NEW! Pass Member Exclusive Ride time on Tigris:

Saturdays & Sundays, May 4-12 Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s newest roller coaster, Tigris, is now open. For the first two weekends in May, Pass Members are invited to exclusively enjoy the thrill of Tigris, including a 150-foot skyward surge, forward and backward launches, and an inverted heartline roll, before the park opens.

Sesame Street Safari of Fun Kids’ Weekends:

Saturdays & Sundays, May 4-19 Busch Gardens is celebrating Sesame Street’s 50th Anniversary with spring weekend events and a new friend! Meet Julia, a sweet and curious 4-year-old girl with autism, who recently joined her friends Elmo and Abby Cadabby at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Guests can meet Julia and friends in our all-new area, Abby Cadabby’s Garden, located on the pathway to Sesame Street Safari of Fun.

Also NEW this year, families can enjoy build-your-own ice cream sundaes at the Sesame Kids’ Pavilion. For $6.99 per person, guests can choose from vanilla, chocolate, strawberry or pineapple soft serve as the base of their creation with a number of favorite toppings available.

Created with children in mind, each weekend offers interactive entertainment and activities. From character dance parties to scavenger hunts, there is something for the whole family to enjoy.

In addition, each weekend is themed to fan-favorite characters:

Rubber Duckie Weekend, May 11 & 12: Join the search for Ernie’s favorite rubber duckie! Guests will experience all Sesame Street Safari of Fun has to offer while spending quality time with Bert and Ernie!

Cookie Monster Weekend, May 18 & 19: Look for cookies among the flowers with the one and only Cookie Monster and his closest friends. Guests can enjoy arts and crafts and more during this special family-friendly weekend.

Guy Harvey Weekend at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay:

Saturday & Sunday, May 11 – 12 Guests will have the chance to meet world-renowned artist and conservationist Guy Harvey through autograph sessions and meet and greets on Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12. In addition, Guy Harvey will host a special Conservation Connections session highlighting his partnership with SeaWorld Parks and his conservation efforts.

Pass Member Exclusive! Meet and Greet with Guy Harvey On Sunday May 12, Busch Gardens Pass Members can participate in an exclusive meet-and-greet from 9 to 10 am at the Xcursions gift shop and enjoy a 20% discount on Guy Harvey merchandise.

Jack Hanna Weekend:

Saturday & Sunday, May 18 – 19 Join “Jungle Jack” Hanna at Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay for one-of-a-kind shows, autograph signings, special meet-and-greets, and more! The internationally-known animal expert will share animal facts and his travel tales throughout the day at Stanleyville Theater. The daily shows are included with park admission.

Tails and Tales Cocktail Hour Guests can book more time with Jack Hanna at an exclusive cocktail hour complete with autographs, photo opportunities and animal ambassadors. The night ends with Jack Hanna sharing stories and his animal expertise. The Tails and Tales experience costs $99.99 – Pass Member discounts are available.

VIP Meet and Greet with Jack Hanna For the ultimate Jack Hanna fan, guests can book a VIP Meet and Greet with Jack including up-close encounters with animal ambassadors. VIPs will also receive a commemorative photo, autograph and reserved seating to the Jack Hanna show. The VIP Meet and Greet costs $34.99 – Pass Member discounts are available.

NEW! Memorial Day Weekend Pin Trading Event:

Saturday & Sunday, May 25 – 27 Park guests can check out the latest collections arriving just in time for the unofficial kick-off to summer. In addition to new retail collections and a new pin kiosk in Stanleyville, park ambassadors will offer rare pins to trade at different locations around the park.

Also, for this weekend only, all guests who participate in an animal insider tour will receive 30% off their pin purchase at Serengeti Outpost to commemorate their experience.

Summer Nights:

Every night starting May 31 through August 11 The thrills go late and the fun lasts longer during Summer Nights at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Each night from May 31 through August 11, park guests can take on their favorite thrills in the dark, now including Tigris, Florida’s tallest launch coaster. Guests can dance the night away in themed party zones and enjoy a fireworks finale each Friday, Saturday and Sunday night all summer long.

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Jack Hanna Hosts Wild Weekend at SeaWorld

World-renowned animal expert “Jungle Jack” Hanna is back for another weekend of excitement and storytelling at SeaWorld Orlando on August 20 and 21. The internationally-known conservationist, author, television personality and lifelong adventurer will share animal facts and his travel tales during captivating and interactive presentations inside the Nautilus Theater.

