Not far from the main entrance, my first stop was at an icon that I could easily see before even reaching the SeaWorld parking lot. The WaterFront is home to the soaring, 400 foot Sky Tower.

The Sky Tower is an opening-day attraction, dating back to 1973. At first sight, this ride can seem quite intimidating, judging by the height of it. However, unlike other tower rides at our local theme parks, this ride gently lifted its passengers up to the sky and brings them back down just as smoothly.

During my ride, I quickly forgot about the actual height and was able to focus more on the panoramic views.

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From this vantage point, the views continue for miles. And since the Sky Tower is a constantly rotating, it is easy to not only see the entire park (including backstage areas for many of the animals), but also much of the Orlando area. The best part of it all is that the Sky Tower is now included in admission for all guests — it used to be an upcharge to ride — and it accepts SeaWorld’s Quick Queue.

Not too far from the Sky Tower lies a SeaWorld classic that I thoroughly enjoyed: Shark Encounter! When I first heard the name years ago, I thought it might be a crazy version of JAWS at Universal Orlando. But a quick glance at the park map that it’s an exhibit.

Within the first few steps of entering the show building, guests are surrounded by a giant aquarium filled with hundreds of diverse fish swimming all around. The sight is so awe-inspiring that, after many visits, I still stop near the beginning to appreciate the moment — and remember that this is just a small sample of the millions of animals found in the sea!

Continuing through the exhibit this time, I saw a number of other smaller aquariums, including the Barracuda exhibit, which is one of my personal favorites. Seeing such a slender fish with dangerously sharp teeth proves that sharks are not the only creatures in the sea who can deliver a profound bite.

Upon stepping onto the moving walkway, I was instantly immersed into the world of sharks! If it were possible, I could easily see myself just sitting down and letting time go by while I marvel at the different shark species.

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Seeing them swimming so close helps me develop a renewed appreciation and respect for one of ocean’s mighty beasts. Observing the rows of teeth, gills, eyes, and fins really puts into perspective the unique nature of our ocean’s lifeforms. Once experienced, this exhibit easily becomes a family favorite and one of the highlights of any SeaWorld visit.

When I exited the Shark Encounter plaza, I remembered that, while I was on the Sky Tower, my eyes were drawn to a line of flamingos on the main SeaWorld lagoon. Now I headed that way, and I discovered that there was one clear difference between the flamingos on the lake and the variety found at the front of the park: the ones on the lake were actually Paddle Boats!

During designated hours (weather permitting), the paddle boats are available to guests to take a leisurely 20-minute excursion in the lagoon.

Trust me when I say that this has to be one of the most relaxing, peaceful, and enjoyable experiences at SeaWorld for anyone in the family! The cost is $5.00 per person or $4.00 per person for Pass Holders.

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If you ever get the opportunity and just need a little break, definitely check these “flamingos” out. You will not regret the decision.

I hope you enjoyed making these SeaWorld discoveries with me today. Now let’s take a look at the parks new event starting this Saturday…

New “Wild Days” event gets you closer than ever

Connect even deeper to animals and the wonderful world we share during Wild Days, an all-new event at SeaWorld Orlando happening weekends January 11 through January 26. Families can enjoy three weekends of interactive shows and up-close animal encounters and meet the leaders in the world of animal rescue and rehabilitation, celebrate penguins, and immerse themselves in what they love about SeaWorld – the animals!

Wild Days includes:

January 11 – 12: Jack Hanna Weekend

Join “Jungle Jack” for a wild weekend of furry and feathered fun. Recognized around the world for his boundless enthusiasm for animals and conservation, Jack Hanna helps us share in his wondrous connection to wildlife and the world we share.

January 18 – 19: Sea Rescue Weekend

Meet the leaders in the world of animal rescue and rehabilitation as they share incredible stories that have been featured on the national show, Sea Rescue. SeaWorld’s Animal Rescue team is on call 24/7, 365 days a year to help ill or injured animals, and for nearly 40 years the team has rescued more than 23,000 animals. Featured animal rescue stories will include: turtles, flamingos, manatees, pilot whales and dolphins.

