Sea World Orlando 6-10-22

On the last day of our non-Disney leg of our Orlando trip we hopped over to Sea World, food included. For all of us this was our first trip to SWO, but not our first trip to a Sea World park. My wife and I have been to the Texas park, as well as the San Diego one. Our kids joined us for the San Diego park.

We arrived before park opening and quickly made it through security. I really like that most parks now have you pass through security with your bags, which generally lets you skip bag check. Another welcome surprise was the playing of the national anthem. I'm not a flag waver by any stretch but it reminded me of the beginning of a baseball game or opening Cedar Point. (Do they still play the anthem at CP?)

After a fairly quick entrance to the park we headed to Manta. Luckily the line was super short as were able to secure a front row ride with only a two-train wait. Two train operation made this go quickly. I haven't been on a B & M flying coaster since my last ride at SFGAm a decade ago. I was never a big fan of them, especially the pretzel loop. Although Manta is an improvement over Superman, it wasn't enough for me to take a second lap. My son decided he wanted to try it out so my wife took him. It's his favorite ride in Orlando, including Guardians. Weirdo.

We checked out the aquarium, stingrays, dolphins, manatees, and turtles on our way to Journey to Atlantis. It felt like we had the place to ourselves until we got over to Atlantis. Our first minor frustration of the day was the late opening of most of the park, which feels like such a Six Flags move. Ten minutes later they opened up the line for Atlantis. Shortly after, a guest passed out in line from the heat. It took quite awhile for a Sea World employee to show up on the scene. Atlantis is a fun water ride with a decent amount of show scenery, a welcome change from the San Diego counterpart.

While in the area of Atlantis we hopped in line for Kraken as it was showing a 5-minute wait. Not even close, it was probably more like 25 based on what some others in line were saying and the distance from the station. Since the kids weren't going to ride we took a pass and headed over to the penguin encounter. My daughter is obsessed with penguins so this was a must. This is a better experience than the penguin exhibit in San Diego as you are very close to the penguins. I was disappointed however that the ride in the building looks to be permanently closed.

At this point it was getting close to lunch time so we headed over to the Lakeside Grill for some Mediterranean food. The chicken kabobs were very good. The falafel? Not so much. Food service was quick, which is the only time I would be able to say that on this day.

After lunch our next stop was the shark encounter, which was fair. Just as we were leaving the encounter the rain began. We waited by the outdoor tank and watched some sharks swim for a few minutes until the rain let up. Next up, Mako. What a fantastic ride, until the last 1/8 of the ride, when it feels like it just lets up. Tons of great air time and smooth as silk. This may be my favorite Beemer. Up for a second lap? Sorry, closed for inclement weather.

Before the rain hit again we made our way over to the Waterway Bar and Grill. Did someone say free beer? Twenty minutes later we got our samples as we watched the skies open up. The rain finally let up but all the rides were still shut down. We decided to make our way over to Ice Breaker with a slow stroll through Seasame Street Land.

Ice Breaker had been shut down the entire morning for a maintenance issue. It had been 90 minutes so we decided to grab a snack at Altitude Burgers while we waited out Ice Breaker. They were testing trains while we ate but the worker said that it probably wouldn't be up until after 5. It was 2:30

We decided to head back to Kraken and check out the wait time there and check out the gift shops so my daughter could buy yet another stuffed penguin. Right as we were ready to hop in line they announced that the ride was closing for inclement weather. We found some shelter as the deluge returned yet again. By the time the rain stopped it was time to eat. We decided to try the barbecue at Voyagers Smokehouse. This was probably the best mean we had at either SWO or BGT, but again nothing to write home about. At this point we were ready to head back to the hotel as we wanted to check out Disney Springs and Ice Breaker still wasn't up.

Overall a decent day. Operations were decent but the delayed opening of parts of the park were a real bummer. The lack of indoor attractions also makes Sea World feel like a really small park when the weather turns bad. The food wasn't spectacular but definitely passable. However, service was slow as molasses at most of the places we stopped. We'll probably stop by again on our trip to Universal when Epic Universe opens.

I’m sorry you missed the penguin hockey puck ride but you shouldn’t be. It was one of the worst rides I’ve ever taken- so bad it was laughable.

That thing hasn't run in years. I imagine it will go away permanently sooner than later.

That ride isn't very good but the penguin exhibit is an incredible experience.

I just wish it was like the old days when you could just walk into the exhibit building and look at the penguins. I don't understand why they still make everyone wait in the sun outside to come in and watch the preshow video for a ride that's no longer open

Maybe to limit the number of people in the exhibit? The main area is a bit packed.

I did a BGT/SWO trip a few weeks ago and was underwhelmed by Ice Breaker. They were only running one train, I waited 45 minutes and therefore only took one ride. I did however ride in the back row, which I assume is the best ride, mainly due to the back spike.

It's not like I hated it, it just didn't do a whole lot for me. I'm not a huge fan of back and forth, though this was my first coaster in the newest wave of coasters where this is the trend. (Pantheon, etc)

I did get the BGT/SWO season pass, so I hope to get a few more rides in on it if I find myself in Orlando again, (And maybe even the surf coaster depending on when it opens) but my main reason for the pass is BGT, which I've already managed to visit 2x. Perhaps I'll comment on the BGT TR with my thoughts on IG. (Spoiler alert: It's amazing!)

Ice Breaker is fun for what it does, but those shinguards just destroy it for me, and the backwards/forward actually gets me a little queasy.

On the other hand, Pantheon immediately went into my Top 10 last weekend.

Mulfinator:

Maybe to limit the number of people in the exhibit? The main area is a bit packed.

I guess maybe that's my complaint. The moving walkway and big second level observation area that held a large number of people is gone

BrettV:

and the backwards/forward actually gets me a little queasy.

That's what it does for me too. As I get older I find that unnatural motions can really set me off. What often seems to be the case with me is that a ride goes through the course at a slower speed than designed, therefore the motion becomes unnatural and throws off my equilibrium.

At SW, I felt that the little hills in the back/forth launch felt unnatural, and the second part of Mako can do that to me too if they slow it too much on the MCBR. In fact, I got sent into instant nausea once on SFNE's mouse coaster simply by the last 2 bunny hops that were so unnatural.

Yes, I'm fully aware that this is a *me* problem, not everyone else feels this way, and there's a whole other thread on it here, just expanding on Brett's thoughts.

The backwards on that ride didn't bother me. But I consistently struggle with Expedition Everest. Even a stock Boomerang messes with me.

Expedition Everest makes me motion sick every time.

I never experienced that on Everest until this past month. Getting old sucks.

As far as backward motion goes, Everest doesn't bother me (yet), but the last time I rode Wicked Twister it messed with me. The combination of backward and spinning on Cobra's Curse at BGT really made me feel icky the only time I ever rode it. I still do ok on a standard Vekoma Boomerang, but the last time I rode Invertigo at Kings Island (2018?) I swore off it forever. That said, I feel like I could have marathoned Pantheon and been fine.

Tommytheduck:

What often seems to be the case with me is that a ride goes through the course at a slower speed than designed, therefore the motion becomes unnatural and throws off my equilibrium.

I still think this is why I have trouble on Gatekeeper and Valravn at Cedar Point. Gatekeeper is the only wing coaster I have ever ridden, but that wide range of motion on the slow keyhole inversions make me queasy. Valravn is the same with the roll inversion toward the end of the ride, but if I avoid end seats and the added range of motion for that inversion I seem to do ok. And I never have had a problem on Sheikra or Griffon, which both essentially do the same thing, but without that one inversion.

Man, I feel less old with that account.