See SeaWorld’s Halloween Spirit with SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular!

Orlando theme parks love to go all out for the Halloween season. You’re sure to find a Halloween activity that suits you at your favorite park. Unfortunately, some of these events may not be suitable for children and might be too scary for even some adults! But don’t worry, there is still plenty of Halloween fun the entire family can have at the parks and your Halloween doesn’t have to be scary at all. For a bit of a twist, how about spending your Halloween under the sea? SeaWorld Orlando plans to do just that with SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular.

The entire SeaWorld Orlando theme park will be converted into a Halloween paradise fit for the entire family. Starting October 3rd at 12 noon, families and children will be welcomed into an undersea Halloween wonderland. As a special treat, you can even come in costume to get into the Halloween spirit at this great event. Admission into the SeaWorld Halloween Spooktacular is included with the cost of admission, so why not try to get some great discount SeaWorld tickets before you get to the park? You might want to save up for some of the cute SeaWorld merchandise available inside.

There are a number of great activities at this fun-filled event. There will be 15 different treasure stations where you can trick or treat for some great candy. Around 35 great costumed characters like Gummy Worm Wanda, Salt Water Taffy and Swedish Fish Suzy will be wandering around the park for some tricky fun. If you’re a Sesame Street fan you will love the Countdown to Halloween Live Musical Stage Show. All of SeaWorld’s shows will be given a Halloween twist and this one is no different. Count Von Count will join Elmo and Friends for a countdown to Halloween show full of music and fun the kids will surely love. Shamu’s Happy Harbor will also get into the Halloween and autumn spirit with pumpkins and scarecrows all around. Last but certainly not least, SeaWorld is even offering a Spooky Sleepover that includes a pizza party, snacks and a continental breakfast—what better way to spend Halloween than sleeping over at a theme park that’s all decked out for the occasion?

This event will run until October 31st, so look to DWTickets.com for the best deals on SeaWorld Orlando admission and get ready for some great Halloween fun.

Walt Disney World Cares and Conserves

Florida is environmentally unique thanks to the beautiful Everglades and our Atlantic and Gulf beaches. But because of our position in the United States, we are also affected by tropical storms and hurricanes that can cause damage to homes, locations and our environment. Back in 2004, Hurricane Charley ripped through Central Florida causing $15 billion dollar’s worth of damage to the state and the Orlando theme parks. The Holiday Inn near Downtown Disney had to close completely and many parks closed for safety purposes. But while residents prepared and parks closed, Disney was lending a helping hand to the local wildlife facilities. Manatees, dolphins and turtles were all evacuated from Mote Marine in Sarasota to the Living Seas at EPCOT and to certain areas of SeaWorld. This move was just one of many Disney takes every year to make sure it participates in saving animals and the environment.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the prime example of Disney’s motivation to save the environment. Not only is Animal Kingdom a theme park, but it also serves as a research and conservation center. The park even has a few breeding programs that have been highly successful in breeding animals that are endangered. This July, Nande, a 10-year-old white rhino that used to live at Animal Kingdom, gave birth to her own little baby rhino in Uganda. Disney has been working closely with Ugandan animal groups to help save the endangered species. Over in Australia, Disney provided emergency funding to wildlife conservation groups struggling to save animals hurt this year in the wildfires in Australia back in March and donated $8,000 in emergency funding to two organizations, the Pan African Sanctuaries Alliance (PASA) and Save the Elephants (STE).

Back on the home front, Disney also does conservation efforts over at EPCOT. Just recently they released “Bock," a manatee Disney rescued back in 2001 as part of a manatee rehabilitation program managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. When Disney rescued Bock, he was only 500 pounds. Now at 8 years old, Bock weighs 1,000 pounds and has been successfully released back into the wild.

There are big and little things the Disney family does to help the environment. From recycling at the parks to bigger conservation efforts like the ones in Africa, Disney lets the world know it cares about the Earth. So make sure you do your part next time you’re at the parks and dispose of your garbage properly. Don’t forget the three R’s too: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Sleepover at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens

Don’t you hate it when your day at the Orlando theme parks is over and you have to go back to your hotel? It’s kind of like the post-trip blues—you never want your day to end. SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay have come up with the remedy for that with their “Explore the Park After Dark” sleepover camps for kids, families and groups. This set of sleepover camps and events will give guests a night they’ll never forget at two of the biggest theme parks Florida has to offer.

