My first ever trip abroad was to the sunshine state, Florida. It was my first ever experience of flying and when I got there, my first experience of visiting a world famous theme park, Sea WorldOrlando.
Sea World is not like what a lot of people think... a few killer whales and an aquarium, it is actually nothing near that bad ! Sea World is a great day out for both people individually or in a group. My experience of Sea World was great, the attractions were excellent, the staff were friendly, it was hot and it was only days till Christmas... AND I was in FLORIDA!
So getting onto the subject of the park itself, here’s my experience of my day at Sea World Orlando.
After waking up to the glorious sunshine, I was at Sea World Orlando! At arriving we obviously had to park the car. Unlike MGM Studios, the previous day, we had to pay a parking fee. This was a tiny disappointing, but it didn’t bother me because I wasn’t paying! The whole day’s parking fee cost $7.00 (which is just under £5). Amazingly the car park was meters from the park so we didn’t have to go far. We paid for our tickets, which cost $51.95 (£32.27) for adults and $42.95 (£26.68) for kids. To have obtained the tickets we had our pictures’ taken which were printed on the pass, this is so that if you return the next day you have proof you used the card and are therefore allowed a discount. At the entrance of the park you have a few souvenir shops and ‘coin presses’ to spend money at, which are great value for money mostly. There are toilets and locker rooms which are great if you do not want to carry a bag all the way around the park. Trust me, the park is very big and after a while of walking around it you’re arms
and back may well ache! If you have a disabled member of the group or a baby ,you are able to hire out prams or wheelchairs.
To get to the actual attractions them selves you have to walk for a couple of minutes, but on the way there you have more souvenir shops/stalls to look around. When you get there, there is a massive open area which you can use as a meet up point and to sit down. You then have the freedom to roam the park, Like I did and I went on my first ride:
***THE JOURNEY TO ATLANTIS***
The first ride I went on was ‘ The Journey to Atlantis’ it lasts 6 minutes an 15 seconds, it is a part log flume/ roller coaster ride which involves a 60 feet drop and a roller coaster in pitch black. On this ride you never know what’s around the next corner! The queues for this ride were very short, because of the time of year. We were on the ride with in approx 3 minutes and there were still seats empty! The ride starts of inside a dark tunnel with lots of different lights around you, a fisherman warns you not to go to Atlantis because there is an evil creature there, but you go on. A woman talks to you whilst you‘re looking around and threatens you. You finally come out of the tunnel and go up a steep track to get the height for the drop. You re-enter the dark and go around a few corners. Then whilst going around a very sharp corner the woman shouts “ leaving so soon?”, you know then you are about to be hurtled down the 60 feet drop (the equivalent of a 10 storey building) and into the massive puddle of water. When you are at the bottom of the 60 foot drop people on the balconies watching can pay to squirt you with water guns for only $0.25. You go back up a track into the building and into pitch black. Then the cart accelerates into a curve and then you come out of a door and hit the last puddle of water. You then turn around a corner and then you exit the ride, and go back on it a minute later! I enjoyed this ride the most, I don’t like roller coasters generally but found this really good. The minimum height restriction for this ride is 42 inches tall. I give this 5 stars. The queues for this ride were very short.
***KRAKEN***
I am afraid I did not go on this ride, it looks great but it is not for me! But I have gone to the trouble of giving you an insider to the ride. Kraken is the tallest, longest, fastest and only floorless roller coaster in the whole of Orlando. the story is that a massive, mythological underwater beast is unleashed from the depths of the sea to take Sea World guests on the ride of their lives – lifting them higher, dropping them longer and spiraling them faster than any other coaster in Orlando. Kraken is the dominant coaster in the vacationcapital of the world, smashing all Orlando records. The ride has a length of 4,177 feet, a height of 149 feet (the equivalent of a 15 storey building) and a drop of 144 feet. The coaster, at it’s maximum can do 65mph and does a cobra roll, a zero gravity roll, vertical loops and flat spins . Kraken goes over water and into tunnels 3 times. In the lagoon tunnel people on the ride are sprayed by water. There are balconies to look at the ride from which offer great views. The ride normally has a very long queue length as it is so popular and has a high demand for thrill seekers! The minimum height restriction for this ride is 54 inches tall.
