SeaWorld Orlando SeaWorld Orlando News

This is absolutely wonderful news. I hope the other two babies are doing well. This species is underrepresented in aquaria but is one of the only ones to have successfully bred in captivity (despite efforts with both greens and largetooths that are probably still ongoing, most notably at the Ripley’s aquariums, neither have yet produced young afaik), so understanding that process could be vital to preserving them as a group. It’s fantastic to see Axel have his big day and how he seems to be adapting perfectly! (He is also so stinking cute, his little teeny saw is precious!)
 
We’re getting a new killer whale show! SeaWorld Orlando sent a survey to its passholders regarding an upcoming orca show. The survey included questions like the following: What tone would you most like the new orca presentation to have (energetic & entertaining, emotional, educational, etc.)? Would you stay longer in the park to see an orca presentation different from the daytime presentation? What elements/themes would you like to add to a new orca presentation? What elements would you most want to see in a nighttime orca presentation?
SeaWorld Orlando also shared the potential name ideas for the new show and prompted participants to vote for their favorite of the following: APEX, The APEX Difference, APEX Orca Encounter, Only APEX.
Today on social media SeaWorld Orlando announced that Orca Up-Close Tour is back at the glass in the stadium!
So, it’s safe to say that SWO is acknowledging their orcas again these days:)
 
CAaly said:
We’re getting a new killer whale show! SeaWorld Orlando sent a survey to its passholders regarding an upcoming orca show. The survey included questions like the following: What tone would you most like the new orca presentation to have (energetic & entertaining, emotional, educational, etc.)? Would you stay longer in the park to see an orca presentation different from the daytime presentation? What elements/themes would you like to add to a new orca presentation? What elements would you most want to see in a nighttime orca presentation?
SeaWorld Orlando also shared the potential name ideas for the new show and prompted participants to vote for their favorite of the following: APEX, The APEX Difference, APEX Orca Encounter, Only APEX.
Today on social media SeaWorld Orlando announced that Orca Up-Close Tour is back at the glass in the stadium!
So, it’s safe to say that SWO is acknowledging their orcas again these days:)
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The name 'APEX' is a really cool choice imo, and certainly makes the show sound more intruiging.

I think the best format for a presentation would be a combination of all of the tones mentioned. I really loved the old shows (Believe and One Ocean), but they obviously could have arguably had more education involved. The recent One Ocean/Orca Encounter blended shows were a great taste for what such a format would look like - but I'd like to see more of the 'magic' the old shows brought back, and I do believe the storylines and music both play huge parts if done properly.

I also am a huge fan of them bringing back the night shows; which they haven't done in ages I believe. Making it a special show is also a really good idea. It would be interesting to see what ideas they consider - but I always did like the night holiday themed shows they did occasionally.
 
Hi all,

I might be visiting SW Orlando this weekend while visiting family. No confirmed yet. But if so I wanted to confirm a number of things:
-Are the Emperor Penguins on-exhibit?
-Do they have any pure wild-type orcas? ZTL indicates they have at least one wild-born North Atlantic type.
-Do they still have a Spinner Shark or any other cool shark species aside from the Great Hammerhead?
-How long does the park take to see with vs without spending much time on rides?
-ZTL lists them as having one rescued elephant seal that someone saw last year, is that true?

~Thylo
 
ThylacineAlive said:
Hi all,

I might be visiting SW Orlando this weekend while visiting family. No confirmed yet. But if so I wanted to confirm a number of things:
-Do they still have a Spinner Shark or any other cool shark species aside from the Great Hammerhead?
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I have had multiple people visit the park since I saw the spinner in 2023 and nobody has seen it. I would be very interested for someone from ZC to check on it - everyone here knows how to ask :p. They should still have two great hammerheads and in terms of other elasmos, multiple smalltooth sawfish, the latter of which are very rare in aquaria (SWORL is presently the only holder alongside Atlantis, unless/until Mote SEA does indeed get theirs).
 