In addition to shows included with park admission, SeaWorld will have several additional opportunities for guests to personally interact with Jack Hanna at the park including meet-and-greets, autograph signings, and exclusive dining packages.

• Meet Jack Hanna (Saturday, August 20) – Reserve space now to meet Jack Hanna and receive reserved seats to his show at SeaWorld Orlando. Prepare for Jack to entertain with animal facts, stories and answers to questions from you. Package includes a seat in the reserved section to the 1:00 p.m. show. Pricing begins at $39 per person and Pass Members receive a 10% discount.
• Dine With Shamu® Jack Hanna Dinner (Saturday, August 20) – Enjoy a delicious dinner and mingle with Jack Hanna at Dine with Shamu. The package includes dinner at Dine with Shamu, meet-and-greet with Jack Hanna and a seat in the reserved section at the 3:00 p.m. show. Dinner is at 5:30 p.m. Pricing begins at $59 per person and Pass Members receive a 10% discount.
• Dine With Shamu® Jack Hanna Brunch (Sunday, August 21) – Enjoy a delicious brunch with all of your breakfast favorites and mingle with Jack Hanna at Dine with Shamu. The package includes brunch at Dine with Shamu, meet-and-greet with Jack Hanna and special reserved seats to the 11:30 a.m. show. Brunch is at 10:00 a.m. Pricing begins at $49 per person and Pass Members receive a 10% discount.

Guests can enjoy a wild weekend at SeaWorld Orlando with Jack Hanna for just $69 with the purchase of a limited-time single-day admission at SeaWorldOrlando.com.

To learn more about all of SeaWorld’s ticket offers and events, visit www.SeaWorldOrlando.com. Events and times are subject to change.

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About Wild Days

Jan. 24-25: Penguin Lovers’ Weekend

SeaWorld’s Animal Ambassador Julie Scardina returns to host a cool weekend in every sense of the word. Penguin lovers can unite for a refreshingly fun learning experience centered on these feathered friends. Guests will have the chance to meet many amazing animals and hear their compelling stories. Julie will share her story about her lifelong love of animals and the parks’ commitment to wildlife conservation. From 3:30 – 5:30 p.m., guests can continue the celebration at Antarctica: Empire of The Penguin Block Party, featuring a DJ, character appearances and up-close encounters with penguins.

Jan. 31 – Feb. 1: Generation Nature LIVE with Bindi Irwin

Bindi Irwin will make an appearance to host Generation Nature LIVE, leading a high-energy, fun-filled show for families to enjoy, designed to inspire kids to become “Game Changers for Nature.” Families can play interactive games to uncover their “Nature IQ,” enjoy special appearances by some of SeaWorld’s favorite animal ambassadors, and learn how to make a difference for wildlife.

Exclusive Weekend Packages (Saturday, Jan. 31 Only):

• SeaWorld Orlando Wild Days Picnic features a delicious all-you-care-to-eat barbecue buffet, music, fun and entertainment, such as character appearances and animal interactions. Lunch begins at 12 p.m. $29.00.
• During the Bindi Irwin VIP Experience, enjoy a private dining area at the Wild Days Picnic, plus get the chance to meet Bindi Irwin. This includes a complimentary family photo and reserved seating at the 3 p.m. show.

Feb. 7 – 8: Jack Hanna Weekend

Join world-renowned animal expert Jack Hanna – also referred to as Jungle Jack – to meet some amazing animals and hear their compelling stories. Jack will also share stories about his travels and personal experiences.

Exclusive Weekend Packages:

• Wake up to a delicious Breakfast with Jack Hanna (available Saturday and Sunday) at Dine with Shamu®. Package includes breakfast at Dine With Shamu, meet-and-greet with Jack Hanna, a complimentary family photo and special reserved seats during the 11 a.m. show. $49.00.
• Enjoy a savory Dinner with Jack Hanna (only available Saturday) at Dine with Shamu®. Package includes dinner at Dine With Shamu, meet-and-greet with Jack Hanna, a complimentary family photo and special reserved seats during the 3 p.m. show. $59.00.

