SeaWorld Orlando is a theme park, and marine-life based zoological park, in Orlando, Florida. It is owned and operated by SeaWorld Entertainment. When combined with its neighbor Discovery Cove and Aquatica, it forms Seaworld Parks and Resorts Orlando, an entertainment complex consisting of the three parks and many neighboring hotels. In 2013, SeaWorld Orlando hosted an estimated 5.1 million guests, ranking it the tenth most visited amusement park in the United States and nineteenth worldwide.
Park layout
As of Summer 2014, Seaworld Orlando has been separated into different areas, called "seas". Each with a unique themed element. Starting at the lower center and continuing clockwise they are:
Port of Entry: The main entrance of the park features a Florida-inspired theme with lush tropical landscaping and a large artificial freshwater marina with a Shamu-themed iconic lighthouse. It is the guests gateway to the many seas of Seaworld.
Sea of Shallows: This area showcases most of the shallow water sea animal exhibits at the park as well as the Dolphin Theater. In addition, the Manta rollercoaster travels through this section and Turtle Trek, a dome theater show also reside here. All of the Key West at SeaWorld area is inside of the Sea of Shallows. It is designed to mimic the appearance of the city of Key West, Florida with architecture and landscaping reminiscent of the area. Animal exhibits in this portion of the park include cownose rays, southern stingrays, green sea turtles, hawksbill sea turtle, loggerhead sea turtle, Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, greater flamingos, West Indian manatees, American alligators, Bottlenose dolphins, and brown pelicans. The stingray and dolphin habitats offer opportunities for guests to feed the animals.
Sea of Legends: The Sea of Legends is dedicated to the mysterious myths and other tales told about the sea. Journey to Atlantis, a boat ride with roller-coaster elements, bases its story from the legend of the lost city of Atlantis. Next to the gift shop there is an aquarium with animals in an environment made to look like Atlantis. Also found here is Kraken, a floorless roller-coaster where the rider plays the part of the Kraken racing through the ocean.
Sea of Ice: Sea of Ice, originally named Antarctica, is themed around the Antarctic continent. Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin is the sole attraction in this area. It is a dark ride where the guests follow young penguin on a journey home after a harsh storm. The ride exits into the penguin exhibit area.
Sea of Delight
Sea of Delight includes a sub-area named The Waterfront, which resembles a seaside Mediterranean village. The majority of the parks restaurants are here as well as many shops. The park's Sky Tower ride is also here, it was integrated into the theme of The Waterfront village when the area opened in 2003. The only land animal show at the park, Pets Ahoy, is located here inside of the Seaport Theater. Outside of the Waterfront is where the Sea Lion and Otter Stadium viewing area stands.
Sea of Mystery: The Sea of Mystery is a less themed area compared to the others in Seaworld. It houses the shark underwater viewing and the Shark's Underwater Grill. The Nautilus Theater, showing Cirque du Soleil style shows, and Sea Garden, up close animal area, also are located here.<
Sea of Fun: Formerly Shamu's Happy Harbor, Sea of Fun, is a children's area hosted by Shamu, the park's killer whale mascot. The area is located adjacent to Shamu Stadium and features family activities including Shamu Express (a junior rollercoaster), a net climbing structure, and a water play area. Signage here still refers to it as Shamu's Happy Harbor, although management and the map use the updated name.
Sea of Power: Sea of Power is host area of the Seaworld's iconic killer whale shows. The Shamu Stadium is located in the center with the Wild Arctic indoor pavilion nextdoor. Wild Arctic is a combined attraction which includes a motion simulator followed by an indoor animal exhibit hosting Beluga whales, Pacific walrus, harbor seals, and formerly Polar bears. During the Christmas holiday season, Wild Arctic is transformed into the Polar Express Experience based on the Warner Bros. film of the same name. Guests ride the Polar Express to the North Pole where Santa Claus waits to greet them. Shamu Stadium currently hosts "One Ocean" as its main show with "Shamu Celebration: Light up the Night" and "Shamu Christmas Miracles" showing seasonally.
Attractions
SeaWorld Orlando has many live shows and attractions including rides and animal exhibits. One of these attractions actually combine the two, with both a ride component and a separate animal exhibit.
Rides and attractions
Live entertainment
Animal exhibits
- Shark Encounter, which features an underwater tunnel and a wide array of sharks, stingrays, barracuda, and venomous fish. At Sharks Underwater Grill, guests can dine while observing the sea life in the main exhibit tank.
- Pacific Point Preserve, home to the park's sea lions and seals.
- Dolphin Cove, an outdoor exhibit where guests can feed and touch Bottlenose Dolphins.
- Stingray Lagoon, a covered exhibit where guests can touch stingrays.
- Dolphin Nursery, a covered exhibit where new-born Bottlenose Dolphins reside.
- Flamingo Point, an outdoor exhibit where flamingos are exhibited.
- Pelican Preserve, an outdoor exhibit where brown pelicans are exhibited.
- Shamu Underwater Viewing, a covered, outdoor exhibit that gives guests and up close, below the surface look at SeaWorld's killer whales.
Animal Inventory
Bottlenose dolphins
Please note that the dolphins rotate around the park between the nursery, cove, and stadium
- Dolphin Cove: Alpha (M), Aurora (F), Callie (F), Gus (M), Haley (F), Jackson (M), Jag (M), Jenever (F), Lagos (M), Liko (M), Lily (F), Nate (M), Neo (M), Nueces (F), Oscar (M), Potter (M), Roka (F), Schooner (M), Scott (M), Soleil (F), Tiger (M) and Turk (M).
- Dolphin Nursery: Archer (M), Ariel (F), Gertrude (F), Griffith (F), Naia (F), Nigel (M), Sparrow (F), Starla (F), Tasha (F), Tinker (F), and Yar (F)
- Dolphin Stadium: Alejandro (M), Baretta (M), Bubba (M), Clyde (M), Damara (F), Frankie (F), Gala (F), Marble (M), Phil (M), and Starbuck (M)
Short-Finned Pilot Whales
Please note that the pilot whales are only on display before some Blue Horizons shows about 15-20 minutes before and during the Majesty of the sea segment of Blue Horizons.
- Whale and Dolphin Stadium: Ace (M), Ava (F), Fredi (F), and Piper (F)
Belugas
- Wild Arctic: Aurek (M), Maple (F), and Whisper (F)
Orcas
- Shamu Stadium: Katina (F), Kayla (F), Makaio (M), Malia (F), Nalani (F), Tilikum (M), and Trua (M)
Controversies
- Trainer injuries and deaths:
In February 2010, during a training session, one of the Orca whales Tilikum pulled trainer Dawn Brancheau into the water and thrashed her, resulting in the trainer's death. In August 2010, The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited SeaWorld of Florida LLC for three safety violations, following the death of an animal trainer in February. The total penalty was $75,000. This animal was one of the three killer whales responsible for an earlier 1991 trainer death at Sealand Vancouver.
ArrayAttendance
ArrayAquatica
ArraySee also
- Incidents at SeaWorld Orlando
Notes
ArrayExternal links
- Official website
- Photos of SeaWorld Orlando published under Creative Commons License
- Aquatica Website
- SeaWorld Orlando at the Roller Coaster DataBase
Interesting Informations
Looking products related to this topic, find out at Amazon.com
Source of the article : here
EmoticonEmoticon