SeaWorld Orlando has just announced a whole host of changes coming to the park in the coming years including:
- Kraken coaster including virtual reality
- Changes to the Shamu show
- A brand new show coming to Bayside Theater
- A change to Dolphin viewing
Let’s kick things off with a look at the changes to Kraken…
Kraken to Receive Virtual Reality
In Summer 2017, one of the parks most popular coasters is set to become the first permanent VR coaster in Orlando.
While VR is seemingly becoming more popular at theme parks, it has traditionally been something that has resulted in longer wait times and frustrated guests that have to sit and wait while the headsets are adjusted.
SeaWorld are hoping to do away with these frustrations with a state of the art custom built system that will integrate the VR headsets into the coaster trains themselves. The idea is that the VR just works as soon as guests sit down in the coaster.
Brian Morrow, SeaWorld’s VP of Theme Park Experience has this to say:
Pull your lapbar down, put on your goggles, and you’ll be good to go
If this can be achieved how Brian has described, VR in theme parks could well be something that is adopted a lot more.
More Additions for 2017
SeaWorld Orlando are also bringing a brand new show, Electric Ocean, to the Bayside Theater. This is going to feature music, fireworks, bioluminescent lighting and water fountains.
They are also renovating the Dolphin Nursery and replacing concrete walls with acrylic windows which will allow park guests to see the dolphins underwater. All of these changes are expected to be ready for the busy season next Summer.
Killer Whales at SeaWorld
The Shamu show at San Diego is changing to be more educational and will not rely on the Killer Whales performing for guests. Rather than be the stars of a performance, the Orcas will be in a more natural setting and audiences will learn more about their behaviours in the wild which include hunting, navigation skills and communication.
While these changes will debut at San Diego, they will be coming to both San Antonio and Orlando by 2019.
I have to admit, I am pretty excited by all of these changes that are coming to SeaWorld Orlando, the company certainly seems to be moving in the right direction.
Let us know what you think of the changes in the comments below!
Ryan has been attending theme parks since as long as he can remember and his first proper memory comes from when he was just three years old sitting in Main Street USA drinking a Nesquik milkshake from a carton while the piano was being played outside Casey’s Corner.