January 25 – 26: Penguin Lovers’ Weekend with Julie Scardina

Penguin Lovers of the world unite! Don’t miss this refreshingly fun and educational weekend centered around penguins. Join SeaWorld Animal Ambassador Julie Scardina as she shares her lifelong love of animals and the parks’ commitment to wildlife conservation and as well as tell stories of her trips around the globe from continent to continent.

At Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, to celebrate the weekend, penguin lovers will have the special chance to virtually dance like a penguin, walk side by side with a penguin colony, and star in shareable Antarctica photo opportunities at the coolest “ice” block party.

All Wild Days shows are included with park admission with show times at 11:00am and 2:00pm at SeaWorld’s Nautilus Theater. Seating is on a first-come-first-serve basis. Shows and times are subject to change without notice.

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The post Discovering SeaWorld: Sky-high views, deep sea encounters & flamingo cruises – plus, the new Wild Days event starts this weekend appeared first on Orlando Informer.

A quick note before we get started: SeaWorld’s lands/areas are not particularly well defined, so I group certain attractions and exhibits under the umbrella of Key West that are within close proximity.

When I entered the Key West area, I was immediately immersed into the lush, tropical landscaping.

Taking a few more steps inward, I saw a building with a detailed backdrop for kids to meet Franklin and Friends, a group of characters that many youngsters have grown to love. This is a fairly new offering to the area, and I recommend this as a must-do for families with kids.

Tip: Guests should check their park map for specific character greeting times.

If you want to have close encounters with some of the animals of SeaWorld, Key West is the place to do it. Not too far from the Franklin meet-and-greet location, I discovered an animal exhibit that I had not noticed on my previous trips. There was a Pelican habitat with at least eight pelicans swimming and walking around. Some even seemed ready for a quick photo, which I was happy to take advantage of.

Not too far from the Pelicans I came across the Sting Ray Lagoon. This is one of the few areas of the park where you can actually touch the animals.

At first touch, guests often pull their hands out of the water right away because the string rays have a slightly slimy feel. However, after a few minutes, most people usually become accustomed to the feel — and eventually they find themselves not wanting to leave the Sting Ray Lagoon. (By the way, it is almost as must fun to watch the people trying to touch the sting rays here as it is to touch them yourself.)

My favorite animal encounter in all of SeaWorld is Key West’s Dolphin Cove. Everyone thinks that dolphins are very playful and friendly, and no place confirms that as fact more than this area.

It’s one thing to train animals to perform in shows with trainers, it’s another thing to have an animal actually interact with everyday guests. In this area I quickly learned that dolphins were a lot bigger than they appear on TV, or even in SeaWorld’s dolphin show (more about that later). I will admit, seeing how quick and fast they are, I was a little cautious about putting my hand in the water. But once I saw other guests — some much younger than me — interacting with and touching the dolphins, I suddenly received the necessary desire to attempt the same feat!

Although it took some time for a dolphin to swim close enough for me to touch it, once it happened, it was a very fulfilling experience — and I was anxious to repeat the process again and again.

Tip: For added personal interactivity with the dolphins and sting rays, guests may purchase food to feed the animals during specific hours. Once again, guests should check their park map for information.

Right next to Dolphin Cove resides one of my all-time favorite SeaWorld shows, Blue Horizons. In one word: breathtaking!

This show is nearly a decade old, yet it still remains a must-see while in Key West. I enjoy Blue Horizons so much because it’s filled with high jumping dolphins, talented acrobats, and plenty of birds big and small, all of whom are surrounded by an amazing set design and a vivid musical score. Guests young and old should definitely see this show!

Tip: Due to the popularity of Blue Horizons, try to arrive at least 30 minutes before showtime.

One of the newest attractions to the Key West area is Turtle Trek. I thoroughly enjoy this experience because every step of it is well thought out.

In the preshow area, I’m always delighted by the large glass displays showing different species of fish along with giant manatees and, of course, turtles.  Moving through the queue, we learn about the star of the 3D movie and the different dangers sea turtles face. During the show itself, I find myself overwhelmed (in a good way) by the 3D dome theater. It’s huge, and I like that no matter where I turn my head in the theater, I’m surrounded by the film.

