Sesame Street Halloween Fun at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens

Hey Thrill Seekers,

Sesame Street is coming to SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa for a Halloween season of not-too-spooky fun for families this autumn.

Guests of all ages can join everyone’s favourite furry friends from Sesame Street as Count von Count, Elmo, Abby Cadabby and others take to the stage in ‘Sesame Street’s Countdown to Halloween’ show, where the Count is feeling lonely and it’s up to the audience and the loveable monsters from Sesame Street to get him into the Halloween spirit. Batty bats and spooky skeletons join the fun in a song-filled stage show that invites families to dance, play and sing along.

Pets Ahoy is getting its own seasonal twist and you will even have the chance to meet a mermaid in the mermaid grotto. It starts on the 22 September and children can dress in Halloween costumes and take part in fun-filled trick-or-treating in the park.

At Busch Gardens, Sesame Street Kids’ Weekends are also returning every weekend in October, including half term. Children are again welcome to dress in Halloween costumes and dance along as Count von Count serves as master of scare-emonies to lead his Sesame Street pals through his favourite tunes in the new stage show.  There will also be autumn-inspired activities at Gwazi Field in Busch Gardens, including a hay maze, pumpkin ring toss and much more.

Dining with Characters 

Families can even opt to dine with Sesame Street characters at both theme parks. At Busch Gardens, the ‘Lunch with Elmo and Friends’ buffet every Saturday and Sunday during the Halloween season will let children enjoy hugs and high fives with sing-a-longs, dance parties, and special photo opportunities.

At SeaWorld, ‘Count von Count’s Spooktacular Breakfast’ features a delicious buffet enjoyed with the furriest characters in town. The breakfast is a fun-filled experience sure to delight kids and parents alike.

Character dining requires an additional reservation.

Smiles Included,

Abby

 

 

‘Meet your new Neighbours’ more on Sesame Street coming to SeaWorld

Hey Thrill Seekers,

Explore, celebrate and play: SeaWorld Parks & entertainment  have just released some more information on Sesame Street which is coming to SeaWorld in  Spring 2019.

Where is Sesame Street going? I hear you ask.. well it IS ‘replacing’ Shamu’s Happy Harbour which is in the south end of the park – well more like an overhaul than a replacement to be honest. It was back on May 18th 2018 last year was when Sesame Street was announced and was said to open in 2022! In Feb this year we had info that it was going to be opening in 2020 and now we know its going to open next year.. The proof is on their website! Yippee

Jim Dean – President of SeaWorld Orlando said “We are excited to transport our guests into the colorful and creative world of Sesame Street through immersive theming, character interactions and interactive play”

Also, for the first time ever at SeaWorld there will be a daily parade that is set to feature, yep you guessed it.. Elmo and his friends. As well as the daily parade kids and big kids alike will be able to visit re-created sets from Sesame Street such as Big Birds nest, Mr Hoopers Store and 123 Stoop. There will also be rides and play areas too!

EXPLORE

‘Explore the iconic neighbourhood as you walk through Abby Cadabby’s garden, visit Mr. Hooper’s Store, Stop by Big Bird’s nest, sit on the famous 123 Stoop and meet your favourite friends from Sesame Street including Elmo, Cookie Monster and Big Bird.’

CELEBRATE

‘Elmo and his furry friends, along with parade dancers will invite you and your family to join the party on Sesame Street daily during SeaWorld Orlando’s first ever parade.’

PLAY

‘The immersive area will feature exciting rides, wet and dry play areas and interactive experiences designed to entertain your entire family.’

It is expected that the new rides will be announced in the forthcoming months. Taken from our post back in February this year: It has been speculated that there is going to be a dark ride added to this section of the park, as a few large building have been noticed on some building plans. There has been rumours that SeaWorld have been in talks with The Goddard Group who have worked on projects like Spider-Man and T2 so maybe this could be a hint toward a dark, Sesame Street ride which will be unique for SeaWorld Orlando as there is certainly not a lot of indoor ‘show scene’ rides since the animatronics on Journey to Atlantis stopped.

We’ll keep you updated!

Smiles Included,

Abby

More Information on the Sesame Street land coming to SeaWorld Orlando

Hey Thrill Seekers,

Back in May we found out that in a few years we could be seeing a realistic version of Sesame Street. The new Sesame Street Land is set to replace Shamu’s Happy Harbour at SeaWorld.

