While Shamu may still be the largest star at Sea World San Antonio, he’s now sharing the spotlight with some other notable celebrities including Big Bird, Elmo, Grover, and Cookie Monster.
The Sesame Street Bay of Play opened at Sea World San Antonio earlier this year to much fanfare and praise. The attraction includes kid-friendly rides such as Abby Cadabby’s Rocking Wave, which creates a wave effect by rocking forwards, backwards and sideways, Elmo’s Dolphin Dive, a vertical drop that soars up and down, Grover’s Round-Up, a colorful carousel, and Big Bird’s Spinning Reef, a playful Ferris Wheel.
The bay also has interactive activities including Little Bird’s Splash Park, featuring 22 water elements such as bubblers, geysers, and jets, Tot’s Ahoy, a play area designed specifically for toddlers up to age three, a 3-story net climb and fun-filled sandbox. The character stage features musical performances by Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Zoe, Grover and Cookie Monster, followed by meet-and-greet photo opportunities with the stars of the show.
Those wishing to escape the heat can duck into the theater to experience Lights, Camera, Imagination!, a 4-D movie experience featuring a variety of Sesame Street characters, and some surprise special effects that will leave some viewers wet. For an additional fee, visitors who want to get to know the characters up-close-and-personal also have the option to dine with their favorite Sesame characters at a reserved-seat breakfast.
Sesame Street’s Bay of Play provides an entirely new experience for Sea World veterans and first time visitors, but Shamu and the park’s other aquatic shows and attractions still reign supreme. One Ocean, the newest killer whale show, educates as much as it entertains and inspires. Held in the massive Shamu Theater, One Ocean blends the high-flying talent of numerous whales with music and video as the trainers discuss our ability to coexist and share the ocean with these beautiful creatures, and make a difference in preserving the planet.
The Azul show features Beluga Whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, colorful birds and acrobatic performers, and the funny detective story Cannery Row Caper utilizes sea lions Clyde and Seamore to solve the mystery of why fish are disappearing from a local cannery. In addition, Sea World’s many aquatic exhibits offer visitors the ability to observe sharks, dolphins, penguins, alligators, sea lions, and seals enjoying their natural habitat.
Sea World’s Experiences offer visitors a more personal experience in the ability to interact with, touch, feed, and enjoy the company of Beluga Whales, dolphins, and stingrays. For an extra fee, the park also provides the ability to have breakfast with your favorite Sesame Street characters or lunch with Shamu. For those wishing to take a break from the shows and exhibits, Sea World’s numerous rides, roller coasters, restaurants, and shopping opportunities offer fun diversions.
Continually updating and evolving, Sea World is also currently constructing an all-new water park. Scheduled to open in May 2012, Aquatica will feature animal experiences, water rides, and more then 42,000 square feet of white, sandy beaches. Inspired by the South Sea Islands, Aquatica will feature three terraced pools, a giant wave pool, meandering rivers, and a family raft ride that goes underwater through a reef filled with stingrays and tropical fish. The park’s signature animal, the majestic stingray, Macaws and Spoonbill birds, and a multitude of colorful fish will add to Aquatic’s serene gardens and playful, high-energy atmosphere.
Sea World San Antonio opens for special times throughout the holidays, and will resume standard business hours in spring 2012. For additional information about the park, visit www.seaworldparks.com. The Sesame Street Bay of Play, the new Aquatica Water Park, Shamu, and all of the animals at Sea World will be ready to provide visitors with fun, unique, and exciting adventures next season.
