Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Is Shamu Packing Heat?
Some years back the Orlando Sentinel declared war on the region's largest employer, the engine of the area's economic success, the tourism industry. The Sentinel ranked tourism right up there with citrus blight and category 5 hurricanes as a threat to Orlando's well being.
This editorial stance so outraged local tourism officials that hotelier Harris Rosen for a while banned the Sentinel from being sold in his hotels.
Times (and editors) changed and today the Sentinel's tourism coverage, by Scott Powers, Dewayne Bevil, and others is first rate. Yes, the paper still goes ga-ga when one of the gazillions of visitors WDW sees each year has a heart attack. (I wonder why we never see a headline that reads "Man Reads Sentinel in Morning, Drops Dead At Noon"?)
Still, the Sentinel does an excellent job of covering the tourism scene.
Then you see a headline like this -- SeaWorld worker arrested in connection with shooting -- and you begin to wonder.
The incident in question happened miles away from SeaWorld, in Polk County fer cryin' out loud. It apparently involved a purely domestic dispute with unruly teenagers. It had zero to do with the shooter's... excuse me alleged shooter's employment.
So why is SeaWorld in the headline? The article doesn't even tell us what he does at SeaWorld. Is he a major executive? (My guess is no.) Does he have any contact with the public? Does he work with children? Did he shout "This one's for Shamu" when he pulled the trigger? Is the Sentinel telling us that SeaWorld employees are violent? Are we supposed to think that if we go to SeaWorld we will be in danger of getting shot by some wacko on the payroll? Is Shamu packing heat?
I just don't get it.
A cursory search of the Sentinel for reports of other shooting incidents showed that they usually use terms like "Gunman" or "Lake County man" to identify shooters in the headline. But apparently when the alleged perpetrator works for a theme park it's worthy of being enshrined in the boldface type.
Like I say, I just don't get the journalistic line of reasoning that makes a non-fatal incident involving a (presumably minor) theme park employee, one that happened miles away from the theme park, worthy of this kind of "guilt by association" treatment.
Can someone out there enlighten me?
This editorial stance so outraged local tourism officials that hotelier Harris Rosen for a while banned the Sentinel from being sold in his hotels.
Times (and editors) changed and today the Sentinel's tourism coverage, by Scott Powers, Dewayne Bevil, and others is first rate. Yes, the paper still goes ga-ga when one of the gazillions of visitors WDW sees each year has a heart attack. (I wonder why we never see a headline that reads "Man Reads Sentinel in Morning, Drops Dead At Noon"?)
Still, the Sentinel does an excellent job of covering the tourism scene.
Then you see a headline like this -- SeaWorld worker arrested in connection with shooting -- and you begin to wonder.
The incident in question happened miles away from SeaWorld, in Polk County fer cryin' out loud. It apparently involved a purely domestic dispute with unruly teenagers. It had zero to do with the shooter's... excuse me alleged shooter's employment.
So why is SeaWorld in the headline? The article doesn't even tell us what he does at SeaWorld. Is he a major executive? (My guess is no.) Does he have any contact with the public? Does he work with children? Did he shout "This one's for Shamu" when he pulled the trigger? Is the Sentinel telling us that SeaWorld employees are violent? Are we supposed to think that if we go to SeaWorld we will be in danger of getting shot by some wacko on the payroll? Is Shamu packing heat?
I just don't get it.
A cursory search of the Sentinel for reports of other shooting incidents showed that they usually use terms like "Gunman" or "Lake County man" to identify shooters in the headline. But apparently when the alleged perpetrator works for a theme park it's worthy of being enshrined in the boldface type.
Like I say, I just don't get the journalistic line of reasoning that makes a non-fatal incident involving a (presumably minor) theme park employee, one that happened miles away from the theme park, worthy of this kind of "guilt by association" treatment.
Can someone out there enlighten me?
Labels: orlando sentinel, seaworld, theme parks
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
SeaWorld Let's Freedom Ring On July 4th
SeaWorld is planning a July Fourth fireworks blow out. From the press release:
This July 4 & 5, families can join SeaWorld Orlando and celebrate the red, white and blue with the exciting firework spectacular Let Freedom Ring. This impressive production features a giant projection screen illuminating some of America's greatest historical moments set to stirring music and patriotic narration. Guests will have the opportunity to experience the 12-minute extravaganza twice nightly at 9:15 p.m. and 10:45 p.m.