In May SeaWorld said that the new land would be open by 2022 but that was about all we got specifics wise and now it seems as though work could start as early as this year. You will find Sesame Street lands at SeaWorld San Diego, San Antonio and at Busch Gardens but these mainly feature just the characters – the areas aren’t generally themed.

The Sesame Street land looks as though it is going to be a mix of new and existing attractions and structures. Most of the attractions along the outside of the area will remain and the interior of Shamu’s Happy Harbor will be almost completely renewed.

When announcing the new project it was stated that:

“We’d like to build the actual Sesame Street that kids can be on and walk down. We will have hopefully a Sesame parade, rides, show where they can see and meet the Sesame characters.”

It is bellieved that the new land will open in late 2020, with the full area opening roughly two years after that (2022). According to the documents uncovered by Touring Central Florida the majority of the current Shamu’s Happy Harbor flat rides will remain such as the Shamu Express, Flying Fiddler, Jazzy Jellies, Ocean Commotion, Sea Carousel, and the Swishie Fishies. It is highly likely that the rides will get  updated to be more Sesame Street themed.

It has been speculated that there is going to be a dark ride added to this section of the park, as a few large building have been noticed on some building plans. There has been rumours that SeaWorld have been in talks with The Goddard Group who have worked on projects like Spider-Man and T2 so maybe this could be a hint toward a dark, Sesame Street ride which will be unique for SeaWorld Orlando as there is certainly not a lot of indoor ‘show scene’ rides since the animatronics on Journey to Atlantis stopped.

The Sesame Street land will be one of the largest investments in the parks history and continues to move away from live animals, infact, from the plans it doesn’t look as though there is going to be any live animal habitats in the land.

Who’s excited for this?

Smiles Included

Abby (not Abby Cadabby 😉 )

New Attractions to Look Forward to in 2018

Hey Thrill Seekers,

2017 has nearly come to an end, we’ve had loads of cool new attractions / parks arrive in Orlando this year such as Volcano Bay and Pandora – The World of Avatar and lucky for us 2018 is not going to disappoint either with loads of new rides set to open in the coming year.

I’m going to start with Hollywood Studios as we are eagerly awaiting the opening of Toy Story Land here at OAT towers. Two new rides and a food spot have been officially named for Toy Story Land which is opening in the summer of next year; Slinky Dog Dash – a family coaster where you will find  yourself zipping, dodging and dashing around a track that Andy has created to stretch Slinky to his limits. Alien Swirling Saucers where aliens will be flying around in their saucers trying to capture your rocket toy vehicle with ‘The Claw’ and Woodys Lunch Box which will be a quick service window to grab some of Andy’s fave food.

Next up is Universal Studios where Fast & Furious – Supercharged is set to open in Spring. Now this is one i’m personally super excited about as I LOVE  the Fast & Furious films. Guests will be immersed in their own Fast and Furious story, escaping the enemy with familiar faces such as Dom, Letty and Hobbs. The new ride will also feature a Virtual Line just like in Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon.

SeaWorld is also opening a brand new ride in the summer called Infinity Falls. Infinity Falls is a river rapids ride with a twist. It will be a 4+ minute ride featuring a 40ft plunge down the tallest drop of its kind. Riders will get to experience the excitement and thrills of category 4 white water rapids and use a ‘unique elevator lift’ which will create the worlds tallest drop on a river raft ride.

Aquatica is also debuting a brand new ride; Ray Rush. This ride is set to open in Spring and will be the only water ride in Florida to offer a water jet propel system which will launch riders (4 at a time) at 33 feet per second. It will have a height requirement of 42”.

LEGOLAND are also in the mix of opening new rides in 2018 with The Great LEGO Race: Opening in Spring – a new virtual-reality roller coaster adventure. This new coaster will feature virtual reality technology, a cast of wacky LEGO minifigures and is replacing the current Project X coaster.

Take a look at myself and Gavins recent OAT Live where we discussed everything we are looking forward to in 2018 (as well as my rubbish attempt at playing a Kazuu) and also another cool video below to round up all the new things to look forward to next year;

Personally, the one i’m most looking forward to is Fast & Furious – Supercharged. Whats yours?

Smiles Included

Abby

 

SeaWorld’s 2018 Calendar of Events

Hey Thrill Seekers!

