Yes, the dolphin and orca shows definitely used the same pool. Unfortunately, I was 16 years old at the time I visited and didn't take as much notice of enclosures then as I do now, so I can't remember how they were kept off-show (or, indeed, during the shows). I remember being so excited at the prospect of seeing dolphins and an orca, as I hadn't seen anything like that at the time.
I have just dug out and watched my copy of the video "Go Wild at Windsor" (1988) which includes footage of the sealion, dolphin and orca shows. Winnie the orca had a gate from an off-show pool at the far left of the show pool, whilst the dolphins had a gate from a pool next to the stage. They were in that pool whilst the sealions did their show (and actually interacted with the sealions!), then the sealions were taken out of a back door and the dolphins were let into the show pool. Once they had finished, they went back into the other pool, and Winnie came in from an off-show pool. I think the dolphins were then allowed into an off-show pool. It was fascinating watching the video again after such a long time.
I remmber this exhibit. At the time there was a large sign with the plans for the new exhibit that looked huge in size. Obviously that never happened. It was a great distraction from how small the poool was then!
Having been to Sea World San Diego in the last ten years, I now find it incredible that Windsor Safari Park were allowed to house an orca in such a small pool, but it seemed to be perfectly acceptable in those days. Thank goodness things have changed
There where so many different plans talked about. When Smarts owned the park they were going to relocate down to the bottom of the park. The only extension that was made to the original pool was the breeding pool that ran out of the back of stage area.
