Park Review- Seaworld San Diego

Park Review- Seaworld San Diego

Day: Wednesday
Date: March 12, 2014
Overall Rating: Very Good
Exhibit Rating: Excellent
Opinion: Beautiful Park.
Staff: Carrie, Kitsune and Alex


  During our "Grand California Tour" we simply had to visit Seaworld San Diego. Not only had we heard it's one of the prettiest of the many Seaworld Parks but also their newest addition, Explorers Reef, was set to open very close to our visit.

History:
  Seaworld San Diego is located in San Diego California, in the Mission Park area. It's about an hour and a half south of Anaheim in the far southern reaches of California. It's far enough out to be separate from other area theme parks but fully stands on it's own as one of the loveliest parks we've had the pleasure of visiting. Seaworld San Diego is the original "SeaWorld" park, founded in 1964 by four UCLA graduates. The park opened originally with only Sealions and Dolphins as their marine mammal attractions, the parks iconic"Shamu" Killer Whales didn't come to the park until 1965. "Shamu" wasn't originally captured for Seaworld but was purchased from a Seattle Aquarium.

  Seaworld later added additional parks in Ohio, Florida and Texas over the coming years. They changed ownership several times over it's 50 year history, the most noted and longest owner being Anheuser-Busch who grew Seaworld into a household name.

  2014 will celebrate Seaworld's 50th Anniversary which will be celebrated in all the current Seaworld parks, called "A Sea of Surprises".

(Keep reading for Full Review)

Seaworld San Diego- First Look at Explorers Reef

Seaworld San Diego- A Frist Look at Explorers Reef.

 As part of Seaworld's 50th Anniversary, "A Sea of Surprises" the park in San Diego made some massive changes to their entrance plaza. While the Grand Opening of Explorers Reef isn't until March 21st, Seaworld San Diego has been opening the area slowly to guests. We where lucky enough to be invited to visit Seaworld San Diego but even more to our surprise the new area of Explorers Reef has just soft opened, much to our delight.

Seaworld Parks- New Shamu Night Show

Image from Orlando Sentinel

 New Shamu Night Show coming to All Seaworld Parks.

 Today Seaworld Parks announced that in Summer of 2014, they will be launching an all new "Nighttime Shamu Show" to replace the seven year old "Shamu Rocks" show.

 This new orca show works with Seaworlds big "Sea of Surprises" 50th anniversary projects. Along with the new shamu show, the parks will be adding in other fun surprises for visiting guests. Including expanded animal encounters and art installations (made from washed up ocean debris).  Along with this, Seaworld San Diego is getting a new entrance plaza called "Explorers Reef" which will feature touch pools and learning stations.

 None of these moves have been a response to the sad phenomena of "Blackfish" (which isn't getting that Oscar they so wanted- HA!). The parks have reported record earnings and states these anniversary programs have been on the list since they decided to make a project of the event.