Central Florida Family Entertainment

SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular Creates Oceans of Family Fun

14 October 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Pumpkin carving, jumping in raked leave piles, and.. SeaWorld? This marine life theme park may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Fall but SeaWorld has a unique offering for the spooky season. SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular, celebrated weekends in October, is an added experience to a regular price park ticket with trick-or-treating, sea characters and bubbles. Lots of bubbles.

Spooktacular feels geared toward the wee ones but my boyfriend and I thought it was a cute addition to a day at SeaWorld. We did a little trick-or-treating ourselves and I really loved the plethora of bubbles that filled the park. It was the most bubbles I’ve seen at once and I told my boyfriend I wouldn’t be surprised if a million bubbles were made and popped there in a day. They are in multiple places around the park and in full swing with lots of machines sending waves of bubbles in and over guests.

Now for the characters. I’d say SeaWorld is mostly known for Shamu. However I was really impressed at the amount of aquatic and Halloween character meet and greets that were around for Spooktacular. Princesses, mermaids, witches, fish and more, all in brightly colored, elaborate costumes with high energy interaction. Every character area I saw was more than just ‘wait in line and take a photo’. For example, the witches and their tiny audience members ‘baked up a Halloween tweet recipe’ in a small area that looked like a kitchen with a cauldron actually brewing. Kids seemed to really enjoy playing a long.

Nicole Siscaretti at SeaWorld Spooktacular

There are also uniquely themed Halloween decorations, featuring the ever adorable pumpkin fish, and lots of interactive experiences for kids. One that grabbed our attention was a button board that squirted fountains in a lake when you pushed different buttons.

This is all in addition to all the attractions, shows and experiences SeaWorld offers regularly. One that really took our breath away was the Blue Horizons show featuring dolphins, divers and aerialists. We also really enjoyed the excellent of the 3D in Turtle Trek. To see more from SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular, watch this video:

SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular takes place weekends in October: 5-6, 12-13, 19-20 and 26-27, from 12 to 8 p.m., leaving the littlest of trick-or-treaters wide-eyed for all of the fun-filled activities. Halloween Spooktacular is included with park admission.

Spooktacular Highlights Include:

NEW this year: Spooktacular Dance Party

Princess Penelope and her undersea friends invite guests to join the Spooktacular Dance Party, where children can dance along to a Spooktacular mix of line-dancing favorites as clouds of bubbles fill the evening air. The party will kick off at the front of the park every event night an hour before SeaWorld’s park closing time.

Waves of Trick-or-Treat Fun

Offering more than two million pieces of sweet treats, costumed youngsters can trick-or-treat “under the sea.” Each trick-or-treat station features an assortment of ghoulish goodies including Tootsie Roll, Jelly Belly jelly beans, Airheads and other candy favorites.

Penelope’s Party Zone

Located at SeaWorld’s Bayside area, this dynamic underwater environment comes to life each day with a live DJ, a variety of interactive crafts to choose from, countless bubbles floating overhead and colorful pumpkin fish gliding around!

Sweet Treat Decorating

Kids and parents alike can have a “splash” creating their own sweet treats at the cookie decorating station. Kids will be able to decorate and devour their spooky cookie when they purchase a kit that comes equipped with a cookie, frosting and toppings.

Jelly Belly® Bean Art to Come to Life at Spooktacular

Jelly Belly artist in residence, Kristen Cumings, will use more than 10,000 Jelly Belly jelly beans to create a portrait of rockhopper

penguins, reflecting SeaWorld’s all-new, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin. Guests can watch as this handmade jelly bean creation comes together in front of their eyes during the final weekend of Halloween Spooktacular, Oct. 26 and 27. Kids can join in the fun too, with the opportunity to decorate a Halloween Spooktacular mural with a variety of Jelly Belly jelly beans.

For More SeaWorld Halloween Fun:

Count von Count’s Spooktacular Breakfast

1-2-3… Dine with me! Don’t walk around on an empty stomach, stay 1 step ahead of hunger! What goes great with your 2 morning eggs? How about infinite hugs from Count von Count, Elmo and his furry friends! Featuring a delicious buffet sprinkled with the hottest characters in town, the Count’s Spooktacular Breakfast is a fun-filled experience sure to delight kids and parents alike. You can “count” on it! Adults $24, Child (2-9) $14.

