SeaWorld - South End: Dine With Shamu

Rating: * * * *
Type: Dinner attraction with additional charge
Time: About an hour
Kelly says: For hardcore Shamu fans

After the stadium show, why not join the stars for a nice meal? That’s essentially the opportunity afforded by Dine With Shamu. The large pool with the underwater viewing area (see above) doubles as an al fresco buffet restaurant for orcas and their guests. It’s a pleasant way to get another, more relaxed look at those magnificent orcas. Tables have been set up along one side of the pool, under an awning and a small building behind the tables houses a buffet line.

The meal is scheduled for early evening at a time that varies somewhat with the season. If the park is open late, there may be two shows. It’s advisable to check.

The buffet dinner is simple but plentiful. Typically there will be chicken, beef, seafood, and vegetarian main courses, with veggies, rolls and other side dishes. A separate buffet line caters to kids’ tastes and both grown-ups and kids share a dessert buffet that includes puddings, brownies, cookies, and the like. Beer and wine, along with iced tea and lemonade are included in the price, which is $37 for adults and $19 for children 3 to 9. (Annual passholders get a $5 discount.) Tax and tip are additional.

The meal I had was adequate, the entrees seeming almost purposely bland, but then the meal is not the main draw here. Shortly after the meal begins, the main business of the evening gets under way — a pleasant encounter with one of the mammoth performers from the Shamu shows.

Typically, two trainers are involved. One works with the animal while the other stands on the opposite side of the pool from the dining area and keeps up a running patter filled with interesting factoids about orcas and how the staff works with them and cares for them. For example, did you know that SeaWorld’s killer whales have their teeth brushed every day? Why? Because dental problems are the single biggest cause of orca fatalities in the wild.

There is much less of the flamboyant acrobatics of the main show. There are a few leaps and you are warned that you might get wet, but the trainers seem to keep things fairly subdued. Shamu does emerge onto a shallow slide-out area and seats here are good ones. The trainer encourages questions but you will have to shout them out to be heard.

The whole event from start to finish lasts less than an hour and will seem too short to most folks. I would recommend Dine with Shamu only for diehard fans. For others, the price will seem a little steep for what you get.

You can book seats for the show at the front of the park. When you do you will be assigned a table. Reservations can be made by calling 800-327-2424.

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