Shamu's Smartguide

More technology available in the parks. This time it's SeaWorld offering a handheld GPS/information device for a nominal fee.

There's nothing on the SeaWorld site yet, but here's some pics and info.

"The cost is $18.00 plus tax so its something like $19.25 total and I figure you have to leave a Credit Card for collateral."

Nominal, eh?

Yes. Nominal. :)

I took my family to SeaWorld San Diego on Thursday – didn’t notice this item at the San Diego park yet. However if it was offered, I probably would have done it since we only had one day at the park and it sounds like it would be useful for those not familiar with the park (we have never been to this park).

I was in the park a few days ago and got to check out one of the Smartguides. The young lady at the information counter told me that it was a pilot program at SeaWorld Orlando, but if it went well they wanted to expand. Pretty great concept and it should only get better. Had some great educational information and videos, navigation and showtimes were very convenient, and we got discounts at the gift shops (didn't use restaurant discounts).

Definitely worth checking out if you're going through the park. Price is definitely nominal, considering the cost of everything else at theme/adventure parks these days.

matt., we both need petter-paying gigs... ;)

Why doesn't my ATM churn out 100s? :)

Does this device provide anything other than information? For instance line cutting or line reserving or Virtual Queueing (or whatever you want to call it)? Or priority seating at shows?

I don't believe so, but it should. (for an additional fee, of course :) )

Its too expensive.

I was just talking to some of my co-workers about creating an iPhone app that would give guided tours just like this.

Spend $18 to rent a GPS device or use the free map? Hmmm, this is a tough one.

It gives you different info than just the map though right? Isn't Disneyland doing this as well and giving some history and "secret" info?

The GPS is definitely a little more than a map. We got some great discounts off of it. I think 20% at gift shops and photo, 10% at some of the restaurants (although you had to buy an entree I believe). I don't know the exact number, but we found a lot of educational videos on the animals and plenty of extra information. There's a section called "SeaWorld Insider" with a ton of information on rides, animals, attractions, etc.

They also said it's available in Spanish and Portuguese, so I guess there's some added worth for foreign language speakers.

What is so funny is that I had actually started on my own GPS Mapping of Worlds of Fun that would be compatible with my Garmin Units. I will probably have it available to everyone here, but it wouldn't be anywhere near as sophisticated as this system Sea World is using. Mine would use the MapSource port and I would not be able to provide daily showtimes and line times as this one does.

I was doing this so I can get a perspective on my GPS of WOF when I am there and probably have some fun with it.

^ That's what becomes so cool about cell phone with GPS in them. You could so something as sophisticated as this Shamu thing and make it part of the daily experience at the park rather than an up charge. I think eventually we will get to that point.

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eightdotthree said:
...make it part of the daily experience at the park rather than an up charge. I think eventually we will get to that point.

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Yeah, you're probably right. Based on two things:

1. No need for a park-supplied device
2. The technology being readily available at all parks

Maybe the park that figures out how to do it on a guest's device (cell phone, etc) and bumps up the gate a few bucks to offer it as a 'free' service to all will be the ones to push it over the edge. ;)

Ha ha. Well, it could be supplied by the same people that do the park maps now or completely user generated. If we have park nerds providing the data via a wiki these things could exist for any park people were willing to do the work for.

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Lord Gonchar said:Maybe the park that figures out how to do it on a guest's device (cell phone, etc) and bumps up the gate a few bucks to offer it as a 'free' service to all will be the ones to push it over the edge.

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Kennywood?

Might be one of the hidden benefits of European ownership?