SeaWorld Orlando (SWO) Discussion Thread

[Cyrbuzz]

Awesome news that some bands have not given in to Blackfish crap. Now lets see how many more will have the guts to ignore the propaganda.

[Chroniq]

I'm not particularly a fan of either, but isn't it fair to say that they now have BIGGER acts? According to Wikipedia Kid Rock has sold 23.5 million albums.. I recently read an article about how he constantly sells out week long cruise ship trips as well.

 

 

Allen Jackson sold 60 million.

 

The only artist that cancelled so far that has comparable album sales are the Beach Boys (or what's left of them).

 

 

This should be interesting.. It's almost like SeaWorld is just going balls out and spending more money to book even higher profile acts..

 

 

well played seaworld, well played.

[Cyrbuzz]

It's great to see Blackfish is losing its bite. It is quickly fading into obscurity as a news story. Sea World is bouncing back!

[robbalvey]

It's great to see Blackfish is losing its bite. It is quickly fading into obscurity as a news story. Sea World is bouncing back!

We all knew it would, though. Other than the die-hard PETA crazies, seems like most of the 15-minute activists have now moved on to the Duck Dynasty story or ObamaCare...or just talking about the weather.

 

And the rest of us can finally just get back to going to theme parks and having fun.

[gisco]

It's great to see Blackfish is losing its bite. It is quickly fading into obscurity as a news story. Sea World is bouncing back!

And the rest of us can finally just get back to going to theme parks and having fun.

 

Finally!

[robbalvey]

SeaWorld Returns First Manatee of the year, Begins Care for Two More

 

(January 29, 2014) Orlando, Fla. – This morning, an adult female manatee was returned to the waters of Blue Spring State Park in Orange City, Fla., after receiving care and rehabilitation at SeaWorld Orlando for the last year.

 

“Piggy” was rescued due to cold stress by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) from St. John’s River in Palatka, Fla. on February 7, 2013. Following her rescue, Piggy was transported to SeaWorld Orlando for medical care and rehabilitation. Over the past year, Piggy has received continual treatment, including antibiotics, fluids and other supportive care. After being medically cleared for today’s return, the 725-pound manatee was transported by SeaWorld’s Animal Rescue Team to Blue Spring State Park, a designated manatee sanctuary.

 

In addition to today’s return, an adult female manatee was rescued yesterday from Blue Spring State Park. The SeaWorld Orlando Rescue Team was called to assist with her rescue after the FWC noticed the animal was emaciated, lethargic and behaving abnormally. This is not the first time SeaWorld Orlando has provided care to this manatee, who has been identified as Georgia. In 1991, an orphaned calf at the time, she was rescued from Brunswick, Ga, and was brought to SeaWorld Orlando for care until she was returned to Blue Spring State Park in 1997. She was close to six years of age, more than 10 feet long, and weighed 1,635 pounds at the time of her return.

 

Seventeen years and six calves later, the nearly 11-foot-long manatee was rescued again by the SeaWorld Orlando Rescue Team with assistance from FWC staff and volunteers. She was then transported to SeaWorld Orlando yesterday, where the park’s animal care team and veterinary staff performed a complete health exam and began providing an antibiotic treatment and fluids. Georgia will continue to be monitored and more testing will be done to determine what medical attention the large manatee needs.

 

In addition, the FWC also located an orphaned female calf in the DeSoto Canal near St. Petersburg, Fla., late yesterday. The 122-pound calf is a little over four feet long and was determined to be a dependent calf. Upon her arrival at SeaWorld Orlando, she was given a full health assessment and will continue to be monitored and provided around-the-clock care. The calf joined four other orphaned manatees that were rescued late last year.

 

In collaboration with the government and other members of accredited stranding networks, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment operates one of the world’s most respected programs to rescue ill and injured marine animals, with the goal to rehabilitate and return to the ocean. SeaWorld animal experts have helped 23,000 animals in need - ill, injured, orphaned and abandoned - for more than four decades. So far this year, SeaWorld Orlando has rescued three manatees and returned one after today’s return.

 

The Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) is a cooperative group of non-profit, private, state, and federal entities who work together to monitor the health and survival of rehabilitated and released manatees. Information about manatees currently being tracked is available at http://www.wildtracks.org.

[Inukaza]

As far as Beer Band and BBQ goes, It looks like SeaWorld will not announce the lineups up front, and will announce them the Wednesday before to prevent the bands breaking contract. If they break the contract, they'll be forced to pay SeaWorld. Win/Win for SeaWorld, and we still have big acts!

[jedimaster1227]

^At this point if a band signs up, they know well what they're getting themselves into. And while I'm not a particular fan of either new act, it appears that these are both bigger, more current acts to bring in than any of the ones that dropped. All I can say is that SeaWorld has done a great job with the signing of these two acts, putting out a very strong statement that despite all that has happened with this event, they can still deliver quality entertainment for their guests and move forward.

 

I'll definitely be going out of my way within the next few weeks to check out Bands, Brew & BBQ regardless of what other bands join the lineup. The event features incredible food, and that alone is reason for me to return!

[Philrad71]

^ Hope to see a PTR!

 

I agree with some in that while I'm not a fan of the two performers, it's nice to see that someone finally stepped up to the plate. It's too bad that we will miss this event by one week, although we still have plans to visit this park as well as Busch Gardens during the week of the 17th!

[Meteornotes]

These two acts should bring out the crowds. Especially Kid Rock, who has an extremely loyal following. I'm not a fan, but I commend SeaWorld for bringing in even bigger acts than the ones that bailed. Good job, SeaWorld!

