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SeaWorld Orlando (SWO) Discussion Thread

P. 277: Arctic-themed flying theater announced for 2025!

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SeaWorld doesn't need the stupid Bands, Brews, and BBQ anyways. I went there twice and there was no special events going on and it was some of the best theme park experiences I've ever had. They should just cancel the event and don't give the CNN any ammunition since they are totally focusing on this event alone. CNN is driving this whole issue anyways because the more attention they bring to the film, the more money they make off of it. In a sense, they are making money off the Orcas too just like SeaWorld is, so they are no better. They are hypocrites! It's pretty ridiculous on Facebook how these extremists are attacking these bands. They can't even make a simple post without having hundreds of crazies post about SeaWorld. If they were smart, they should block the crazies and report them to Facebook for harassment. Right before .38 Special canceled , they just wanted the harassment to stop...They probably could care less about the situation. These people are crazy and focused to the point of insanity to destroy SeaWorld. It's just ridiculous. You get enough crazies together and terrible things can happen and I'm scared for SeaWorld right now...I'm scared that all the words will turn into action and someone getting hurt because of crazy town. I watched Blackfish the other day on Netflix and watched all the interviews on youtube to get their side of the story and it's really sad how one sided it is. Most of the film seemed to be heading to a logical conclusion until the end when they focused on the protesting...That's where it lost all merit. SeaWorld should sue CNN and the filmmakers. I will not be watching CNN anymore. They are obviously in bed with PETA, and that's just how it is. SeaWorld rocks...Next time I'm there, I'll be sure to flip off the protesters as I enter the park.

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I want to thank Robb for posting links to my blog post about CNN and Blackfish on ThemedReality. For the most part I am not critical of the film and it's not my intent to discredit it. I am an advocate for the humane treatment of captive animals, which is different from being an animal rights advocate. In the end, SeaWorld will do what is right and I will continue to eat meat.

 

After reading through over a thousand postings on my blog and other websites, as well as comments on facebook and twitter, here are a few things I'd like to share about the film and its promotion:

 

1. Based on the large number of comments concerning content in the film that isn't actually in the film, I'm under the impression that a lot of people commenting about it haven't actually seen it. Just like a lot of people commenting about my blog post didn't take the time to read what I wrote.

 

2. Although Gabriela Cowperthwaite, the director of the film, claims she does not come from an animal rights background and that it was never her intent to make an animal rights film, this is indeed an animal rights film. Advocacy films tend to end with images of common people working to make a change. Blackfish ends with footage of animal rights protesters at SeaWorld's entrance. in addition, Cowperthwaite has both embraced and been embraced by peta.

 

3. The neurologist who features prominently in the film, Dr. Lori Marino of Emery University, is Science Director for the Nonhuman Rights Project, a fact not disclosed in the film. This organization's mission statement is "to change the common law status of at least some nonhuman animals from mere “things,”which lack the capacity to possess any legal right, to “persons,” who possess such fundamental rights as bodily integrity and bodily liberty, and those other legal rights to which evolving standards of morality, scientific discovery, and human experience entitle them."

 

4. There are two edits in the film that can lead to an easy misinterpretation of the facts. The first is at the end of the film, where a charity run for the Dawn Brancheau Foundation and an interview with her sister about the Foundation's work immediately follows the footage of animal rights protesters at SeaWorld's entrance. This gives the impression that the Foundation and her family support the removal of orcas from the parks, which could not be farther from the truth. The family has and continues to refuse to discuss the issues of Dawn's death and of orcas in captivity.

 

5. The second edit takes place near the beginning of the film. Following footage of the 1970 captures in Puget Sound, which were done for Sea World when it was owned by the partnership of Milton Shedd, Ken Norris, David Demott, and George Millay, and mention of the Orca deaths during those captures (which has been documented for decades), the film mentions that Sea World switched their capture location to Iceland. The film then immediately cuts to footage of Tilikum being captured in the North Atlantic. I have seen numerous comments about SeaWorld capturing Tilikum and how his family died during the capture. Sea World was not involved in the Tilikum capture and there is no evidence of orca deaths during that incident. The entire third chapter of David Kirby's book Death at SeaWorld dramatizes Tilikum's capture and does not mention any orca deaths.