Disclaimer: Zannaland.com was provided with free tickets to SeaWorld to experience Spooktacular, but Nicole’s opinions are her own.

Disney On Ice Presents Princesses and Heroes Orlando Giveaway

24 August 2013 by Suzannah Otis 8 Comments

If you’ve ever been to any of the Feld Entertainment Disney on Ice shows, you know how spectacular they are. Well now you could win tickets for 4 to Disney on Ice presents Princesses & Heroes here in Orlando. This giveaway is super quick, so you can find out if you won in a matter of days and start planning!

Here is all the official info on the Disney on Ice presents Princesses & Heroes show:

Believing is Just the Beginning! Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes Comes to Central Florida

-Tinker Bell Whisks Audiences through Classic Moments from some of Disney’s most Beloved Stories of Beautiful Princesses and their Daring Heroes –

Through artistic skating and graceful acrobatics, Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes beautifully recreates the defining moments when eight Disney Princesses’ wishes are fulfilled with help from their devoted Princes. Tinker Bell guides guests through the inspiring stories of Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Tiana, Jasmine, Aurora and Snow White as their wishes are being granted and their dreams coming true.

In this new touring show produced by Feld Entertainment, audiences will go where imaginations soar and anything can happen if they just believe. Ariel’s dreams are unlocked from under the sea and, in one magical moment, Prince Eric breaks Ursula’s slithering spell to reclaim his one true love. In a race against time to rescue Sleeping Beauty’s Aurora, Prince Philip defeats the evil Maleficent as she transforms into a fire-breathing dragon. Rapunzel fulfills her dream to escape the tower and see the floating lights; Tiana celebrates her ambitions of owning a restaurant down in New Orleans; Jasmine discovers a whole new world with Aladdin; and Snow White finds her one true love. This beautiful presentation also reveals Cinderella and Belle’s deepest wishes.

“Before dreaming up this edition of Disney On Ice, we reflected on what makes Disney’s princesses and heroes so special,” said Producer Kenneth Feld. “It didn’t take long to realize that every princess had one thing in common: each embarked on an adventure to find their heart’s fondest wish, and through believing, they come true. We wanted to share that inspirational message with our audiences by celebrating the stories of these enchanting princesses and their heroic princes.”

Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes features the newest Disney Princesses, Rapunzel and Tiana, as well as their adventurous counterparts, Flynn Rider and Prince Naveen. “It’s always exciting to welcome new faces into the Disney family. Being able to include these fresh, enchanting characters from the Academy Award® nominated film Tangled as well as the lovely Tiana from Princess and the Frog keeps our shows current and ever evolving,” Feld said.

Adapting the inspirational moments to the ice presented an interesting challenge to the creative team that collaborated on Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes. To cause audiences to re-experience the emotions evoked by the films would take glittering sets, dramatic lighting, breathtaking choreography and a few surprises. Each member of the creative team approached this challenge with their own unique perspective.

For Director Patty Vincent, it was about realizing her goal for the overall vision of the show.

“My favorite part of this entire experience was actually piecing it together from my original dream,” she noted. “Starting with a blank piece of paper then gathering ideas, finding music, working out the choreography and costumes – I really loved creating it from scratch. One of the most perfect moments for me was when I found the song “If You Can Dream” on the Disney Wishes album. It just embodies the wishful and inspirational tone of the show. There’s nothing like seeing ideas that start with your imagination become something real – it’s an incredible experience.”

An example of this creative process is evident in Vincent’s favorite part of the show. “I love the ‘Under the Sea’ production number because I was able to combine bubbling special effects with the most fantastic costumes and high-energy skating. The scene is even more fun than I imagined it would be.”

Recognizing the timeless nature of the stories, Creative Director Jerry Bilik sought a cast whose talent would make the stories more real and inspiring.

“To me, the most exciting part of the show is really the cast,” Bilik said. “These exceptional performers help make the stories translate to the ice magnificently. Their portrayal of the princesses and princes sweeps the audience away because they capture the essence of the characters’ hopes, dreams and heroism.”