Over at SeaWorld, the new Manta ride will be the site of one of the sleepover events. Manta’s queue is an incredible collection of tanks that hold beautiful varieties of rays and fish that glide peacefully around and above you. A lot of times if someone “chickens out” in line or just doesn’t want to ride SeaWorld’s newest coaster, they’ll head back to the aquarium display and check it out until the rest of their group is done riding.

This is also a great option for children in the scout programs. SeaWorld and Busch Gardens have programs for both the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts. A park educator will work with the scouts (depending on their age and scout levels) to teach them about the animals living in the habitats they will be visiting. So not only will your children be having a fantastic time, they will be learning a lot about nature and wildlife as well! For families with children in grades K-5, you can have the same sleepover experience even on holidays! Thanksgiving, Halloween and Christmas are all open for family sleepovers at the SeaWorld theme park. The event starts at 6 p.m. with a pizza party and ends at 9 a.m. the next day with a Continental breakfast.

Over at Busch Gardens, you can camp out at the “Tiger Lodge." This air-conditioned area is an enclosed space over the tiger habitat in Busch Garden’s Jungala. The Busch Gardens sleepover package also includes a Sunrise Safari over their Serengeti Plain and a commemorative t-shirt and water bottle. There’s even a very special sleepover package at this Busch Gardens park—one that involves an animal encounter with wildlife celebrity expert Jack Hanna! Sleepovers for birthday groups and educators are also available with special package offerings catered to the kind of group that decides to camp out at the park.

Nighttime attractions like fireworks displays and animal shows are also available to the sleepover guests of both Busch Gardens and SeaWorld. This unique experience is available on select dates and holidays throughout the year, so get your sleeping bags ready and head on down to SeaWorld or Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

Manta Joins SeaWorld

The SeaWorld franchise has expanded well beyond Budweiser Clydesdales and the Shamu Adventure show. Gone are the days where the park was viewed solely as an educational experience and marine research institute with a beautiful killer whale mascot. Over the years, the park has expanded and changed into a thrill-ride champion and competitor to other Orlando theme parks like Universal Studios and Walt Disney World.

With the addition of Kraken, SeaWorld’s first large-scale roller coaster, the park was launched into the coaster enthusiast spotlight. At the time of its grand opening in 2000, Kraken was the largest roller coaster in South Florida and the first floorless roller coaster in the Southern United States. Even though Animal Kingdom’s Expedition Everest has now taken Kraken’s longest coaster crown, SeaWorld took the proverbial ball and ran into a whole new world of marine related adventure.

The latest thrill ride experience at SeaWorld is the award-winning Manta coaster. Awarded the “Best New Attraction” title by ThemeParkInsider.com, Manta is the tallest and fastest “flying” roller coaster in the world. The manta ray-shaped coaster gets its “flying” title thanks to the position of riders on the ride. When SeaWorld engineers created the ride, they intended to mimic the gliding movement of rays in the water for their riders. So, once riders board their specific car, they will be tilted face down before beginning the 140-ft ascension up the coaster’s first hill.

If the tail whips, pretzel-loops and corkscrews of Manta are too much for you, the ride’s queue features an elaborate exhibit of ocean creatures. The queue at Manta is open to those riding the coaster and for those who are only curious as to what the exhibit has in store. Built to resemble a sea village, the Manta queue features ten aquariums with over 60 species of animals and 300 variations of the ride’s mascot: the ray. If you are waiting in line or just passing through, the aquarium will give you the feeling of being underwater as rays and tropical fish glide overhead.

With rides like Manta and Kraken, sales of SeaWorld tickets have greatly improved, with many SeaWorld execs attributing the increase in attendance to their water-themed coasters. Your best bet in experiencing these great rides as well as the beautiful aquariums, fireworks and live entertainment is to check out the deals DWTickets.com has to offer. Manta awaits!

Camps for Animal Adventurers

If you are tired of the every-day day-camps, sports camps, and sleepaway camps of summer, SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens have a refreshing and adventurous change of pace in store for you! Adventure Camps by SeaWorld and Busch Gardens provide campers with the opportunity to care for, study, and interact with amazing animals at numerous sessions throughout the summer months.

At these interactive Adventure Camps, campers will get the opportunity of a life-time to work side-by-side with animal care specialists, trainers, and veterinary staff with some of the wildest animals on the planet. Beyond the fun on these experiences, the Adventure Camps act as inspiration for kids wanting a career path in animal sciences. With wildlife conservation and environmental awareness at the helm, this program gives campers not just animal experiences, but a true heightened awareness of the natural world around them and concrete ways about how they can make a difference in the world.