 

There are sites on the internet that provide the same sort of distortion. http://www.seaworldofhurt.com mentions in an article titled "Ten Things You Don't Know About SeaWorld" that "Orcas that were at SeaWorld before 1972 were likely kidnapped from their ocean homes. For example,Tilikum, a 32-year-old orca, was captured at the age of 2 by a marine "cowboy." Tilikum wasn't taken from his natural environment because he was injured—instead, he was torn away from his family against his will and confined to a small concrete tank for a hefty profit."

 

The piece fails to mention that Tilikum, who was captured in 1983, resided at Sealand of the Pacific in Victoria, British Columbia until the park closed in 1992, at which time he was relocated to SeaWorld Orlando. Many of Tilikum's issues are the result of his treatment in Canada and not at SeaWorld. Note that SeaWorld of Hurt is a website owned by peta.

 

6. All of the performers who have cancelled gigs at SeaWorld have and continue to perform at casinos. These are institutions where large numbers of people are encouraged to perform addictive and potentially damaging acts of gambling in an enclosed environment without natural sunlight while having their judgement distorted by copious amounts of free alcohol.

 

7. Without CNN and now Netflix, public exposure to the film would be minimized. Theatrically, the film only showed in 99 theaters (my market not being one of them) and made just over $2 million in box office receipts. CNN continues to promote its ownership of the film. CNN.com has posted a news piece each time a band has canceled its SeaWorld performance. Each piece mentions both CNN as owning the film and having broadcast it. For instance, the piece on REO Speedwagon states: "The fans became upset after watching the CNN documentary "Blackfish," which first aired on CNN in October." CNN also has used the sensationalist headline "SeaWorld Fights for its Survival" for an on air segment about SeaWorld appealing the ban on trainer contact with whales. As evidenced by the company's recent expansions - Manta, Turtle Reef, Explorer's Cove, Aquatica in San Diego, Aquatica and its expansion in San Antonio, and TurtleTrek, Antarctica, and expansions to Discovery Cove and Aquatica in Orlando - I'm pretty sure that SeaWorld is not dependent on human interaction with orcas for its future survival. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, CA also gives a good example of how a marine life/theme park can survive without orcas.

 

8. Although the switch from Anheuser Busch to Blackstone is discussed in the director's commentary on the DVD, ownership of SeaWorld and ownership changes are never mentioned in the film itself. This gives the impression that SeaWorld is under the same ownership and management now that it had been in the 1970's and 80's. At the time of Dawn Brancheau's death, Terry Prather was managing Water Country, a waterpark, in Virginia. Prior to that, he was with Jazzland/Six Flags New Orleans and Six Flags America. Before that, he was Managing Director of the prestigious Witte Museum in San Antonio. Now, I'll grant that Terry did work in maintenance and water quality at Sea World San Antonio from its opening in 1988 to 1997, but from knowing people in those fields at theme parks, I'm pretty sure that gave him an intensive understanding of the importance of safety.

 

9. If the footage of animal rights activists and Lori Marino's testimony are removed from the film, it becomes a documentary about workplace safety.

 

10. One thing I learned early on in the marketing of attractions is that the key to successful marketing is to target mothers - they're the ones who make all the decisions in today's modern family. And mothers feel sympathy for other mothers. The filmmakers play on this in their publicity for the film. Cowperthwaite frequently refers to herself as having been a "SeaWorld mom" who regularly took her kids to the park. The producers of the film, Judy Bart and Erica Khan are described as moms who, once their children were grown, decided to start a production company to produce films that "both inspire and entertain." (Not sure how all of Khan's children can be listed as grown, when her bio mentions them as ranging from ages 10 to 25). I've been unable to find anything about these two women. Their production company, Our Turn Productions, is registered with LA County to a nice three bedroom home in Huntington Beach owned by a lawyer. I have no desire to pursue this further, but there certainly is a question as to where these two women procured the funding for the production.

 

Other than the two edits and the lack of labeling of Dr. Marino that I've described above, I have no issues with the film. It's a good movie and I encourage you to see it if you're interested. But it's not the definitive piece on the issue and I will continue to do research on the business, scientific, and historical fronts before I get to the point where I'm comfortable making an opinion on the matter.

 

 

I found your blog (as well as this post) very interesting, informative and well thought out...great job!

 

Thank you for taking the time to come into our forum and post!

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So I find this kind of hilarious.

 

I have never looked at change.org ... until now.