For Costume Designer Ilona Somogyi, this experience was similar to her work on costumes for the hit Broadway production Spamalot, where she also used a very well-known film with many beloved characters as her primary resource. For Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes, she sought inspiration from the original films and some other, more unusual places.

“In addition to the films, specific scenes also had their own sources of inspiration,” Somogyi said. “For the Cinderella ball, Fabergé eggs were the basis for the full-flowing waltz gowns. My underlying inspiration was the little girls who go to Disney On Ice shows dressed as their favorite Disney princess. Seeing them made me nostalgic and took me back to what dazzled me as a little girl.”

Choreographer Cindy Stuart focused on crafting numbers that highlighted the unique story of each princess and her hero. For example, in the Aladdin segment, there is a busy, fast-paced opening scene in the marketplace where Aladdin is being chased by the guards. Then when he meets Jasmine, the scene gives way to a dreamy, magical escape from reality in “A Whole New World.”

Set Designer Robert Little’s goal was to create a set that would be as beautiful and surprising as the princesses themselves, but flexible enough to allow the telling of so many classic stories. The core setting is a cascading, multi-tier waterfall with actual flowing water. With a little pixie dust, Tinker Bell magically transforms the set into a different backdrop for each princess’s wish.

“We had this idea early on about wishes and the types of places where you’d be compelled to make wishes, and we hit upon the waterfall,” said Little. “Like Snow White, who wouldn’t be inspired to wish for their dreams to come true at such a beautiful, magical place in the woods?”

Little also had a hand at crafting the dragon from Sleeping Beauty, one of the most exciting and dramatic elements of the show. “The effect is truly magnificent – and there’s a thrilling surprise in store for the audience that will really ignite their interests and the ice itself.”

In this, his fifth ice show credit, Emmy® Award winning Lighting Designer Peter Morse sought to complement the set design with the appropriate lighting that would transition smoothly between the stories. For instance, Morse used leafy designs of greens and sepia tones to establish the forest where Snow White wishes by a well. He also recreates the night when Cinderella’s dreams come true with bursts of bright white stars.

“When telling eight distinct stories, it’s important to be able to create a new environment to set the stage for each tale,” said Morse. “Robert Little did this with the transformable set, and it was my mission to fill the rest of the ice with radiant lighting that would place the audience in the heart of these stories.”

Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes invites audiences to come along as Tinker Bell shows them the timeless tales of inspiring princesses and their heroes. Focusing on the moments where the princesses’ dreams come true, the show uses high-energy music, glittering sets and dramatic choreography to make a truly breathtaking experience.

If you don’t win the giveaway, you can also purchase tickets with a special discount: Get $4 off per ticket with promo code MOMDOI.

Valid for Sat 11am, Sat 7pm and Sun 5pm. Offer not valid on Front Row or VIP Seats. Not valid day of show. Click to purchase tickets.

You can also follow Disney on Ice on Facebook and Disney on Ice on Twitter.

Just follow the Rafflecopter instructions to enter the giveaway!

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Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress-Brand New Lagoon Pool and Family Recreation Amenities for Summer Fun

24 July 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

The award-winning Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, located one mile from Walt Disney World and close to other area theme parks, recently unveiled their renovated lagoon pool and enhanced recreation amenities for timeless family fun. It looks absolutely gorgeous and I hope to head over soon to check it out and report on it in person. In the meantime, here are some official details about their summer specials in celebration of their new renovations and more details on what’s been added:

Summer Splash Special Offer

Book your next vacation at www.HyattGrandCypress.com and use code SUMMER to receive a food and beverage credit for use during your stay now through September 30, 2013. Enjoy the resort’s award-winning restaurants including Cascade American Bistro, Hemingway’s, or the new On the Rocks pool bar. Rates begin at $169*.

Living up to its ‘cool pool’ designation, the lagoon pool is the signature attraction at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress surrounded by enhanced lush tropical landscaping, rock formations, modern lighting, and finishing touches. Located along the 1,000 feet of white sandy beach of private Lake Windsong, the 800,000 gallon, ½ acre, free-flowing lagoon pool boasts 12 waterfalls, heated and non-heated pools, two whirlpools.

