Checking out SeaWorld Orlando this week to see what’s new around the park. The Dolphin Nursery is being completely rebuilt and should reopen this summer, but is currently hidden behind work walls. The most notable difference once reopened will be see-through acrylic windows, so kids can get a better view inside. Journey to Atlantis is closed for its annual refurbishment. Water was running while I was there, so that’s a good sign that it might be close to wrapping up. Also, the Seven Seas Food Festival is going on now. You’ll find food booths set up throughout the park, but they’re only open on Saturdays. There’s also a live concert every Saturday night for the event. The festival ends May 13th. Check out our full menus and concert lineup here.
The biggest bit of news though, is that apparently SeaWorld Orlando will be getting a new water-based ride, possibly for 2018. The new attraction will be built where the Sea Garden area is currently located. All indications are that the new ride will be a family raft ride similar to Shipwreck Rapids at SeaWorld San Diego, although no confirmation or announcement has been made yet. While the entire Sea Garden area will most likely be used for the new attraction, it is possible the existing Terrace building will remain, (although the restaurants and Pass Member Lounge inside may close during construction.) The nearby Animal Ambassador building (former Budweiser Clydesdale stable) is also rumored to remain intact during this construction, and animal encounters should continue in the area. Check out the video and photo report below for more details, and stay tuned to the site for more information and updates!
Photo Update
Welcome to SeaWorld Orlando!
Those are some cool flamingos!
This little guy was loving the sunny weather!
Seven Seas Food Festival going on now until May 13th! More info.
Food booths set up all over the park for the new festival, but only open on Saturdays
Dolphin Nursery being completely rebuilt
Big work walls up all along the area
New updated new Nursery should be open by summer
Concept Art for updated Nursery, with see-through walls
Looks like existing steel supports will be utilized in new design
One last look before we move on
Journey to Atlantis is currently closed for its annual refurbishment
The gift shop and aquarium is still open during this update
Water is flowing, so maybe it’s almost ready to open back up soon?
Looks like the decorative boats near entrance have been re-painted
Shiny new looking boat
A ride vehicle stopped on second lifthill
Water pump hose under big drop
Water pump
Ladder up high
Aquarium still open during construction
One last look at the area before moving on
Possible location for a new ride at SeaWorld Orlando!
The Sea Garden is a quiet garden made to look like underwater coral
The location is in the top-right portion of the park
Rumor is a new water ride, most likely a family raft ride similar to Shipwreck Rapids in San Diego, will be coming to this part of the park.
Possible ride type (Photo FamilyVacationHub)
Lift hill in San Diego ride (Photo FamilyVacationHub)
The Sea Gardens area is large and fairly open
If you look closely, you may see some survey markers around the area lately
These survey markers are what started the new ride rumor
The little flags are littered all over this part of the park
The gardens are home to some animals, like these colorful macaws
If you walk the trails you can read signs like these and learn about conservation and wildlife
A few months ago Terrace BBQ was removed from this sign, now I know why…
All indications are that this building will remain intact if/when a new ride is built in front of it
Inside is a snack bar, Pass Member Lounge, and Terrace BBQ
Inside, here is the snack bar/bar, currently open
Remember when they used to serve free beer here? Like a million years ago
The Pass Member Lounge is still open, for now
Terrace BBQ is now closed, which explains why it was taken off the sign outside
Guests being redirected to other locations.
Outside, the patio overlooks a beautiful and quiet pond
As much as I’d love a new ride, this was my favorite quiet place to relax in the park, and I’ll miss it
Moving on, on the far left of the area, is where Animal Ambassadors show off unique creatures
The animals aren’t going anywhere, and will continue to meet out front of this area, just outside of the gardens once construction starts
Many of the animals live in the old barn behind this area, where the Budweiser Clydesdale horses used to be. I believe this stable will remain even after the new ride comes, so they can keep their home.
“Please don’t take my home away.”
The nearby flamingo pond may remain as well, but all of the surrounding gardens will be turned into a new ride, and may even be walled up soon for construction.
Whatever the new attraction will be, we can be pretty sure it will have something to do with conservation.
That’s all for this update! See all SeaWorld Orlando updates here. And subscribe to our news feed to stay up on theme park news, including more details about SeaWorld’s new ride!
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