Animal Attractions at SeaWorld Orlando
The meticulously designed habitats at SeaWorld offer a rare look at marine creatures, such as dolphins, penguins, and sharks, as they would be in their natural settings. Key West at SeaWorld One of the park’s most visited animal attractions, Key West at SeaWorld is a tropical paradise featuring animals of the Florida Keys. Spread over 5 acres (2 ha), the attraction’s Dolphin Cove® and Stingray Lagoon® are home to several bottlenose dolphins and more than 200 stingrays. Guests can also experience the thrill of feeding and touching these animals. At Turtle Point®, various species of endangered and threatened sea turtles can be seen, and an underwater viewing area offers a peek at a beautiful coral reef.
Sunset Celebration, which takes place every night at Key West, is a colorful and festive affair abuzz with live music and entertainers.
Pacific Point Preserve®
Designed as a replica of the Northern Pacific coast, this 2.5 acre (1 ha) area has many beaches and rocky outcroppings. Visitors enjoy the antics of sea lions, harbor seals, and fur seals as they play, jump, and have a great time at this attraction. Don’t miss the highly entertaining feeding sessions as the sea lions and other mammals dive around for food and swallow an entire fish in one gulp. Check at the information desk for timings.
Manatee Rescue
Named the country’s best new zoological exhibit by the American Zoological Association, the attraction offers an up close and personal look at manatees. This highly educational exhibit includes a film show about the doleful and appealing herbivores. Injured manatees are brought to the park by an animal rescue team, and are released back into their habitat once they have recovered.
Penguin Encounter®
A re-creation of the polar regions, this glacial terrain is covered with snow and has a sub-zero temperature. Four species of penguins – gentoo, rockhopper, chinstrap, and king – waddle along the rocky cliffs and swim gracefully in the icy waters, while puffins play close at hand. A 120-ft (35-m) long moving walkway passes through the habitat and gives guests a close view of the birds.
Shamu: Close Up!
This research and breeding center facilitates the study of killer whales as part of SeaWorld’s ongoing efforts to create awareness and educate people about these powerful creatures.
The Shamu Underwater Viewing area presents a massive 7 million gallon (26 million liter) habitat, which offers a close look at these giant mammals.
Shark Encounter
Walk through an underwater tunnel surrounded by hairraising creatures such as poisonous fish, scary barracudas, creepy eels, and predatory sharks. The 60-ft (18-m) long tunnel is made up of acrylic panels – each weighing almost 5000 lbs (2268 kg) – and offers a close but safe look at these dangerous animals.
Those looking for a more thrilling experience can try the interactive Sharks Deep Dive program, which is a part of the Shark Encounter. Here, visitors wear special wetsuits and snorkel or scuba dive in a shark cage while more than 50 sharks swim around them.
This two-hour program is expensive and permits only two guests at a time. Note that children below the age of ten are not allowed.
MISTIFY
Held each night at The Waterfront (see p85), SeaWorld’s fireworks show Mistify is an absolutely stunning finale to a day at the park. The show uses laser projection techniques and highly advanced special effects to create 100-ft (30-m) tall fountains, giant displays of marine life, dancing flames, and a brilliant sky and underwater light show – all accompanied by dazzling fireworks. The best place to watch this spectacular event is from the shores of The Waterfront’s seaport village.
SEAWORLD’S SERIOUS SIDE
The buzzwords at the nonprofit Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute are Research, Rescue, and Rehabilitation – the “three Rs.” SeaWorld’s animal rescue teams are on call 24 hours a day and have helped thousands of ill and injured whales, dolphins, manatees, and turtles. In fact, the park’s manatee rescue program is the largest in the world. The animals are nursed and, if necessary, operated on in the park’s rehabilitation center.
Those that recover sufficiently are released back into the wild. SeaWorld also runs several educational tours, such as the Saving a Species tour, which offer a glimpse into their conservation programs.