Labels: fireworks, july 4, seaworld
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Can You Tell Me How To Get To Sesame Street?
Well, I can tell you how to get to Sesame Street at SeaWorld (thanks to their press release):
The beloved Sesame Street characters return to SeaWorld this spring and summer, delighting families with character meet-and-greets, a Breakfast with Elmo and Friends and an all-new “Elmo and Abby’s Treasure Hunt” musical production.
Throughout the day, kids and parents will also enjoy special character connection opportunities to meet their favorite Sesame Street friends for hugs and photographs.
Guests may even start their day with a fun-filled character breakfast sure to entertain kids and parents alike. Breakfast with Elmo and Friends is offered daily at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The breakfast features a delicious buffet served-up with the hottest characters in town including Elmo, Big Bird, Grover, Zoe, Ernie and Cookie Monster. Prices are $16.95 plus tax for adults and $14.95 for children (ages 3-9). Children under 3 are free. Reservations are required.
Sesame Street’s newest neighbor, Abby Cadabby, is the star of this fun musical show featuring Elmo, Cookie Monster, Rosita and Grover. Beginning May 24 and running through Sept. 1, Abby and her Sesame pals will embark on a treasure hunt adventure as they search for clues to open a talking treasure trunk. Along the way, they’ll encounter a singing tree, a rhyming rock, a shouting toucan and more. As they find the clues to unlock the trunk, they explore their treasures and open their minds to a world of imagination.
Labels: orlando, seaworld, sesame street
Manta Coming to SeaWorld
The Coaster Critic has spilled the beans about the long-rumored new coaster that will be sort of a centerpiece at SeaWorld.
Located in a central area near the entrance mall, the new ride will be named "Manta" and will be a "flying coaster," that is a steel coaster where you get strapped into a prone, face-down position, with the coaster tracks over your head.
The concept art posted at Coaster Critic makes it look like the wings of the manta ray themed ride vehicle will dip into water at at least one point, sending a wall of water over onlookers (shades of SheiKra!). There's also talk of up-close animal encounters, although how they'll manage that is anybody's guess.
The artwork also makes it look like the ride will cover more ground than the current fenced off area would suggest. Looks like the track will extend over nearby parts of the park. But I wonder where exactly. Key West?
Located in a central area near the entrance mall, the new ride will be named "Manta" and will be a "flying coaster," that is a steel coaster where you get strapped into a prone, face-down position, with the coaster tracks over your head.
The concept art posted at Coaster Critic makes it look like the wings of the manta ray themed ride vehicle will dip into water at at least one point, sending a wall of water over onlookers (shades of SheiKra!). There's also talk of up-close animal encounters, although how they'll manage that is anybody's guess.
The artwork also makes it look like the ride will cover more ground than the current fenced off area would suggest. Looks like the track will extend over nearby parts of the park. But I wonder where exactly. Key West?
Labels: manta, orlando, roller coasters, seaworld
Friday, November 30, 2007
Why I Like SeaWorld
From a press release:
More than 125 soldiers and their family members celebrate their recent return home after deployment in Iraq with a special day at SeaWorld. The soldiers are enjoying a variety of events at the park including recognition during the Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island show and a family picnic. The soldiers are members of Company A, Third Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Florida Army National Guard and hail from throughout Florida.
Anheuser-Busch has a long history of honoring the men and women of the U.S. armed forces with tribute programs like Here’s to the Heroes. Here’s to the Heroes provides a single day’s free admission to any one SeaWorld or Busch Gardens park, Sesame Place, Adventure Island or Water Country USA for the service member and as many as three of his or her direct dependents. In addition, Anheuser-Busch was recently recognized as one of the “Top 50 Military-Friendly Employers” by G.I. Jobs Magazine.
Labels: military, orlando attractions, seaworld
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Welcome "Worlds of Discovery"
Busch Entertainment is making an attempt to rebrand its family of theme parks as "Worlds of Discovery."
