Photo TR: Roller Coaster Day at SeaWorld Orlando

This is late by half a year... but I guess I could post a little something from my solo trip to SeaWorld Orlando. Making this Photo TR was sorts sparked by Robb's Orlando pt-1 update. Lots of words below if you like reading. The biggest chunk of text are my thoughts on the Antarctica attraction.

So, back in August 14th, I went down to Florida to help my brother find a place for him while he did an internship with NASA. Two days of that passed and on the night of the 15th, the night before we were to wake up and fly back home, I brought up an idea on visiting one of the Orlando parks before we flew back. We talked it out, until we reached the decision on me hitting a park the next day, and catching a flight back home later in the day.

So, on August 16th, I went to SeaWorld Orlando. Ironically, that day just so happened to also be National Roller Coaster Day! (Or at least it was on Twitter...)

Crowds that day were not bad, it seemed. Immediately when I got into the park, I knocked out Manta with a 45 minute wait, then Journey to Atlantis with a near walk-on thanks to the empty single-riders line (regular line was 35 minutes I think), and I even rode Kraken twice in a row thanks to the super short wait! All rides ran wonderfully!

Up next was the new Penguin Encounter attraction with a 1 hour wait. Luckily the threat of rain not only kept me cool enough from the Florida humidity while waiting, but some people got out of the line. I applaud SeaWorld in welcoming what seemed to be a people-eater, thanks to the amount of people they were able to pull into the first pre-show room. The light effects in the queue halls were very pretty as well! It did feel a little weird when I was paired-up with a random family to share the smaller second pre-show room with, and the ride-portion itself wasn't anything spectacular outside of it being trackless technology. The icing on the cake, though, was what awaited you at the end of the ride, which were the actual penguins! You get to come so close to them, one could literally almost touch them (of course, not allowed). Other than some people and kids trying to keep warm in the room, I thought it was definitely the highlight of the whole attraction! I do wish there would be an easier way in being able to get straight to the penguin encounter, but I'm guessing the ride portion regulates an appropriate amount of people at a time so it wouldn't be overcrowded.

Overall, I'd heavily recommend doing the Penguin Encounter attraction at least once, especially if you were with a group that involved kids or you've never previously been on it.

Summing up what I did after that: I rode Kraken one more time with the queue wait having spiked up to 30 minutes, I ate a sandwich, I walked through Shark Encounter, then went to Shamu Express to get my first credit whoring credit (ever) while a good portion of people in the park went to see Shamu perform, then I tried Wild Arctic for the first time with a near walk-on wait.

Speaking of Wild Arctic, it is a frighteningly outdated attraction! Maybe it was the looping Nat-Geo footage that looked like it dated back from the 90's, maybe it was the animation quality, or maybe I'm just spoiled by the stuff offered in other local parks. The motion simulator itself, being my first time on it, did admittedly kick my butt. That thing had some serious power to it when it came to the harsh parts of the ride.

I later made my way out of the park and took a taxi to the airport since it was close enough to when I had to leave Orlando. Overall very nice day at the park with perfect weather while I was there! By the time I made it to my gate, it had started pouring down rain, so I was glad at how lucky I was.

Coaster Count:

Manta: 1

Journey to Atlantis: 1

Kraken: 3

Shamu Express: 1

And now, some photos. (Also, 999th post! Woo!)

Hello Manta!

I especially loved the amount of theming and foliage that was put around the ride and into the queue.

Also, Manta has my favorite roller coaster queue. The whole aquarium aspect makes the 45 minute wait worth it!

The views from the actual coaster itself wasn't anything special. Still, a very fun coaster.

Virtually no wait on Journey going through the single rider's line.

More quality coasters, except it was a walk-on twice in a row!

And now, something different.

The transition into the new area was done quite nicely, imo. Although it almost looks as though I should expect more from so much theming put into it all.

Upon entry, please make sure to bow down to king penguin almighty.

... you'll have to get in line first.

Seeing as I wasn't sure when the line might die down, and I wasn't sure when I might return to SeaWorld to try this, I waited in line for it anyways.

Like I said, I applaud SeaWorld on getting a people-eater.

My opinion on this ride is nearly on-par with my opinion on Manta. The queue was done wonderfully!

The ride portion wasn't anything to write home about.

What came after the ride was definitely the highlight of the whole attraction, though!

Up close to PENGUINS!

Sassy flightless bird

"What'chu lookin' at?!"

Back to Kraken for a slightly longer wait than the last two times.

Backseat still fun

Skloosh

Ate a very crumbly sub, then saw some sharks.

Corals

Sharkies!

"The moving walkway is now ending. Please look down."

Next, I did the impossible... I got my first official credit whore credit.

Painless due to the majority of the park having gone into Shamu Stadium to watch a show, leaving a walk-on for Shamu Express.

Speaking of walk-on's...

Shamu show still going on!

You can read my opinion of the ride above in the huge block of words. Packs a stronger punch than I expected, but is still super outdated; in my opinion.

Not much happening here. It was great to see this area though, because of how I got to spend the night in this building back in 2010 thanks to Busch Garden's Adventure Camp.

Went outside and saw some performers.

Percussionists on stilts!

The basics of a drumline!

And two pogo dudes.

Since the Shamu show ended, people began flocking to Wild Arctic. Good thing I got on it!

I got some Dippin Dots and started heading to the front of the park to catch a flight and head home.

Overall, a pretty good visit to Sea World! Great rides!

Nice pics. Your assessment of Antarctica is pretty much spot on.

I wonder if they'll modify Antarctica's ride portion any more...seeing as everyone thinks its a letdown.

It'd sure help. They probably can't get Disney quality, so maybe stronger special lighting effects in the "dance" rooms would help, like stronger strobes.

I really like the feel of this park; well-themed and beautifully landscaped, particularly around Manta. I might actually miss the park more than the individual coasters (exact and extreme opposite of how I feel about the underwhelming Texas park). Too bad the penguin ride is seen as such a misstep, though I'm sure it's worth riding once.

I wonder if they'll modify Antarctica's ride portion any more...seeing as everyone thinks its a letdown.

I don't see that happening at all. SeaWorld is pretty happy with the intensity and aspects of the ride since it appeals to families. As always though, SeaWorld could surprise me.

Did you use a special lens for these photos or is it just the camera you used? Just curious

I switched between 3 compact lenses for these photos. One for standard photos, one for telephoto zoom, and a wide angle fisheye lens.

I switched between 3 compact lenses for these photos. One for standard photos, one for telephoto zoom, and a wide angle fisheye lens.

Ahh, I couldn't remember the name fisheye. I always like the effect that lens gives. Cool photos by the way.