In addition to the exciting rides, shows, and attractions that bring guests closer to understanding the mysteries of the ocean and the exotic creatures that live within the sea, SeaWorld offers a series of highly educational tours and programs, including the following.

Marine Mammal Keeper Experience

This eight-hour program allows guests to experience the thrill of working alongside marine mammal experts at SeaWorld. Guests will bottle-feed orphaned manatees, interact with seals and walrus, plus get a close-up look at other creatures of the sea. Priced at $399 per person, this experience is not open to people under the age of fourteen, or expectant mothers. The program begins at 6:30 A.M. and includes lunch, a T-shirt, a career book, souvenir photograph, wetsuit during the interaction, and a seven-day pass to SeaWorld. The program is limited to only three participants per day. Sunglasses and all jewelry are not permitted, cell phones or pagers may not be worn during the program, and no underwater cameras are allowed. Smoking is not permitted. It's suggested that you wear a swimsuit with shorts, nonskid shoes or sandals, and a hat. You must also assume that you will get very wet.

Sharks Deep Dive

This unique experience takes place within the Shark Encounter attraction. Participants don SeaWorld wetsuits and either snorkel or scuba dive in an authentic shark cage during their close encounter. The cage traverses through a 125-foot-long underwater habitat teeming with an array of more than fifty sharks. This is a two-hour program that's priced at $150 per person (for scuba diving) and $125 per person (for snorkeling). This price does not include park admission.

Trainer for a Day

This seven-hour program allows guests to work with SeaWorld's expert animal trainers as they interact with a wide range of animals, including killer whales, sea lions, and dolphins. Priced at $389 per person, this experience is open to people over the age of thirteen. It includes lunch, T-shirt, waterproof disposable camera, and a seven-day pass to SeaWorld.

Whale Swim Adventure

Come face-to-face with killer whales and interact with these unique creatures. Four guests at a time suit up in SeaWorld wetsuits and enter the water with the whales during this two-hour program. The program includes lunch, and a T-shirt, and is priced at $200 per person. Park admission is not included.

SeaWorld Orlando's Beluga Interaction Program

The Beluga Interaction Program (BIP) at SeaWorld Orlando puts animal enthusiasts up-close and hands-on with beluga white whales. The Program focuses on education and personal animal interaction. Interactions include touching and feeding the belugas, and helping trainers communicate with the animals through hand signals. Participants must be thirteen years or older and be comfortable in 55-degree water. There is no smoking, jewelry, sunglasses, or underwater cameras allowed. This program is not for expectant mothers. Park admission is required in addition to the $175 per person.

Sharks Deep Dive

Come face-to-face with over thirty sharks of more than five different species in this two-hour experience. You will be immersed in a shark cage for a fascinating underwater experience with these predators of the deep. The shark cage takes up to two guests at a time through a 125-foot-long underwater habitat teeming with sand tiger sharks, nurse sharks, sawfish, and hundreds of schooling fish. The cost per person is $150 and includes a T-shirt, shark information booklet, and a souvenir photo. This program requires park admission and participants must be at least ten years of age. Sunglasses, jewelry, cell phones, pagers, smoking, and underwater cameras are not allowed. This program is not for expectant mothers.

Adventure Express Tour

This first-class six-hour tour gets you front-of-the-line access to Kraken, Journey to Atlantis, and Wild Arctic. You also get reserved seating at two select shows; get to touch a penguin; and feed dolphins, sea lions, and stingrays. The cost is $89 for adults and $79 for children (ages three to nine) and includes lunch, but does not include admission to the park.

Polar Expedition

Spend an hour exploring the backstage areas of Wild Artic with the penguins. The cost is $16 for adults and $12 for children ages three to nine, which does not include admission into the park.

Saving a Species

For one hour, visit SeaWorld's rescue and rehabilitation facilities where endangered manatees and sea turtles receive state-of-the-art medical treatment. You'll get to hand-feed exotic birds as well. The cost is $16 for adults and $12 for children (ages three to nine). The price does not include admission to the park.

Predators

Spend an hour peering down into the 600,000-gallon shark encounter, visit the backstage of Shamu Stadium, and even touch a small shark. The cost is $16 for adults and $12 for children ages three to nine. The price does not include admission to the park.

Dolphin Nursery Close-Up

Visit the dolphin nursery for one hour and discover fascinating facts about Atlantic bottlenose dolphin reproduction and calf rearing. You also get to interact poolside with SeaWorld's dolphin family, which may include mothers and calves, while talking to the Animal Care Specialists. Price per person (ten years old and up) is $40 and park admission is not included.

Shamu's Birthday Bash

Enjoy five and a half hours of fun. You and your guests will enjoy SeaWorld invitations, reserved seats at a Shamu Show, a penguin touch, birthday cake, decorated room with party supplies and favors, a character visit, free parking, a birthday gift, and a pizza snack as well as have the opportunity to feed animals at two SeaWorld venues. Make reservations in advance. Prices for a party of up to twenty people (children and adults) is $795. Add $25 for each additional guest up to a maximum of thirty guests.

