Steve, Jake and I admired the beautiful, vibrant fish in the large aquarium at the end of the room.





Like many women who I am acquainted with , these sea creatures were apparently both beautiful AND deadly: this sign was prominently highlighted on the front of the tank with an emergency phone conveniently nearby:





Yikes!!!


Once we had concluded our time with the sharks, we all hopped back on the bus and headed to our final stop on the tour, and the one that I was absolutely most excited about: we would get the rare and amazing opportunity to interact with a real, live penguin!





It was earth-meltingly hot outside, so we wondered how we would fare with the sharp drop in temperatures once we entered the area where the penguins resided. We were happy to learn that the huge difference noted at the Antarctica attraction would not be the case for this experience: because the penguins we would be meeting were Magellanic penguins (native to Argentina, Chile and the Falkland Islands), their habitat was not quite so cold. In fact, while it was cold inside as compared to the great outdoors, it was a refreshing cold versus an uncomfortable one.


Veronica, who works with the Magellanic penguins (and who, I think, must have one of the BEST jobs in the world) invited us in to meet one of her little friends who volunteered to help us learn all about this unique penguin species. I can’t remember his name, but it was distinctly Spanish.....not at all what you would expect for a penguin.....and made us laugh .





He curled right up on Veronica’s lap and was quite delighted to be oooohed, ahhhhed, and fussed over by our little group. Every single one of us took our time and indulged in this most awesome of experiences……it’s not every day you get to pet a penguin, and none of us wanted to rush through the moment.






Seriously, we couldn’t have picked something more fun and memorable for the last park day of our trip. If I had ever questioned the value of this small add-on, I certainly wasn’t now. Awesome, just awesome!





Once we all had a chance to capture all the photos we wanted, she let our little friend free to roam about the room.





He very much enjoyed the attention, let me tell ya . This guy was a star and he knew it . He toddled around with his funny little penguin walk and had us all in stitches.








We were given lots of opportunity and time to check out the SeaWorld habitats of these wonderful residents, all of which were designed to replicate the habitats they would have in the wild.











Replicating those habitats is quite the science on its own, and yes, these birds (which would co-habitate alongside the penguins in their Brazilian homeland) were real. Prettiest seagulls we had ever seen.





This little fellow was so odd looking, he couldn’t help but capture your heart, too. Jake leaned over and whispered “He must be cousin Eddie” (National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, for those who don’t get the reference).





Again, we were allowed tons of time to roam about, chat with the animal care staff, ask questions, and take pictures. The penguin care team were truly a wonderful group, and were so friendly and full of great information. No one wanted to leave…..not us nor the other family on the tour. We would have been happy to pass the remainder of the afternoon there until our Dine with Shamu seating!!





Heading back outside, Ashley noted that this was the end of the tour and wrapped things up with a short questions session (based on the various things we saw and learned on each of the tour stops) where she gave out collectible animal cards to those who were able to provide the correct answers. I think we got three or four of them (easy to do, LOL …. I don’t think the other set of parents had listened to a darn thing she said the entire time and couldn’t hardly come up with a single response ) which made nice, unique souvenirs.


An absolute 10/10 as far as value for the price paid. Another excellent experience from SeaWorld Orlando!

 

[Dolphinrescuegirls]

We're doing the tour next Thursday and I am also most excited about the penguin part. Honestly I could skip the first part because my husband and I rescue manatees/dolphins/ whales so we work on boats exactly like theirs and also have an animal rescue truck like theirs. I just wish we could see the dolphin rescue pool. When we did this tour years ago they actually took you to see the pool closer up so that we were actually able to take pics of them! Oh well, hopefully the penguin part makes it worth the price.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We're doing the tour next Thursday and I am also most excited about the penguin part. Honestly I could skip the first part because my husband and I rescue manatees/dolphins/ whales so we work on boats exactly like theirs and also have an animal rescue truck like theirs. I just wish we could see the dolphin rescue pool. When we did this tour years ago they actually took you to see the pool closer up so that we were actually able to take pics of them! Oh well, hopefully the penguin part makes it worth the price.

