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SeaWorld San Diego (SWSD) Discussion Thread

p. 61: Jewels of the Sea Jellyfish Experience coming in 2024!

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http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/10/seaworld-to-get-a-whole-new-beach-themed-entry/?page=1#article

 

Fresh from its debut this summer of a new roller coaster, SeaWorld San Diego is now preparing to overhaul the park entrance, transforming it into a themed "undersea" experience.

 

Buoyed by sharp increases in attendance, the marine park plans to spend tens of millions of dollars on the renovation, which won't be ready until March 2014.

 

Dubbed Explorer's Reef, the project will encompass more than 3 acres and include four kid-friendly touch pools that will allow visitors to interact with a variety of sea creatures.

 

"The current entry area where you purchase your tickets and go though the turnstiles was built in 1985, and in the same way we’re constantly refreshing and reinventing the park experience, that’s the approach we’re taking here," said San Diego park president John Reilly.

 

"The idea is to transform the arrival experience into something our guests have never seen before. You'll have iconic signage, a translucent wave that makes you feel as though you’ve arrived at the beach and are moving into the sea under a wave."

 

The undertaking is also in keeping with a new trend emerging in theme park entryways as increasing numbers of people buy their tickets online rather than spend time waiting in lines, said theme park consultant Dennis Speigel.

 

He cited as an example Cedar Point in Ohio, which will debut next year its winged roller coaster, GateKeeper, that will fly directly over the park's main gate.

 

"After being in business 30, 40 years, the front gates need a refurbishing, so what they’re doing is softening their entries," said Spiegel, president of Cincinnati-based International Theme Park Services. "Disney is talking about doing this also, to make the entry the first impression by bringing the entertainment right to the front door."

 

SeaWorld officials won't reveal how much Explorer's Reef will cost but said it's on a par with the investment made in the Manta roller coaster. Spiegel estimates the cost in the $20 million range.

 

Construction is expected to start in December on the new attraction, which will not only include dining and retail outlets, but also four 24,000-gallon touch pools filled with thousands of fish, including 400 brown-banded and white-spotted bamboo sharks.

 

The design of the entry will break convention with the typical ticket-booth style of theme parks, including SeaWorld's, Reilly explained. He likened the design and feel to a hotel front desk where attendants will be able to help visitors with all their park plans.

 

"We will not only be providing admission products, but you’ll also be able to make reservations for dolphin interaction programs, Dine with Shamu and other scheduled events," he said. "Those employees will be able to provide any service right there."

 

Before construction of Explorer’s Reef begins, SeaWorld will construct a temporary gate to the right of the current main entrance to the park. Parking will be unaffected.

 

SeaWorld's investment in the park comes at a time when attendance has finally been on an upward trend following two years of sharp declines. In 2011, the number of visitors rose 14 percent, and SeaWorld is expecting continued growth, spurred in part by the new Manta coaster.

 

The park has yet to make any announcement about new additions for 2013, but Reilly said it will be a new show, although he was unable reveal anything more.

 

Explorer's Reef

  • Encompasses more than 3 acres at the front of the park.
  • Beach-themed, concierge-style ticketing area replaces existing ticket booths.
  • Guests enter the park under a wave sculpture, conveying the impression being under water.
  • Retail shops set in an open-air marketplace in which visitors walk underneath giant coral formations.
  • Saltwater and freshwater, 24,000-gallon touch pools that will feature 400 brown-banded and white-spotted bamboo sharks, plus more than 4,000 smaller, delicate fish that will nibble at people's hands when touched.

 

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Once completed in early 2014, the new entry to SeaWorld will give visitors the sensation of being under a wave.

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Explorer's Reef will feature four 24,000-gallon touch pools that will be shallow enough for children to be able to touch the fish.

Edited by jedimaster1227
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An increase of 14% is really awesome for the park.

 

I'm really glad to hear they're upgrading the entrance. After seeing how nice Orlando's entrance is, I'm looking forward to seeing how this turns out. After this, the Penguin Encounter I think is really one of the few things that feels a bit outdated/aging.

 

The park really has been doing great over the past few years...now...all we need to do is wait for them to announce the replacement for Cirque Del a Mer.

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^ I'm hoping the penguin attraction going into Florida finds its way over the left coast sometime soon as well. SeaWorld has always done a fantastic job. And especially after the success of Manta, I'm glad to see SWSD continuing in that direction.

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It's nice to see my home park finally getting some love these past few years. This looks like it can be really good. As for the next ride, I'd bet a lot on a copy of the penguin ride going in Orlando. Probably won't see it til 2017 or 2018 though.

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SeaWorld San Diego has sent us a press release regarding SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment's launch of allergy-friendly dining initiatives across the company's ten parks.

 

As many as 15 million Americans suffer from a food allergy. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment has introduced this fall a new line of allergy-friendly dining initiatives for guests at its 10 parks including SeaWorld (including SeaWorld San Diego), Busch Gardens and Sesame Place. These initiatives range from personalized service to new menu options.