Today, SeaWorld have released their Event Calendar for 2018 and it includes lots of experiences, festivals and concerts to create more year-round fun

NEW Three Kings Day:  Daily            1 – 6 January

During the all-new Three Kings Day celebration, families are invited to help commemorate the arrival of the Three Wise Men. The new event brings SeaWorld’s holiday season to an incredible close with festive cuisine and celebratory experiences that honour the cherished traditions of Latin cultures.

Praise Wave: Saturdays            20 Jan – 10 Feb

With the return of Praise Wave, guests can celebrate Christian fellowship and fun at SeaWorld Orlando. Uplifting, live concerts from the hottest names in Christian music will light up the stage at Nautilus Theatre.

Seven Seas Food Festival: Weekends             17 Feb – 15 April

After a delicious debut last year, the Seven Seas Food Festival is returning to SeaWorld this spring for a second course. As guests sip and sample their way through the park, they will discover globally-inspired flavours while enjoying local craft beers and culinary marketplaces. The fun goes beyond the food with live performances from top country, rock and Latin music artists each weekend.

NEW Just For Kids: Weekends              21 April – 13 May

Families will enjoy dancing to the beat and learning together along with everybody’s favourite furry, finned and flippered friends during these special weekends crafted with young guests in mind.

Electric Ocean: Select nights            26 May – 3 September

As the sun goes down, the park comes alive with the glow of Electric Ocean at SeaWorld, returning next year for another summer of fun. With exciting night time shows and electrifying music, guests are immersed in a sea of wonder that ends in “ignite,” a spectacular fireworks finale.

SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular:     29 September – 28 October

During Orlando’s premier daytime Halloween event, guests of all ages can join everyone’s favourite furry friends from Sesame Street as The Count, Elmo, Abby and others take the stage in Sesame Street’s Countdown to Halloween. Families will also enjoy a Halloween Dance Party, trick-or-treating around the park, and the opportunity to meet whimsical characters inspired by the sea.

  • SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration: Select Dates           23 November – 31 December

At SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, guests experience the joys of the holiday season complete with Rudolph’s Christmas Town and returning favourites sure to inspire traditions for years to come. During SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration guests of all ages can delight over scrumptious food, stunning live shows, joyful entertainment inspired by the natural world and much more.

Pop all of these in your calendar now or even print it out to help plan your 2018 Orlando holiday!

Smiles included

Jess

Top 5 Orlando Holiday Reveals

Hey Thrill Seekers,

Now i’m definitely not a blubber but holiday reveal videos make me do that thing where  your eyes get wet when you’re happy? Weird I know..

Holidays to Orlando, the theme park capital of the world, are nothing less than a huge deal and seeing your kids faces when you tell them that this year they’re lucky enough to be  going to Orlando must be second to none. Recently, keeping the holiday a secret for as long as possible and then filming the reaction of your littleun’s when you tell them is becoming more and more popular and I love it (although it does make me pretty jealous 🙁 )

The creativity of some families is amazing so i’ve been scouring the internet to put together my top 5 Orlando holiday reveal videos. Personally, my favourite type of reveal videos are treasure hunt ones.

1.

As i’ve previously mentioned, my favourite reveal idea is to do a treasure hunt around the house and this one is Disney themed.. even better 😀

 

2.

This one is soooo cute and I love the idea of the t-shirts, how grateful the kids are is very sweet.

 

3.

‘BUT WE HAVEN’T PACKED!!!’

 

4.

The suitcase races at the beginning of this one made me laugh, also love the Universal props for a brill Universal reveal.

 

5.

The little girls reaction at the end of this one is just brilliant.

I couldn’t think of a better surprise to receive than being told that i’m going on holiday to Orlando (Gavin should have done a video of when I was told I would be going on the Super FAM trip this year 😉 )

If you’ve got any funny, adorable or emotional reveal videos or ideas send them in to us i’d love to see!!

Smiles Included

Abby

Abby’s Pre-Orlando Adventure

Hey Thrill Seekers,

Its nearly time…….

If you watch our bi-weekly Facebook Lives you’re bound to know that i’m due to go on a ‘Super Fam’ trip and in particular, how excited I am about it! Well it’s time and i’m finally leaving tomorrow to embark on what is sure to be the best trip EVER.

If you follow our Facebook or Instagram accounts you’ll be seeing loads of videos and photos from yours truly over the next week including all things Disney, Universal and SeaWorld. Before I start packing (yes I know I’ve left it very last minute) I thought I would give you guys a run-down of what my trip is going to involve.

