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Sep 23, 2009
282
3
70
North Carolina
I have to say that I'm spoiled now. Tours are the greatest things on earth.

Our day started with meeting Kat, who happens to be from NC and went to UNC-Wilmington. We went first to Manta for our ride. Wow. It was awesome. I love those types of flying coasters. They are so much better. After we got off, we went into the ray tank that is under the station. I love rays. They are so majestic. There were a couple of large ones, but then one HUGE one that had to be a nearly 4 foot span. He was HUGE.

Kat was a great guide. She majored in marine biology, so she was knowledgeable about everything. I'm going to skip around now because I really can't remember the order we did things now. *LOL*

We got to feed the dolphins in the morning feeding. I had two that pretty much stayed until I was out of sardines. They are so cool and sweet. When we got over there, they had just let the pod out. Kat said there were two females who were the dominant. They got to eat first and then let the others come in when they were satisfied. But they were swimming fast and surfacing every so often. They were a bit talkative, too. While I was feeding, my husband was taking pictures. When we switched off, the dolphins had all moved down to where the other people were. He even dangled the sardine out trying to get them to come back. Eventually they did, so he got to feed one, too.

We had some time, so Kat took us behind the scenes where the rescues were. They still had a few turtles, but the absolute best part was seeing the baby manatee they'd just rescued. They found her in a tidal pool and she'd been separated from her mother. They didn't find her mother and besides, when they finally got there, people were trying to take pictures with the poor baby. She's now about 2 1/2 feet long and weighs 38 pounds. And she is adorable! There was someone feeding the older rescued manatees. They get restaurant grade romaine lettuce. The exact same lettuce they use in their salads.

We chose two shows to see: Pets Ahoy and Clyde & Seymour. Pets Ahoy was great. They have some great trainers and great animals. At the end, they had a little video showing the guy who looks for the animals at the SPCA. They showed him picking up the cutest great dane. Then they brought him on stage. He is just a year old and just the cutest and most rambunctious thing! They had updated Clyde & Seymour's show. They used mentions of facebook and using a GPS. It was still very funny.

We also got to feed the seals and sea lions and rays. The seals were enjoying the sun and the rays were really odd. They have a sucker at their mouth and suck the sardine off your hand. Freaked me out, most likely because there were so many over there. There were four baby sea lions sunning, which were so adorable! One was actually feeding while we were there.

We also got to pet a penguin and tiger sand sharks. The penguins were so cute. They were southern hemisphere penguins so it was going into their spring and therefore their mating season. Their feathers are so compact; only the tip is visible. When you rub along the back, it feels more like scales. The sharks scales felt more like sandpaper, which Kat said that in some places, their skin was used as sandpaper, because it refinishes wood so much better, because of the oils and how fine it is. But thankfully, they've made a synthetic version of it.

The one other thing that we also got with our tour was lunch at the Sharks cafe. We sat beside the tank and it was so peaceful. The food was really good, too. It's a bit pricey, but well worth it.

SeaWorld is such a wonderful park, so clean and all the employees are so nice. If you get there and have a chance, take ANY of the tours. They have them for all things and at all prices.

Oh yeah, and before I forget, we also rode Kraken. It's still a great coaster. Still so smooth!


I'll have the Busch and HoS report up in the next day or so.
 
Nice report, I agree that Manta is awesome. We sat fairly close to the glass in Sharks and actually saw some people go down into the water in the cage. Really good concept. That's the kind of restaurant I wish BGW would add.
 
Yes, there were people down when we got there. It's just so peaceful, even with the screaming kids. You just watch the sharks and fish for a few moments and you're calm again. I agree that BGW really needs a place like this. Even BGT has a nice sit-down place, from what I understood. Of course most of their eating places were indoors.
 
kcracken said:
Yes, there were people down when we got there. It's just so peaceful, even with the screaming kids. You just watch the sharks and fish for a few moments and you're calm again. I agree that BGW really needs a place like this. Even BGT has a nice sit-down place, from what I understood. Of course most of their eating places were indoors.

BGT's "smokehouse" does not compare. Did you happen to eat at the Crown Colony? I am going to Tampa for a week and was looking at the insider tours at SW and BGT. You sealed the nail in the coffin for Seaworld :D
 
The only place we ate at BGT was the pizza & pasta place near the kids area (which was really good) and then had dinner during the Blood Relations show that came with our tour. That had a decent selection, too. When you go to BGT, ask for Allison C. as a tour guide. She does the Serengetti and HoS tours. She's a sweet little 22 year old who goes to USF. :) She's studying marine biology, too, and wants to become a trainer at SW. I'll have my BGT report up possibly tonight.
 
kcracken said:
The only place we ate at BGT was the pizza & pasta place near the kids area (which was really good) and then had dinner during the Blood Relations show that came with our tour. That had a decent selection, too. When you go to BGT, ask for Allison C. as a tour guide. She does the Serengetti and HoS tours. She's a sweet little 22 year old who goes to USF. :) She's studying marine biology, too, and wants to become a trainer at SW. I'll have my BGT report up possibly tonight.

If she goes to USF then I am almost positive I would enjoy her doing it :rolleyes:

They have really good quick service. Even in what I call "their Festhaus"

I look forward to the review
 
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