***WILD ARCTIC***
I never went on this ride but I have researched it. Wild Arctic is a flight simulator inside a fake jet helicopter. You fly to a remote research station called base station Wild arctic. You then enter the frozen wonderland of the arctic and come face to face with real walruses, beluga whales, and two polar bears called Klondike and Snow. During the ride the helicopter is unsteady at times and makes it a realistic and fun journey for everyone aboard it. The queues for this ride are said to be not long and people it is an interesting ride. I have been informed to give this ride 4 stars of approval! The minimum height restriction for this ride is 42 inches tall.
Those are the three main rides, I also went to many shows:
***SHAMU ADVENTURE SHOW***
Sea World Orlando is very well known for the Shamu adventure show. The show generally lasts around 45 to 60 minutes long and there are usually 2 killer whales used for the show, Shamu and another who's name I am afraid I do not know! The Whales perform tricks with the trainers including jumps and splashing the audience generally. Whilst waiting for the show to begin, there are questions on a big screen television which you can answer by putting up 1 or 2 fingers, kids will not be left bored! To make the show even better there are cameramen who give you views from cameras in the tank etc. You have the chance to be filmed on camera whilst answering the questions at the beginning. At the beginning decide where you sit, it may depend on how wet you get! There is a splash zone at the bottom of the seating area where the whales, as one of their tricks can splash you, the audience. This show has disabled facilities so everyone can join in the fun! There are no queues as you walk straight in, there are many seats and you are bounded to get one! The Shamu Adventure Show is great, it offers fun for anyone of all ages. I give this attraction 5 stars
***PETS AHOY***
You may think this is very strange for a sea world and I thought so to, but this is a show about animals ranging from rats to dogs and pigeons to cats living in a village. The animals perform tricks and have tasks to do. There are many dogs who perform tricks with the trainers like jumping in time with a skipping rope. On one task a do has got to win over another dog by phoning her, going to a cash machine, getting flowers and driving in a car to her. Most of the show is very funny and is worth going to. The queues are normally not very long as you walk straight in, there is a long wait for the show to start but you appreciate it when you’ve watched the show! At the end you are able to meet the trainers and the animals which is great for little and big kids! This Show is great for people of any age, I recommend the attraction 4 stars.
There were many other attractions I did not see but there is plenty more like:
Pacific Point Preserve Manatees : The last Generation? Penguin Encounter Dolphin Cove Shark encounter Stingray Lagoon Tropical Reef Turtle Point Shamu’s Happy Harbour Key west dolphin fest Shamu rocks America Clyde and Seamore take pirate island Cirque de la mer
There are also the following restaurants at Sea World Orlando:
Dine with Shamu Waterfront sandwich grill Mama Stella’s Italian kitchen Sharks underwater grill Smoky Creek grill Mango Joe’s Cafe Seafire inn The deli Voyagers wood fired pizza Makahiki Luau Captain Pete’s island eats Cypress Bakery Dockside Cafe Polar Parlor
I can honestly say I really enjoyed Sea World Orlando, it was great fun and worth the money I paid. If you ever get to visit Florida go to Sea World, you’ll regret it if you don’t! The rides and attractions are great. My favourite ride has to be The Journey To Atlantis and attraction Pets Ahoy and I would recommend it to anyone. I would recommend to go to the parks in Florida at winter time for short queues, it is still hot and the atmosphere is better being so near to Christmas.
I hope you enjoyed reading my opinion and I hope you can enjoy the experience of going to Sea World.
If you are interested in visiting Sea World Orlando tickets are available from www.seaworld.com .
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Aug 18th, 2003
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