Wild Days takes place every Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 24 through Feb. 8, and is included with park admission, Annual Pass or Fun Card. All shows take place at Nautilus Theater at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.*

Mom Maven’s Thoughts

It has been over a year since we have been to SeaWorld and I’d especially love to do the meet and greet with Bindi Irwin. I have had the opportunity to meet both Jack Hanna and Julie Scardina at other events so Bindi is the one who most excites me.

Which weekend would you like to attend?

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The best way to experience Wild Days is with a 2014 SeaWorld Fun Card. During event days only, buy one Fun Card and get one FREE at the gate with any recyclable can or bottle from a Coca-Cola beverage product. Fun Card holders can enjoy unlimited access to all three weekends of Wild Days and all of the amazing special events throughout the entire year, plus the unforgettable animal encounters, world-class thrill rides and family travel fun found only at SeaWorld Orlando.

Wild Days Weekends

January 11-12: Jack Hanna Weekend
Join “Jungle Jack” for a wild weekend of furry and feathered fun. Recognized around the world for his boundless enthusiasm for animals and conservation, Jack Hanna helps us share in his wondrous connection to wildlife and the world we share.

January 18-19: Sea Rescue Weekend
Meet the leaders in the world of animal rescue and rehabilitation as they share incredible stories that have been featured on the national show, Sea Rescue. SeaWorld’s Animal Rescue team is on call 24/7, 365 days a year to help ill or injured animals, and for nearly 40 years the team has rescued more than 23,000 animals. Featured animal rescue stories will include: turtles, flamingos, manatees, pilot whales and dolphins.

January 25-26: Penguin Lovers’ Weekend with Julie Scardina
Penguin Lovers of the world unite! Don’t miss this refreshingly fun and educational weekend centered around penguins. Join SeaWorld Animal Ambassador Julie Scardina as she shares her lifelong love of animals and the parks’ commitment to wildlife conservation and as well as tell stories of her trips around the globe from continent to continent.

At Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, to celebrate the weekend, penguin lovers will have the special chance to virtually dance like a penguin, walk side by side with a penguin colony, and star in shareable Antarctica photo opportunities at the coolest “ice” block party.

And every day at SeaWorld Orlando, guests can get up close to penguins at Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, SeaWorld Orlando’s newest attraction that transports guests into the icy world of the penguin like never before. Experience the mysterious land through the penguins’ eyes on a first-of-its-kind family ride, and then, connect with a colony above and below the water and be inspired to make a difference.

All Wild Days shows are included with park admission with show times at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at SeaWorld’s Nautilus Theater. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Shows and times are subject to change without notice.

Wild Days Highlights:

New! Shamu Up Close
Celebrate the beauty and wonder of killer whales at the never-before-seen Shamu Up Close experience. It’s an intimate and moving look at the whales, SeaWorld’s trainers and the awe-inspiring bond between them. In this unparalleled experience, SeaWorld invites you behind the scenes into a fascinating world, with walkthrough killer whale viewing all day, complimented by even more enhanced encounters. Shamu Up Close is the living story of SeaWorld and our passionate commitment to the care of these extraordinary animals and their ocean world. This is your opportunity to be a part of SeaWorld like you never have before.

New! Trainer Talks
Learn from the SeaWorld Animal Training team what it takes to care for whales, sea lions, walruses and other animals that call SeaWorld home, and how caring for them has helped with the rescue and rehabilitation of other injured animals. Trainer Talks will take place at key locations in the park. Check park maps for times and locations.

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Animal Expert jack Hanna

I’m sorry the audio is so soft, please turn up your speakers.

Lastly, we headed into the medical suites which include treatment rooms, a clinical lab and an interactive diagnostic activity. The treatment center will allow guests to watch as Busch Gardens’ skilled vets do preventative checkups, treatments and surgeries on animals. Guests will be able to see into the rooms through glass walls, and audio capabilities will allow guests to talk to vets working behind the glass. Cameras placed over the exam table will show unique vantage points to guests who can watch on monitors. During treatments and surgeries, zoo educators will also be on hand to talk about what’s taking place. Since it is a working center, procedures will vary daily, and will not take place during all scheduled park hours due to field work, office work and other projects requiring the vets’ time and attention. Daily schedules will be subject to change.

Treating a flamingo suffering from chapped feet with a cold laser therapy.

The Animal Care Center opens to the public on January 23, 2011 and is included in the price of admission.

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