Soooo.. I arrive in Orlando at 5pm -ish on Sunday and by 9.30pm i’ll be at Universals Halloween Horror Nights!! Nothing like throwing us in at the deep end aye?! I’m absolutely terrified but also mega, mega excited for this (I do feel sorry for the people who are going to have to keep picking me up off the floor in the houses though) The house i’m most excited for is SAW: The Games of Jigsaw, SAW hasn’t featured at HHN for 8 years now and i’m pretty eager to see what’s going to be involved this time around.

For the first few days i’m going to be staying at Universals Cabana Bay Beach Resort which I’ve heard is very nice indeed. 😛 On my first full day i’ll be visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Diagon Alley, Hogsmede Village and Universal Studios. I’m absolutely buzzing to visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – I’ve heard so many amazing things about it and I just can’t wait to see it all for myself and i’m especially excited for  Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts™.

On to the next day.. On this day I will be visiting Volcano Bay in the morning and Universals Islands of Adventure in the afternoon, woooo!!! I can’t wait to ride Krakatau™ Aqua Coaster and teeny bit scared to do Ko’okiri Body Plunge™ I feel like this is going to be a fantastic morning and I can’t wait to get loads of snaps of the Volcano! For Islands of Adventure I’ve been warned not to wear white tops or any denim and this is because i’m bound to get ABSOLUTELY SOAKED on the water rides.. Hopefully it’s a warm day (oh I forgot to mention, the weather forecast for next week is BEAUTIFUL.) Oh i’m also very eager to ride The Incredible Hulk Coaster We have a surprise evening with Universal on this day and i’m super excited to see what this is going to be, of course, i’ll keep you updated!

Day 4 is the day i’m most excited about… anyone who knows me will understand why. Ever since I can remember, I’ve wanted to swim with a dolphin and now i’m lucky enough to have the opportunity to do it YAY!!! If you haven’t guessed already, i’ll be visiting Discovery Cove in the morning. I’m not going to lie there will probably be some tears buy hey, who cares it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity! After Discovery Cove i’ll be travelling over to Busch Gardens where I cannot wait to ride all the big coasters and ALL of the pressure is on me to ride Falcons Fury.. i’ve got this!

On day 5 i’ll be visiting SeaWorld in the Morning , Aquatica in the afternoon and back to SeaWorld for the evening! 😉 Very excited to ride Manta and Mako at SeaWorld as everyone in the offices always raves about how good they are. Especially excited to be lucky enough to ride them in the dark also! Psyching myself up for Ihu’s breakaway falls at Aquatica!

I’ll be staying over night at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, ready for day 6.. On day 6 i’ll be visiting EPCOT in the morning and Animal Kingdom in the afternoon. Can’t wait to visit all of the different countries at EPCOT and i’m so buzzing for Pandora – The World of Avatar at Animal Kingdom, the reviews i’ve read about Avatar – Flight of Passage have all been great so I cannot wait to experience it for myself too.

On the 7th Day i’ll be off to Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom, I am really looking forward to seeing Cinderella’s Castle, meeting all of the characters and getting to experience the iconic rides and attractions such as The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. I also hope I get to watch Happily Ever After, could possibly shed a tear or two here as well!

On my last day I get to go SHOPPING at the Orlando International Premium Outlets and the Florida Mall, I’ve got all my pennies saved up for this I’m just hoping i’ll have enough room in my suitcase!! After that it’s home time 🙁 🙁

Only 1 more sleep to go and i’ll finally be off!! If you would like to follow my action packed week make sure you keep checking our Facebook and Instagram as i’ll be trying to post as much and as often as possible.

See you all soon!!

Smiles Included,

Abby

 

SeaWorld Orlando Confirm Sesame Street Land Coming In 2022

Hey Thrill Seeker,

Today SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, announced the extension of their 37-year partnership with Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street®.

SeaWorld we’re excited to announce that with the new deal they have agreed to open a second Sesame Place®!The nation’s second Sesame Place® is scheduled to open no later than 2021 in a location yet to be determined.

Jeffrey D. Dunn, Chief Executive Officer of Sesame Workshop said;

We know that the magic of theme parks gives families a unique and powerful way to experience and delight in the Sesame Street characters, building more Sesame Place theme parks will enable us to connect with even more families and provide funding that supports our nonprofit mission.