For more information about these tours and special programs, call (800) 406-2244 and choose option 5, or (407) 363-2380.

SeaWorld Highlights

SeaWorld offers a wide range of rides, shows, and attractions, most of which cater to a family audience. Perhaps the most popular show at this theme park is the Shamu Adventure, a fun-filled live show starring killer whales interacting with their trainers. The nighttime version of this show, Shamu Rocks America, features SeaWorld's trainers and whales performing with rock music in the background.

Check with the park's ticket office or customer relations desk for daily showtimes. Shows are presented on a weather-permitting basis. Be sure to arrive at least fifteen to thirty minutes early to the show in order to ensure admission and good seats, especially during peak vacation periods. For kids especially, there's a section of seats within Shamu Stadium that guarantees audience members will get splashed by the performing whales. To learn more about Shamu and SeaWorld's killer whales, visit the Shamu Web site at www.shamu.com.

ô This is a must-see attraction.

Kraken

This is the tallest, fastest, longest, and only floorless roller coaster in Orlando. It will take you to the height of a fifteen-story building and turn you upside down seven times, all at speeds reaching 65 miles per hour.

Kraken is named after a legendary sea monster — a massive, mythological underwater beast. As you experience this coaster, your feet will dangle as you sit on open-air, pedestal-like seats with nothing around you except shoulder restraints. There's no one to hold on to, nothing in front of you, and nothing below you. There's only sky above and the wind in your face.

ô This is a must-see attraction.

Believe

This is a stunning Shamu show that no one should miss. Underwater cameras show what is happening under the surface as Shamu swims up and then rises high above the surface. The musical score combined with the majestic presence of Shamu will move and inspire you.

ô This is a must-see attraction.

Blue Horizons

Experience acrobatic dolphins, whales, and soaring birds in this huge theatrical performance, which is all about where the sea meets the sky. Great for all ages.

ô This is a must-see attraction.

Shamu Express

This family-oriented roller coaster gently thrills the entire family as they ride in a Shamu-themed car.

ô This is a must-see attraction.

Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island

Sea lions, otters, and walrus perform with trainers in this rather lighthearted “adventure” designed for kids and teens. While the story line is a bit childish, this show features a cast of well-trained sea lions interacting with their trainers and the audience.

Journey to Atlantis

As you kick off your adventure to the lost city of Atlantis, you'll be traveling on water and high-speed rails. Evil spirits will try to keep you from your destination, but your bravery and sheer guts will keep you one step ahead. Along your journey, you never know what's around the next corner or the next drop. Oh, and there are drops. In fact, one drop is 60 feet long and goes nearly straight down. Journey to Atlantis is a thrill ride that nicely combines special effects, the excitement of a roller coaster, and the thrills of a turbulent water ride.

Shamu's Happy Harbor

For young kids, this is a freestyle play area filled with giant pink flamingos and palm trees. Young guests are encouraged to run, jump, and climb as they explore four stories of nets, shoot through tunnels, cool down in a splashy water maze, and slip down nine slippery slides.

Pets Ahoy!

This is a fun-filled and funny live show starring a cast of trained dogs, cats, birds, rats, potbellied pigs, and other animals performing a series of entertaining skits. Nearly all of the cast members were rescued from local animal shelters. Kids in particular will enjoy this show; however, it's definitely suitable for the entire family.

Odyssea

Acrobatics, athleticism, modern dance, and special effects are used to create a fun-filled but nontraditional circus (sort of like Cirque du Soleil). The thirty-minute show comprises several specialty circus acts, featuring performers from around the world.

Shark Encounter

Travel through the world's largest underwater acrylic tunnel and find yourself just inches away from dangerous predators like eels, barracuda, venomous fish, and more than fifty sharks. This is a large and beautiful coral reef habitat.

Key West Dolphin Fest

Guests have a chance to see Atlantic bottlenose dolphins perform live with their trainers in an entertaining, family-oriented show. SeaWorld also offers a pool area where guests can see, feed, and pet dolphins. In addition, be sure to check out the Dolphin Nursery, a chance to see newborn dolphins with their moms.

ô This is a must-see attraction.

Wild Arctic

This motion-simulator-based thrill ride takes guests on a helicopter journey to the frozen north for an Arctic exploration that's filled with surprises. The photography and overall realism is highly impressive. You're about to preview a part of the world that few see firsthand.

Manatees: The Last Generation?

This exhibit allows guests to see Florida manatees up close and learn about the dangers this species is currently facing. It's both educational and entertaining, like all of the shows and exhibits at SeaWorld that involve live animals.

Pacific Point Preserve

Sea lions and fur seals living in a 2.5-acre naturalistic environment that replicates the rocky northern Pacific coast are the stars of this exhibit. Young people, in particular, will enjoy this zoolike attraction.