Afternoon Thrill Seekers,
Orlando Attraction Tickets has been overtaken by Penguins!!! Soon we’ll reveal why our cute little friends are so interested in your holiday…
regards,
Jamie
Before An IPO Could SeaWorld Be Purchased By A Rival?
Morning Thrill Seekers,
At the beginning of the year I reported on Blackstone, the owners of
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, filing for their intention to go public.
Over the weekend Reuters reported that Apollo Global Management had shown early interest in a buyout… but who are Apollo Global Management?
Well, Apollo Global Management are actually the owners of the largest regional theme park in the world, Six Flags and according to sources they are extremely interested in purchasing SeaWorld.
Early reports suggest that any deal for SeaWorld would see the park valued at about $4 billion, this is based on the financials of its publicly listed peers, such as Six Flags and Cedar Fair LP.
From my previous posts regarding a possible SeaWorld IPO its clear that a portion of the proposed funding would be put aside to make the park more competitive against its main rivals, Disney and Universal.
Here at Orlando Attraction Tickets we also find ourselves wondering if perhaps a competitor may look to add the nature based theme park to their own arsenal, could Disney, Universal or Merlin be having a little look?
Whatever happens to SeaWorld in the future, its clear that the Theme Park famous for its Killer Whale shows will have more up its sleeve once a buyer is found.
regards,
Jamie
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Officially File To Go Public
Festive greetings Thrill Seekers,
Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas break and you’re now ready
for more Orlando Attraction Tickets news. The big news just breaking is that SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment owned by the Blackstone Group have officially filed to go public.
As we reported earlier this month, rumours had been circulating about the proposal to file for an IPO to help compete with rival parks Universal and Disney and it looks like this is the route Blackstone have decided to go down.
The IPO, which listed an initial registration amount of $100 million, will be managed by Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS), JPMorgan Chase & Co., Citigroup Inc., Bank of America Corp., Barclays Plc and Wells Fargo & Co., according to the filing. Blackstone will keep most of SeaWorld’s voting rights after the IPO and the company’s ticker will be SEAS.
As well as looking to compete for visitors the proceeds from the IPO will be used to pay off debt, make a one-time payment to an affiliate of Blackstone and for “other general corporate purposes,” according to the filing
So could we be looking at more new developments at SeaWorld?
regards,
Jamie
Which Water Park Should I Visit?
Hey Thrill Seekers,
Orlando boasts some of the most impressive water parks in the World and visiting one of them should be high on your list of things to do; but if you could only visit one which one would it be?
In today’s post we will look at four of Florida’s most impressive water parks and see what they have to offer.
SeaWorld’s Aquatica
Aquatica is SeaWorld’s Orlando water park and is relatively new, opening its doors to the public in 2008. In its first year it hosted 950,000 guests, making it the fourth-most visited water park in the United States and eighth-most visited in the world.
It offers something for the whole family including a designated children’s area for the young ones but also boasts 36 water slides for the more adventurous.
Top Attraction – Dolphin Plunge – the park’s signature attraction, these two enclosed tube slides pass through a pool containing a pod of Commerson’s dolphins.
What People Say –
Top choice for water parks in the Orlando area. Had greater expectations for the dolphin slide but the transparent length is too short to really see anything. Plan to arrive early to enjoy shorter lines. The bathroom facilities were very good and functional. Nice to get a hot shower right after your water slides.
Great water park. Arrive early for short wait times. River rapids were awesome
If you go in the off-season (e.g. in the fall or winter) this place is great because all the rides have very short lines for most of the day, and no lines at all for the last hour of the day. Aquatica is open year round as long as the weather is decent (today it was great – high of 82 F in late December). The food isn’t very good – it’s fast food quality but it’s not always fast and sometimes you can be stuck waiting in line 20 minutes for a cheeseburger. But you don’t go to Aquatica for the food. You go there to ride some waterslides, and they have lots of good ones. My favorite is HooRoo Run. My seven year old likes Taumata Racer and wants to ride it over and over again. My three year old is into Kata’s Cove and wants to keep riding the slides there over and over until you drag her away kicking and screaming after she’s ridden them about a hundred times.
Disney’s Blizzard Beach
Opened in 1995 Disney’s Blizzard Beach is based on the “legend” of a freak snow storm hitting Orlando. According to the Legend once the snow had melted the Ski resort that had been built was redundant, just as the resort was about to be bulldozed an Alligator slid down a flume and splached in to the water, so much fun was had that the resort became Disney’s 3rd water park!
In 2009, the park hosted approximately 1.89 million guests, ranking it the second-most visited water park in the world.
The park boasts some of the best scenery of any water park including Mount Gushmore where most of the rides begin.
