Next year’s lineup includes the following exciting, inspiring and family-friendly events, which are included in park admission:

NEW Three Kings Day: Daily, January 1-6
During the all-new Three Kings Day celebration, families are invited to help commemorate the arrival of the Three Wise Men. The new event brings SeaWorld’s holiday season to an incredible close with festive cuisine and celebratory experiences that honor the cherished traditions of Latin cultures.

Praise Wave: Saturdays, Jan 20 – Feb 10
With the return of Praise Wave, guests can celebrate Christian fellowship and fun at SeaWorld Orlando. Uplifting, live concerts from the hottest names in Christian music will light up the stage at Nautilus Theater.

Seven Seas Food Festival: Weekends, Feb 17 – April 15
After a delicious debut last year, the Seven Seas Food Festival is returning to SeaWorld this spring for a second course. As guests sip and sample their way through the park, they will discover globally-inspired flavors while enjoying local craft beers and culinary marketplaces. The fun goes beyond the food with live performances from top country, rock and Latin music artists each weekend.

NEW Just For Kids: Weekends, April 21 – May 13
Families will enjoy dancing to the beat and learning together along with everybody’s favorite furry, finned and flippered friends during these special weekends crafted with young guests in mind.

Electric Ocean: Select nights, May 26 – September 3
As the sun goes down, the park comes alive with the glow of Electric Ocean at SeaWorld, returning next year for another summer of fun. With exciting nighttime shows and electrifying music, guests are immersed in a sea of wonder that ends in “Ignite”, a spectacular fireworks finale.

SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular: September 29 – October 28
During Orlando’s premier daytime Halloween event, guests of all ages can join everyone’s favorite furry friends from Sesame Street as The Count, Elmo, Abby and others take the stage in “Sesame Street’s Countdown to Halloween.” Families will also enjoy a Halloween Dance Party, trick-or-treating around the park, and the opportunity to meet whimsical characters inspired by the sea.

SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration: Select Dates November 23 – December 31
At SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, guests experience the joys of the holiday season complete with Rudolph’s ChristmasTown and returning favorites sure to inspire traditions for years to come. During SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration guests of all ages can delight over scrumptious food, stunning live shows, joyful entertainment inspired by the natural world and much more.

Best Way to Play at SeaWorld Orlando:

With fun-filled events all year round, the best way for guests to experience seasonal opportunities at SeaWorld Orlando is with an Annual Pass. For a limited time, guests who purchase a full paid SeaWorld Annual Pass will get three months free.
For more information, park hours and to purchase tickets, visit SeaWorld.com/Orlando.

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About Halloween Spooktacular

Halloween meets the sea every weekend in October during SeaWorld Orlando’s Halloween Spooktacular. This family-friendly event immerses guests in an underwater “fantasea” with trick-or-treating, whimsical pumpkin fish, sea-themed arts and crafts, and up-close animal encounters.

SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular takes place from 12 p.m. to park close every weekend, October 1-30. Like all special events at SeaWorld, Halloween Spooktacular is included with park admission.

Spooktacular Highlights Include:

• Waves of Trick-or-Treat Fun – Costumed youngsters can trick-or-treat for ghoulish goodies. Each sea-themed, trick-or-treat station features an assortment of candy favorites including Tootsie Roll and SunRype Fruit To Go, just to name a few.
• Penelope’s Garden Party – This dynamic “underwater” environment comes to life each weekend with a live DJ, animal interactions, a variety of craft opportunities, bubbles floating overhead and whimsical sea-themed characters.
• Sesame Street’s Countdown to Halloween – Celebrate a Spooktacular Halloween at SeaWorld with The Count, Elmo, Abby, and the rest of everyone’s Sesame Street friends! The Count is feeling lonely this Halloween, and it’s up to you and the loveable monsters from Sesame Street to get him into the Halloween spirit. Batty bats and spooky skeletons join the fun in a song filled stage show that invites you and your family to dance, play and sing along.
• Spooktacular Dance Party – Children join Princess Penelope and her under-the-sea friends for a Spooktacular Dance Party where they can participate in line-dancing favorites as clouds of bubbles fill the evening air. The party will kick off at the Village Square in the front of the park every event night one hour before park closing.

