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Saturday, June 18, 2011

Orlando M

Part V: Exploring the Rest of Orlando
including one at Universal and one on I-Drive (% 800-221-1339). The
schedule allows for about a seven-hour stay at Busch Gardens. The serv-
ice is free if you have a five-park FlexTicket.
Exploring the Top Attractions at SeaWorld
SeaWorld explores the mysteries of the deep in a theme-park format that
combines wildlife-conservation awareness and education with simple
laid-back fun. Up-close encounters with a montage of marine life are the
major draws here, but you can also find plenty of amusing shows and a
handful of thrill rides added into the mix.
To get a good look at the park’s layout, see the “SeaWorld” map on
page 291.
Blue Horizons
Blue Horizons, SeaWorld’s newest and most spectacular show to date,
made its debut in the summer of 2005 and replaced the Key West Dolphin
Fest. This unique show combines the grace and power of SeaWorld’s
most famous inhabitants, its dolphins and false killer whales, with the
pageantry of a Broadway production. The show transports you into the
dreams of an imaginative young girl, whose dream is to fly like the birds
and swim like the dolphins. Bringing the story to life, aerialists twirl high
in the air, while dolphins, whales, and bungee jumpers perform acrobatics
in the water. Adding to the drama are brightly-colored birds, which fly
over the audience. The entire show is set to an original score performed
by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. This is by far the most unique show
that SeaWorld has created and one that certainly shouldn’t be missed.
Clyde & Seamore Take Pirate Island
A lovable and amusing sea lion-and-otter duet, with a supporting cast
of walruses and harbor seals, stars in fish-breathed comedy that comes
with a swashbuckling series of stunts. The show, staged inside the aptly
named Sea Lion & Otter Stadium, is corny, but don’t hold that against the
animal actors who are predictably adorable. The show also serves as a
welcome change from all the high-tech rides and shows at the other
theme parks. Be sure to arrive early enough to catch the mime as he
pokes fun at the guests who arrive a bit late, much to the amusement of
the entire audience.
Clydesdale Hamlet
Twice a day except Fridays, eight of the tremendous Clydesdale horses
are hitched to the big red wagon for a parade through the park, beginning
and ending at their stables, where visitors also can watch the parade
tack going on and off. Daily petting sessions are scheduled, and they’re a
great time to get a snapshot of you with one of the horses. In late winter

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Chapter 20: SeaWorld & Discovery Cove
and spring, you may get to see a mare and foal that aren’t part of the
Clydesdale team.
Journey to Atlantis
Taking a cue from Disney’s Imagineers, SeaWorld created a part-flume,
part-coaster ride that carries the customary surgeon-general’s warning
about heart problems, neck or back ailments, pregnancy, dizziness, and
claustrophobia. The story line involves a fisherman, Hermes (the Greek
god), and wicked Sirens in a fierce battle between good and evil, but
what really matters is the drop — a wild, 60-foot plunge, with a bunch
of luge-like twists and turns and a shorter drop thrown in for good meas-
ure. There’s no hidden lesson here, just a splashy thrill when you least
expect it. Oh, and it goes without saying that you will get totally soaked.
Key West at SeaWorld
Although not quite the way Hemingway saw Key West, this 5-acre, tree-
and flower-lined, Caribbean-style village has food, street vendors, and
entertainers. It has three animal habitats: Stingray Lagoon, where you get
a hands-on encounter with harmless southern diamond and cownose
rays, an absolute favorite for younger kids; Dolphin Cove, a habitat for
bottlenose dolphins where you can sometimes feed or pet them as they
pass by; and Turtle Point, home to endangered and threatened species.
Shortly after this area opened, the dolphins often teased visitors by
swimming just out of arm’s reach. But they soon discovered the advan-
tages to human interaction — namely smelt.
Speaking of smelt, it’s real easy to be melted by the dolphins’ begging,
and you can easily burn $20 buying trays of their favorite snack to feed
to your newfound aquatic friends. I once spent half a park admission
feeding them before coming to my senses, so set a limit to your spending
(and feeding) ahead of time.
Kraken
Launched in summer 2000, this coaster is SeaWorld’s deepest foray into
the world of thrill-ride battles. Kraken is named for a massive, mythologi-
cal, underwater beast that Poseidon kept caged. This 21st-century monster
has floorless and open-sided 32-passenger trains that plant you on a
pedestal high above the track. When the coaster breaks loose, you climb
151 feet, fall 144 feet, hit speeds of 65 mph, go underground three times
(spraying bystanders with water — or worse, if you’re weak of stomach),
experience a moment of weightlessness, and make seven loops over a
4,177-foot course. This ride may be the longest 3 minutes, 39 seconds of
your life; according to a coaster fanatic friend who lives for adrenaline,
this is the best coaster in Central Florida (take that, Disney and Universal!).
Kraken carries a 54-inch height minimum. This is not a coaster for begin-
ners or youngsters — even if they meet the height requirement.

