shamu show

[blodders]

Are the trainers going back in with the whales yet? If not, does anyone know if/when they will be? I can't imagine the show without them interacting in the water. Has anyone seen the show since they stopped going in? Does it still have the same magic?

 

[LoriABil]

I don't know if the trainers are going to get to go back into the water or not. Last I heard, it would be December at the earliest, and that was before OSHA came down so hard on them.

I can tell you that we've seen the show several times since the trainers have been out of the water. This was in San Antonio, so I don't know if the same holds true for Orlando... The show is different - but I wouldn't say it wasn't magical. But I would say it was kind of sad. One of the first shows after the trainers were no longer allowed to get in, it was almost like the whales were off...like they were waiting for the trainer to jump in like always, and then, when they didn't, like they were slower in performing. I know that probably doesn't make sense. I have a hard time describing it - and I know I don't know what the whales are thinking. I guess hesitation is the best word for it. After seeing Believe 5 or more times a day, every time we go, it just seemed that something was off.

The latest was in May of this year, and that show was better, but I don't know if it was that the timing of the show was back, or the fact that the new baby was there! It was better, either way.

I will add that my son (who was 6 at the time all of this happened) said "What's wrong with the trainers? Why aren't they going in?" I was trying to decide what to say (I had thought about it a hundred times, but still wasn't sure) and he said "I guess they need more practice!"

On the way back to the hotel, he said, "Shamu seemed sad no one wanted to swim with him." I had gotten that same feeling; but who knows what they are thinking? Do they enjoy having a play-mate in the water? Or do they wish the trainer would get out of their way so they can swim easier. Who knows? In short, worth seeing, but we no longer see every show every time we go. We probably would if the trainers were back in the water.

 

[KBF]

As of now, they still arent in the water, and since they will retire the show "Believe" this coming spring, I wouldnt expect them in the water until then at the earliest. They still may not be in the water with the new day show this spring. Seaworld has said all safety procedures would be reviewed before they re enter the water.

As far as the shows now, there is a shorter version of the show being performed because of the new baby whale. They talk about the baby for about 10 minutes and then they do 3 of the segments from believe. I would expect a show like this for another month or two. Yes its lost some magic, but its still cool to see how the trainers interact with the whales.