Spectacular Spooky Add-Ons available at SeaWorldOrlando.com:

• Dine With Shamu Halloween Spooktacular Brunch – Guests can celebrate with an immersive and memorable brunch experience at Dine With Shamu. They will enjoy seasonal items and reserved tables that bring them up close to majestic killer whales. There also are some Halloween surprises including a family photo in a decorative frame and a free cookie decorating kit. Prices begin at $28 plus tax for adults and $16 plus tax for kids. Pass Members receive a 10% discount.
• Meet and Greet with Cookie Monster at SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular- Meet Cookie Monster from Sesame Street during SeaWorld Orlando’s Halloween Spooktacular. For just $19 per person, guests can meet the character at SeaFire Grill and enjoy his favorite treat: a cookie! Plus, every guest receives a printed photo of their meet-and-greet to take home. Pass Members receive a 10% discount.
• Reserved Seating: Sesame Street’s Countdown to Halloween– Enjoy a reserved seat at a showtime of your choice for Sesame Street’s Countdown to Halloween show at SeaWorld Orlando. Priced at $19 per person, guarantee a seat for a showtime of your choice.

Visit SeaWorldOrlando.com for tickets and add-on purchases.

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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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We entered the park at about 10:45am. Since the Halloween Spooktacular activities don’t start until noon and run until 8pm, we spent a few hours checking out other attractions before heading to the Spooktacular. M’s parents enjoyed their first ever ride on Manta, and loved it, while M and I explored in the Manta Aquarium. Then we headed over to check out the Sting Ray Lagoon, Dolphin Feeding Area and Underwater Viewing Area before heading to Turtle Trek.

Turtle Trek is the parks newest attraction, opening in the spring of 2012. It is a 360 degree 3D journey from the viewpoint of Nya the Green Sea Turtle. In my opinion, Turtle Trek is the best 3D attraction in Central Florida.

After Turtle Trek we headed over to lunch at the Spice Mill and then we headed to Shark Encounter. Shark Encounter was VERY crowded, literally wall-to-wall people throughout the entire attraction. It took us about 20 minutes to go from the exit of the first aquarium tube to the entrance of the shark tube. Part of the problem seemed to be that the “moving sidewalk” in the shark tube wasn’t functioning so guests were stopping and standing instead of continually moving through the tube.

We headed back to the Halloween Spooktacular area which starts as you enter the kiddie rides behind Shamu Stadium and winds through Bayside Stadium and all the way around the Bayside Pathway. We got our treat bags and started collecting candy. There are 15 candy stops along the trail, all listed on the Halloween Spooktacular map. M stopped for a ride on the Sea Carousel, a climb in Shamu’s Happy Harbor and a ride on Jazzy Jellies before heading out for more candy.

We had hoped to visit the Beluga Whales and Polar Bear at Wild Arctic but the line was very long so we skipped that attraction and headed to Penelope’s Party Zone at Bayside Stadium. In the party zone kids could dance to the tunes being spun by a DJ, listen to stories, color pictures, have their picture taken with a pumpkin fish and decorate a caramel apple or rice crispy treat. There is a $5.00 fee for the caramel apple and rice crispy treat activity.

Penelope’s Party Zone

M chose to decorate a caramel apple. After spending about 10 minutes perfecting his creation we told him he could eat it and he responded, “I don’t like caramel apples.” So, his mom and I each took a few bites of the ooey, gooey creation. Once we cleaned up our mess we continued on down the path to collect more candy and find some more characters.

By this time we were all hot and M was getting grumpy so we headed over so they could all ride Journey to Atlantis, and get cooled off. Then we saw the Countdown to Halloween show with Elmo, the Count, Telly Monster, Abby Cadabby and Zoe from Sesame Street! We stopped at the Sea Lion and Otter Stadium to see Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island and we closed out the night  with Shamu Rocks!

We had a lot of fun at Halloween Spooktacular 2012 and we think you will too. Please keep in mind a few things when you plan your trip:

• Halloween Spooktacular takes place October 6-7th, 13-14th, 19-21st, and 26-28th from noon til 8pm.
• It is included in the regular price of admission.
• Kids can wear their costumes but I suggest bringing a change of clothes. Most costumes are hot and don’t breathe well. We saw lots of cranky over-heated kids who would have been much happier in shorts and a t-shirt, this is Florida after all. We also saw several ripped princess dresses because little girls were trying to climb up the ropes and through the tubes at Shamu’s Happy Harbor. Plan ahead and you and your children will have a lot more fun.
• You receive a large bag to collect your candy in but you get very little candy. We visited all 15 candy stops and received 14 pieces of candy and 3 boxes of raisins. Our loot didn’t even cover the bottom of our bag! I’m not sure why the bags are so big when they give out so little candy.