The new Water Slide Tower Pavilion, new Water Jet Splash Zone, and new children’s Rock Climbing Stations, complement resort favorites including the rope bridge, walking paths, and expansive, wrap-around sundecks, Jack Nicklaus Signature Design golf, the Tennis and Racquet Club, and marked jogging, walking, and biking trails.

“The family vacation experience reaches new heights in Orlando with the new and enhanced activities just waiting for families to experience. Inspired by contemporary design matched with the simplicity of timeless fun, the resort features will make guests smile as they enjoy the moments that make memories,” said Paul Tang, vice president and managing director of Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress.

Family favorite recreation activities include; S’mores pit with fireside storytelling and classic family marshmallow roasting fun, beach volleyball, tether ball, lounge seating and hammocks, watersports with paddleboats, kayaks, hydro bikes, canoes, aqua cycles and sailboats, old-fashioned, canopied surrey bikes, and Camp Hyatt kids’ activity programs. The 1,500 acre Grand Cypress resort offers families an upscale travel experience with well-appointed guest rooms and suites and a host of new family amenities and activities.

The new pool bar, On the Rocks, is situated along Lake Windsong, offering views of the lagoon pool and beach. The new pool bar is the hub of outdoor activity with four 60″ TVs, relaxing, shaded seating with misting fans, 16 bar seats and table seating for 20 with full bar and food service options. From grab-and-go selections to popular grill station favorites and signature cocktails the pool bar offers convenience and value.

*Offer valid for stays through 9/30/13 at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. All hotel reservations are subject to availability and must be made in advance. Three-night minimum length of stay required and requires full prepayment/non-refundable. Offer is not valid with groups/conventions and may not be combined with other promotional offers. Food and Beverage credit based on length of stay: 3 nights – $100 food/beverage credit per stay; 5 nights – $200 food/beverage credit per stay; 7 nights – $300 food/beverage credit per stay. Food and Beverage credit not applicable to room rate, taxes, resort fee or gratuities. No refunds for any unused portion of package. Additional charges apply to room-type upgrades. Additional guests may be subject to additional hotel charges.

Promotional blackout periods may apply due to seasonal periods or special events, and normal arrival/departure restrictions apply. Hyatt reserves the right to alter or withdraw this program at any time without notice. Hyatt Hotels & Resorts® encompasses hotels managed, franchised or leased by subsidiaries and affiliates of Hyatt Hotels Corporation. The trademarks Hyatt Regency® and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation. © 2013 Hyatt Corporation. All rights reserved.

About Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress

The award-winning Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is located one mile from Walt Disney World® and close to Universal Orlando® and SeaWorld® Orlando with a host of amenities and activities. Located along the 1,000 feet of white sandy beach of private Lake Windsong, the free-flowing lagoon pool boasts 12 waterfalls, heated and non-heated pools, two whirlpools, new Water Slide Tower Pavilion, new children’s Rock Climbing Stations, new interactive Water Jet Splash Zone, rope bridge, walking paths, and expansive, wrap-around sundecks. New features complement the resort’s favorite activities including; S’mores pit, beach volleyball, tether ball, hammocks, watersports and marked jogging, walking, and biking trails.

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is centrally located with convenient access to Orlando International Airport and Interstate 4 off Exit 68 in Lake Buena Vista. The resort’s address is One Grand Cypress Blvd., Orlando, Florida, USA 32836. For more information; call407.239.1234; visit www.HyattGrandCypress.com; like Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress on Facebook; and follow on Twitter at @HRGrandCypress.

Facebook Fans Name Busch Gardens Tampa’s Lion Cub Sisters

5 July 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

FACEBOOK FANS NAME BUSCH GARDENS’ LION CUB SISTERS

Shaba and Shtuko - Lion Cub Sisters - Busch Gardens Tampa 3

Tampa, Fla.– Busch Gardens® Tampa recently welcomed three lion cubs to the park, one male and two unrelated females. After a week long poll, 6,000 Busch Gardens Tampa Facebook fans voted to name the two lion cub sisters. The winning names for the three-month-old cubs are Shaba, meaning “brazen”, and Shtuko, meaning “twitch”.

The Busch Gardens animal care team has started introducing the cubs to the Edge of Africa attraction at the park, where guests can see the cubs all summer long and beyond.