 

dt

[jray21]

Yeah, I am also glad Sea World was able to get bigger acts. Can't wait to see the photo TR's of all the BBQ!

[Nrthwnd]

Whoever said it first, had me at "BBQ".

[thrillrider]

Looks like the blackfish freaks are trying to talk kid rock out of performing on his facebook page.

[AndrewRnR]

^ Kid Rock has previously "declared war" on PETA so I'm sure the more people who post the more fun he will have with the issue come Sunday. I'm actually looking forward to seeing how he adapts (if at all) his R-rated show to a theme park... I'm sure he'll have some interesting things to say.

[cfc]

Looks like the blackfish freaks are trying to talk kid rock out of performing on his facebook page.

 

Blackfish people aren't likely to be Kid Rock fans.

[Woodie Warrior]

Not to steer the topic off of Blackfish and Beers, Bands, and BBQ, but I've been thinking about the rumored 2015 coaster.

 

Right now the park has Shamu Express for the little kids and then the next step up is Journey to Atlantis (which most people don't even think of as a coaster). But the jump from Journey to Atlantis to Kraken and Manta is pretty big. So instead of the Wing Coaster that I've seen people talking about, maybe we could see a family coaster?

[triggernel]

Not to steer the topic off of Blackfish and Beers, Bands, and BBQ, but I've been thinking about the rumored 2015 coaster.

 

Right now the park has Shamu Express for the little kids and then the next step up is Journey to Atlantis (which most people don't even think of as a coaster). But the jump from Journey to Atlantis to Kraken and Manta is pretty big. So instead of the Wing Coaster that I've seen people talking about, maybe we could see a family coaster?

 

I haven't heard Wing Coaster, but I have heard B&M Hyper somewhere between the Nautilus theatre and Happy Harbor.

[Chroniq]

Any chance any TPR members will be able to get over to SeaWorld on Sunday and record the kidrock performance (or at least the beginning?)

[Mrlittle]

Wing coaster seem to be the rumored coaster for 2015 for many parks. Maybe the same Dippin Dots employee works at SFOT, BGT and SDC. I really hope these rumors of wing coasters are wrong.

[jedimaster1227]

Today Theme Park Review had the chance to check out this year's Bands, Brew, & BBQ event at SeaWorld Orlando. A personal favorite of mine thanks to the quality food and entertainment brought in, this six-week long event adds significant value to this already incredible park! This weekend's lineup includes Alan Jackson and Kid Rock with upcoming acts still to be announced. It should be noted that, despite the significant negative publicity over Blackfish and a good number of bands dropping out of their commitment to the event, you'd NEVER know it by walking through the park. The park was busy throughout our visit, filled with people enjoying the great food, the delicious beer, the warmup entertainment and of course, the headliner act. And while we couldn't stay to see Alan Jackson himself, the Atlantis Bayside Stadium where he was performing was nearly filled to capacity over an hour and a half before the show was supposed to start!

 

SeaWorld is continuing to add a "Sea of Surprises" to its parks as a part of its 50th Anniversary Celebration, but in the meantime, you can always count on the parks' seasonal events like Bands, Brew, & BBQ to give you even more reason to go visit!

Work walls have sprung up in the park in preparation for the upcoming 50th Anniversary Celebration in the SeaWorld Parks and the "Sea of Surprises" that will come with it!

But this is why we were here today!

Each year, the event gets additional sponsors and gets a little bigger and a little better!

SeaWorld Orlando's special events section gets redressed between Shamu's Halloween Spooktacular, the Christmas Celebration, Bands, Brew, & BBQ, Viva La Musica and Summer Nights throughout the year.

This fire pit was a new addition to the waterfront stage area.

There is a lot of amazing food here, but we'll get back to that soon enough...

This is after all known as Bands, Brew, & BBQ!

For those interested in the Brew side of things, there's this fantastic option to sample ten craft brews from along the waterfront.

You get this awesome little badge that gives you the chance to enjoy some fine beer!

And perhaps some cider too...

Yes. We do like bands. We do like BBQ. But we especially like Brew!

Some of the great breweries in Florida have brought their beers to Bands, Brew & BBQ!

And without question, the food here is very popular too!

And with food this good, why wouldn't it be?

If there's one thing we learned from Delgrosso's, it is just how important THE SAUCE can be for a theme park.

Here I am eating a bacon wrapped jalapeño. Moments later my face turned raspberry red and steam blew out of my ears and nose.

We love Shamu!

This weekend's lineup is sure to be extremely popular!

This was almost an hour and a half before the concert was set to start.

It wouldn't be a SeaWorld event without some live animal ambassadors present!

And how could you have a BBQ event at SeaWorld without some of SeaWorld's own fabulous ribs?

More great brew too!

It goes without saying, we really, really love Bands, Brew, & BBQ! And we'll definitely be coming back for this year's event is over!

Edited February 2, 2014 by jedimaster1227

[Cyrbuzz]

Looks like a good time was had by all. I'm so happy to see the park busy and shrugging off the recent bad publicity. That BBQ looked so good I could almost taste it.

[cfc]

Everything's better with bacon.

[Woodie Warrior]

I just can't believe all these people came out to see enslaved orcas in their bathtub sized tanks and listen to music sung by animal haters

[Caleb]

We were here today for this event, and had a really good time. Great food, and a great beer selection for a good price. Highly recommend you guys check it out if you are on the fence. A good concert is a great way to end a day here. Alan Jackson was very good!

[Maximo37]

For me, the only thing better than SeaWorld's Bands Brew & BBQ... is BUSCH GARDENS Bands Brew & BBQ. I am hoping to get to BOTH events this year! Glad to see a lot of the public supporting the park and enjoying this always amazing event!!