The Adventure Camps of SeaWorld and Busch Gardens go beyond just swimming with dolphins, diving with sharks, feeding giraffes, caring for rhinos, and petting penguins. Referred to as “camouflaged fun,” campers really learn through these amazing experiences. “Our parks become interactive classrooms,” says Judy Jenkins, SeaWorld Orlando’s Director of Education and Conservation. “We don’t just tell campers how much Shamu eats or how cold it is inside the Penguin Encounter. Campers actually have a change to help our animal trainers prepare fish buckets and step inside Penguin Encounter to feel just how chilly – and smelly – the exhibit really is.”

From these Adventure Camps, there is an amazing track record of over 150 former Adventure Campers who are now employed in the zoological departments of SeaWorld and Busch Gardens! This just goes to show how close to a real-life experience you get into the lives of working for these amazing animal parks.

Adventure Camps are available for campers from grades 5-12. From June to August there are five day camps (on select dates) that are available for paying campers, at both Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and SeaWorld Orlando. Campers can choose from a SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, or a combo-park experience. Housing, food, activities, and transportation are all included during the program. On top of that, campers also get the chance to take advantage of the amazing rides, shows, exhibits, and more at these parks.

These camps are a great experience for animal lovers, future animal trainers, and curious minds alike. More information on these Adventure Parks can be found at www.swbg-adventurecamps.com. However, if you are not one of the select few who get to try these amazing camps, don’t fret! You can join in on the animal fun with the option of seeing these animals at SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay with discount SeaWorld tickets and discount Busch Gardens tickets from DWTickets.com!

SeaWorld After Dark Rocks the Night with New Shows and Manta

It was eventful Memorial Day Weekend at SeaWorld with many more visitors enjoying the aquatic theme park then usual. And they has good reason to - not only did the highly anticipated new roller coaster Manta open on Friday, May 22, but the weekend ushered in another fun happening in the park: SeaWorld After Dark. Normally, SeaWorld closes at 7 pm, but beginning Saturday and continuing through the summer, the park stays open until 10 pm, adding on three new hours of shows, nighttime Manta fun, and an all-new fireworks spectacular.

You'll definitely want to stick around when the sun goes down for the great nighttime entertainment of SeaWorld After Dark, which will uplift you, make you tap your toes, and crack you up.

First up in the night's schedule is one of our personal favorites, Sea Lions Tonight. Featuring the park's comedia sea lion duo, Clyde and Seamore, this hilarious show will have you rolling in the aisles with its hilarious hijinks. WIth a little help from some otters and walruses, Clyde and Seamore parody other favorite SeaWorld shows, and their talent is truly amazing.

Then, the spotlight falls on Shamu ROcks, a high-energy rock n' roll extravaganza starring everybody's favorit e killer whale. Combining awe-inspiring moves from Shamu with a stunning light show and music from some of the hottest rock stars in the industry, Shamu Rocks is a popular favorite at the park and is only performed during After Dark and holidays, so don't miss it!

Finally, SeaWorld AFter Dark comes to a close with Reflections, a spectacular celebration of soaring fountains and dazzling fireworks. Accompanied by thrilling and inspiration music from the park's most popular shows, Reflections will dazzle you as it lights up the Orlando sky. Best yet, new seating at Bayside Stadium will allow guests to enjoy the show in comfort.

While you're enjoying the park's new nighttime hours, you're bound to get hungry. Instead of skipping dinner, take advantage of the Makahiki Luau, an evening extravaganza providing incredible live entertainment and a satisfying Polynesian-style feast. Guests will nosh on tasty entrees like Hawaiian Chicken and Polynesian-styloe barbeque spareribs while they enjoy a breathtaking fire dance.

Meanwhile, in between shows and the luau, guests can still enjoy their favorite SeaWorld rides and attractions, especially the high-flying and glidining Manta. This newly-opened roller coaster is an intense and wild ride during the day, so we can only imagine how thrilling it must be at night! The ride offers an incredible view of Orlando, sp at the least, it will be amazing to soar over the park and see the bright city lights.

There's no extra fee to enjoy SeaWorld After Dark; guests will get three extra hours of fun at the park for the same price of regular admission. So, you'd have to be silly not to take advantage of it! Check out discount SeaWorld tickets on DWTickets.com to save even more on this great deal and begin enjoying cool summer nights at SeaWorld.