Top Attraction – Summit Plummet is the flagship attraction at 120 feet (36.6 m) tall, and speeds 60 miles per hour (97 km/h). It’s the second tallest and fastest free fall slide in the world.
What people say –
Leave it to Disney to perfect water fun” say fans of this “relaxing” aquatic playground, where the “well-executed” “blizzard-hits-Florida” theme brings together “the look of ice with the warmth of summer activities”; it’s “spread out enough to not seem too crowded”, so even if it’s a “bit expensive”, it’s still “one of the best ways to stay cool.
Great family day out in the water.
a really fun water park. just don’t try slusher gusher or summit plummet unless you enjoy having your bathing suit wrapped around your neck, having water up your nose, or feeling like you aren’t gonna live to tell about this!
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon
Typhoon Lagoon has been on many occasions the most visited water park in the World boasting annual visits of over 2 million people. The “legend” surrounding this water park is based on a Typhoon hitting a tropical Lagoon.
Top Attraction – Crush ‘n’ Gusher the only Water coaster I can think of. One to two person rafts are propelled by water jets through hairpin turns and drop-offs. This attraction includes a choice of the water coaster slide “Banana Blaster”, “Coconut Crusher”, or “Pineapple Plunger”.
What people say –
You’ll “feel like you’re in the islands” at this “family-friendly” water park where visitors can “stay cool and wet” by snorkeling with sharks, braving “roller-coaster type slides” or taking a dip in the “best wave pool on the planet”; “beautifully landscaped”, “lush” grounds lend a “tropical vibe” and further make it a “relaxing break from the parks
I had the time of my life with one of my best friends there. I’ll never forget that place!
The wave pool is AWESOME! Disney waterparks are fantastic. I also enjoy Blizzard Beach very much. I live in Florida and never get tired of Disney waterparks! BEST IN TOWN!
Universal’s Wet N’ Wild
Funnily enough Wet N’ Wild was founded by SeaWorld creator George Millay in 1977 and is considered the first major water park in the USA.
Although a new kids area is currently being built the park has the reputation of being more suited to the thrill rider and boasts the most amount of dual person rides at any water park.
Top Attraction – Bomb Bay – The ride for all dare devils is right here. Go inside the rocket awaiting unknowingly for the trap door to open that sends you down a 76-foot (23 m), nearly vertical slide to the depths below.
What people say –
A “perfect escape on a hot day”, this “classic” International Drive water park is “packed full” of “rides for kids of all ages”, plus “killer slides” and “relaxing” “hangout spots” like a wave pool and lazy river; it costs “less than other” nearby places, and a new addition, the sandcastle-themed Blastaway Beach, adds about an acre of additional tot-friendly fun and may help alleviate “crowded” conditionsThis place is awesome! I’ve went in summer 2005-2006. Had a blast! Especially that day was the Puerto Rican Festival. Great live music and food was delicious. I greatly recommend it! Great to enjoy with family. This time I’m going with my young one
We’ve been to all the water parks in the Disney-Universal area and W&W is one of the best! We love the “vintage” feel, enjoy the older and newer attractions, and most of all, some of the food vendors are now offering vegetarian options (the other parks don’t). Just one suggestion – please add more lounging areas…we make sure to come in early enough to get nice seating, but lounge chairs are gone shortly after opening time and you see people fishing for any open space…Keep up the good work.
So there we have it four of the top water parks in Orlando. For me I personally enjoyed Wet N’ Wild the most as I’m a bit of an adrenaline junky.
Which is your favourite?
regards,
Jamie
Turtle Trek at SeaWorld – A Photo Walk Through
Back on the 27th April we let you all know that SeaWorld launched ‘Turtle Trek’ The worlds first 3D movie presented in a domed theatre. Last month, courtesy of our good friends at SeaWorld Parks and Entertainments, I was lucky enough to go and experience this amazing attraction first hand. During the experience I managed to take some photos to show a step by step walk through;
I have to admit that the pictures I took within the theatre do not exactly do Turtle Trek the full justice it deserves. The pictures I managed to take were taken with an iPhone so not exactly the best but hopefully enough to give you an idea of what you can expect!
As an experience this has got to be one of the most unique. Its like standing in the middle of a 3D movie (essentially you are) You can turn and look in any direction and see things happening all around you, that’s the beauty of the dome theatre. The imagery is awesome and so are the sound effects. It really does give you a glimpse though the eyes of a turtle as its battles through life. The whole thing lasts around 15-20 minutes. Queuing time is limited if any as this is a group attraction.
Highly recommended for anyone visiting SeaWolrd.
I would love to hear from anyone else that has experienced Turtle Trek – why not drop us a comment.