Disclosure: We were guests of SeaWorld for the day so that we could provide you with this review. All opinions are 100% mine.

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Spooktacular Highlights Include:

• Penelope’s Party Zone-Join the Halloween party of the season that immerses children in the wonders of the sea through kid-friendly music, games, and playful characters. Located at SeaWorld’s Bayside area, this dynamic underwater environment comes to life when guests dance and play along to the spooky sound waves broadcast by a live DJ. With countless bubbles floating overhead and colorful pumpkin fish gliding beside you, this Halloween party is sure to provide non-stop fun for all ages.
• Trick-or-Treating Under the Sea-Offering more than one million pieces of trick-or-treat sweets, costumed youngsters can search for hidden “sea” treasures using their Spooktacular maps at fifteen different locations. Each station features an assortment of ghoulish goodies and candies.
• Sweet Treat Decorating-Kids and parents alike can have a “splash” creating their own sweet treats at this interactive station located inside of Penelope’s Party Zone. Tasty apples dipped in decadent caramel and chocolate-covered rice crispy treats are available to decorate to your sweet tooth’s desire with a variety of tasty toppings.
• Strolling Entertainment-Stroll among colorful, playful schools of pumpkin fish welcoming trick-or-treaters throughout the park and get the chance to meet other whimsical characters like Penelope Pumpkin fish, Shamu, Dolly Dolphin, Shivers the Polar Bear, Pete and Penny Penguin, a mermaid, and a walking-talking spider-crab! Photo opportunities with these “spook-tastic” characters create lasting memories.

More SeaWorld Halloween Fun:

SeaWorld’s Holiday Family Sleepovers (6 p.m. – 9 a.m. on Oct. 19, 20, 26 and 27) Families can snuggle into a spooky slumber surrounded by exotic fish, rays, and sea dragons inside the floor-to-ceiling aquariums at Manta. Cost is $78 per person or $103 (includes next-day park admission). A pizza dinner and breakfast are included. Program is for children in grades K-5 and their families. Reservations can be made by calling: 1-800-406-2244. For more info, visit seaworldorlando.com.

We attended SeaWorld’s Halloween Sppoktacular in 2010. You can read my trip report and review by clicking the link. Have you been to SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular? Do you plan on going this year? Leave me a comment and let me know.

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They’ll get an incredible glimpse into the interactions that occur between SeaWorld’s trainers and whales. They’ll find out what makes killer whales such unique animals. And, everyone will learn about the many things we all can do to help save valuable ocean resources and habitats by enjoying sustainable and natural foods.

It’s a behind-the-scenes experience that will connect guests to the world we share like never before and it’s only at SeaWorld Orlando.

SeaWorld’s commitment to the world we share extends into the food we serve. All items served at Dine With Shamu are seasonable, fresh and sustainable. The summer menu includes:

All-natural, grain-fed Black Angus strip loin
100% natural cinnamon-cured roasted pork loin
Rosemary-glazed free range grilled chicken
Filet of cod (certified sustainable)
Seasonal sides including lemon butter herb-roasted red potatoes, summer vegetable lo mein, cucumber salad, mixed green salad, summer fruit salad, and coconut Caribbean rice
Baked goods made fresh at SeaWorld
Signature desserts
Special kids’ buffet
Dine With Shamu is $49 for adults and $24 for children (ages 3 through 9) and is not included with park admission. Prices do not include tax.

Advance reservations can be made at SeaWorldOrlando.com (starting July 14) or day-of inside the park at the reservations center.

This is one dinner I’d love to get to try, how about you??

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“This is a significant change for our company, one we hope will provide a model for our industry overall,” said Jim Atchison, President and Chief Executive Officer of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. “Eliminating plastic bags is an important statement about our commitment to the environment, as well as the need to help protect marine animals from debris. It also allows our guests to play a direct part in making a difference on our planet.”

