If you are visiting any of the Orlando theme parks in 2014, you’ll find many new attractions being planned. You may also find some of your favorite features being phased out or temporarily unavailable. This is to be expected. Theme parks are ever-changing. As long as you do your research before purchasing tickets, you’ll avoid any let downs or unpleasant surprises.

Orca Whales at SeaWorld

If you are visiting SeaWorld in the months leading up through April, the killer whale show “One Ocean” will not be available. The Orlando theme park is replacing it with another show, so you won’t be totally disappointed. “Shamu Up Close” will take its place while the whale stadium is undergoing maintenance.

The killer whale show is one of the park’s premier attractions. Where else can you stand 6 feet from the edge of a pool while a killer whale swims and leaps? The new show allows guests to do just that! The show is being described as more educational than the “One Ocean” show. Presentations occur every hour, but guests can watch the animals at any time during the day. “People can sit there and watch how we manage and how we work with our animals all day long,” said Mike Boos, vice president of zoological operations. This is a perfect opportunity for SeaWorld’s guests to get up close photos of themselves standing near a killer whale!

Work on Shamu Stadium is already taking place. The pool’s floor is being repainted. New acrylic panels which separate the guests from the pool will be installed. All of these renovations are routine and should be complete sometime in April.

The new show will be held where “Dine With Shamu” takes place, so the SeaWorld Orlando dinner show will also be postponed until April. You can read more about this Orlando dinner show from a previous post. Although it will be missed, guests will benefit (as they did during the dinner show) from the educational portion of this new presentation. While it is not as structured as “One Ocean,” this new show makes up for it with interesting interaction between Orca and trainer. If you remember the “Believe” show which debuted in 2006, this new show will remind you of it. Pay attention, and you just might learn a few things about killer whales!

If attending a dinner show is on your “must do” list while you are in the area, don’t worry about “Dine With Shamu” being closed. Enjoy SeaWorld during the day, then make reservations to attend Capone’s Dinner & Show. You’ll be happy to know that the buffet at Capone’s is fill-your-own-plate. Plus drinks and dessert are included too. At 50% off tickets, it’s a whale of an offer!

Last Updated on January 19, 2018