Manta Will Open for Sneak Preview

You’ve been waiting all spring, and now, SeaWorld Orlando is rewarding you for your patience. The aquatic theme park will be opening its new roller coaster Manta early for a special sneak preview this Tuesday, May 5 (Cinco de Mayo). Manta will open at noon that day, as well as every day afterwards through the week until at least the following Sunday, May 10. Though guests should be prepared for periodic closures, it’s still a great chance to ride the ray before it officially opens.

Manta’s official opening date is May 22, but rumors have been circulating for a while now that the ride has come together so quickly and so well that guests will likely get to ride it for limited hours leading up to May 22.

“A lot of the locals and residents want to experience this before summer,” said SeaWorld spokesperson Nick Gollattscheck.

The sneak preview announcement was actually first made by Shamu via Twitter, who pronounced, “I have decided to open Manta early. Tuesday, May 5 at noon. Yes, I have that kind of pull. When you speak of me, speak well.” Needless to say, Shamu’s not a modest killer whale.

Manta will be a first for SeaWorld in many ways – though it’s not the park’s only roller coaster, it will be the first flying roller coaster of its kind in the park and in the world. Riders will begin by climbing into traditional seats and harnesses, but soon enough they’ll see what makes the ride so special as the entire seating assembly rotates forward, positioning riders horizontally.

From there, they’ll soar over the park like a Manta ray, flying headfirst at 56 mph. The coaster features a track-twisting pretzel loop, in-line spins, a close call with a waterfall, and a wing dip just inches from the water that throws out a 14-foot high, 60-foot long spray of water.

Adding on to the incredible experience is Manta’s aquarium; while waiting on line for the ride, guests will get a glimpse into the underwater worlds of tropical fish and rays. Floor to ceiling aquariums will showcase rare leafy sea dragons, colorful clownfish, and mysterious sea anemones. Smaller guests will even get to ‘pop up’ into an aquarium and come face-to-face with the aquarium’s inhabitants – which include three hundred rays and a massive Pacific octopus, which creeps along the interior of Manta’s saltwater habitat.

“Manta takes what SeaWorld does best – animal encounters and thrill rides – and blends
them to create something you can’t find anywhere else in the world,” said Dan Brown,
SeaWorld Orlando’s general manager. “Manta’s actually the next generation of what makes
Orlando so much fun. Orlando is the must-do vacation this summer, and Manta is the must-see."

So what are you waiting for? Get your first look at the must-see attraction of the summer, and grab your discount SeaWorld tickets from DWTickets.com. We can’t imagine a better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than by riding a manta ray at SeaWorld.

Get Closer to Your Favorite Animals with SeaWorld Tours

If you want to go get up close and personal with marine animals, go behind the scenes to meet a penguin, and plunge into the realm of the shark, chances are that a regular trip to SeaWorld Orlando just isn’t going to do it for you. But don’t fret! Those who want to experience the Orlando theme park in a truly unique way can try one of SeaWorld’s brand new tours. Perfect for those who have seen and done everything at the park or want a truly memorable trip out of their visit, these new 2009 tours blend adventure and education into an amazing day of fun with the animals.

First, there’s nothing like getting a close look at the inner workings of SeaWorld on the Behind-the-Scenes Tour. On the tour, guests will visit SeaWorld’s Rescue & Rehabilitation Center, explore a polar bear’s hidden den, come inches away from a penguin, and interact with a small shark. Best yet, ten percent of each tour admission is donated to the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund.

For dolphin and penguin fans, SeaWorld offers the Dolphin Spotlight and the Penguin Spotlight tours. The first offers the opportunity to learn from SeaWorld’s animal care specialists about what it’s like to work with dolphins. Guests will go backstage to the Whale & Dolphin Stadium and witness training sessions with the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin. Then they’ll get to practice what they saw at SeaWorld’s Dolphin Cove during a special training session.

During the Penguin Spotlight, guests will meet some of SeaWorld’s amazing puffins and penguins. They’ll learn about caring for these amazing birds from aviculture experts while exploring SeaWorld’s Penguin Encounter.

And for extra special visitors to SeaWorld, there’s the VIP Tour and the Elite VIP Tour. On the former, guests will embark on exhilarating thrill rides, enjoy spectacular shows and find out what it’s like to feed dolphins, sting rays, and sea lions. They’ll even get close to everyone’s favorite killer whale during Dine with Shamu, a poolside lunch.