294 Part V: Exploring the Rest of Orlando
Manatee Rescue
This exhibit is as close as most people get to endangered West Indian
manatees. There are as few as 3,200 of them currently remaining in the
wild. Underwater viewing stations, innovative cinema techniques, and
interactive displays combine for a tribute to these gentle marine mam-
mals. It’s a nicer and roomier (for the manatees) exhibit than the tight
quarters their cousins have at The Living Seas in Epcot (see Chapter 13).
Kids especially like the more natural outdoor viewing area near the
entrance to the exhibit.
Marine Mammal Keeper Experience
Expect to invest a sizable chunk of your day and budget in this nine-
hour program (it runs from 6:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m., so you’ll also need to
be an early riser). You get to work side by side with a trainer, preparing
meals and feeding the animals, learning basic training techniques, and
sharing lunch. It costs $399 (tax inclusive), which also includes 7 days
of consecutive admission to SeaWorld, lunch, a career book, and a T-shirt.
The program is limited to two people per day, so make the required reser-
vations very early. You must be 13 or older, at least 52 inches tall, able to
climb, and able to lift and carry 15 pounds of vittles. Call % 407-432-1178
for more information.
Odyssea
Inside the Nautilus Theater, a cast of acrobats, mimes, dancers, musi-
cians, and comics put on a undersea show called Odyssea that, at times,
is artistic and funny (and always entertaining). The sets and costumes
focus on a whimsical underwater world. It’s similar in style to the Cirque
du Soleil production at Downtown Disney (see Chapter 25), but on a much
smaller scale. It’s also a great spot to give your feet a break and to cool
off, making it a good stop in the afternoon.
Penguin Encounter
The Penguin Encounter transports you via a 120-foot-long moving sidewalk
through Antarctic Tuxedoville. The stars of the show — four different
species of penguins — are on the other side of a Plexiglas shield. You get
a quick look at them as they preen, socialize, and swim at bullet speed in
a 30-degree habitat. You can also see puffins and murres (shorebirds) in
a similar, but separate, area.
Though you get a nice view of the penguins (and they are always a hit
with the kids), the viewing area surroundings leave a bit to be desired.
Pets Ahoy!
A veritable menagerie of cats, dogs, pot-bellied pigs, skunks, and a horse
are joined by birds and rats (nearly 100 animals in all) to perform comic
relief in a 25-minute show held several times a day inside the SeaWorld
Theater. Almost all of the performers were rescued from animal shelters.

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Chapter 20: SeaWorld & Discovery Cove
Stick around after the show and your kids can have an up-close
encounter with a couple of the featured animal stars.
Shamu Adventure Show
Everyone comes to SeaWorld to see Shamu, and believe me the show
never disappoints. The Shamu Adventure Show, held inside Shamu
Stadium, is a well-choreographed show, planned and carried out by very
good trainers and very smart Orcas. Performing stunts with and without
their trainers, the whales jump and dive into the depths of the gigantic
pool, impressing the audience every time. The fun builds until the video
monitor flashes an urgent “Weather Watch,” and one of the trainers utters
the warning, “Uh-oh! Hurricane Shamu is about to make landfall!” At this
point, many folks remember the splash-area warnings posted throughout
the grandstand (seats in the first 14 rows may get drenched). Those who
didn’t pay attention when they arrived get one last chance to flee to higher
and drier areas of the stadium. The Orcas then race around the edge of
the pool, creating huge waves of icy water that profoundly soak everyone
and everything within range. Veteran animal handler Jack Hanna makes a
cameo appearance on overhead monitors, compliments of ShamuVision.
Shamu: Close Up! is an adjoining exhibit that lets you get close to killer
whales and learn about breeding programs. Don’t miss the underwater
viewing area. You may get to see a mother with her big baby.
A nighttime version of this show, Shamu Rocks America, offers more of
a party atmosphere and less of an educational experience. The whales
perform to the beat of blaring rock music, and special effects are more
predominant against the nighttime sky. It adds up to a very entertaining
show for all ages.
Eating with the fish
In May 2002, SeaWorld opened a restaurant program called Dine with Shamu
(% 800-327-2420 or 407-351-3600 for information and reservations). This reservations-
only seafood buffet is served poolside with Shamu as a special guest. While eating,
guests can mingle and question SeaWorld trainers. The menu also includes chicken,
beef, and salads and a children’s buffet offering mac ’n’ cheese, chicken, hot dogs,
and other kiddie favorites. The cost is $34 for adults and $18 for kids 3 to 9, in addition
to park admission. Reserving a spot two to three weeks in advance is usually more
than enough unless you’re coming in one of the crunch periods (summer, holidays).
The park also opened Sharks Underwater Grill (% 407-363-2559 for reservations),
where diners can dig into Floridian and Caribbean treats while watching denizens
swim by in the Shark Encounter exhibit — almost the entire back wall of the restau-
rant serves as a gigantic viewing area. Menu prices are $16 to $30 for adults and $6
to $12 for kids 3 to 9 (pasta, hot dogs, chicken breast, steak, and popcorn shrimp), and
theme-park admission is required.