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More information and updates about the progress of the new cubs will be posted on BuschGardensTampaBlog.com.

SeaWorld and Southwest Airlines Partner and Unveil the Penguin One Aircraft

3 July 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Southwest and SeaWorld revealed the aircraft at a ceremony a few weeks ago at Orlando International Airport (MCO) with real penguins, Southwest and SeaWorld Employees, community members, and executives, including Southwest Airlines Chairman, President, and CEO Gary Kelly, and SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment President and CEO, Jim Atchison. The plane, filled with Southwest and SeaWorld employees, will be making stops in two other SeaWorld cities, San Antonio and San Diego.

The partnership between the two companies dates back to 1988, which began when SeaWorld opened in San Antonio. Southwest and SeaWorld launched their partnership in a high-flying way—with the introduction of a new Boeing 737, Shamu® One!

The featured penguin species on the aircraft is a gentoo, one of the species found at SeaWorld Orlando’s new Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin™. The attraction includes a first-of-its-kind family ride that transports guests into the penguins’ icy world.

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment President and CEO, Jim Atchison, and Southwest Airlines Chairman, President, and CEO Gary Kelly christen the new aircraft, Penguin One, revealed earlier this morning.

SeaWorld Orlando penguin experts Jill Lewis and Sharon Jarvis brought actual penguins to the reveal of Penguin One, along with SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment President and CEO, Jim Atchison, and Southwest Airlines Chairman, President, and CEO Gary Kelly.

New SeaWorld-themed fleet, Penguin One, made its debut this morning at Orlando International Airport in celebration of the 25-year partnership between SeaWorld and Southwest Airlines.

Penguin One takes off from Orlando International Airport and heads to San Antonio for more festivities.

Celebrate Fourth of July at Busch Gardens Tampa-Extended Hours and Fireworks All Week

3 July 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Extended Hours and Nightly Fireworks Lets Guests Celebrate All Week Long!

Tampa, Fla. – Don’t wait until July Fourth to celebrate Independence Day. Get a head start on the Fourth of July festivities at Busch Gardens® Tampa.

Summer Nights lets guests celebrate the red, white and blue all day, and even after dark, all summer long with an energetic acrobatics show, live entertainment and much more.

And test your courage as you take on Busch Gardens’ world-class roller coasters in the dark, including Florida’s first triple-launch coaster Cheetah Hunt®.

Plus, Busch Gardens lights up the sky during Summer Nights, including July Fourth, with an incredible nightly fireworks display. The best views are in Gwazi Park, right after the nightly Kinetix show, but the fireworks are visible from all over the park.

Additionally, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment™ is honoring the men and women of the U.S. armed services through its Waves of Honor™ military salute program. Waves of Honor provides one complimentary admission per year to one of the SeaWorld® or Busch Gardens® Parks, Sesame Place®, Adventure Island® ,Water Country USA® or Aquatica® San Diego (weekdays only) for the service member and as many as three of his or her direct dependents through 2013.

Any active duty military, activated or drilling reservists, or National Guardsman representing any of the five service branches is entitled to one complimentary admission to one of the participating parks under the program. For more information and to register for the program, visit wavesofhonor.com.

While you’re at Busch Gardens, take in all the excitement of brand-new shows and animal encounters, including:

Madagascar Live! Operation: Vacation

Madagascar Live! Operation: Vacation is Busch Gardens’ newest live musical featuring DreamWorks Animation’s beloved characters Alex the Lion, Gloria the Hippo, King Julien, Mort and everyone’s favorite cohort of penguins. Located in the newly-renovated and air-conditioned Stanleyville Theater, the original musical showcases singers, dancers and a live band that will join the Madagascar characters on their full-throttle Busch Gardens adventure.

Lion Cubs

Busch Gardens roars with excitement this summer with its newest additions. Three lion cubs, two females and one male, arrived at the park in May, and guests can see them at various times throughout the summer in the Edge of Africa area. Busch Gardens’ Facebook fans recently voted to name the sisters Shaba, meaning “brazen”, and Shtuko, meaning “twitch”.

Park hours for Summer Nights are extended until 9 p.m., and Summer Nights is included with daily admission or any annual pass. For more information on Summer Nights and Busch Gardens, visit buschgardens.com or call 1-888-800-5447.

