Discovery Cove Admission now combined with SeaWorld, Aquatica
Up to now package deals for admission to the big water and animal-related theme parks — SeaWorld and Aquatica — has been on a twofer basis or in combination with Busch Gardens Tampa and Adventure Island; Discovery Cove was offered as a stand-alone on the basis of its “special occasion” nature or as part of 14-day Ultimate Package.
Now, however, SeaWorld Parks and Resorts Orlando is offering a new all-inclusive package: A day at Discovery Cove now includes unlimited admission to SeaWorld Orlando and Aquatica.
Guests that have already booked Discovery Cove reservations on or after May 22 and who have selected SeaWorld Orlando or Aquatica with their reservation will automatically have access to both parks during their vacation.
- Reserved dolphin experience
- Unlimited access to signature experiences including: The Grand Reef, free-flight Explorer’s Aviary, Serenity Bay, Wind-Away River and coming soon Freshwater Oasis
- Freshly prepared breakfast and lunch plus snacks throughout the day
- Beverages all day long, including sodas, water and alcoholic drinks
- All swim gear (mask, snorkel, and swim vest or wetsuit), towels, locker, sunscreen and other first-class amenities
- All day self-parking at Discovery Cove
- A complimentary photo portrait of guest and their party upon entry to park
- A pass for 14 consecutive days of unlimited admission to SeaWorld and Aquatica in Orlando before, during or after Discovery Cove visit.
For reservations and to learn more, visit DiscoveryCove.com or call 1-877-434-7268.
Roller Coaster 101: Legoland Advises Parents
Legoland helps parents deal with kids' coaster fears.
Small tots in tears leaving a roller coaster is not an uncommon reaction. Parents often wonder how far to push a fearful child with coasters such a big part of the whole theme park experience.
Legoland is now providing parents with “Roller Coaster Readiness” tips in conjunction with a nationally recognized and award-winning author Dr. Susan Bartell.
Bartell says that parents should not dismiss their child’s fear, bribe him or her, or make comparisons to a sibling or friend since they may cause greater anxiety and/or resentment.
Bartells suggests that parents visit the Legoland website (or any theme park website, for that matter) to view the different attractions; once you arrive, review the park map, pointing out the attractions and inviting the child to choose; watch the ride and other children’s reactions before boarding, acknowledging that nervous is normal; remind the child that there is “next time,” if he or she expresses regret at not riding coaster.
Click here for details from the press release.
For more information on Legoland and its attractions, click here.
Universal Orlando parade and nighttime show debut
Characters from the Superstar Parade will take part in a meet-and-greet with guests. Photo by Seth Kubersky
Seth Kubersky, co-author of Universal Orlando 2012, was on hand this week to view Universal Studios’ Superstar Parade, the theme park’s latest attraction along with Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular. He shared his observations, including a video press conference and lots of photographs of the parade in his Live Active Cultures column, which runs in OrlandoWeekly.com.
The attractions are scheduled to run daily through the summer and at select times thereafter. Click here for details from our previous post.
Turtle Trek Opens at SeaWorld
Turtle Trek, the new attraction that replaces “Manatees: The Last Generation” has opened, perhaps prematurely. It is not ready for prime time.
The new attraction reverses the crowd flow of the old one. We now enter a series of underground rooms offering picture window views into, first, a manatee pool and then, as closed doors open and the Turtle Trek portion gets underway, a salt water pool with sea turtles and a thousand or so colorful tropical fish.
In this curved chamber we hear a spiel about the life cycle of the sea turtle and its endangered status. Then it’s into the final chamber, a domed 3D theatre, for the attraction’s piece de resistance. Using knock your socks off CGI technology, SeaWorld presents a turtle’s-eye view of the entire 20-year life cycle of a sea turtle crammed into seven minutes. The movie is undeniably striking and earns well-deserved applause. Read More…
FunSpot honors teachers, adds helicopter rides
FunSpot is wooing teachers and helicopter aficionados, reports ClickOrlando.com.