 

I was expecting to see some sort of HUGE outcry and TONS of people backing all this anti-SeaWorld nonsense, and here is what I found....

 

Willie Nelson to cancel: ~9,000 supporters

Bare Naked Ladies to cancel: ~11,000 supporters

Trisha Yearwood to cancel: ~5,000 supporters

SeaWorld to end their Orca breeding program: ~14,000 supporters.

SeaWorld to release their Orcas and Dolphins: ~12,000 supporters.

 

Here's where it gets funny....

 

Help some random guy with his house payments to Bank of America: ~200,000 supporters

Wal-Mart to rehire a guy who was fired for selling a frozen turkey at a wrong price: ~404,000 supporters

Target to close their store on Thanksgiving: ~377,000 supporters

Changing YouTube's comment section back to it's original form: ~225,000 supporters

Kraft Foods Stop using dye in your cheese: ~352,000 supporters

 

So, here is what I've learned from Change.org:

 

1. People care WAAAAAAY more about Kraft cheese than Ocras and dolphins.

 

2. Apparently selling a frozen turkey at a wrong price is a HUGE F**KING DEAL!!!! (who knew?)

 

3. Those bands really do not have any fans and needed that publicity... BADLY!

 

4. Bare Naked Ladies is more popular than Willie Nelson!??!?

 

5. Holy crap change.org proves there are a lot of obnoxious, whiny, terrible people on this planet with nothing else to do!!!

 

6. I'm considering signing the petition for Virgin Galactic to leave Justin Bieber in space forever.

 

--Robb "It really sucks that SeaWorld has to put up with all this crap." Alvey

Edited by robbalvey
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I hope SeaWorld does bring in some local bands and continues with this event. I personally would rather watch an upcoming local band over all the bands that canceled.

 

6. I'm considering signing the petition for Virgin Galactic to leave Justin Bieber in space forever.

Where do I sign up for that?

Edited by robbalvey
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The only truly sad parts were the stories of the babies being sent to other parks away from their mothers. And the grieve that the mothers felt. No explanation is given for the policy - and based on the slant of the film - one would believe that they should be kept together. Perhaps there is a safety reason for doing it.

 

 

I agreed with everything you posted, but this was the part that impacted me the most. Everything else The move said sea world did wasn't good but it didn't hot me like this one thing did.

 

It's awful that they did(/do?) this but it will not stop me from visiting their parks or knowing that without the parks, marine mammals would be in much more in danger in the wild than many of them already are.

Edited by robbalvey
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The only truly sad parts were the stories of the babies being sent to other parks away from their mothers. And the grieve that the mothers felt. No explanation is given for the policy - and based on the slant of the film - one would believe that they should be kept together. Perhaps there is a safety reason for doing it.

 

 

I agreed with everything you posted, but this was the part that impacted me the most. Everything else The move said sea world did wasn't good but it didn't hot me like this one thing did.

 

It's awful that they did(/do?) this but it will not stop me from visiting their parks or knowing that without the parks, marine mammals would be in much more in danger in the wild than many of them already are.

I don't get why this is a big deal. Aren't most dogs and cats that live in people's homes taken from their mothers?

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^ Yup... I guess people still look into this a bit too deeply...it was proven certain animals do get depressed when their children are taken away (don't want to list it as my opinion and I cannot find that reference I saw the other day). Perhaps others will also agree or agree to disagree on this specific comment of yours Robb.

 

Then, you have others such as the Orca that helped father a number of small calves in Orlando at one point in time, according to SeaWorld's chief of animal training Chuck Tompkins. You've got me reading now about all this 'companionship' amongst the anti's and complaints that certain animals should be released into the wild or reunited with their families...

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^^

Robb, I agree with you. In fact, I just watched a series on Netflix that was produced by animal planet following the lives of baby "pets" from birth until they were given up for SALE, and no one seems to care. Also, isn't it more humane that Sea World is funding programs to stop the capture of wild orcas? I don't mean to badger the point, but if a whale has never known the outside ocean, what exactly are they missing by being bred in captivity? Furthermore, what violation of the orcas rights has SeaWorld committed by ensuring them the absolute highest level of comfort and safety?

I haven't seen blackfish, nor do I intend to, as I believe wholeheartedly in SeaWorld's mission to entertain while educating.

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You know, I was just thinking.

 

I want to make a sequel to the movie.