However for Orlando fans the next piece of news was far more interesting.  In addition to a new Sesame Place theme park location, a brand new Sesame Street land will be built in SeaWorld Orlando by fall 2022. The agreement also extends SeaWorld’s status as the exclusive theme park partner of Sesame Street in the United States.

Joel Manby, President and Chief Executive Officer of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc stated;

We share Sesame’s goal of educating and entertaining generations of children, and the extension of our partnership furthers SeaWorld’s mission to provide guests with experiences that matter, we are thrilled to be able to grow the presence of Sesame Place theme parks in the U.S. and help our company diversify its brand portfolio and expand into new areas.

Sesame Place® features a variety of exciting family rides, water slides, live character shows, a daily parade, and seasonal events that help bring the educational world of Sesame Street to life beyond the show.

Smiles included…

Jamie

SeaWorld Confirm Kraken Unleashed VR Opening Date

Hey Thrill Seekers,

SeaWorld are really spoiling us today!

Another big thing for SeaWorld is the re-naming of their roller coaster ‘Kraken‘ to ‘Kraken Unleashed‘ which will debut on June 16th 2017 we already know that the new addition to the ride will include virtual reality headseats or in this case helmets. For those of you who don’t know much about virtual reality on coasters (really, where have you been?!) then here’s a fun fact for ya! The VR helmets will synchronize a video with the twists, turns and loops of the ride to enhance the experience.

Kraken originally opened on June 1st 2000 and whopping 17 years later (thank you, thank you I know my maths is great) guests will finally get to see the mighty Kraken.

These images show what kind of sea creatures and surroundings riders will find when they are immersed in the lost City of Atlantis during the ride. One of the creatures is called a Liopluredon. SeaWorld say that the unique creature was “an apex predator of the Middle to Late Jurassic seas.”

Born from tales that struck terror in sailors for centuries, SeaWorld Orlando’s mighty Kraken is a monster coaster like no other.

With the element of virtual reality, creatures such as the 21-foot Liopluredon will come to life. The already brilliant Kraken roller coaster includes a 149 foot dive, top speeds of 65 mph and 7 different times that see riders upside down. I think that the use of VR will completely change the whole experience of Kraken for the better and guests will really feel as though they are in the moment.

Kraken is a floorless coaster that see’s riders feet dangle as they are seated in open sided seats on a pedestal above the track. I think a spray of water during the ride would enhance the experience of being underwater even more. 😉

Kraken will feature custom digital overlay with uniquely designed virtual reality headsets, fully integrated both mechanically and electronically into the coaster train delivers a new one-of-a-kind adventure.’

I cannot wait for this to debut on the 16th June!

Smiles Included,

Abby

SeaWorld’s Dolphin Days To Open This Spring

Hey Thrill Seekers,

Today SeaWorld Orlando announced they will launching a new show called Dolphin Days. The new show will replace the popular Blue Horizons show after an impressive 11 year run. Dolphin Days will immerse guests into the world of the ocean’s most playful ambassadors. Dolphin Days, will debut on Saturday 1 April, at the aptly named Dolphin Theatre and we can’t wait to see what they have in store.

In the new presentation, the audience will learn more about the individual personalities of each Atlantic bottlenose dolphin while witnessing the special bond they share with their trainers. A soaring rainbow of macaws and other tropical birds will also delight guests, uniting the mysteries of the deep oceans with the wonder and beauty of the skies above.

The new Dolphin Days will also present an interactive opportunity for young guests. During each show, one lucky young volunteer will be selected from the audience to learn first-hand from the training team in an up-close encounter with one of the dolphins and a green-winged macaw.

As guests are wowed by the agility, grace and aerial bows of the dolphins, they will learn how they can help protect dolphins in the wild. The addition of Dolphin Days is the latest example of how SeaWorld continues to provide families with experiences that matter. Through up-close encounters and unique shows like Dolphin Days, guests will leave the park inspired to care about this amazing species, and take action to help wild animals and the places they live.

Dolphin Days won’t be the only place to learn more about dolphins. The park’s new Dolphin Nursery will open in time for summer, offering an interactive educational experience for guests to see dolphins up close. The addition of virtual reality to Kraken and the new night-time spectacular Electric Ocean round out an exciting line-up of new attractions and shows opening this year.

Smiles included…

Jamie