SeaWorld Orlando Raises the Bar!

 

SeaWorld has done it again! They have raised the bar higher than ever with their new roller coaster, Ice Breaker, opening in February, 2022.

But let’s not jump the gun. I’m going to offer a few tips that will come in very handy should you and your family choose SeaWorld as part of a family vacation.

My best tip will come in handy before you even enter the gate. The secret? Take advantage of the VIP parking! It may be the best $15 you’ll spend. When you arrive at the park in the morning, the adults have a spring in their step and the kids are all bright-eyed with excitement. Fast forward to the end of the day. The spring in the step has sprung, and the kids are now glassy-eyed with exhaustion. Temper tantrums loom at the thought of the two football fields you have to trudge to get back to your car. Oh, and the kids won’t like it either. This is just part of the price you pay for visiting a super awesome theme park for the day. But wait! You were savvy enough to follow my directions to take advantage of the VIP parking? Brilliant. Your car is only a few steps from the entrance. Easy enough for mom or dad to retrieve the car, pull around to the passenger pick up area, grab the kids and head out. At the risk of encouraging a price hike, I have to say that I would pay double for this! More info here: https://seaworld.com/orlando/upgrades/parking-and-rentals/

Once inside the park, plan your day early. As a matter of fact, it’s not a bad idea to do this at home with the kids. All of the shows and times are listed on the website. Realize that you do need to arrive at some of the shows early if you want a decent seat. The ‘Sea Lion and Otter Spotlight’ Show is not to be missed, and gets crowded approaching show time. This show will delight the whole family! You can download the official SeaWorld Map here. There’s also some really great information on SeaWorld’s FAQs page.

Orca Encounter’ also gets crowded, but on the day that we visited, you could show up right after one show emptied and grab the best seats in the house. For us, that was the row directly in front of the platform where the whales posed for photos. Theoretically, we were in the ‘soak zone’ but we came prepared with ponchos, and actually didn’t need them since we didn’t get a single drop of water on us. I’m not making any promises that you won’t get soaked if you

We are super excited about the new Roller Coaster, the Ice Breaker. It opens February 22, 2022.  Named after the icy Arctic summits, Ice Breaker will feature four airtime filled launches, both backwards and forwards, culminating in a reverse launch into the steepest beyond vertical drop in Florida – a 93 feet tall spike with 100 degree angle. The thrills continue as riders fly over a near vertical tophat maneuver into a series of exciting twists, turns, and airtime hills. The brand-new coaster will be located across from Wild Arctic.

Now, on to Antarctica. A few things to know: the length of time that they tell you that you’ll have to wait will likely be less. I think that they may adhere to the “promise less, deliver more” philosophy – which is really a good thing. Since the exhibit was brand new, we waited for about an hour, but it was an hour well spent. When you reach the inside, you will have the choice to go ‘mild’ or go ‘wild’. Note: we chose the wild route, and it was paced a bit like a carousel. Now that’s not a bad thing. This is an exhibit, not a thrill ride. But the real thrill comes at the end when you get off the ride and enter the world of the penguin. You are literally face-to-face with these enchanting creatures.(

Here’s what part of SeaWorld’s official press release says, “AntarcticaTM is a realm in SeaWorld where icebergs, snowcaps and howling winds greet guests. They’ll also meet a very special penguin named Puck, and it’s through his eyes that guests learn about penguin life and the dangers and beauty of this frozen land. 

On board a first-of-its-kind trackless, all-family adventure ride, guests become one with the storyline. Each mobile simulator ride car allows guests to choose one of two levels of exploration – Wild Expedition or Mild Expedition – for various degrees of ride intensity. Designers say each version has multiple variations for a feeling of unpredictability, just like the continent of Antarctica.

Then meet a huge family of nearly 250 penguins. Stepping off the adventure ride, guests find themselves among a colony of Adelie, gentoo, king and rockhopper penguins in a 30-degree habitat filled with wind, snow, rock and chilly water. It’s what makes Antarctica the coldest theme park attraction in Orlando. New technologies combine to create a freezing – but dry – climate, allowing guests to spend time in the penguins’ amazing world.”

Luckily, we had friends tell us in advance that the exhibit would be very chilly, so we were prepared with jackets for the kids, which came in very, very handy and prevented some whining. It also allowed us to stay inside much longer than our fellow exhibit goers.

Speaking of temperatures, if you happen to visit when the weather is warm (and for us it was downright hot), buy the refillable drink cups. They are well worth the money, allowing you unlimited refills for only $.99. And be aware, too, that you can take water and small snacks inside the park with you.

There are some great restaurants and snacks in the park. You can check them out here, and for a great deal, consider the all day dining pass where you can eat and drink all you want, once per hour.

SeaWorld Orlando never disappoints, and one of the things that I particularly love is that it’s educational, too. Buy your tickets today (spring break is coming!) and treat your family to a fabulous day of fun!

 

 

 

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