SeaWorld, what an amazing place to visit. It's the only place where you can get face-to-face with Shamu, the famous killer whale. While you're there, you'll be able to watch several whales glide through the 6.7 million gallon pool. It's also the only place on earth where you can get face-to-face with sharks of all shapes and sizes - SAFELY. The Shark Encounter is a 280,000-gallon attraction features a 57-foot, walk-through acrylic tube running the length of the sharks' habitat. As you travel through the sharks' amazing world, you can view hundreds of fascinating sand tiger, bonnethead, blacktip and whitetip sharks swimming overhead.
If you would like to know you can make SeaWorld day even more fun, please take a few minutes to listen or subscribe to the Get Away Today Travel Show podcast with Patrick Wiscombe and Alyssa Stark, Get Away Today Team Leader and resident SeaWorld expert. We've also provided a transcript of this SeaWorld Tips podcast for your convenience.
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Todd Carlson: (Announcer)
Travel news you can use. This is the Get Away Today.com Travel Show. Get Away Today is a top provider of affordable, fun family vacations to Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Hawaii, San Diego, Beaches, and Sandals in the Caribbean. The Travel Show is heard exclusively on Get Away Today.com. And now, here's the host of the Travel Show.
Patrick Wiscombe: (Get Away Today - Internet Marketing Manager)
I’m so glad its Friday! This is the Get Away Today Travel Show Podcast. My name is Patrick Wiscombe, thank you for tuning us in wherever you’re listening. Just a quick reminder before we get started, when you book your vacation on our website, Get Away Today.com, make sure you use promotion code ‘podcast’ as you check out so we can give you an additional $10 off your vacation. Coming up in the next 10 minutes, were going to give you some tips to make your SeaWorld vacation even better. Alyssa Stark, Get Away Today Team Leader and Resident SeaWorld expert, is in the Get Away Today studio with me right now to talk about SeaWorld. Alyssa, I was at SeaWorld in June and didn't know until then that you can actually swim with the dolphins.
Alyssa Stark: (Get Away Today – Team Leader and SeaWorld Expert)
SeaWorld offers a great opportunity for you to play with the dolphins with their ‘Trainer for the Day’ and ‘Dolphin Encounter Program.’ One of the best times to interact with the dolphins is during meal times. You’ll be able to interact with Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins, Sea Lions, and Sting Rays. Not only do you get to feed them, you also get to touch them which is really fun for the kids. Most of the time you won't get wet but sometimes the dolphins do like to splash and have fun with you. SeaWorld also features the Dolphin Discovery Show which is a fun show for adults and kids.
Patrick Wiscombe: The Dolphin Discovery Show takes place inside Dolphin Stadium.
Alyssa Stark: Yes, that's correct. It’s a show I wouldn’t miss. You need to be there a little bit early to get the seat you want. They have a splash zone that kids love to sit in.
Patrick Wiscombe: When you say “splash,” that's a little misleading. It's not a splash zone, it's more of a soak zone.
Alyssa Stark: Definitely. The potential to get absolutely drenched is there for sure.
Patrick Wiscombe: One of the things that I thought was really cool when I was down there was looking at the sting rays. Isn’t it cool how they glide through the water?
Alyssa Stark: That’s very cool. They’re very rubbery.
Patrick Wiscombe: Oh, did you get to touch one of the sting rays?
Alyssa Stark: Yes, I did. It was a little bit scary, but it was very cool.
Patrick Wiscombe: Shamu is obviously the main attraction at SeaWorld. They have two Shamu shows at SeaWorld. The ‘Believe’ show which is the afternoon show, and then they have ‘Shamu Rocks’ which is the evening show. A lot of people go to SeaWorld just to see Shamu even though there’s a whole lot more to see inside the park. How can our Get Away Today customers spend more time with Shamu?
Alyssa Stark: You can dine with Shamu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Those experiences will bring you closer to the killer whale than you’ve ever been before.
Patrick Wiscombe: When you say closer to the whale, basically you're having breakfast, lunch, and dinner around the perimeter of the tank.
Alyssa Stark: Yes. When we went to SeaWorld in January, you had to be careful because sometimes you can be sitting next to the tank and get soaked.