This move will keep an estimated 4 million plastic bags from entering landfills and the environment each year. Approximately 1.4 billion tons of trash, including plastic bags, enters the ocean annually. Wildlife such as endangered sea turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, one of their favorite foods.

The company began exploring the concept at SeaWorld San Diego in 2011, when the park discontinued the use of plastic gift bags to mark the opening of its new Turtle Reef attraction. SeaWorld Orlando is eliminating the bags this month in conjunction with the opening of its new attraction, TurtleTrek.

Opening April 27, TurtleTrek combines naturalistic habitats (sea turtles and manatees) with the world’s first 3-D, 360-degree dome theater film. The film immerses guests in a sea turtle’s extraordinary journey.
Another Refreshing…and Renewable Change: Also adding to the ways park guests can consume responsibly, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment and The Coca-Cola Company introduced paper cups for guests made with 85 percent renewable resources as part of a new 10-year partnership. Guests use more than 13 million paper cups each year throughout the 10 parks.

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Bands, Brew & BBQ is included with park admission. And the best way to experience this festival is with a Fun Card where you pay for a day’s admission and come back all year –with no blackout dates – to experience all of SeaWorld’s remarkable events.

This year’s awesome line-up features top artists in classic rock and country music including a side stage showcasing local bands. For those who want to show off their line dancing and boot scootin’ skills, a DJ will be spinning music to satisfy movers and shakers of all levels.

Concert times are at 4 p.m. and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Saturday, February 11: Foreigner
• Sunday, February 12: Gary Allan
• Saturday, February 18: Trace Adkins
• Sunday, February 19: Kenny Rogers
• Saturday, February 25: Doobie Brothers
• Sunday, February 26: Ronnie Dunn
• Saturday, March 3: Sara Evans
• Sunday, March 4: Scotty McCreery

This year beer lovers will rejoice with our “brew”-licious Beer Sampler. Hoist your mugs in our thirst-quenching beer garden that showcases nearly 50 craft beers from domestic and international breweries.

A haze of sweet-smelling BBQ smoke will fill the air as SeaWorld’s culinary team serves up a cornucopia of all things BBQ including the authentic Homemade Beef Jerky and bodacious Famous BBQ Spare Rib Platter. In addition, favorite local restaurants will be on hand serving BBQ foods tendered to perfection.

For those who want to feel like a rock star there are VIP ($45) and Elite VIP ($65) ticket packages available. Guests who take advantage will enjoy the best seats in the house, mouth-watering food and a unique experience that they’ll never forget as they get up-close and personal with some of today’s hottest classic rock and country music performers.

Regular, single-day SeaWorld admission is $81.99 for adults and $73.99 for children ages 3-9. The Fun Card is valid from the date of purchase and good throughout all of 2012 with no blackout dates.

Fun Cards are available at the front gate, online at SeaWorldOrlando.com or by calling 1-888-800-5447. Event dates, times and artists are subject to change. Performances are included with any daily admission or annual pass. Concert seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Concert dates and artists are subject to change.

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• January 14 Lazy Town
• January 21 Max & Ruby
• January 28 The Doodlebops
• February 4 Choo Choo Soul

Now remember, my kids are 16 and 18 so while I have heard of Max & Ruby and The Doodlebops, both Lazy Town and Choo Choo Soul are totally foreign to me.

Saturday my husband and I headed to SeaWorld with my 5 1/2 year old friend, M whom I happened to be babysitting for the day. M has never been to SeaWorld and was very excited to go with Mrs cindy and Mr Ron.

We arrived at the park around 10am, grabbed a map and planned our day around what M had told us he wanted to see and the fact that we had tickets to the 2pm Lazy Town show. Note: Seating for the 2 daily concerts is limited. The concerts are included in park admission but you must go to the table across from the Nautilus Theater to pick up your tickets early in the day to insure that you can get in to the concert. the concerts take place at 11am and 2pm.

We spent the morning wandering the park, visiting the Key West area and looking at the Sting Rays and Dolphins, though M wouldn’t go near the touch tanks or even let me pick him up so he could see better. We attended the Clyde & Seamore Take Pirate Island show and then headed to the Shark Encounter. M was mesmerized by being in the shark tube and he probably could have stayed there all day.