 

“We serve millions of guests each year and are committed to provide each a great experience. For families with allergen concerns, we understand how challenging it can be to safely dine out, especially while on vacation,” said Jim Atchison, President and Chief Executive Officer of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. “Our new initiatives ‘serve up’ a family experience that everyone can enjoy.”

 

“We have a wide variety of excellent food choices that we hope satisfies visitors to the park,” said Tim Fessler, vice president of culinary operations at SeaWorld San Diego. “By working closely with our guests with food allergies, we are committed to making sure that theirs is also a wonderful dining experience.”

 

The company partnered with the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN™) to educate and train more than 6,000 culinary employees to assist guests with allergen needs. With more than 22,000 members worldwide, FAAN is a trusted source of information, programs, and resources related to food allergy and anaphylaxis.

 

The new initiatives include:

 

  • Increased personal attention to ensure the safety of each meal. Park restaurant managers and supervisors will work one-on-one with guests and oversee the preparation of each allergen-friendly meal from start to finish. “Chef Cards,” filled out in advance by guests to outline the foods to avoid, are handed to a chef before the preparation of the meal.
  • All park restaurants are equipped and trained to take care of guests with allergen needs.
  • More menu options, ranging from gluten-free pizza to an allergen-friendly Shamu-shaped chocolate bar, enhance the experience for dining guests. For those on the go, the parks also provide prepackaged snacks such as cookies from companies that specialize in allergen-friendly foods including Divvies and Gluten Free to Go.
  • To help guests plan, detailed information on allergen-friendly services and helpful safety tips can be found online at each park’s website. For SeaWorld San Diego, visit here. Guests can also download the Chef Cards and fill it out prior to their visit. At the parks, in-park educational handouts are available.

“We commend SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment for implementing a comprehensive food allergy training program, which we were pleased to help carry out,” said John Lehr, FAAN’s Chief Executive Officer. “Families often exhaustively research vacation options that will keep their loved ones with food allergies safe. SeaWorld has taken extra steps to educate its employees about the risks that families managing food allergies face on a daily basis.”

 

For more information on the parks’ allergen-free efforts visit http://www.seaworld.com, http://www.buschgardens.com and http://www.sesameplace.com. For additional resources about food allergies from FAAN, visit http://www.foodallergy.org.

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  • 3 weeks later...

I stopped by the park for a quick visit today and though there is no entrance plaza construction yet I did notice that the raft ride, Shipwreck Rapids, was down and drained with contraction walls up around the queue, station, and basically the first half of the ride.

 

I was wondering if this just for refurbishment or is the ride going to get a small makeover?

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  • 1 month later...

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/blog/2012/12/seaworld-san-antonio-and-aquatica-name.html

 

Sharon Aguillen has been named vice president of entertainment for the SeaWorld and Aquatica parks in San Antonio.

 

Aguillen has been with SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment since 1996. She began as a theater services technician at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia and was later promoted to stage manager, production assistant, production supervisor and finally production manager.

 

In 2007, Aguillen transferred to San Antonio to serve as director of show production for the Alamo City marine life theme park. She has since been instrumental in developing a variety of entertainment products for the San Antonio park including “Sesame Street Bay of Play,” as well as new shows such as “Azul,” “One Ocean” and “Cool Vibrations.”

 

In 2011, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment began expanding its popular brands into media and entertainment platforms to connect people to nature and animals through movies, television, and digital media; plus began developing new lines of licensed consumer products.

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  • 1 month later...

Did a quick run through the park the other day and snapped a few pictures to share of the happenings around the park, mainly of the construction beginning for the new themed entrance. On a side note there's rumors going around that when JTA opens from its rehab, it will be an altered ride experience. If I had to guess, I'd say they're improving the story-line of the ride,which is damn near incomprehensible. Anyone know more???

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These are the walls up in front of the park for the temporary entrance they're building

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This is where the new entrance will have the guests enter once done. It's between the Hospitality center and the current entrance

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Up above gives you a nice overview of whats going on

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not sure if this is construction for the new entrance or just landscape work

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In other news it looks as though they're adding a little river in Manta's queue

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And final pic of Manta starting to grow up a little

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I enjoyed JTA, but I honestly remember nothing of the themed parts. The one in Orlando is much better. For some reason I thought they were identical down to the theming. Am I wrong, or was it just poorly maintained on the SD one?

I went last Summer and rode it. Yeah, it did look like it need some maintanince/refreshing. It really needs it in the elevator scene. Man, those screen look dated.

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I enjoyed JTA, but I honestly remember nothing of the themed parts. The one in Orlando is much better. For some reason I thought they were identical down to the theming. Am I wrong, or was it just poorly maintained on the SD one?

I went last Summer and rode it. Yeah, it did look like it need some maintanince/refreshing. It really needs it in the elevator scene. Man, those screen look dated.

