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San Antonia Sea World a Popular Attraction
When you enter the main gates you have a choice of many entertainment venues. Shaumu is the headliner and the kids will love the fabulous show presented several times a day. If it is rides you come for then you have several major ones to choose from. The roller coasters Steel Eel and The Great White both open at 11 a.m. and if you are wanting to ride them it is a good idea to go directly to them before the crowds get there. When you first come to the park when they open at 11 a.m. if you bypass the first Shamu Show and move further into the park you will be on a different schedule than the majority of the crowd. They will pack the first show and leave other things till later. If you pass them by you will be in the first group at the other things. They suggest arriving at the shows 20 minutes before it starts in order to get a good seat. Remember the seats in the first few rows at the Shamu Show will get splashed heavily as Shamu does his best to put up a spray of water onto those seats. There are several indoor animal habitats including the Penguin Encounter and Sharks/The Coral Reef. We found beautiful undersea plants there. One of the most popular places is the Dolphin Pool. Here you can get up close with the scores of dolphins in the shallow pool with a waist-high wall around it. You can purchase food that the dolphins love, then lean
over the top of the wall and offer the treat to them. Usually they will
come up and take the morsel from your hands. Hundreds of people were having
the time of their lives when we were there and the dolphins were happy
to take the tiny fish from them. One of the most amusing shows was The
Cannery Row Caper. The comical sea lion pair Clyde and Seamore star in
the presentation where detectives attempt to unravel the mystery of the
disappearing fish from a cannery. Set like a 1940s detective film the
audience is taken through the plot. The set features water cannons and
water jets. Again the front rows in one section are the target for water
and the occupants got really wet on the hot day that we visited. Perhaps
they didn't mind it at all! In Clydesdale Hamlet one gets the opportunity
to see the beautiful horses up close in their stalls. Right next door
is the Anheuser-Busch Hospitality House and Beer School. They will actually
give you a course on beer and some samples if you register early enough.
It was fully booked when we were there. At Shamu's Happy Harbor the Shamu Express family roller coaster features six two-person cars that travel up to 14 mph and climb to a height of 13 feet. It is just the thing for smaller children. You also may see costumed characters of Shamu, Pete Penguin, Penny Penguin, Seamore Sea Lion, Clyde Sea Lion and Dolly Dolphin as they roam the park. The park is 250 acres so expect to do a lot of walking. If you plan on spending time at Lost Lagoon, their 5 acre water park, bring towels and perhaps a change of clothes. Lockers are available at various locations in the park. When it comes time to eating, you will find a variety of places. Kids meals are offered at several restaurants including Ski Side Cafe, Mango Joe's Cafe Ole and Rio Loco Bar-B-Que. They also offer special dining adventures the Rise and Shine Reef Breakfast at Sharks/The Coral Reef. You eat at a table beside their 300,000 gallon coral reef setting with thousands of fish. Nearby is the shark habitat in a 400,000 gallon tank that brings you "face-to-tooth" with the sharks. Cost is about $21 extra for adults and $16 for children (both in addition to admission prices). This Sea World also offers a program where guests can enter the belugas' environment and experience them up close. They don wet suits for the 90 minute program. It is limited to those 8 and over and children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. An additional fee above park admission is required for this especial experience. Then you can Dine With Shamu. This all-you-can-eat buffet is located alongside their killer whale habitat in an area that is normally restricted to their staff. Shamu will be there to show off. A paid reservation is required in addition to park admission.
You can also sign up at the reservation centre for several behind-the
scenes tours and be sure to check the schedules of feeding times so you
don't miss this great adventure. Admission is about $42 per day for adults
and $33 for children. You can purchase a two day ticket for just a few
dollars more. Prices quoted are for on-line purchases which are about
10% less than gate admission prices. Sea World San Antonio |