On the Elite VIP tour, similar fun abounds with Manta, SeaWorld’s new flying coaster set to open May 22. Guests will get splashed by an 11,000 pound whale, encounter amazing animals, and meet a tuxedo clad penguin. The day finishes with dinner at the Sharks Underwater Grill.

But that’s not all; SeaWorld also offers Animal Connection Programs, which offer incredible opportunities to interact with amazing animals and experience up-close encounters. There’s the Beluga Interaction Program, which allows guests to step into the Wild Arctic’s chilly 55 degree water and come face-to-face with the beluga whale, and the Sharks Deep Dive, which puts guests into a wet suit and a Sea Trek helmet and plunges them underwater for a close encounter with more than 30 sharks.

All these amazing tours and programs require an additional ticket and can be reserved via SeaWorld’s website. However, SeaWorld admission isn’t included in that ticket and is required. So if you want to experience SeaWorld in a whole new way while saving money, be sure to visit DWTickets.com for discount SeaWorld tickets. And check out the park’s behind-the-scenes adventures and animal encounters for an adventure you’ll never forget.

Shamu Joins the Twitter Community

It is the latest craze that has swallowed up your favorite actors, politicians, and John Mayer. And now, even a star of SeaWorld Orlando has jumped on the bandwagon known as Twitter. Shamu, the black and white orca making a daily splash at the Orlando theme park, began posting to the free social network/micro-blogging community last week, and he’s already attracted close to 1,000 followers. In addition to clicks, squeaks, whistles, and trills, it would seem that the killer whale can also communicate via tweets, and he’s done plenty of that on a variety of topics.

“It turns out Shamu has a lot to say,” said Joe Couceiro, Chief Marketing Officer for SeaWorld’s parent company, Busch Entertainment Corp. “We knew he was a very popular whale, but I’m not sure anyone knew just how many subjects he held opinions on.”

Writing under the handle “RealShamu,” Shamu has twittered on topics such as Moroccan tree goats, Brazilian soccer teams, pubs in the English countryside, and the paint scheme on Southwest Airlines planes. The killer whale also disseminates a healthy dose of information about whale life, in addition to geography, anatomy, architecture, current events, history, and even punctuation. Who knew Shamu was so smart?

The killer whale has also shown himself to have a quick wit, too, commenting frequently on the overratedness of dolphins – a species he characterizes as “all hat and no cattle.”

And how, you might wonder, can a massive 8,000-pound whale with no discernible fingers to speak of type and make posts on Twitter?

“I have assistants, as you would expect of a whale of my stature,” Shamu has said to the often-posed question. Shamu also added that saltwater was detrimental to computers and cellphones, making human assistants particularly necessary.

Since signing on to Twitter, the killer whale has received a variety of questions from SeaWorld fans. For example, when recently asked if he likes to eat lobsters, Shamu declined via Twitter and explained, “They’re pinchy.”

In addition to being a way for the voice of SeaWorld to communicate with fans, Twitter is an interactive and unique new form of marketing for the park. Couceiro states that the online network is even allowing SeaWorld to enhance guests’ experiences in the park. “We’ve had visitors tweet with suggestions, problems, questions, photos, video, even jokes for Shamu – while they’re inside SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, or Busch Gardens."

Still, Shamu doesn’t spend all his time on Twitter. When he’s not communicating with his online friends, Shamu can be seen daily in SeaWorld’s revolutionary production, “Believe.” Taking place on an elaborate 3-story set, “Believe” features Shamu and the entire SeaWorld family of majestic killer whales performing awe-inspiring choreography with an original musical score by the Prague National Symphony Orchestra.

Guests can also get up close and personal with Shamu during Dine With Shamu, a VIP experience where they can eat alongside killer whales, dine with Shamu trainers, ask questions, and observe training sessions in an exclusive themed area.

To read Shamu’s latest nugget of whale wisdom, check out Twitter.com/RealShamu. And don’t forget to purchase discount SeaWorld tickets from DWTickets.com to meet your favorite orca in person and witness his amazing talents. Just be careful not to mention dolphins to him.

A Brighter Aquatica Kicks Off the Spring

There’s only one place in Orlando, Florida, where you can take a plunge with dolphins, bask in the sun on a serene beach, hear the laugh of a kookaburra, and zip down a rapid – all in one day. That’s SeaWorld’s Aquatica, and this wild water park is ready for the season after undergoing a recent refurbishment.