Even though it’s clear that the movie is animated, there are still many close encounters with the different animals in the film that make guests feel like they are part of the journey.

In the post-show area, there is outdoor viewing of the manatees, and there is also a custom Turtle Trek video game for guests to play. I’ve given it a try and found it to be a very fun and competitive game to play with a group of people.

Throughout Key West I found several gift shops selling area-specific merchandise. This is a very positive move on the part of SeaWorld, as so many other stores throughout the park sell generic merchandise. Trek Treasures had many turtle-themed items for sale, while Coconut Bay Traders and Sandcastle Toys n Treats has more tropical-themed items, such as picture frames, cups, key rings, etc., that are based on many of the animal encounters found in Key West.

Now we have come to the main attraction in the Key West area. SeaWorld might just have a few thrill rides, but they are some of the very best rides in town!

Opened in 2009, I declare Manta as one of the best the park has ever created. The theming begins immediately inside the queue building, where I’m always in awe of the huge aquariums filled with different species of fish and several manta rays. It’s so easy to forget that the line is continually moving as you marvel at the grace with which the manta rays swim.

The ride itself is a work of art. As I ride face down, soaring through the air, I imagine what it feels like to swim like a manta ray — this is reward enough for me, but when the twists and turns are added in, Manta becomes one of the most fulfilling and thrilling coasters in Central Florida.

Tip: To experience the lowest wait time, visit this attraction either at park opening or during the last two hours prior to park closing.

Did you know that Key West at SeaWorld Orlando held so many unique treasures? I think you must agree that every guest visiting the park should take a careful tour of this area — they will leave with many rich experiences and memories.

If you’re interested in learning what SeaWorld is doing for the holidays this year, see this blog post. Otherwise, to learn more about the park, check out all of our blog posts filed under SeaWorld

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The post Key West at SeaWorld Orlando: Explore a land of turtles, sting rays, dolphins & one of the world’s best roller coasters appeared first on Orlando Informer.

#5 – Special events INCLUDED with park admission

A spectacular feature that SeaWorld has over the other major theme park resorts: special events are included with your daily park ticket!

SeaWorld offers different events throughout the changing seasons. In October guests can experience SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular, where you can enjoy seasonal shows, trick-or-treating, taking pictures with sea creatures, and more. Get in the holiday spirit during the months of November and December as SeaWorld’s beloved Christmas Celebration comes to town. At this event there are many holiday shows and ride overlays to get you in a festive mood. You can check out The Polar Express Experience, in which guests take an adventurous journey to the North Pole and may even see Santa Clause. Winter Wonderland on Ice allows guests to sing to classic Christmas songs as they are entertained by world-class skaters. O Wondrous Night brings to life the Christmas Story in a way you have never experienced with live singing, acting, and animals. And let’s not forget the thousands of lights that illuminate almost the entire park!

There are also other events throughout the year, such as Just for Kids, where younger visitors can meet and be entertained by some of their favorite TV characters; Bands, Brew & BBQ, when guests get a chance to munch on southern cooking, sample a variety of beers, and see popular rock and country artists; and many more special events throughout the year!

SeaWorld Orlando offers some of the area’s best annual events, and each one is included with regular park admission.

#4 – Remarkable animal encounters

Unlike that animal theme park down the street, at SeaWorld guests are able to get very close to and interactive with a variety of animals at many locations around the park. You can see flamingos, penguins, dolphins, sting rays, sea lions, and killer whales. Animal lovers both young and old often cherish the opportunity to touch a dolphin or feed a sting ray.

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For those who desire even closer encounters, SeaWorld offers tours and experiences where guests can step into the environments of many of the park’s animals and interact with them. (Watch for a new blog post later this week on Orlando Informer about the Marine Mammal Keeper Experience.) If you are passionate about animals and want to have an even deeper love of them, no one offers better and closer interactions than SeaWorld!

