dandaman Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Well, even though I haven't finished last weekend's report yet, I felt this was more important. So I had no idea I'd be going to SeaWorld until the night before, when Carlos ("Frade" on TPR) and I happen to run into each other at the campus pub. (By the way, going to the same school as another TPR member has to be one of the most awesome coincidences in history.) Anyway, one thing led to another, and the next day I find myself with three new credits and 90 new pictures. (The sad part is that's WITH whittling it down.) So, without further adieu, I present my usual visual/bandwidth onslaught. (Also, is this an acceptable amount of parentheses?) This one didn't even turn out, but I'm leaving it in here because I can. More later, including a bonus trip to both Fantasia and Olive Gardens. And now, I present to you an excessive and entirely unnecessary amount of flower shots. Roll the montage! A new innovation in transportation: whale-powered flight. They should advertise ponchos on the big movable screens 5 seconds before this happens just to be cruel. Believe = good. Clyde & Seamore's parody later that night = better. Who turned 40? Way better timed than Maverick's cannons and 10 times as cool. Using the French I've learned as a Canadian, I can conclude that the bottom text says, "Attention! Your porridge and Pert shampoo are vying for your votes!" Carlos kindly gives a tourist possible directions to the restroom. Colder than Canada and your ex-wife combined. Meet Joe. Joe recognized my TPR shirt from when he worked at HHN's Interstellar Terror last year and found pics of himself in subsequent TR's. Joe is, therefore, awesome. There. Enjoy your Shamu Express ELT. *Excessively Long Train So we went to Happy Harbor to try and get some good pics of Shamu Express feat. Joe, which for a guy with arthritis, can generally be described in hindsight as a "bad idea". Had I known I had to crawl through those damn tubes to get to the exit, I wouldn't have done it, but since I love you guys SO much... Is it a bug or a whale? SHRAK! "i now haz a fish" "i can haz fish?" I have no caption for this. Uh... puffins. That is all. "...And all the West Antarctic penguins, they sleep like THIS." Since I know you're dying without having a Manta fix in 30 seconds, here you go. MORE FLAGS MORE FUN OMG, "The Simpsons" was RIGHT! They've been plotting to overtake humanity all along! Can your water skis do THIS? (If they can, you're either this guy or under investigation by PETA.) "Take me with you!" "Little help?" "Snorky... talk... man!" Saw some shows after we got all our credits (minus the awesome Shamu Express feat. Joe the ride op). Blue Horizons was very well done, but as Carlos said as well, it seems like SeaWorld's following suit with a certain other park down the road with the whole "dreams/believe/wish" thing. Also, center stage looks vaguely like a Disk-O. "Well, 'KRAH-ken' is how it's pronounced in the original Scandinavian, and 'KRAK-ken' is closer to that." "Well, we ain't original Scandinavians, are we? It's KRAY-kin." "It's a mythological creature, I'll call it what I wants!" Not pictured: Peanutbutterfish. They put aquariums in the gift shop so people are interested in the novelty and care less about their wallet quickly losing weight. Journey to Atlantis is a perfect TPR ride, in that you think "WTF?" but it comes out as "This is awesome for reasons unexplained!" I must say, pretzel loop aside, it's more fun than intense. SKLOOSH! Hadn't even noticed the little rays between the cars until just now. Being on the front outer left my first time, this deviously close waterfall soaked my left knee and possibly my pants shortly thereafter. Ze goggles! Zey do NOZZING! Also the only station I personally have seen with dual loading platforms for one track. It struck me that, for once, you have a comparably intense ride which isn't hyped up as "evil" or "near-death"; rather, it's touted as a uniquely uplifting experience (which it totally is). Okay, so Manta has firmly taken up residence near the top of my coaster list. Everything about it is perfect: the queue is amazingly themed and entertaining, the ride would be incredible even without the water effects, and I fully approve of the film score choices. Let's start the TR by making you think your monitor is fogged up. Surely I'll win your undying adoration then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkwan Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 When I was last there in late May, they didn't have a net under the lift hill. So when I filmed the train going up the lift hill, I was afraid that someone would drop something at me or spit on me. Luckily that didn't happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebl Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 ^ I'm surprised that SFMM hasn't put a net under Tatsu's lift, being that it goes right over the midway. Maybe at some point they will. I've heard tales of people being hit by "unwanted moisture" as they pass by there. If I see a train near the top, I wait for it to drop off before I proceed. Manta's trains are themed very nicely, and I like the spraying water effects. SeaWorld Orlando looks like a nice park. I've been past it on previous visits to Florida, but didn't stop in. Next time, I'll make a point of it. Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frade Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Wow man, awesome, that was really fast, we were there for 13 hours got back to campus at midnight, and today we both had classes and you already have this awesome post. That is great! The advantages of being a Freshman!!! Lots of free time! Great photos man, those angles are great!!! See you around! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dandaman Posted September 1, 2009 Author Share Posted September 1, 2009 Part II: [insert witty title] So overall an awesome first visit to SeaWorld, and now that I've upgraded my ticket, I'll hopefully be going at least a few more times before the year is up. Thanks especially to Carlos for driving/recommending/putting up with me the whole day, to Joe the AWESOME Shamu Express ride op, and to all the wonderful and friendly park employees. 'Till next time! After a night ride on Manta, Carlos and I got some prime seats for their fireworks show, Reflections. I gotta say, I wasn't expecting much, but I suppose SeaWorld couldn't let me finish my visit without blowing me away one last time. Though this doesn't do it nearly enough justice, even the lighting on the splashdown effect was very well-coordinated with the train. Kraken + nighttime + front row + outer left - lines > doing Batman in the rear. (But ONLY by a very slight margin.) Placeholder pic for Clyde and Seamore's awesome parody of SeaWorld attractions. Highlights: Clyde yelling while riding Manta, the walrus doing sit-ups, and of course the awesome mime. Back at the park, I find myself surrounded by sea creatures. I look calm, nay happy, but my head is screaming "OH DEAR GOD I'M TRAPPED IN A GLASS CASE OF EMOTION!" Dan's Tip For Today: Try to refrain from looking directly into the hole when it goes down or you get extremely wet. Also, the preceding was not innuendous in any way whatsoever. Not pictured: M-C-A. Scared the crap outta me when I walked by. NOT a Dan-approved water feature! OM NOM NOM Carlos somehow turned his orange ball invisible. That or he got a hole-in-one, which would never happen. Except on those three other holes. "You little S.O.B. ball! Why you don't you just go HOME? That's your HOME! Are you too good for your HOME? ANSWER ME!" I see TPR's "Drink Around the World" has made its way back on property. UMMMMMMMM... This classical music-themed course is 100% Dan-approved. And the Lord Yensid saw the Tower, and it was GOOD. Around 4:00 we decided to make a quick trip over to Fantasia Rdens for some discounted mini-golf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matteocrepaldi Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Great trip report! Awesome photos! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frade Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Great photos and captions man! Thanks a lot, and I had a really good time too. And the best part is that that was only the beginning of months full of thrills! See you around man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homeboy23 Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Great trip report. Manta's queue/station is one of my favorites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameron Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Dan + Carlos + Sea World + Kracken At Night = awesome.. Seriously, some great photos there (particularly the night shots). It's such an awesome park that doesn't seem to get as much attention as it deserves. Thanks for posting, you win: 1 TIMTAM! Cameron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dandaman Posted September 2, 2009 Author Share Posted September 2, 2009 Oh sweet zombie Jesus, now there's incentive to keep posting TR's! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frade Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 you forgot one thing: + Manta! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dandaman Posted September 2, 2009 Author Share Posted September 2, 2009 +++++++Manta. Thanks for reading, all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorkscrewFoley Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 Danno, great job with the TR and piccies. I loved the Simpsons' quote, and found myself doing a terrible Wolfcastle impression. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sam06pr Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 And that's why SWO is the flagship park of BEC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frozenflames Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Great TR! I really like the pics of the fireworks, they're so clear and colorful! Basically, your TR just made me want to go to Sea World Orlando really badly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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