Patrick Wiscombe: Really? So water came up and over the tank?
Alyssa Stark: It can. If one of the SeaWorld trainers direct the whales to splash you, you’d better watch out . (laughter). It's definitely a fun experience and SeaWorld has really good food too.
Patrick Wiscombe: The food is really good. One of the other things people don't know is that you can go on fun tours while you’re inside the park. Let's talk about some of those tours.
Alyssa Stark: First, there’s the SeaWorld - Behind the Scenes tour. They also have the Animal Spotlight tour. Those are just two of the many great adventures that await you and your family.
Patrick Wiscombe: In the middle of the park they have a big blue tower called the Sky Tower. Frankly, I think it's one of those things you have to do while you’re at SeaWorld.
Alyssa Stark: You will get some amazing views from the Sky Tower. You go up 265 feet. You’ll see spectacular views of the park as well as the San Diego area. They also have another great option; it's called the Sky Ride. The Sky Ride crosses Mission Bay. There’s a $3 charge to get on the Sky Ride but it’s a great way to relax for a few minutes. You definitely won't be disappointed with the views.
Patrick Wiscombe: At some point during the day you’re going to get hungry. Let's talk about the restaurants. Now, I'll be honest, I'm not a huge fan of theme park food. But when I went to SeaWorld this last time, the food was really good.
Alyssa Stark: No need to worry. SeaWorld has a variety of restaurants for even the pickiest eaters. The pizza is so good. You can enjoy a plate of eggplant parmesan. They have a Calypso Bay Smokehouse for some of the best barbecue around. Some would recommend that you go to lunch during some of the shows to beat the crowds. That way you're not waiting a long time to get your food. They have a great bakery for fresh baked cookies. As for souvenirs, there are some great shops scattered throughout the park. So you can get that stuffed Shamu or that nice SeaWorld t-shirt.
Patrick Wiscombe: They do have nice souvenirs; they're not cheesy.
Alyssa Stark: They’re not cheesy at all. I really liked them. I brought a lot of souvenirs last time I was down there.
Patrick Wiscombe: There's definitely a lot to do at SeaWorld. Because kids have more energy than adults, what are some activities parents can do while their kids continue to play?
Alyssa Stark: Well, there are a couple different things you can do. You can head over to Shamu’s Happy Harbor or you can watch your kids play on an ocean themed playground. For those adventurous parents, you can climb through the cargo nets or wiggle through the tunnels with your kids.
Patrick Wiscombe: I did that with my kids. That was a lot of fun.
Alyssa Stark: That would be a lot of fun. Another thing you can do is head on over to the Journey to Atlantis water ride. If you don't want to get wet, just make sure you don't sit in the front seat because you’ll get drenched.
Patrick Wiscombe: Yeah. These rides don't just splash you, you really get wet.
Alyssa Stark: You do. If you want to get wet, that’s the best place to be.
Patrick Wiscombe: You may want to consider bringing an extra pair of clothes, maybe even several pairs of clothes if you want to get wet all day long.
Alyssa Stark: Yeah, your kids always want to sit in the splash zones, or soak zones. When they do get wet it would be nice to have an extra pair of clothes.
Patrick Wiscombe: Your kids will get cold after a while.
Alyssa Stark: Yes, they will.
Patrick Wiscombe: When is the best time to visit SeaWorld and how long should you stay?
Alyssa Stark: SeaWorld is a great place for the family all year long. Some of the shows only play in the summer. If you want to sit in the soak zone, then I wouldn’t recommend going in the middle of winter because it does get a little chilly, even in San Diego. You can see SeaWorld in a day. If you want to spend more time getting to know your favorite sea creatures and animals, you can upgrade to a multi-day ticket as well.
Patrick Wiscombe: Let's talk about ticketing options for just a minute. What ticketing options do Get Away Today customers have for the rest of 2007 and for 2008?
Alyssa Stark: Well, this year we have a great special where adults play at kid’s prices. Everyone gets into SeaWorld for $46. That same special carries over to next year (2008) but the price just goes up a little bit to $49 a ticket.