The hottest ticket this summer is the 3-Park Summer Sizzler. This new, limited-time offer lets guests enjoy unlimited admission to Busch Gardens Tampa and unlimited weekday (Monday – Friday) admission to Adventure Island™ and Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark™ Orlando, now through Labor Day for only $99. Florida’s best resident summer value is valid from the date of purchase through Labor Day, Sept. 2, 2013. Valid for Florida residents only (photo ID required); price is $99 plus tax. Take advantage of the Summer Sizzler online at Buschgardens.com, by calling (888) 800-5447, or at the front gates at Busch Gardens, Adventure Island™ and Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark™.

SeaWorld’s 50th celebration will be a Sea of Surprises!

3 July 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Eighteen-month celebration kicks off on March 21, 2014 at all three SeaWorld parks

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment™ announces a multi-park celebration to commemorate a key event in the company’s history. The original SeaWorld® park opened its gates for the first time in March 1964 on Mission Bay in San Diego.

SeaWorld’s 50th Celebration will feature a Sea of Surprises™ starting March 21, 2014. SeaWorld parks in San Diego, Orlando and San Antonio will share the excitement throughout an 18-month celebration that highlights some of the most memorable SeaWorld experiences.

For nearly five decades, SeaWorld has surprised and amazed guests with unique entertainment, thrilling rides and up-close encounters with marine animals. During SeaWorld’s 50^th Celebration visitors will be invited to take part in the celebration through new interactive experiences, shows and pathway performances, even more up-close animal encounters throughout the park and the SeaWorld “Surprise Squad” treating guests with prizes every day.

Just a few weeks ago, SeaWorld Orlando opened Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin™, an all-new realm that combines 30-degree temperatures, upclose encounters with more than 250 penguins and an all-family adventure ride to create the coldest theme park attraction in Orlando and a thrilling, chilling experience of a lifetime.

SeaWorld Orlando will continue to make news later this year when the park announces what’s new for 2014. Details will be shared this fall.

SeaWorld’s 50^th Celebration Sea of Surprises™ Highlights

SeaWorld San Diego will celebrate 50 years with a new interactive entrance plaza. The area will be called Explorer’s Reef™ and will open in March for the celebration kick-off. The 16-month construction project will transform the existing front gate area through sculptural and design elements inspired by waves crashing over a reef, as well as up-close encounters with marine life. The new front gate concept will replace existing ticket booths with a beach-themed, concierge-style ticketing area that will provide guests with a single location to purchase admission, as well as sign up for tours, animal interactions and dining experiences.

From the moment they enter the park, guests can connect with the sea through multiple touch pools featuring shark pups, stingrays and cleaner fish. Explorer’s Reef encompasses more than three acres, including new and innovative retail and culinary opportunities for guests. The multi-million dollar renovation effort will not only make entering the park faster and more efficient, but will significantly enhance the arrival experience.

As part of SeaWorld’s 50th Celebration, there will be more surprise encounters with animal ambassadors throughout the day. A pair of Magellanic penguins, a lemur, or even a parade of flamingos could surprise guests at any moment at all three SeaWorld locations.

What’s a celebration without surprises? The SeaWorld “Surprise Squad” will roam the SeaWorld parks giving away prizes and special gifts. Guests could receive exclusive access to rides or behind-the-scenes experiences, celebration t-shirts or Shamu-themed merchandise, reserved show seating and more.

SeaWorld is known for amazing animal shows and each park will have something new for the 50^th celebration. Even park pathways will come to life with spontaneous entertainment at unexpected moments, including performers with sea-inspired costumes and props, a bubble brigade and splash mob.

To underscore SeaWorld’s commitment to the environment and passion for protecting the ocean, a series of giant sea life sculptures will be displayed throughout the parks. SeaWorld commissioned environmental art group Washed Ashore for the large-scale art created from ocean debris. The works serve as a reminder that our animal friends need healthy environments.

As part of its continuing commitment to new technology that enhances the guest experience, SeaWorld’s 50th Celebration will include new ways for fans to connect to the parks and each other though digital devices. The parks will be launching a variety of enhancements, from interactive apps that provide fun new ways to experience the park to new games and video content.