296 Part V: Exploring the Rest of Orlando
Shamu’s Happy Harbor
This 3-acre play area has a four-story net tower with a 35-foot crow’s-
nest lookout, water cannons, remote-controlled vehicles, a ship, and a
water maze. It’s one of the most extensive play areas at any park and a
great place for kids to unwind. Because of its size, smaller kids can easily
get lost and could easily escape to the other areas of the park if you’re
not paying close attention.
Bring extra clothes for the tots (or for yourself) because the Harbor isn’t
designed to keep you dry.
Shark Encounter
This attraction was expanded to include 220 species of aquatic preda-
tors. Pools out front have small sharks and rays. (Feeding isn’t allowed.)
Eerie background music sets the mood for viewing big eels, beautiful
lionfish, hauntingly still barracudas, and the fat, bug-eyed pufferfish in
large indoor aquariums.
This attraction isn’t for the claustrophobic: You walk through a Plexiglas
tube beneath hundreds of millions of gallons of water. Small children
may find the swimming sharks a little too much to handle.
Sharks Deep Dive gives snorkelers and divers a chance to have limited,
hands-off contact with the 58 sharks, including a nearly 9-foot sand tiger,
in the Shark Encounter area. Two at a time, guests don wetsuits for a close
up encounter inside an actual shark cage that rides a 125-foot track. Part of
the cage is above water, but participants can dive up to 8 feet underwater
for a close-up look at the inhabitants. The cost is $150 for certified divers,
$125 for snorkelers (minimum age 10). The price includes a souvenir
booklet, T-shirt, and snorkel gear, but does not include the required park
admission fee.
Wild Arctic
Wild Arctic combines a high-definition adventure film with flight-simulator
technology to envelop guests in the beauty, exhilaration, and danger of a
polar expedition. After a hazardous, simulated helicopter flight over the
frozen north, visitors emerge at a remote research base, home to star
residents and polar bear twins Klondike and Snow, seals, walruses, and
white beluga whales. A separate walk-through line is available for those
who want to skip the bumpy simulator ride.
More SeaWorld fun
Other SeaWorld attractions include Pacific Point Preserve, a 212-acre
natural setting that duplicates the rocky northern Pacific Coast home of
California sea lions and harbor seals (yes, there are smelt opportunities

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here!), and Tropical Rain Forest, a bamboo and banyan-tree habitat
that’s home to cockatoos and other birds.
The Anheuser-Busch Hospitality Center next to the Clydesdale
Hamlet has the “Label Stable” gift shop and a deli and offers free sam-
ples of Anheuser-Busch beers. At the Budweiser Beer School, guests
age 21 and over can learn how Anheuser-Busch brews the world’s top-
selling beer.
SeaWorld’s new 5-acre Waterfront area, which debuted in late spring
2003, added a 5-acre, seaport-themed village to the park’s landscape.
On High Street, look for a blend of shops and the Seafire Inn restaurant,
where lunch includes a cute musical revue celebrating family, food, and
fun called Rico and Roza’s Musical Feast. At Harbor Square, the funny
Groove Chefs orchestra has chefs making music with pots and pans.
The park has also added street performers, including a crusty old sea
captain, who tells fish tales and makes music with bottles and brandy
glasses. Other eateries include Voyager’s Wood Fired Pizza and The
Spice Mill.
Dining and Shopping at SeaWorld
For details on SeaWorld’s Makahiki Luau, a full-scale dinner show featur-
ing South Seas food (mahimahi, chicken, and pork) and entertainment,
see Chapter 24. For the lowdown on Sharks Underwater Grill, see the
Terrors of the Deep review earlier in this chapter.
SeaWorld also has several counter-style eateries offering the usual
burgers, fajitas, salads, and so on. Most fast-food meals cost about
$7 or $8 per person, and this doesn’t include the cost of a drink, which
will set you back another $2.50 or so.
The Waterfront is home to a number of full-service dining options with
decent cuisine, including:
The Seafire Inn. Choose from a number of burgers (about $8–$9)
stir fry, sandwiches, and salads, or try a jumbo baked potato served
with your choice of several toppings for $7.
Voyager’s Wood Fired Pizzas. The pizza- and parmesan fries–combo
platter here offers good value at $8, with seafood, pasta, chicken,
sandwiches, and salads and a huge kid’s menu to choose from as well.
The Spice Mill. This eatery specializes in the spices of famous
seaport cities. Try the jambalaya or the jerk-grilled chicken sand-
wiches or an array of other more unique offerings. An entree will
set you back about $12.