Though Aquatica has only been open for a year, park operators still wanted to maintain things fresh, which is why they closed it for ten days earlier this year to do some spring cleaning and touch things up.

“We did a lot of painting, a lot of refreshing,” said Rick Beddow, vice president of Aquatica. “It's not even a year old, and there we are painting and repainting things because we like bright. We want colors to pop.”

The colors won’t pop as bright for guests who are wearing shades, but the park is hoping those won’t be as necessary now thanks to added shade throughout the park. Guests will find more landscaping now, more small umbrellas, and the park is in the process of adding twelve 25-foot umbrellas as well. Also helping in the staying cool department will be more misters that have been added to the park’s walkways.

Those who like to lounge will be happy to learn Aquatica has added 1,000 new beach chairs. Directional signs to guide guests to their favorite attractions were also added, along with a nifty wristband program that will help children and their parents know what rides are appropriate. Color-coded, the wristbands are distributed by an Aquatica employee who measures the little ones, so that kids need only match the color of their wristband to certain rides.

And guests visiting the park these days might notice some construction underway by the entrance; the park is adding a new ticket booth at the front gate, as well as expanding the walkway and adding in a new one for the bus-drop off – all to allow guests to get in and have fun quicker and easier.

Though no new rides or slides have been added, all the old favorites are there and ready for gleeful guests, including the racing rides, glistening lagoons, and winding rivers, all kept at a comfortable 84 degrees. There’s Cutback Cove and Big Surf Shores, producing crashing waves and gently-rolling surf; Dolphin Plunge, which takes riders down 250 feet of clear tubes through a beautiful dolphin habitat; Walhalla Wave, a family raft experience splashing guests down six stories of twists and turns; the Taumata Racer, an eight-lane racing slide speeding riders down 300 feet in and out of tunnels; and so much more.

Plus, there are all the animal encounters that make Aquatica such a unique water park. Guests can get up close and personal with Commerson’s dolphins, beautiful macaws, giant anteaters, the sulcata tortoise, roseate spoonbill, and of course, the laughing kookaburra.

So don’t wait until the summer arrives and this amazing park fills to capacity – get your discount Aquatica tickets now and experience the bright and fresh Aquatica for yourself. We can’t think of a better way to welcome the warm weather.

Dolphins Make Amazing Bubble Art at SeaWorld

It’s common knowledge that dolphins are some of the most intelligent animals in the world; they can be trained to perform amazing tricks and tasks, and if size is any indicator, the simple fact that the adult bottlenose dolphin’s brain is 25% heavier than a human brain says a lot about how smart they are.

Since research on the dolphin mind is limited, though, scientists have never been able to make any conclusive claims about whether the animals are truly intelligent or not. However, the happy-go-lucky residents at SeaWorld Orlando are proving just how brainy they are with a new skill that they learned all on their own.

It’s been known for some time that dolphins are able to communicate with one another. However, what’s less commonly known is the fact that dolphins can apparently learn from one another; several of the dolphins at SeaWorld Orlando have demonstrated this ability by the fact that they now know how to blow beautiful underwater bubbles using their blowholes. And not only can they blow bubbles, but they can also manipulate and play with them. It’s an amazing and breathtaking thing to see, and the skill is getting a lot of attention from trainers, spectators, and media outlets alike.

“If you had a balloon at home and you flex and play with the end of it to make different sounds – [the dolphins] can do that with their blowhole…They angle their heads so that it comes up perfectly straight to create a ring,” said SeaWorld’s dolphin trainers.

What makes it all even more amazing is that a few years ago, only one dolphin had this bubble-making capability; apparently, however, that dolphin taught the others. Three months ago, the trainers noticed that many more of the animals had picked up the skill, and today, they can be seen blowing bubbles, elongating them or making them smaller, and even spinning them and swimming through them.

“It’s like a little halo at first and then they just push it and it gets smaller,” said a trainer. “They either take their rostrum or head and move it in a circle to make [the bubble] bigger.”

The dolphins even try to “steal” bubbles from one another, and one dolphin will pop his bubble creation if another dolphin tries to take it away – as if to say, “No, that’s my toy, you can’t take it.”

This amazing story has been featured on ABC News, and in response to the interest, SeaWorld even put out a new blog to keep up with dolphin news. But park fans and dolphin lovers can go in person and see the animals’ amazing talent for themselves at SeaWorld. There, in Dolphin Cove, the animals can be seen frolicking, blowing bubbles, and playing with them in the underwater viewing area.

