ORLANDO, Fla. (April 2012) – For the second consecutive year, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment – owner of 10 U.S. parks including SeaWorld and Busch Gardens – is unveiling a lineup of attractions that incorporate never-seen-before features and immersive technologies.

”We’re continuing to invest in the growth of our company by developing some of the industry’s best new attractions,” said Jim Atchison, President and Chief Executive Officer. “They will introduce first-of-its kind technologies, and provide all new reasons to visit.”

 

During a press event at this year’s Pow Wow in Los Angeles, Tuesday, April 24 at 8:30 a.m. PST, SeaWorld Orlando designers and marketing executives will also reveal more details of the park’s 2013 new attraction and its largest-ever expansion, Antarctica – Empire of the Penguin, a family experience that could only come from SeaWorld.

 

This year’s new attractions will be opening just in time for the key spring and summer travel season at the SeaWorld parks in Orlando, San Diego, Calif. and San Antonio, Texas, Discovery Cove in Orlando, and the Busch Gardens parks in Tampa, Fla. and Williamsburg, Va. In addition to innovative new rides, guests can experience a new state-of-the-art animal care facility and theatrical ice show at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Fla., a new swimming experience at Discovery Cove in Orlando and a fairy tale themed show at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Va.

 

 

Orlando, Fla.

SeaWorld Orlando: TurtleTrek – Opening April 27

SeaWorld Orlando’s TurtleTrek combines naturalistic habitats for sea turtles and manatees with state-of-the-art-entertainment. The attraction incorporates a 3-D/360-degree dome theater film to immerse guests into the epic journey of a sea turtle. The unique dome offers a hyper-realistic 3-D movie view, so guests are surrounded with images in front of them, behind them, and even overhead.    

 

Antarctica – Empire of the Penguin – Opening 2013

SeaWorld Orlando’s biggest-ever attraction expansion, Antarctica – Empire of the Penguin, combines close up animal connections with a new interactive ride technology for adventures that are different each time. Guests will experience the mystery and wonder of life on the ice through the eyes of a penguin, in the coldest theme park attraction in the world for an incredible family adventure.

 

Discovery Cove: Freshwater Oasis – Opening May 2012

Guest experiencing Freshwater Oasis will wade up-close with wildlife in a relaxing tropical setting. Designed with a rainforest canopy above and sparkling-clear springs below, Freshwater Oasis guests can wade, swim and float as they discover marmosets and playful Asian otters.

 

San Diego, Calif.

SeaWorld San Diego: Manta – Opening May 26

SeaWorld San Diego’s new launch coaster, Manta, combines elements of a simulator by using a projection system that will be the first of its kind in the U.S. Passengers will start the ride enclosed in a launch tunnel with images of rays projected on a 270-degree screen. This stunning introduction to the world of the rays also will visually enhance the physical acceleration as the ride launches down the track. The attraction also features a live ray touch pool area.

 

 

 

Williamsburg, Va.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg: Verbolten – Opening May 18

Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s new multi-launch, indoor/outdoor roller coaster, Verbolten, features a drop element that is unlike anything ever seen by theme park visitors. In darkness, the 16-passenger coaster car will come to a complete stop on the track before suddenly free-falling16 feet straight down. Verbolten will also be the world’s first roller coaster to feature multiple ride endings, making this thrill ride a highly repeatable attraction.

 

Entwined: Tales of Good & Grimm – Now Open

Busch Gardens’ Das Festhaus transforms into a forest wonderland where fairy tales come to life. Take a journey with amazing acrobats, dancers and singers as they take to the stage in this all-new musical masterpiece.

 

San Antonio, Texas

SeaWorld San Antonio: Aquatica Texas – May 19

This May SeaWorld San Antonio will open Aquatica, a whimsical aquatic park with up-close animal experiences, high-speed thrills and relaxing, sandy beaches. The park’s signature attraction, Stingray Falls, is a raft ride that is the first of its kind in North America. It sends four-seat rafts soaring through waves to the top of a zero-gravity wall – giving riders the sense of weightlessness. Designed as a South Seas oasis, Aquatica Texas features all the luxury and amenities of a beachside resort, including terraced pools, expansive sandy beaches, and private cabanas – all in a tropical setting.

 

Tampa, Fla.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay: Animal Care Center - Now Open

From nutrition to treatments, X-rays to surgeries, much of Busch Gardens’ veterinary care will be conducted in guest view in the park’s new Animal Care Center. Guests will be able to tour a nutrition center, treatment rooms, a clinical lab and an interactive diagnostic area in the new facility. Guests will even have the chance to assist in preparing food for the animals, from fruits and vegetables to crickets and mealworms.

 

“Iceploration” - Now open

A cast of 20 brings to life “Iceploration,” an all-new show filled with world-class skaters, amazing aerial performances, master puppetry and live animal stars. In “Iceploration” audiences are transported on a 30-minute journey to the four corners of the earth. This story, told through theatrical skating and an original score, is the collaboration of a creative team with Broadway credentials, including Tony Award-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes.

 

To stay current on the latest attraction news, visit the parks’ blogs including: www.seaworldparksblog.com,

 

For more media information, contact: Aimée Jeansonne Becka, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment at 407.226.5258 or aimee.jeansonne-becka@seaworld.com

 

 

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment inspires people to celebrate, connect, and care for the natural world through the power of entertainment. The company owns and operates 10 parks across the United States, as well as the newly formed SeaWorld Pictures division.  The parks play host to 23 million guests a year and provide lasting memories through up-close animal encounters, world-class shows and rides, and high-quality themed attractions.  Locations include SeaWorld parks in Orlando, San Diego and San Antonio; Busch Gardens parks in Tampa, Fla. and Williamsburg, Va.; Discovery Cove and Aquatica in Orlando; Sesame Place near Philadelphia, Pa.; and water parks Adventure Island in Tampa and Water Country USA in Williamsburg. 

 

A global leader in animal care and conservation, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment cares for more than 60,000 animals including 200 endangered or threatened species. This commitment extends to animals around the world: The company has contributed more than $50 million to conservation, wildlife rescue and environmental stewardship initiatives and operates one of the world’s most respected animal rescue and rehabilitation programs. SeaWorld has rescued more than 20,000 orphaned, injured or ill animals over four decades.

 

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment employs 20,000 people nationwide and is a portfolio company of The Blackstone Group (NYSE:BX).