Patrick Wiscombe: We talk about the $46 SeaWorld ticket for 2007. A lot of our Get Away Today customers don’t know that they’ll save $13 on each adult ticket when they purchase the ticket through Get Away Today. Multiply $13 by the number of adults going to SeaWorld and that’s how much money you’ll save. We simply have the best SeaWorld ticket value out there, period.
Alyssa Stark: It is. If you have kids over the age of 10, you'll have to buy an adult ticket for them so that will save you even more money.
Patrick Wiscombe: San Diego is one my favorite places to go on vacation. The weather is perfect, but even perfect San Diego can get hot during the summer. Let's talk about places to cool down inside the park. Let’s talk about some of the “cooler” attractions.
Alyssa Stark: Well, a great place to cool down would be the Wild Arctic exhibit. You can see the Polar Bears and Walruses. You can also visit the Penguin Encounter but my favorite place is the Shark Encounter.
Patrick Wiscombe: Oh yeah. I love the Shark Encounter. That is one cool place to go.
Alyssa Stark: My husband, parents, and little brother really loved it. It's a great place for families.
Patrick Wiscombe: There's just something intimidating about looking at a big shark. It's pretty cool to be face-to-face with the shark and see those big teeth. They’re so jagged. It's amazing to watch them up close.
Alyssa Stark: It is. It's really awesome. My favorite part is to stand on the escalator and look up at the glass where you can see all the shark swimming above your head. It is very intimidating, but it’s also a great thrill.
Patrick Wiscombe: If you see Shamu, the Shark Encounter, and the Dolphin Show, that's reason enough to go to SeaWorld.
Alyssa Stark: Definitely. If you’re looking for another attraction to cool down, you can head over to the Haunted Lighthouse 4D Show which is great for kids. You can participate in a thrilling multi sensor experience out of the sun.
Patrick Wiscombe: If you've never been to a 4D show, here’s what happens. The seat you’re sitting in will poke you at some point. It doesn’t poke you hard; it just startles you because you’re not expecting it.
Alyssa Stark: It gets me every time even though I know it’s coming.
Patrick Wiscombe: Like I said, it's worth the price of admission to see the Dolphin Show, Shamu, and the Shark Encounter. They also have other shows inside the park.
Alyssa Stark: One of the most popular shows a SeaWorld is Clyde and Seamore’s Risky Rescue Adventure. You can see Clyde and Seamore save the day. This is one of my favorite shows. I recommend getting to that attraction 30 minutes early so you can get the seat you want. Your kids will want to sit in the soak zone there as well.
Patrick Wiscombe: Do you remember the tide pool? That’s the place where guests can pick up the starfish.
Alyssa Stark: Oh yeah, that is really cool. That was really fun.
Patrick Wiscombe: You just go to the tide pool and hold a starfish in your hand. It feels weird.
Alyssa Stark: SeaWorld is great for those types of experiences.
Patrick Wiscombe: You’ll never forget it.
Alyssa Stark: Bring a disposable, waterproof camera. There are a lot of places inside SeaWorld where you can get wet. You’ll have a lot more fun watching your children's reactions if you're not worried about keeping your expensive digital camera dry.
Patrick Wiscombe: That does happen. I remember sitting up in Dolphin Stadium and literally watch people run because they knew they were going to get soaked.
Alyssa Stark: Yeah, definitely. I also recommend you spend some time at the interactive workstations. There are computers located throughout the park. These computers give your children a chance to learn about the animals they're going to meet. You can see how a Manatee grinds his food at the Manatee Rescue. There’s a lot of fun stuff for your children to do.
Todd Carlson: (Announcer)
You can book your Get Away Today vacation package right now by going to Get Away Today.com or calling one of our friendly reservation agents at 1-866-FUN-TRIP. This has been the Get Away Today Travel Show Podcast heard exclusively on Get Away Today.com
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sea-lion and Sesame Street Halloween shows, and favorite undersea characters donning their Halloween best as they wander the park to greet you. Walk through the Shark Encounter for some spine-tingling entertainment and hop aboard the Journey to Atlantis water coaster for a guaranteed adrenaline rush. 
October 4–5, 11–12, 18–19, 25–26, 31 and November 1–2.