ThylacineAlive said:
Hi all,

I might be visiting SW Orlando this weekend while visiting family. No confirmed yet. But if so I wanted to confirm a number of things:
-Are the Emperor Penguins on-exhibit?
-Do they have any pure wild-type orcas? ZTL indicates they have at least one wild-born North Atlantic type.
-Do they still have a Spinner Shark or any other cool shark species aside from the Great Hammerhead?
-How long does the park take to see with vs without spending much time on rides?
-ZTL lists them as having one rescued elephant seal that someone saw last year, is that true?

~Thylo
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I was at SWF last month and can confirm that the emperors were on exhibit and looked magnificent.

We did rides and animal exhibits and we were there from opening until early evening. So I'd say, without rides, half the day? It's all subjective though.

Unclear on the other questions you've asked.
 
@ThylacineAlive being a SeaWorld regular, here’s what I know regarding your questions:

-Are the Emperor Penguins on-exhibit?
They are, among the five other species we have.

-Do they have any pure wild-type orcas? ZTL indicates they have at least one wild-born North Atlantic type.
To my knowledge, almost all of our orcas have some mixed heritage.

-Do they still have a Spinner Shark or any other cool shark species aside from the Great Hammerhead?
Aside from the hammerheads, none of our other sharks are too significant.

-How long does the park take to see with vs without spending much time on rides?
Comparatively-speaking, a half-day if you’re just doing the animals vs close to a full day when you include the rides.

-ZTL lists them as having one rescued elephant seal that someone saw last year, is that true?
I’m not 100% certain if they still have an elephant seal, but if so, I’d be surprised.
 
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ThylacineAlive said:
-Do they have any pure wild-type orcas? ZTL indicates they have at least one wild-born North Atlantic type.
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Yep, that is Katina. She's about fifty years old now and was captured off the coast of Iceland in 1978. She and Ulises at San Diego are the last wild born Icelandics in captivity.

Three of the other orcas; Trua and Makaio (the two boys) and Nalani, are also pure Icelandic. Although they are captive born. The remaining female, Malia (also captive born), is not. She is part Biggs Transient through her maternal grandfather.
 
ThylacineAlive said:
-ZTL lists them as having one rescued elephant seal that someone saw last year, is that true?

~Thylo
Click to expand...

A female Northern Elephant Seal stranded June 2023 in California and housed at SeaWorld California until January 2024. She was then transferred to SeaWorld Florida. The original plan was to have her at the Sea Lion & Otter Stadium and have her participate in the presentation. I don't know if that ever materialized or not.

As of the September 2025 MMIR, she is still listed as alive at SWF. Because of the government shutdown, the MMIR has not been updated since early September. My guess is that she is still alive and at the stadium, which means she is not on exhibit. You may catch her in a show if that worked out and you are lucky.
 
Thanks for everyone's answer so far. I'm in Orlando now, but plans changed so if I have a chance to go it won't be until the afternoon today. I see the park itself is open until 8pm, but how late are the animal attractions open until?

~Thylo
 
I am not sure how accurate this is, but a worker in the penguin area said that the exhibit is kept at 26F.
 
Austin the Sengi said:
@SwampDonkey if it’s for Antarctica, the air temperatures are indeed around 26-27 degrees (F) to better accommodate the Emperors’ wellbeing.
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Do have any idea why the walrus in the Sea Lion and Otter show is so pink (and honestly, it is huge) in comparison to most other walrus that I have seen, including the others at Seaworld Orlando?


 
SwampDonkey said:
Do have any idea why the walrus in the Sea Lion and Otter show is so pink (and honestly, it is huge) in comparison to most other walrus that I have seen, including the others at Seaworld Orlando?


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Im pretty sure that when Walruses sunbathe, are warm, etc they become pink. I think it has something to do with their blood vessels expanding, bringing blood closer to the surface of their skin to shed off excess heat
 
SwampDonkey said:
Do have any idea why the walrus in the Sea Lion and Otter show is so pink (and honestly, it is huge) in comparison to most other walrus that I have seen, including the others at Seaworld Orlando?


Click to expand...

When walrus are in a warmer enviorment, an increase of blood flow goes their skin, to try to keep themselves cool, causing a pink look. Slowpoke is also very old and I was told when I went in 2022 she does not have much fur anymore.
 
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