For more information and continuing news about SeaWorld’s 50^th Celebration and the Sea of Surprises, visit www.seaworld.com/celebration.

Celebrate the Fourth of July at SeaWorld Orlando’s Summer Nights

3 July 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Celebrate the Fourth of July at SeaWorld Orlando’s Summer Nights

Celebrate Independence Day at SeaWorld® with a special Fourth of July extravaganza and even more Summer Nights fun next Thursday, July 4!

During Summer Nights, SeaWorld is open from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. so there’s plenty of time to explore the sea’s mysteries, learn about amazing animals, challenge thrilling rides and watch incredible shows.

What better way to celebrate the holiday than with traditional American fare? From July 3-6, a variety of all-American food will be served along Bayside Pathway, including bacon cheeseburgers, foot-long hot dogs, BBQ pulled pork sandwiches and kid meals, too.

And guests can enjoy the park even later on the Fourth of July. SeaWorld Orlando will be open until 11 p.m. giving families more time to experience the all-new Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, ride the coasters under the stars and enjoy the amazing Summer Nights shows, Sea Lions Tonite and Shamu Rocks.

There’s no other place to get your fireworks fix than at SeaWorld’s Fourth of July celebration during Summer Nights!

Beginning at 9:30 p.m., there will be an extraordinary performance at SeaWorld’s Bayside Stadium by SeaWorld Celebration Singers, an ensemble group of singers and a nine-piece band, who will perform a variety of popular music ranging from traditional marches and patriotic tunes to classical favorites. The Fourth of July celebration culminates with awe-inspiring fireworks at 10 p.m.

Additional details:

Headlining Summer Nights is the all-new Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, where guests can experience the epic world of Antarctica through the eyes of a special hero penguin named Puck; and Sea Lions Tonite, a hilarious, satirical show featuring Clyde and Seamore spoofing the other daytime SeaWorld shows that will have everyone in stitches.

New this year! Join the Party with Shamu & Friends as they dance the night away at the front of the park’s Village Square. The Party features an emcee on stilts who fills the square with music that the whole family can dance to, including popular line dancing songs and party favorites. With countless bubbles floating overhead and music wafting through the air, this celebration of summer is sure to provide non-stop fun for all ages! The Party begins every night one hour prior to park close and continues 30 minutes after park closing.

Rock the night away with Shamu during a spectacular killer whale show with more flash – and certainly more splash – than a rock concert! Shamu Rocks is a high-energy celebration of unprecedented proportions, combining awe-inspiring killer whales with a stunning light show, water fountain display and music from some of the hottest rock stars in the industry. And new this year is an electrifying twist on this classic favorite! The final Shamu Rocks show of the night includes a rockin’ fireworks finale will light up the night sky.

For more information go to SeaWorldOrlando.com.

Waddle to the Bottom of the World at SeaWorld’s Antarctica:Empire of the Penguin

24 May 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

After seeing commercials and promotions for the ride attached to SeaWorld Orlando’s newest attraction, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, I was quite excited to try out the new ride technology as well as visit the penguin habitat. I was unprepared for exactly how much theming has gone into this new area of SeaWorld Orlando. The story behind the area is that you are on an expedition to the South Pole, a place most people will never journey to, and you experience what the exploration would be like, as well as seeing things from the point of view of a newborn Gentoo penguin named Puck. When you first enter the Antarctica section, you see tall pine trees and soaring glaciers approaching. As you journey into the ride, more glaciers and icicles line your path and soon you enter an indoor queue full of colorful lighting as you wait for your penguin education to begin. In the pre-show area, you learn about the lives of penguins, and one family in particular, waiting for their egg to hatch so they can move on before a great storm approaches. This little hatching penguin is Puck. And as we enter the remainder of the pre-show area, it is Puck we are now following. We enter an enclosed room which you share with the rest of the riders for your vehicle. There we see Puck again and discover we will be following his journey. Similar to Turtle Trek, where you follow a particular turtle on his life journey, this animated portion of the attraction is full of cute, but dangers may lie ahead for little Puck.