Around the park there were educational Ocean Adventure Stations that you could visit and get stamps to earn a special prize. Unfortunately, these stations were small and very crowded-the one we did get close to in Wild Arctic, had adults doing the activities while kids waited in line! we skipped the stations as well as the Wild Creation Station.

On our way to lunch we stopped at Shamu’s Party Zone for a quick dance and then over to the photo op with a polar bear (man in a costume not a real polar bear). M wanted to wave at the polar bear but he did not want to have his picture taken with it so we moved on. We chose lunch at the Spice Mill because M is fond of chicken nuggets. I have never eaten at this particular restaurant before and hubby and I chose to share a steak burger because the signs throughout the restaurant led you to believe they were something special…they were not. I was glad we had decided to share a meal because I couldn’t have choked down and entire burger and I hate wasting money on over-priced theme park food. The burger was cold and chewy and not at all appetizing. I will go back and eat at Voyagers Smokehouse on my next visit, their food is delicious.

Our next stop was a ride on the Sea Carousel before we headed to the Nautilus Theater for the Lazy Town show. We had VIP seats in the 4th row with a good view of the stage. the pre-show entertainment was the Chinese hula hoop group that performed last summer before the fireworks at Summer Nights. They are very talented and M was in awe of all the tricks they performed. M was excited when the Lazy Town show began because he has seem them on television. Unfortunately, audio issues popped up at every turn. A wireless mic didn’t work, the live volume versus the music volume when the performers were lip synching was a very noticeable contrast as was the quality between the two. No matter how many times the performers coaxed the kids to stand up and get moving M refused to get involved, which surprised me because he had literally been dancing to the music throughout the park all day. When the Lazy Town show was over I asked M if he enjoyed it and he said, “It was ok, can I go climb now?”

We headed back to Shamu’s Happy Harbor where M and Mr Ron climbed all the way to the top! poor Mr Ron came face-to-face with the fact that he isn’t as young as he used to be! He was totally spent by the time they emerged from the huge climbing structure. M and I headed over to ride the Jazzy Jellies before heading out of the park. It was about 4:30 and the sun was going down and the temperatures were dropping quickly (it was in the 40s).

All-in-all we had a good day. If you have preschoolers they can get in FREE with the FREE Preschool Pass which makes a day like this even more enjoyable. The rest of the family can get a SeaWorld Fun Card and pay for a day and play all year.

Disclosure: We received park admission, free parking and VIP seats for the Lazy Town concert so that we could give you this first-hand report. All opinions are 100% mine.

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After the charter plane carrying rehabilitated manatee, Holly arrived at Orlando International Airport, the ground crew quickly prepared her for transport to SeaWorld Orlando where she’ll await her release slated for early 2011.

The package picked up by SeaWorld’s animal care experts at Orlando International Airport on Tuesday, November 2, was indeed precious cargo.  It was Holly, a rehabilitated manatee, who was rescued in 1995, and has been rehabilitating at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium for the past five years.

Holly was rescued 15 years ago after she was found trapped at the Port St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant on Hutchinson Island.  When she arrived at SeaWorld she received hands-on, critical care for cold stress at SeaWorld’s Manatee Rehabilitation Facility.  After six months, she was moved to Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park and then later transferred to Columbus Zoo and Aquarium to complete her rehab.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) is the Federal agency that creates plans for each manatee that is rescued and cared for in Florida and the surrounding states.  In order to create space at SeaWorld Orlando for more critically injured manatees, USFWS moved Holly to a long-term rehabilitation facility.

SeaWorld Animal Care Assistant Curator Randy Runnells watches rehabilitated manatee Holly swim at the Manatee Rescue attraction at SeaWorld the day after she arrived back at the park. Holly was rescued 15 years ago and brought back to SeaWorld while she waits for her release slated for early 2011.

Holly is set to be returned to the wild in early 2011.
“Caring for Holly 15 years ago was extremely rewarding,” said Randy Runnells, SeaWorld Animal Care Assistant Curator.  “It’s great to know the initial care we provided has helped her reach this point in her life. We’re looking forward to returning her back to the wild next year.”

SeaWorld’s animal rescue team is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to save injured, abandoned and orphaned animals, including manatees, dolphins, whales, birds and turtles. To date this year, the park has rescued 24 and released 16 manatees.

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