Turtle Trek is part of the SeaWorld. You can experience this for your self with the SeaWorld 2 Park ticket or the SeaWorld 3 Park ticket available from OrlandoAttractionTickets.co.uk
Cheers
Karl
Christmas Town – New at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Start A New Family Tradition With Christmas Town, Only At Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens Tampa is all set to launch their very own after hours Christmas event called ‘Christmas Town’ which is all set to start on the 30th November will transform the park into a nighttime holiday wonderland packed full of wintery surprises and all things Christmas.
For the first time in the park’s 53-year history, visitors to Christmas Town will experience all-new evening attractions, shows and shopping from 6 to 11 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night from the 30th of November through to December the 23rd. The park is set to be transformed with special entertainment, live music, festive treats, holiday shopping and thousands and thousands of twinkling Christmas lights!
Nancy Hutson, vice president of entertainment says; “This is just a natural step for us to go, to keep the park open later and be able to use the dark evening hours to do some incredible lights and decorations and really take these phenomenal Christmas experiences to another level. The park will have distinct zones of decorations. Red and white lights will shine in the Nairobi area while animal-pattern decorations will be found in the Cheetah Hunt walkway. Children’s TV characters will be decked out in holiday gear at Sesame Street Season of Fun, while a topiary version of the nativity scene will seen in Stanleyville. The flamingo area will get a festive makeover with pink, twinkling lights. We wanted something that saluted Florida,”
Busch Gardens, IMO, is one of the best parks in Florida and well worth a visit at anytime of the year. However this new experience looks like its going to add some real magic this Christmas. If you are lucky enough to be one of the first to visit please send us over some pics and comments on what you thought – we’d love to share them
In the meantime you can still get Busch Gardens tickets at an amazing rate as part of the SeaWorld 3 Park Ticket which includes SeaWorld, Aquatica and Busch Gardens.
For a full list of what’s happening at Christmas Town please see below;
Celebration Village brings together the rich, warm colors of Christmas and heartfelt voices lifted in song to welcome guests as they enter Christmas Town. Draped in jewel-tone ornaments and glowing lights, the Moroccan Village comes alive with local choirs in the Marrakesh Theater and shops full of holiday gifts.
Family and friends will cozy up to brave the chill in the air along Ice Wonder Way. The frozen pathway sparkles and shimmers in the night as snowflakes dance down the front of the Moroccan Palace, welcoming guest for special performances of the all-new Christmas Town ice show.
Wild colors, exotic decorations and intricate animal patterns create the kind of Christmas found only in nature! Stretching along the Cheetah Hunt walkway, Jungle Jubilee welcomes guests to Florida’s only triple-launch coaster and the iconic Crown Colony restaurant, featuring special holiday fare and the new Carol of the Bells light show.
Just around the bend, Candy Cane Lane gives Christmas Town a peppermint twist. Red and white lights twinkle in the trees throughout the Nairobi area, calling to mind the beloved Christmas confection and pointing guests down the path to the Christmas Town Express and Santa’s House.
Experience the humble magnificence of that first Christmas night and remember the real “reason for the season” and along Miracle Way. Guests will marvel at a topiary representation of the Holy Nativity and illuminated angels, set along the Stanleyville Bridge in the warm glow of Christmas lights and sacred holiday music.
Christmas has come to Sesame Street! Elmo and his friends are all dressed up in their holiday best at Sesame Street Season of Fun, ready to pose for pictures and plenty of hugs with kids of all ages who stop by to wish them a funny, furry Christmas.
When it’s warm in December and there’s more sand than snow, celebrate a Floridian Christmas with a touch of the tropics in the Enchanted Flamingo Valley. Guests will be “thinking pink” as they encounter decorated palm trees and a flock of festive flamingos created from thousands of twinkling pink lights.
Christmas is in full bloom along Poinsettia Parkway, where guests can lose themselves among hundreds of the traditional holiday flowers and feast their senses on delicious holiday treats.
On your way to play in the snow, stop by Jingle Bell Junction and climb aboard a pint-sized train for a holly-jolly ride designed especially for young guests, located at the crossroads of Christmas Town in Gwazi Plaza.
Guests can find the perfect holiday gift or indulge in a delicious seasonal treat as they explore Christmas Town Village. Set along the Gwazi Park walkway, tiny Christmas cabins will scent the air with seasonal treats like apple pies and strudels, gingerbread cookies, eggnog and roasting nuts, as well as a delicious array of flavored popcorns, roasted nuts, waffles with ice cream, fruit-filled crepes, rustic sandwiches, homemade potato chips and Starbucks coffees and hot chocolate.
Enjoy a nostalgic white Christmas – in Florida! – in Christmas Town Park. Guests can experience real, frozen snowdrifts in the Snow Wonderland snow play area, meander among quaint cabin shops, pose for pictures with strolling snowmen, and finish off the night with an exclusive concert with the Grammy Award-winning group Jars of Clay.
end.
