What's new at Sea World

[Dustysage]

Sea World San Diego opened a new water ride last year, Journey to Atlantis. I never went. I was thinking of going this Spring, but my sister (who lives next to Sea World) told me not to bother. Did anyone go? What is it like?

The artwork for it looked interesting, and they have one in Orlando, so it must have something going for it.

[xfkirsten]

Well, I've been going on it since employee previews.

My honest opinion? It's not any big deal. I think Florida's version was far better than ours. There's very little in the way of theming and scenery. The storyline is very hard to follow, although in recent months I believe they've turned up the volume on the speakers so you can at least hear the dialogue. It's fun, though I wouldn't make a special trip to the park just to go on it. I think the best part is that the Commerson's dolphins are finally back on display at the exit to the ride. They're adorable!

I think the bigger draw at the park right now would be our new baby killer whale, and on March 19 we have a new sea lion show opening.

[Dustysage]

I've loved Sea World since I was a kid. But it seems a little dated to me now. The Orlando park really looks great. I hope they can make some of the same changes to the San Diego park. More of a Cape Cod look. Less concrete.

Do you work at the park now xfkirsten?

[Cousin Orville]

mmm

[xfkirsten]

Yup! I work in the Entertainment Department.

I think part of the problem with our Journey to Atlantis is that it suffered a lot of budget cuts duringr the course of the city council battles.

Our SeaWorld is in the process of changing, though. It's very evident over towards the dolphin stadium area and Shamu's Happy Harbor. They're working on theming the park a lot better, and that'll be showing up more and more over the next few years as they implement the changes.

[Darkbeer]

They are currently working on redoing the Sea Lion and Otter show at SeaWorld San Diego, and a new show is scheduled to start around Spring Break.

They just torn down the original Shamu Stadium and the old Hawaiian Punch Restaurant in the North West corner, not sure what is going in there, might just be a general replacement of old structures.

I like Journey to Atlantis, it is a long ride (about 6 and 1/2 minutes), has the only coaster elevator lift in North America (and the only other one is in Europe). They have enhanced the sound, and it is a fun ride.

But what can you say about a park that gives you free beer except YES! :love:

(And they also offer free Beer School)

[Dustysage]

But what can you say about a park that gives you free beer except YES! :love:

(And they also offer free Beer School)

I thought you graduated from Beer School years ago!

[xfkirsten]

They are currently working on redoing the Sea Lion and Otter show at SeaWorld San Diego, and a new show is scheduled to start around Spring Break.

Yup, still on track for a March 19 grand opening. The sets look incredible! As for the show itself... well, I'll wait and see it before I make a judgement.

But what can you say about a park that gives you free beer except YES! :love:

(And they also offer free Beer School)

Amen to that! They give you a fair amount of free beer at Beer School, too.

[figment1986]

Waiting till i turn 18 and go to SW orlando's... (what will orlando do next year.. this year is a new dolphin show..)

I know Busch is giving more money to the parks for fixing up...and themeing.....
BGT has been getting enhancments on themeing and a few other thigns over the last 2 years....

[Jspider]

what happend durring those city battles or what not? why didn't they want Atlantis to be an awsome ride?

and it sounds good that they'll be adding to the themeing but will they be adding anymore rides or displays anytime soon?

[Socapex]

It had something to do with the height of the atraction or something absurd. I hear the next ride will be in about 2009. There is gonna be a brand new Shamu show summer 2006 though.

[xfkirsten]

It had something to do with the height of the atraction or something absurd. I hear the next ride will be in about 2009. There is gonna be a brand new Shamu show summer 2006 though.

Yes, that was part of it. SeaWorld has a height limit of 30 feet since it is along the bay (the Skytower was grandfathered in). The new sea lion set opening in March had a lot of problems with that. If I recall, it generally sits right at 30 feet, and then part of it will rise before show time and be lowered back down after the show. Also, there was a lot of argument over the educational value of the ride. SeaWorld has to have a certain percentage of its attractions be primarily educational (I believe this requirement is also related to its being on the bay, but I don't remember for sure). There was a lot of argument over how JTA would affect that balance.

Ideas for some sort of new ride have been kicked around, tentatively for 2008/2009 ish, but nothing's been decided yet. April 2006 will see the new Shamu show. This fall, around September, the Stadium will be shut down and shows will be moved to Close Up temporarily. The new set will be installed, and the stadium will reopen in November. A stripped-down Shamu Adventure will continue showing (using the new set) until the new show opens in April. 2007, they're looking at a new dolphin show, although that falls into the same category as the ride - very subject to change.

[figment1986]

orlando has it easy i guess... (prolly why they sold ohio.. not enough land and problems with wanting thrills at the park...)

[Socapex]

San Diego is on city property. What ever is dictated by the city, the whale jail must follow.

[Orcatime]

The Sad Facts of Honsety

Well, I've been going on it since employee previews.

My honest opinion? It's not any big deal. I think Florida's version was far better than ours. There's very little in the way of theming and scenery. The storyline is very hard to follow, although in recent months I believe they've turned up the volume on the speakers so you can at least hear the dialogue. It's fun, though I wouldn't make a special trip to the park just to go on it. I think the best part is that the Commerson's dolphins are finally back on display at the exit to the ride. They're adorable!

I think the bigger draw at the park right now would be our new baby killer whale, and on March 19 we have a new sea lion show opening.

I saw JTA on the Friday of LAbor Day weekend and I've gotta admit I was disappointed. It has a great intro, cool finale, and no story in the middle whatsoever. You actually NEED people in line to fire the water cannons to make a part of the narration make sense.

But I do understand that there were severe budget cutbacks that should not have been allowed to occur. (The orlando story looks a lot better) hmmmmm gears are turning.

Also it is easy to make a ride educational, they just tend not become E-ticket rides.

[BoneDaddy]

What cracks me up about the Atlantis ride is the storyline, or whatever you call it. After you go down the first drop and loop back towards the tower, that creepy disembodied voice says something that I swear sounds like "you posess a truly erotic spirit." Whaaaa?

Truly weird.

And I was there the day they knocked down the old HP restaurant. I don't know what they have planned for that corner of the park, but if I had my way they'd use it for something like the Makahiki Luau they have in Florida. Right next to the water with a view of Mission Bay.

[figment1986]

they can make a thrilling educational ride... but not an educational marine attraction..... (turn up the speekers.... heck they need to do that on Orlando's... it is in need of a rehab... to make our story easier to follow too.....)

"you posess a truly erotic spirit."

How does this voice know that... :devil:

[BoneDaddy]

How does this voice know that... :devil:

Well, my name *is* Bon...aw, never mind. I think she actually says "heroic", but at my age, I'll take either.

[Orcatime]

Well, my name *is* Bon...aw, never mind. I think she actually says "heroic", but at my age, I'll take either.

Unfortunately for some posters, she does say "heroic." That is also the part where you need people in line to fire the water cannons at you.

[BoneDaddy]

Unfortunately for some posters, she does say "heroic." That is also the part where you need people in line to fire the water cannons at you.

Now that's funny. I've seen the machines there but nobody ever uses them, unlike the ones over at Rapids which get constant use.

And as long as I'm ranting, what's with the door to the elevator? It has never worked. You sit there staring at the inside of the elevator while the voice drones on about something and water splashes around the car.

At least the Commerson's are back. They're like big underwater puppy dogs.