Honestly, with your background, you may find the tour a bit boring. For regular folks like us, its amazing.....for you guys, it might be a bit bland.

If penguins are your specific interest, the Penguin Up Close tour might be a better (albeit more expensive) option for you.

 

[Dolphinrescuegirls]

Honestly, with your background, you may find the tour a bit boring. For regular folks like us, its amazing.....for you guys, it might be a bit bland.

If penguins are your specific interest, the Penguin Up Close tour might be a better (albeit more expensive) option for you.

We went with the BOGO tour with our pass holder discount. I was hoping to see the dolphin rescue pool again like last time! Were those bamboo sharks you got to pet? I recently did that at MOTE Aquarium where I also volunteer. In the past, we've done other programs, not just at SeaWorld, and once they find out our backgrounds they can get really make a tour more personal and we can talk more in depth about stuff that regular people would be bored with. Of course this happens rarely since we usually get paired up with lots of other people.

Last year on my birthday I happened to run into a friend who was working as a dolphin trainer in dolphin cove and he ended up giving me a long private dolphin training session!! It was so fun. He's now at otter stadium and I hope to talk him into a sealion tour. I like sealions but more interested in otters, I've worked with both, and hope he could give us a tour that would focus more on the otters! Anyway, I'm glad you had a good trip!

 

[THEDISNEYTHREE]

I so enjoyed reading this. The tour looks so interesting and fun! I want to do it now. Lol I just love cousin Eddie. We are shark week lovers too. I've been doing the count down this week.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We went with the BOGO tour with our pass holder discount. I was hoping to see the dolphin rescue pool again like last time! Were those bamboo sharks you got to pet? I recently did that at MOTE Aquarium where I also volunteer. In the past, we've done other programs, not just at SeaWorld, and once they find out our backgrounds they can get really make a tour more personal and we can talk more in depth about stuff that regular people would be bored with. Of course this happens rarely since we usually get paired up with lots of other people.

Last year on my birthday I happened to run into a friend who was working as a dolphin trainer in dolphin cove and he ended up giving me a long private dolphin training session!! It was so fun. He's now at otter stadium and I hope to talk him into a sealion tour. I like sealions but more interested in otters, I've worked with both, and hope he could give us a tour that would focus more on the otters! Anyway, I'm glad you had a good trip!

Yes ma'am, I am pretty sure they were bamboo sharks. Definitely non-aggressive and very agreeable to a few hands-on interactions.

The sea lion tour is on my radar for October. I was going to spring for the SeaVenture experience at Discovery Cove, but DH doesn't really seem interested. So know I'm thinking, wouldn't the sea lion tour be a fun addition to our trip? I think I'm addicted . I really need to stop reading the SeaWorld website!

I so enjoyed reading this. The tour looks so interesting and fun! I want to do it now. Lol I just love cousin Eddie. We are shark week lovers too. I've been doing the count down this week.

I highly recommend it.....its definitely worth the price and not so long that it takes up a huge portion of your day .

Good to hear there's someone else out there to shares our sharks fascination! They are truly incredible creatures. Dining at Sharks Underwater Grill at SeaWorld is still on my Orlando bucket list: we're not fish or seafood lovers at all, but I think we'd love the ambiance of the aquariums as we dine on our....chicken entrees? .

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

Thanks for the great review! I am putting this on the list of "must do" items. I think my family would love it.

 

[Joanna71985]

Oh man, the penguin is so CUTE!! Now I want to take this tour

Last year on my birthday I happened to run into a friend who was working as a dolphin trainer in dolphin cove and he ended up giving me a long private dolphin training session!! It was so fun. He's now at otter stadium and I hope to talk him into a sealion tour. I like sealions but more interested in otters, I've worked with both, and hope he could give us a tour that would focus more on the otters! Anyway, I'm glad you had a good trip!

Who is your friend? I know most of the trainers at Sea Lion and Otter, and I wonder if I know him