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SeaWorld reveal opening date for their newest attraction Turtle Trek!
Hey Everyone,
Last month we posted that SeaWorlds newest attraction Turtle Trek was in the process of being completed.
Just for those that don’t know; Turtle Trek is a one-of-its-kind attraction that brings guests closer to sea turtles and manatees by immersing them in a sea turtle’s epic journey with the world’s first 3-D, 360-degree movie screened in a domed theatre allowing guests to experience a turtle’s eye view of the ocean’s wonders.
Now I know you were all like “woaaah!” and “when is this awesome attraction opening?” and we were like “OK, OK, we’ll let you know” Well we said we’d keep you informed and because we are good like we have some exciting news!
We have just received confirmation from SeaWorld that Turtle Trek is to open on the 27th April.
So now the wait is over why not experience the attraction for yourself. Visit Orlando Attraction Tickets for the latest SeaWorld ticket prices.
For those of you that are lucky enough to see Turtle Trek this year why not drop us a line and let us know what you thought about it. We’d really love to hear from you.
Cheers
Frank
SeaWorld Switch From Pepsi To Coke
SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment have followed the other two major Orlando Theme Parks and ditch Pepsi to signed a 10 year deal with Coke to offer their beverages at all SeaWorld owned parks in the U.S.
SeaWorld’s deal with the drink giant not only includes selling Coke products at their parks, but also consumer promotions and sponsorships.
Financial details of the agreement have not been confirmed, however Jim Atchison, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment’s president and chief executive officer, released a statement stating,
The Coca-Cola Company’s exceptional beverage brands, significant global reach and, most importantly, inspiring commitment to global citizenship will make for extraordinary joint programs. Our two companies share a like-minded mission to make a positive difference in the world and we are thrilled at the endless possibilities to create new products and programs that will benefit our guests, our communities and the natural world.
How Do SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Aquatica and Discovery Cove eTickets Work?
How does the eTicket system work’s at SeaWorld, Aquatica, Busch Gardens and Discovery Cove.
Probably the most technically advanced of all the parks SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment’s eTickets do not have to be exchanged, they are gate ready.
How it works
- Once purchased through Orlando Attraction Tickets the customer receives an email with the tickets attached, each ticket has a bar code.
- When the customer visits the appropriate park, they go straight to the gate.
- No need to queue at guest services or go to the self service ticket machines.
- At the gates, simply scan your eTicket for entry.
- Enjoy your day.
With the 2 Park Ticket or the 3 Park Ticket, entering the parks couldn’t be easier. Remember with an eTicket if it gets damaged or wet simply print off another one!!!
Introducing The Orlando PassPort
orlando attraction tickets, the UK’s fastest growing theme
park specialist have released their brand new offering “The Orlando PassPort”
Orlando Attraction Tickets have exclusively created The Orlando PassPort to offer Unlimited admissions to 11 of Florida’s top parks, includes 14 consecutive days entry in to Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando® and SeaWorld® Orlando plus Aquatica™ and Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay.
The Orlando PassPort includes 14 consecutive days entry into:
- Magic Kingdom Park
- Epcot
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
- Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park
- Universal Studios® Florida
- Universal’s Islands of Adventure®
- SeaWorld® Orlando
- Aquatica™
- Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay
PLUS the Orlando PassPort also gives you unlimited access to the following great venues for the duration of your ticket:
- Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex (valid only on event days, some events require an additional admission charge)
- DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive Park (excludes prize games)
- Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course ( tee time reservations are required and subject to availability; Golf equipment hire is available but comes at an additional charge.)
- Universal CityWalk® (Some of the venues require you to be aged 21 years or above and photo ID is required. The CityWalk portion of the ticket is also not valid for separately ticketed concerts and special events and does not include movie at Universal Cineplex.)
And your Orlando PassPort also includes:
- FREE coach transportation from Orlando to Busch Gardens TampaBay on the Busch Gardens Shuttle Express. This service departs from SeaWorld plus various locations in the International Drive andKissimmee areas. Reservations are a must and can be made by calling 1-800-221-1339 when in Orlando.
At the Disney Parks, your ticket includes use of the FASTPASS system. It’s easy to use and cuts the wait time on the most popular attractions. Insert your ticket into FASTPASS stations at participating attractions and you’ll receive a FASTPASS Return Time so you can go play in the Park instead of waiting in line! FASTPASS is NOT included at non-Disney parks.
Prices
2011 – £400.00 per adult, £360.00 per child.*
2012 – £420.00 per adult, £380.00 per child.*
*prices subject to change without notice.
To book The Orlando PassPort visit Orlando Attraction Tickets and click on The Orlando PassPort