So if you haven’t been to SeaWorld in a while, you’ll want to get your SeaWorld tickets from DWTickets.com in order to see this amazing dolphin skill. It’s an incredible sight to see, and who knows? You might even discover the secret of how they do it!

Two Big Coasters Get Ready to Rock Orlando

This spring will hold more than just warm weather in its forecast for Orlando, Florida. Two major theme parks, SeaWorld Orlando and Universal Studios, will be unveiling two eagerly anticipated roller coasters that are sure to transform the Orlando skyline, bring new visitors to the parks, and thrill roller coaster lovers and adrenaline rush seekers of all ages. The time is slowly approaching when Orlando residents and vacationers will be able to experience Manta and the Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit roller coasters!

Debuting first will be Manta, which SeaWorld recently revealed will open on May 22. We can’t wait for this particularly sweet attraction, which will be unique among Orlando roller coasters for several reasons. First, as opposed to normal upright seated roller coasters (yawn) or roller coasters where your feet dangle (been there, done that), Manta will position the rider practically face down. The idea is that you’ll feel like you’re soaring through the air, much like a Manta ray soars through the water.

In addition, once it’s completed, Manta will be the one of the longest, tallest, and fastest roller coasters in the world, with four inversions and a speed of at least 56 mph. The inversions will include a pretzel loop, an in-line twist, and two corkscrews. Moreover, the roller coaster cars will be designed to resemble manta rays, with wingspans of 12 feet. Reportedly, during one portion of the ride, the Manta car will pass extremely close to the water below, and its wings will skim the surface, creating a big splash for the riders.

Manta will also have an incredible queue area for guests to take in while they wait for their wild ride. The queue will pass through art-adorned underground caves with enormous Plexiglas tanks featuring over 300 rays, as well as thousands of fish and other mysterious marine creatures.

And while Manta is poised to become the most graceful flying roller coaster in the world, the Hollywood Rip, Ride, and Rockit (RRR) coaster at Universal Studios is set on being the most technologically advanced one. Set to open sometime this spring (mid-to-late June would be the latest), the RRR will feature fast-paced, high-flying excitement, all set to the tune of a customizable song you pick out before strapping in. Moreover, every second of your whirlwind ride will be on video, allowing guests to edit it and send it to their friends when it’s all over.

The RRR will reach a maximum of 65 mph and will soar up to 17 stories over Universal Studios, making it the tallest in the Orlando area and the largest ride of its kind in the world. Six near-miss moments will have riders’ hearts lurching into their throats, and a non-inverting loop nicknamed the “double take” will break records around the world. And the ride, which features colorful LED lights, will even blast through a building façade, making it a visually stunning aerial landmark weaving up and down, in and out of the park.

If you couldn’t think of a reason to visit SeaWorld or Universal Orlando before, now you have it – the two new roller coasters getting ready to whirl through our favorite Orlando theme parks this spring. Start planning your roller coaster adventure now with discount theme park tickets from DWTickets.com, and you’ll be ready for two wild rides.

End-of-the-Year Fun With Music and Shamu at SeaWorld

In the last few blogs, we’ve talked about options for celebrating New Year’s Eve at Orlando theme parks – and boy, there are plenty. In addition to the fun on December 31st at Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, there’s also going to be some incredible end-of-the-year festivities at SeaWorld Orlando. So head on over to your favorite water-themed park as they pull out all the stops for a memorable New Year’s Eve celebration.

On December 31st from 9 pm to 12:30 am, jazz and swing group Michael Andrew and his 18-piece Atomic Big Band will be keeping the party going with continuous music and excitement during their performances at SeaWorld’s Bayside Stadium. Guests can jump, jive, and wail along to the music, as well as enjoy their favorite thrill rides and classic SeaWorld entertainment late into the evening.

A live DJ will also be on hand providing plenty of tunes for dancing, and at the Waterfront at midnight, all eyes will look to the sky for a fabulous fireworks show over the water. SeaWorld will be open on New Year’s Eve from 9 am until 1 am, so it’s a great opportunity to enjoy your favorite park for extended hours for the price of regular admission.