298 Part V: Exploring the Rest of Orlando
SeaWorld doesn’t have nearly as many shops as the other major theme
parks, but the stores offer plenty of surprisingly cuddly sea creatures.
For example, you can buy a stuffed manatee at Manatee Cove. The Friends
of the Wild gift shop near Penguin Encounter is also nice, as is the shop
attached to Wild Arctic. Because of the Anheuser-Busch connection, the
gift shop outside the entrance to the park offers a staggering array of
Budweiser- and Busch-related items. There are a handful of unique
boutiques featuring items from garden art to unique toys and T-shirts
at the Waterfront.
Checking Out Discovery Cove
SeaWorld’s second theme park opened in summer 2000. Its $100-million
construction cost may be one-tenth the sticker price of Islands of
Adventure, but Discovery Cove’s admission price is four times higher.
The options: $229 to $259 per person plus 6.5 percent sales tax if you
want to swim with a dolphin (minimum age 6), or $129 to $159 if you
can simply settle for the fishes. The prices vary seasonally, so double
check when you make your reservations (which are a requirement to
enter this park).
A perk of the higher price tag is that it includes a 7-day consecutive
pass to either SeaWorld or Busch Gardens (see Chapter 23). You can
upgrade this feature to a 14-day combination pass for both parks for an
additional $30. If you plan on visiting all three parks, that’s actually a
pretty good deal.
Almost everyone who does the dolphin encounter finds it exciting — just
the kind of thing that makes for a most memorable vacation. If, however,
your kids are younger than age 6, or you decide to skip the dolphin swim,
it’s hard to imagine that you’ll get your $129 worth. The atmosphere here
isn’t tailored to toddlers and is, instead, meant to be a relaxing oasis, quiet
and serene. I can’t really recommend this park for those of you with very
young children in tow.
The park has more than two-dozen dolphins, and each works from two
to four hours a day. They’re pretty incredible animals, and, although
their size may be a bit intimidating to some, they’re very people-friendly.
Many of them are mature critters that have spent their lives in captivity,
around people. Most of them love getting their bellies, backs, and flukes
rubbed. They also have an impressive bag of tricks. Given the proper
hand signals, they can mimic the sound of a human passing gas, chatter
in dolphin talk, and do seemingly effortless 112 gainers in 12 feet of water.
They also take guests for piggyback rides.
The dolphin experience lasts 90 minutes, about 35 to 40 minutes of which
is actually spent in the lagoon. Trainers use the rest of the time to teach
visitors about these remarkable mammals.

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Chapter 20: SeaWorld & Discovery Cove
The rest of your day won’t be nearly as exciting, but it is wonderfully
relaxing. Discovery Cove doesn’t deliver thrill rides, water slides, or
acrobatic animal shows; that’s what SeaWorld, Disney, and Universal
are for. This is where you come to get away from all that!
Discovery Cove is an all-inclusive park, so in addition to the dolphin
experience, your fee tosses in
Elbow room — there’s a limit of 1,000 guests per day. (To give you
an idea of how little that is, the normal daily attendance at Disney’s
Magic Kingdom is 41,000.) This ensures your experience will be more
relaxing and private, which is essentially what you’re paying for.
Lunch (entrees include items such as fajitas, salmon, stir-fry, and
pesto chicken), a towel, sunscreen, snorkeling gear including a
flotation vest, a souvenir photo, and free parking are also part of
the deal.
Activities that include:
• Swimming near (but on the other side of Plexiglas from)
barracudas and black-tip sharks.
• Snorkeling around a huge pool containing a coral reef with
colorful tropical fish and another area with gentle rays.
• Touching and feeding 300 exotic birds in an aviary hidden
under a waterfall.
• Cooling off under foaming waterfalls.
• Soaking up the sun on the beaches.
• Enjoying the soothing waters of the park’s pools and rivers
(freshwater and saltwater).
Seven days of unlimited admission to SeaWorld or Busch Gardens
in Tampa.
Reservations are required far in advance, but you have at least a chance
of getting in as a walk-up guest as the park reserves a small number of
tickets daily for folks whose earlier dolphin sessions were canceled due
to bad weather. Your best chance for last-minute tickets comes during
any extended period of good weather.
To get to Discovery Cove, follow the directions to SeaWorld given in
the “Gathering Important SeaWorld Information” section, earlier in this
chapter.
For up-to-the-minute information about this park, call % 877-434-7268
or go to www.discoverycove.com.

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