 

Blackfish 2: Weeki Wachee

The mermaids make minimum wage, and are "forced" to do 3 shows a day.

 

I want to be interviewed, but blacked out where you can only see the outline of my body, and have my voice disguised!

 

We can start a new organization called "PEToM: People for the Ethical Treatment of Mermaids" Then we can go stand on the corner with signs that say, "Free the mermaids!"

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The only truly sad parts were the stories of the babies being sent to other parks away from their mothers. And the grieve that the mothers felt. No explanation is given for the policy - and based on the slant of the film - one would believe that they should be kept together. Perhaps there is a safety reason for doing it.

 

 

I don't get why this is a big deal. Aren't most dogs and cats that live in people's homes taken from their mothers?

 

That may be true but... I believe most puppies and kittens are taken from the mothers early. Watching the movie it seems like the split happened several years after a real connection was made. And the video footage of the mother's grieving is pretty intense.

 

My point was more that aside from this singular issue. I really think it is difficult to attack Seaworld if you aren't going to attack all zoos, pet stores and frankly any domestication of animals.

 

Maybe I am naive but a simple fix would be to keep the mothers and kids together. And if you need move them. Move both.

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The only truly sad parts were the stories of the babies being sent to other parks away from their mothers. And the grieve that the mothers felt. No explanation is given for the policy - and based on the slant of the film - one would believe that they should be kept together. Perhaps there is a safety reason for doing it.

 

 

I don't get why this is a big deal. Aren't most dogs and cats that live in people's homes taken from their mothers?

 

That may be true but... I believe most puppies and kittens are taken from the mothers early. Watching the movie it seems like the split happened several years after a real connection was made. And the video footage of the mother's grieving is pretty intense.

Or at least that's what the filmmakers want you to believe. Remember that Blackfish is a "movie" telling a "story" and specifically targeted so that you'll buy into the side of the story they are telling.

 

My point was more that aside from this singular issue. I really think it is difficult to attack Seaworld if you aren't going to attack all zoos, pet stores and frankly any domestication of animals.

And I couldn't agree more.

 

Maybe I am naive but a simple fix would be to keep the mothers and kids together. And if you need move them. Move both.

I don't think you or I know enough about the care of marine animals to say if that is a fix or not. And I don't believe the movie is telling us the whole story either. So with that said, I'll just continue to go to SeaWorld and enjoy the Shamu show for what it is.

 

--Robb

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I have never looked at change.org ... until now.

 

Willie Nelson to cancel: ~9,000 supporters

Bare Naked Ladies to cancel: ~11,000 supporters

Trisha Yearwood to cancel: ~5,000 supporters

SeaWorld to end their Orca breeding program: ~14,000 supporters.

SeaWorld to release their Orcas and Dolphins: ~12,000 supporters.

 

All those bands pulled out because nearly all of their fans signed the petition.

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The only truly sad parts were the stories of the babies being sent to other parks away from their mothers. And the grieve that the mothers felt. No explanation is given for the policy - and based on the slant of the film - one would believe that they should be kept together. Perhaps there is a safety reason for doing it.

 

 

I agreed with everything you posted, but this was the part that impacted me the most. Everything else The move said sea world did wasn't good but it didn't hot me like this one thing did.

 

It's awful that they did(/do?) this but it will not stop me from visiting their parks or knowing that without the parks, marine mammals would be in much more in danger in the wild than many of them already are.

I don't get why this is a big deal. Aren't most dogs and cats that live in people's homes taken from their mothers?

 

Correct me if i'm wrong but isn't Tilikum from a marine park that was going to be closed down? I bring it up because of the dogs and cats post. I have a Labrador I rescued from a Korean pound whose company I love very much, I still volunteer at the shelter (more because I love dogs than being an activist) and am part of the facebook group still since we have to update. I bring it up because if I posted pictures or anyone else who has rescued their animal the activists would say "wow, look how healthy she is now" "if it wasn't for you that poor dog would have been put down" etc but the second someone posts pictures of a dog they got from the puppy shop the group would start sharpening their pitchforks and get the torches lit to spew off about how buying dogs is promoting bad industries etc etc . Isn't Tilikum technically Sea World's kill-shelter puppy ?

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I don't think you or I know enough about the care of marine animals to say if that is a fix or not. And I don't believe the movie is telling us the whole story either. So with that said, I'll just continue to go to SeaWorld and enjoy the Shamu show for what it is.