In addition to enjoying all the park’s festivities and the jazz stylings of Michael Andrew and the Atomic Big Band, guests will also have a one-of-a-kind chance to dine with Shamu on December 31st. This unforgettable New Year’s Eve dinner with your favorite orca starts with a reception at Shamu’s Underwater Viewing. While they get to view SeaWorld’s most incredible orca, Guests will snack on canapés like Smoked Beef and Spiced Chicken and receive a Welcome Drink in a Lighted Souvenir Glass.

Then, it’s time for a delicious dinner buffet with chef-attended stations at the Dine with Shamu area (SeaWorld’s exclusive behind-the-scenes venue). Guests will nosh on tasty dishes such as tri-colored cheese tortellini, grilled Mahi Mahi, Spanish paella, and more; special kids’ selections will also be available. After dinner, guests will be treated to an elite Shamu interaction. That’s not all – after some fun with Shamu, guests will get to see the Shamu Rocks Show from VIP seats, in addition to the Michael Andrew jazz show, which they’ll also be able to enjoy from reserved seating. It’s an incredible VIP experience that ends with the explosive fireworks show at midnight. New Year’s Eve at Dine with Shamu requires a separate ticket in addition to regular admission.

If you can’t make it to SeaWorld on New Year’s because you have other plans, do try to squeeze in a trip before the end of the year; from December 26th through December 30th, guests can enjoy nightly holiday concerts by the Orlando Philharmonic, performing selections from The Polar Express. The concerts will be held at Bayside Stadium with fireworks immediately following, so it’s a fun precursor to a New Year’s Eve blowout.

So make a splash as you ring in 2009 this December with all the music, fun, and excitement at SeaWorld. And remember to save on discount SeaWorld tickets at DWTickets.com – it’ll make celebrating the New Year that much sweeter.

SeaWorld Manta Update

One thing to look forward to in 2009 is definitely the opening of the new SeaWorld Orlando attraction, Manta. Said to be the biggest single investment in the history of any SeaWorld park, this mega-ride will give guests the unique sensation of being a Manta ray as it swoops over sea and sky on a manta-inspired flying roller coaster.

As the ride is coming along, construction-wise, we can tell you that Manta already looks super-cool. The loading station is beginning to take shape, an area that will eventually sit at the center of the park. The highest point of the coaster was added in late October, a bright two-toned sky blue and royal blue track that swirls up to a maximum height of 140 feet and drops to a maximum of 113 feet. According to SeaWorld, everything is on schedule for a Summer 2009 opening.

Following in the tradition of animal-ride combinations over at Aquatica, Manta will begin with an incredible 184,000 gallon underwater animal habitat. Guests will be able to see 3,000 animals in ten different aquariums, featuring rays, sea dragons, sea horses, and over 2,500 fish. The aquariums will offer floor-to-ceiling, 9 foot tall views, as well as an overhead viewing panels so that visitors can see schools of rays swimming above their heads.

After feeling inspired by the rays’ incredible underwater habits, guests will then transition into the Manta ride, which will take them on a wild ride underneath the belly of a coaster train shaped like a giant manta. Guests will fly face-down, in a horizontal position, as the manta glides, swoops, and dives up to nearly 60 mph. The ride will include four inversions on 3,359 feet of track and will swoop through the sky and over the sea, getting so close to the water that the Manta’s 12-foot wings barely skim the waves.

If you’re not a fan of rollercoaster’s and Manta sounds more like madness to you than a
good time, SeaWorld assures us that the aquarium and queue will be an attraction in itself. Upon entering Manta’s queue, visitors will feel as though they’re in a seaside village. As guests wind through the mythical village, they’ll enjoy artisan-created engravings and artwork that celebrate ray legend and lore. Anticipation to the ride will build as they continue winding through caverns adorned with ray-inspired hand-crafted art in marble, jewels, and mosaics.

Manta will be SeaWorld Orlando’s second major roller coaster – the other is Kraken. Manta is being constructed by Swiss design company Bolliger & Mabillard, who are also responsible for the creation of Kraken as well as the Incredible Hulk Coaster and Dueling Dragons rides at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. The 7-acre Manta ride will be located inside the main entrance to SeaWorld and will tower over the park’s 200 acres.

We can’t wait until Manta is finished, and you can bet that when this unique, new ride opens next year, DWTickets.com will be there to give you all the awesome details. Until then, Orlando theme park-goers will have to satisfy themselves with the normal array of SeaWorld fun, which is none too shabby either. The park is even more fun when you score your discount SeaWorld tickets here at DWTickets.com. See you at SeaWorld!