I assume the parks will also retain their "traditional" names, so I'm not sure how much difference this is going to make in public perception. We shall see.
When Aquatica - the waterpark that only SeaWorld could create - joins the Worlds of Discovery parks in spring 2008, it will complement the SeaWorld experience. Along with Discovery Cove, these three parks in Orlando offer unique ways to connect with the world of the sea. The Worlds of Discovery parks also include SeaWorld parks in California and Texas, Busch Gardens parks in Tampa, Fla. and Williamsburg, Va., their adjoining water parks, Adventure Island and Water Country U.S.A., and Sesame Place near Philadelphia.
I assume the parks will also retain their "traditional" names, so I'm not sure how much difference this is going to make in public perception. We shall see.
Labels: busch entertainment, busch gardens tampa, orlando attractions, seaworld
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Audioanimatronics It Ain't
I've been to Disney," people will tell you, "But y'know what I think is the best thing they've got down there in Orlando? SeaWorld!" I heard it over and over again. In a way this reaction was somewhat surprising. After all, compared to the Magic Kingdom or Universal, SeaWorld is downright modest, with only a smattering of thrill rides.
Of course, this “I-liked-SeaWorld-best” attitude may be one-upmanship — that quirk of human nature that makes us want to look superior. After all, SeaWorld is educational and how much more flattering it is to depict yourself as someone who prefers educational nature shows to mindless carnival rides that merely provide “fun.” I’m just enough of a cynic about human nature to give some credence to this theory.
However, I think the real reason lies elsewhere. No matter how well imagined and perfectly realized the attractions at Universal or Disney might be, the wonders on display at SeaWorld were produced by a creative intelligence of an altogether higher order. The animated robotics guys can tinker all they want and the bean-counters in Hollywood can give them ever higher budgets and they still will never produce anything that can match the awe generated by a killer whale soaring 30 feet in the air with his human trainer perched on his snout. No matter how much we are entertained by Universal and Disney, at SeaWorld we cannot help but be reminded, however subliminally, that there are wonders in our world that humankind simply cannot duplicate, let alone surpass.
It’s a feeling of which many visitors probably aren’t consciously aware. Even if they are, they’d probably feel a little awkward trying to express it. But I am convinced it is there for everyone — believer, agnostic, or atheist. It’s the core experience that makes SeaWorld so popular; it’s the reason people will tell you they liked SeaWorld best of all. To paraphrase Joyce Kilmer’s magnificent cliché about human inadequacy,
I think that Walt will never do
A wonder greater than Shamu.
(Excerpted from The Other Orlando.)
This video gives some idea of what it's all about.
Of course, this “I-liked-SeaWorld-best” attitude may be one-upmanship — that quirk of human nature that makes us want to look superior. After all, SeaWorld is educational and how much more flattering it is to depict yourself as someone who prefers educational nature shows to mindless carnival rides that merely provide “fun.” I’m just enough of a cynic about human nature to give some credence to this theory.
However, I think the real reason lies elsewhere. No matter how well imagined and perfectly realized the attractions at Universal or Disney might be, the wonders on display at SeaWorld were produced by a creative intelligence of an altogether higher order. The animated robotics guys can tinker all they want and the bean-counters in Hollywood can give them ever higher budgets and they still will never produce anything that can match the awe generated by a killer whale soaring 30 feet in the air with his human trainer perched on his snout. No matter how much we are entertained by Universal and Disney, at SeaWorld we cannot help but be reminded, however subliminally, that there are wonders in our world that humankind simply cannot duplicate, let alone surpass.
It’s a feeling of which many visitors probably aren’t consciously aware. Even if they are, they’d probably feel a little awkward trying to express it. But I am convinced it is there for everyone — believer, agnostic, or atheist. It’s the core experience that makes SeaWorld so popular; it’s the reason people will tell you they liked SeaWorld best of all. To paraphrase Joyce Kilmer’s magnificent cliché about human inadequacy,
I think that Walt will never do
A wonder greater than Shamu.
(Excerpted from The Other Orlando.)
This video gives some idea of what it's all about.
Labels: orlando attractions, seaworld, Shamu