The amusement park will honor teachers during its Teacher Appreciation Days, running through May 10. School employees can buy up to four $35-value wrist bands for $10 each during the promotion.
Based on success of its 10-minute test flights from its International Drive location, the helicopter experience may be added permanently. The flights will cost $35 per person and will take off from an area the park has designated for expansion.
FunSpot has locations in both Orlando and Kissimmee. To read more about FunSpot and the other fun spots in the Orlando area, pick up a copy of After Disney: The Other Orlando, published by the Intrepid Traveler.
Sneak Peek: Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
Dewayne Bevil of Orlando Sentinel’s Theme Park Rangers has posted some photos of Universal Studios’s new attraction, “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.”
The much-anticipated attraction, which is based on the movie, is expected to open this summer. It replaces Jimmy Neutron’s NickToon Blast; that attraction closed last August.
TurtleTrek at SeaWorld Orlando opens April 27
Turtle lovers and SeaWorld Orlando fans have been eagerly awaiting the opening of the park’s new Turtle Trek attraction.
Their wait is over. TurtleTrek opens April 27.
The attraction follows the journey of a sea turtle from a hatchling on a each and its mad dash to open waters to the dangers it faces as it matures and returns to the beach to lay its eggs.
Guests can view fresh water and salt water habitats are filled with a variety sea creatures and learn about the challenges they face in today’s environments. There’s also a circular underwater theater described by SeaWorld as “a first-of-its-kind 3-D/360-degree dome theater film that is completely immersive.” According to the park the result is a “hyper-realistic” narration of the turtle’s tale.
SeaWorld hopes the attraction will inspire greater interest in saving the species and animals around the world.
SeaWorld Orlando’s website features a series of behind-the-scenes webisodes about the making of TurtleTrek.
Check out these photos from Orlando Theme Park News of the grand opening media event.
Insider’s Look at Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin
Rendering courtesy SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment.
Orlando Theme Park News provided us with an enthusiastic sneak peak at SeaWorld Orlando’s Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, scheduled to open in 2013.
It’s described as “a voyage to the bottom of the-world, to the coldest and windiest continent, to a place of ice more than 9,000-feet thick.”
Among the details:
• Guests’ encounters with the penguins will be considered the first of their kind in any zoo or theme park in the world.
• They will met a new SeaWorld star, a young gentoo penguin, who will guide them on their Antarctic journey.
• New technology will enable guests to choose the level of thrill experienced on the ride, which is described as “dark.”
• In keeping with penguins’ need for a 30-degree environment, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin will be the coldest theme park attraction in the world. It will also be the biggest of any SeaWorld or Busch Gardens park expansion. Officials are calling it a “realm” rather than a single attraction, consisting of the ride, penguin habitat, gift shop, and restaurant.
According to Orlando Theme Park News, SeaWorld Orlando designers revealed the details at the travel show PowWow in Los Angeles.
On the other chilly Pole, SeaWorld currently has Wild Arctic, which features beluga whales, polar bears, and colossal walruses.
Click here for more information on SeaWorld’s attractions.
Florida Residents Get Third Day Free at Universal
Attention Florida residents! Universal Orlando has a deal for you!
For $99, Universal’s new promotion, “Year To Be Here,” gives residents at third day free with a two-day base admission ticket to either Universal’s Islands of Adventure or Universal Studios Florida. For $119, both parks are included with the third day free.
Residents must purchase tickets online by May 31 and use the tickets by June 30. They must show proof of Florida residency when at the time of purchase and ticket pick-up
Universal created the promotion so residents can spend more time at the newly relaunched Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, and to see the new Superstar Parade and Cinematic Spectacular: 100 years of Movie Memories.
New EcoPark Features Zipline Roller Coaster
Zipline attractions added to Florida EcoSafaris.
This is one Rattlesnake that’s not poisonous. Although it could prove to be scary!
It can be found at The EcoPark at St. Cloud’s Forever Florida Wildlife Conservation Area starting April 6.
Seth Kubersky, our man in Orlando, posted his experiences there in his Live Active Cultures column in Orlando Weekly magazine. Read More…