**Below is a full ride-thru description, so if you don’t want any “ride spoilers” skip this next two paragraphs** Before entering this area, you decide if you want to ride “Wild” or “Mild”. Wild being the more accelerated, motion-enhanced version of the ride. Mild is just that, mild, with minimal spinning and motion. Once inside, your journey continues through a series of rooms full of brightly colored lights, icicles and other candy for the eyes. In these first two rooms, we are basically just experiencing the technology of the ride vehicle, dancing around other vehicles and exploring every aspect of the rooms. We then move on to a room with more of the animated sequences. Puck has grown and we are following him as he finds his way in the waters and ice of the South Pole. Our ride vehicle then “becomes” Puck in a sense, as we mimic his movements when he waddles and jumps. We then move on as another storm is approaching, and in this next scene, that danger I mentioned before shows up, in the form of a hungry seal. Puck makes it out okay, and as we see his is safe, the ride vehicles spin around to reveal the actual penguin habitat, full of 4 different species of penguins, frolicking, hopping, swimming, diving and waddling around their 30 degree enclosure. From there we move to the unloading area and get out to visit with the penguins in 3 different areas, including an underwater viewing area which is outside of the 30 degree enclosure.

SeaWorld Antarctica — The room you see as you board your ride vehicle

According to SeaWorld spokespeople, the ride itself has many variations within the ride, promising a different adventure each time you ride. I rode it twice, and did notice a little variation within the vibrations of the ride vehicle and the way we entered the first room with the film was backwards vs. forwards the first time, so the possible changes are subtle (not a different ending or different movie on screen), but fun nonetheless. Bottom line, the ride itself is just a really fun way to get to the penguin exhibit. The ride technology is definitely fun to experience (for Disney buffs, similar to Pooh’s Hunny Hunt in Tokyo Disneyland), and the colorful lights and penguin story are fun to look at. I do wonder if guests who just want to see the penguins without going on the ride will be able to enter through the exit to do so.

Antarctica Rainbow Room — The first room you enter on the ride. Photo copyright SeaWorld

The penguin habitat itself is impressively put together, with no glass walls and very little separating guest from the penguins. As they swam by and flipped their little tails, we did get wet, which is cool – literally, with the 30 degree temperatures in the room! The most dramatic and for me, most fun to watch was actually the floor to ceiling underwater viewing area. Even though we are separated by glass, we can observe the penguins diving and floating and interacting. It was really enjoyable to see.

I’ll have more reviews coming up, including a video featuring SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment creative director Brian Morrow, details on the food and drink offerings, merchandise and more. Until then, enjoy this Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin photo gallery

Busch Gardens Premiers a Fun New Madagascar Live Show

20 May 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Last week a brand new live music show premiered at Busch Gardens in Tampa. Madagascar Live: Operation Vacation brings all your favorite Madagascar characters to the stage, with original high-energy songs and dance numbers. The show is held in the Stanleyville Theatre, right near the Sheikra coaster. When we saw it, the theatre was filled with school groups, who were super excited about the show and really enjoyed it. The songs are catchy and you can’t help but want to get up and dance, no matter what your age. Of course, King Julien’s signature number “I Like to Move It, Move It” is played as well, which makes the crowd go WILD (pun intended).

“We are thrilled to partner with DreamWorks Animation to bring the hugely popular Madagascar characters to Busch Gardens,” said park President Jim Dean. “Both Busch Gardens and DreamWorks share a core the mission to provide quality entertainment to audiences. This show is certain to have families engaged and amused and will round out the triple play of amazing shows, thrilling rides and unique animal encounters that our park delivers.”

The lively stage show encourages families to sing, clap and dance along to original songs and party favorites on a 20-minute musical adventure. Singers, dancers and a live band join the rollicking Madagascar characters as they amp up the party to full throttle. And as part of each show, guests can meet the characters following the performance in Stanleyville Theater, which has been renovated and is now an enclosed and air-conditioned theater.

Here is a gallery of show images to get you excited. Be sure to add Busch Gardens to your summer “must-do” list this year!

Busch Gardens is fast becoming one of my favorite parks to just hang out in. I’m not a huge coaster person, but there is still so much to do here from animal habitats to shows to sky rides and train tours. It’s a great place to make a day trip over to, and don’t forget Adventure Island water park next door to cool off!