#3 – State-of-the-art rides & one-of-a-kind attractions

Can you imagine what it feels like to glide through the water like a manta ray, experience the cold land of Antarctica, take a splash through Atlantis, or journey on a wild ride to the home of the polar bear? Well, thanks to the creative minds at SeaWorld, you can experience all these and more on their lineup of state-of-the-art rides and unique attractions.

SeaWorld has two thrilling high-speed rollercoasters (including Orlando’s most under-appreciated coaster, Kraken), a hybrid water/coaster ride, a wild simulator ride, a mini-land with kids rides, the all-new Antarctica attraction — in which the whole family can take an amazing journey to one of the coldest places on earth — and much more. In addition, many of SeaWorld’s attractions are themed to a particular animal or environment so that, from the minute you enter the queue, you feel as if you are part of the experience.

#2 – World-class shows

On a typical SeaWorld visit, guests can choose between four or five world-class shows to enjoy. Although all of the shows incorporate either the sea or animals, they are all different in their presentations. SeaWorld’s dolphin show Blue Horizons invites its visitors on an adventure to learn about these playful animals of the sea. Complete with an original soundtracks, graceful animals, and a talented cast, Blue Horizons always leaves my mind captivated and wanting more. A’Lure, The Call of the Ocean is a show that families with kids will especially enjoy because it is a fairytale under the sea. Filled with good and evil, this show features amazing costuming, special effects, and plenty of acrobatics.

If your goal is to see the star of SeaWorld, Shamu, look no further than One Ocean. With a combination of whales, fountains, and music, this is a must-do on any SeaWorld visit! And if you are looking for a place to cool off during a steamy summer day, save the money you would spend on a soda and take a seat in the splash zone — there’s no better way to be refreshed while being entertained.

As you see in the photo caption above, during special events like Summer Nights the amount of shows presented at SeaWorld often doubles, so that even frequent park visitors can enjoy new offerings while first-time guests can enjoy both the seasonal and regular entertainment.

#1 – Best theme park value

Although the price of a general one-day admission ticket to SeaWorld is set at $92 per person like many all of Orlando’s major theme parks, with a little planning you can pay a whole lot less than that. Weekday tickets are $50 per person for US residents through December 20. The Fun Card allows you to pay $92 for one day and get the rest of the year free.

If you feel that you will be a frequent guest of SeaWorld, an annual pass is the way to go. Starting at $149 per person, you can get unlimited admission for 365 consecutive days; free parking ($15 savings per visit); shopping, tour, and dining discounts; and many more incentives. Most of these ticket offers are available exclusively online and not at the gate, so check out SeaWorldOrlando.com for more information. And remember our first point at the top of the article: SeaWorld’s incredible annual events are included with general admission!

Honorable mention – you can actually relax at SeaWorld

Certainly SeaWorld, like all destinations across the globe, has its busier days and its slower days. Nevertheless, a typical visit to SeaWorld just seems to feel more relaxing. Whether it’s the meandering pathways, the beautiful landscaping, or the friendly staff, there is a comfort in the air and a slower pace on the trails at SeaWorld that is lost in the hectic thrill rides at Universal and the overcrowding at Disney.

I’m not suggesting you shouldn’t bother planning your visit to SeaWorld ahead of time, or that you won’t find long lines during peak travel times. But if you do plan appropriately, there is a peaceful side to SeaWorld that you’ll likely not experience at the other two theme park resorts.

I hope this top five list has made SeaWorld Orlando a priority on your next family adventure to Central Florida!

To learn more about SeaWorld, Aquatica, and Discovery Cover — including complete information about SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular underway right now — check out all the OI blog posts filed under SeaWorld.

Or you can view all of our BIG 5 posts.

Editor’s note: A few weeks back you may recall that Orlando Informer hosted an open call for new writers. One of the goals of this open call was to help us bring our readers more extensive coverage of SeaWorld. We are proud to have Shane among our group of new contributors who will be helping us cover SeaWorld, and we look forward to sharing his Orlando insights and experiences with you.

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The post THE BIG 5: Top five reasons why SeaWorld should be part of your next Orlando vacation appeared first on Orlando Informer.