 

Indeed, it was really bad right before it went down for rehab in January.

 

Journey to Atlantis officially re-opened today, did anyone go today, and if so, were there any major changes to the multimedia?

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  • 2 weeks later...

Cirque has been spared, and Elmo is gone! Wmahahahahaahahaha!

 

http://www.seaworldparksblog.com/seaworld-parks-entertainment-launches-madagascar-live-operation-vacation-seaworld-san-diego-and-busc

 

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment today announced it will premiere “Madagascar Live! Operation: Vacation,” an original live musical show featuring the characters from DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: DWA) beloved Madagascar franchise, at two of the company’s parks this summer.

Celebrating the box office success of Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, which has grossed more than $740 million at the worldwide box office, Alex the Lion and friends will party while on vacation with guests at Busch Gardens� and SeaWorld� throughout 2013.

 

The 20-minute musical show follows the antics of Alex the Lion, Gloria the Hippo, King Julien, Mort and the Penguins during a vacation adventure. The show will feature rock/pop music performed by a live band and include both classic and original songs. The characters also will conduct meet and greets with park guests. Additionally, special co-branded merchandise exclusive to the parks, will be available.

These two locations will be the only theme parks in the U.S. where fans can see the characters of Madagascar live. The new show “Madagascar Live! Operation: Vacation” premieres in the following locations:

• Busch Gardens Tampa May 18, 2013.

• SeaWorld San Diego June 15, 2013.

The company also has the opportunity to expand the show to other parks in the SeaWorld family in the future.

“Audiences around the world have embraced the characters of Madagascar, and SeaWorld and Busch Gardens parks are the ideal places for families to enjoy this immersive live entertainment experience,” said DreamWorks Animation’s Head of Worldwide Licensing & Consumer Products, Kerry Phelan. “The entire creative team behind this uniquely original version of “Madagascar Live!” has done an impressive job of translating the beloved world from screen to stage, bringing it to life for young park guests and family audiences alike.”

“Our parks both entertain and inspire guests to care about animals,” said Scott Helmstedter, Chief Creative Officer of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. “Likewise, the Madagascar movies also inspire animal lovers, but in a different way with their inimitable charm and humor. We welcome these characters to our family with open arms and look forward to working with DreamWorks Animation on this incredibly funny and engaging new show.”

Madagascar is one of the most successful CG animated movie franchises of all time, grossing more than $1.8 billion at the worldwide box office. In 2012 “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted,” grossed over $740 million at the global box office, becoming the highest grossing film of the series.

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SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment has sent us a press release about the debut of Madagascar Live! Operation: Vacation at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

 

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment today announced it will premiere “Madagascar Live! Operation: Vacation,” an original live musical show featuring the characters from DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: DWA) beloved Madagascar franchise, at two of the company’s parks this summer.

 

Celebrating the box office success of Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, which has grossed more than $740 million at the worldwide box office, Alex the Lion and friends will party while on vacation with guests at Busch Gardens Tampa® and SeaWorld® throughout 2013.

 

The 20-minute musical show follows the antics of Alex the Lion, Gloria the Hippo, King Julien, Mort and the Penguins during a vacation adventure. The show will feature rock/pop music performed by a live band and include both classic and original songs. The characters also will conduct meet and greets with park guests. Additionally, special co-branded merchandise exclusive to the parks, will be available.

 

These two locations will be the only theme parks in the U.S. where fans can see the characters of Madagascar live. The new show “Madagascar Live! Operation: Vacation” premieres in the following locations:

 

Busch Gardens Tampa® May 18, 2013.

SeaWorld San Diego June 15, 2013.

 

The company also has the opportunity to expand the show to other parks in the SeaWorld family in the future.

 

“Audiences around the world have embraced the characters of Madagascar, and SeaWorld and Busch Gardens parks are the ideal places for families to enjoy this immersive live entertainment experience,” said DreamWorks Animation’s Head of Worldwide Licensing & Consumer Products, Kerry Phelan. “The entire creative team behind this uniquely original version of “Madagascar Live!” has done an impressive job of translating the beloved world from screen to stage, bringing it to life for young park guests and family audiences alike.”

 

“Our parks both entertain and inspire guests to care about animals,” said Scott Helmstedter, Chief Creative Officer of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. “Likewise, the Madagascar movies also inspire animal lovers, but in a different way with their inimitable charm and humor. We welcome these characters to our family with open arms and look forward to working with DreamWorks Animation on this incredibly funny and engaging new show.”

 

Madagascar is one of the most successful CG animated movie franchises of all time, grossing more than $1.8 billion at the worldwide box office. In 2012 “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted,” grossed over $740 million at the global box office, becoming the highest grossing film of the series.

1679150818_MadagascarLive!OperationVacationFulllogowithcharacters.thumb.JPG.bda01c2c2b3c2658cf036fd0e80c4ecb.JPG

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