 

--Robb

 

The movie is certainly not telling the whole story. It is biased for sure.

 

Going for the first time in two weeks. Sad part is we can't enjoy the Shamu show for what it was many like me will never have the chance to see it with the trainers doing the tricks in the water.

Edited by robbalvey
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So I find this kind of hilarious.

 

I have never looked at change.org ... until now.

 

I was expecting to see some sort of HUGE outcry and TONS of people backing all this anti-SeaWorld nonsense, and here is what I found....

 

Willie Nelson to cancel: ~9,000 supporters

Bare Naked Ladies to cancel: ~11,000 supporters

Trisha Yearwood to cancel: ~5,000 supporters

SeaWorld to end their Orca breeding program: ~14,000 supporters.

SeaWorld to release their Orcas and Dolphins: ~12,000 supporters.

 

Here's where it gets funny....

 

Help some random guy with his house payments to Bank of America: ~200,000 supporters

Wal-Mart to rehire a guy who was fired for selling a frozen turkey at a wrong price: ~404,000 supporters

Target to close their store on Thanksgiving: ~377,000 supporters

Changing YouTube's comment section back to it's original form: ~225,000 supporters

Kraft Foods Stop using dye in your cheese: ~352,000 supporters

 

So, here is what I've learned from Change.org:

 

1. People care WAAAAAAY more about Kraft cheese than Ocras and dolphins.

 

2. Apparently selling a frozen turkey at a wrong price is a HUGE F**KING DEAL!!!! (who knew?)

 

3. Those bands really do not have any fans and needed that publicity... BADLY!

 

4. Bare Naked Ladies is more popular than Willie Nelson!??!?

 

5. Holy crap change.org proves there are a lot of obnoxious, whiny, terrible people on this planet with nothing else to do!!!

 

6. I'm considering signing the petition for Virgin Galactic to leave Justin Bieber in space forever.

 

--Robb "It really sucks that SeaWorld has to put up with all this crap." Alvey

 

 

Awesome job, Robb...good to get a good laugh at the end of a stressful day at work. That pretty much sums it all up in one post!

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So I find this kind of hilarious.

 

I have never looked at change.org ... until now.

 

I was expecting to see some sort of HUGE outcry and TONS of people backing all this anti-SeaWorld nonsense, and here is what I found....

 

Willie Nelson to cancel: ~9,000 supporters

Bare Naked Ladies to cancel: ~11,000 supporters

Trisha Yearwood to cancel: ~5,000 supporters

SeaWorld to end their Orca breeding program: ~14,000 supporters.

SeaWorld to release their Orcas and Dolphins: ~12,000 supporters.

 

Here's where it gets funny....

 

Help some random guy with his house payments to Bank of America: ~200,000 supporters

Wal-Mart to rehire a guy who was fired for selling a frozen turkey at a wrong price: ~404,000 supporters

Target to close their store on Thanksgiving: ~377,000 supporters

Changing YouTube's comment section back to it's original form: ~225,000 supporters

Kraft Foods Stop using dye in your cheese: ~352,000 supporters

 

So, here is what I've learned from Change.org:

 

1. People care WAAAAAAY more about Kraft cheese than Ocras and dolphins.

 

2. Apparently selling a frozen turkey at a wrong price is a HUGE F**KING DEAL!!!! (who knew?)

 

3. Those bands really do not have any fans and needed that publicity... BADLY!

 

4. Bare Naked Ladies is more popular than Willie Nelson!??!?

 

5. Holy crap change.org proves there are a lot of obnoxious, whiny, terrible people on this planet with nothing else to do!!!

 

6. I'm considering signing the petition for Virgin Galactic to leave Justin Bieber in space forever.

 

--Robb "It really sucks that SeaWorld has to put up with all this crap." Alvey

 

 

Awesome job, Robb...good to get a good laugh at the end of a stressful day at work. That pretty much sums it all up in one post!

 

Yeah, his post made my day

 

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

I agree with the above posts. SeaWorld is a world class park with or without the orca show. The other shows are just as phenomenal (if not better), the park is stunning visually, both coasters are very good, and the manta exhibit is awesome. Also, the express pass here is a great deal (only $30), and you get unlimited admission to the front of pretty much every decent ride in the park.

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