Archive for December, 2008

Robert Niles writes the prolific Theme Park Insider blog (see our blog roll on the right), and today he has a great list of New Year’s Resolutions for theme park fans. We liked them so much we wanted to share them with you here.

Theme Park Insider’s New Year Resolutions

1. To spend a day at a theme park we’ve not visited within the past 10 years, or ever.
2. To go on at least one old attraction we’ve never been on at a park we’ve visited many times.
3. To walk an uninterrupted lap around the park at some point on every visit — not to get anywhere, but just for the sights and the exercise.
4. To let the other folks go first when we get to the queue entrance at the same time.
5. To start a conversation in a queue with another visitor we don’t know.
6. To start a conversation with a park employee whom we don’t know.
7. To give a lost visitor directions.
8. To ask for directions when we are lost.
9. To go to a park’s guest services desk on our way out of the park and compliment the work of a specific park employee.
10. After each visit, to post more attraction, restaurant and hotel reviews to ThemeParkInsider.com.

We would also add that if you visit SeaWorld San Antonio, share you ride photos and stories with us. We would love to feature some on the blog, and for those we do, we will send out a “thank you” gift.

Happy New Year! See you around the park.

Tonight Missouri Wildcats and Northwestern Tigers will square off for the 2008 Valero Alamo Bowl.

But before the teams face off at the Alamodome tonight, the players took some time to have a fun day at SeaWorld San Antonio, including animal interactions and exclusive ride time on the park’s Steel Eel roller coaster.

The day started with four Missouri players challenging Uncle Max, SeaWorld’s resident walrus to a sit-up contest in front of a stadium of teammates, friends, fans and family. However, Uncle Max does sit-ups in every show, so he was a shoe-in to win. The Northwestern players didn’t challenge an animal, but did get in the water with SeaWorld’s beautiful beluga whales during a Beluga Interaction Program.

Seeing all of the players getting excited over riding SeaWorld’s Steel Eel was such a thrill. SeaWorld offered exclusive ride time (ERT) to the players and their families. Watching moms enter the line kidding their sons (all of whom were at least 2-6 inches taller than mom) about being scared on the coaster was pretty funny. I got a laugh out of players teasing their non-riding teammates for being scared.

Seeing all the Wildcat and Tiger fans making the rounds at SeaWorld San Antonio was pretty neat, too. While hosting the teams, we spotted many black and gold Mizzou outfits along with vibrant purple and black the Northwestern fans sported throughout the park. We wish good luck to both teams in tonight’s game. Check out this video of the players visiting SeaWorld. And don’t forget to share your rides with us!

Update 12-30-08: Apparently Robert Niles, author of Theme Park Insider, is a Northwestern Wildcat fan, who knew? Unfortunately his team lost last night to the Missouri Tigers 30-23. But they fought hard and turned out only the second overtime game in Alamo Bowl history.

I knew SeaWorld San Antonio ride mechanics go through a lot to keep our rides safe and functioning for all of our guests, but didn’t quite understand how much work is really put into the rides at SeaWorld San Antonio to keep things rolling.

In fact, every morning each ride at SeaWorld San Antonio goes through a process called “green tagging” where the SeaWorld ride mechanics inspect every aspect of the ride to make sure it is safe for use that day. In addition to “green tagging” everyday, the mechanics annually take each coaster train and boat off-line to completely disassemble the equipment. During the maintenance, every nut, bolt, screw, part, seat, bearing and nook and cranny is inspected and replaced if needed per the manufacturer’s standards.

I took some time to visit with SeaWorld’s ride mechanics while they worked on their annual inspections. Did you know every ride at SeaWorld San Antonio gets annual maintenance, everything from the Steel Eel to Texas Splashdown to the rides for smaller thrill seekers in Happy Harbor. Maintenance starts at the end of October and runs through February of the next year.

It takes two months to completely check one of the Steel Eel trains, since SeaWorld has two trains, the maintenance at the Steel Eel alone takes four months. At least one coaster or boat for each ride must have completed maintenance by January so training for the SeaWorld ride operators can begin, more on that fun later.

During our non-operating season, photo eyes are also checked on every ride and, if needed, replaced. Next time you’re riding, keep an eye out for these green boxes on the track and impress your friends by knowing what they do. Photo eyes are the device on track to show where trains.

Whenever you’re on your favorite SeaWorld ride, give a quick thought to all of the work that went into making you smile and keeping your safe. I know next time I’m flipping though the air on the Great White or plunging down the 100-foot drop on Journey to Atlantis, I will.

And don’t forget to share your rides with us!

We have calculated the votes for the most spirited team from the SeaWorld Coaster Challenge: 20 Rides for 20 Years. The race was pretty close between several of SeaWorld San Antonio’s rides teams. Everyone gave it their all with special jokes, dances and gimmicks to entertain our guests. The winning team is:

THE TEAM MEMBERS AT THE STEEL EEL!

Great job to all of the team members who participated and a very special thanks to our coaster challengers who voted for their favorite rides team. The Steel Eel team will receive a plaque naming them the 2008 Coaster Challenge’s most spirited team and a special meal. Keep watching for photos of the winning team. Don’t forget, we always invite you to share your rides with us.

Wow, I saw some pretty dedicated SeaWorld San Antonio coaster riders visiting the park this weekend. As we get closer to the holidays, it seems to be getting chillier. What amazes me as much as the riders in the queue lines excited to ride the Great White or Steel Eel on these winter days, is the dedication of the SeaWorld rides team members. I get to go out into the park fairly often in my role at SeaWorld San Antonio, but it takes a pretty dedicated person to work in the elements, especially at the rides, on some of the year’s chilliest days. It takes an even more special type of person to ignore the weather, continue to smile and enjoy their job in all conditions while keeping chilled guests warm with laughter during the wait for the next coaster train to arrive in the station. So don’t let the temperature keep you from your chills and thrills at SeaWorld San Antonio. It certainly doesn’t stop our team members’ jokes or dances at the rides. We invite you to let us see your smiling face by sharing your rides with us.

Have fun and keep riding!

I’m kinda jealous of the SeaWorld Season pass members this weekend! Don’t get me wrong. I love my job and wouldn’t trade working for SeaWorld San Antonio for anything in the world. I mean, seriously, how many jobs give you the chance to ride Journey to Atlantis before opening the ride to the public? How many bosses let you ride the Steel Eel with coaster fans visiting from Europe?

However, this weekend our season pass members get something really pretty special. Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7 the first 10,000 pass members receive a 2008 commemorative silver penguin Christmas ornament (shown above). One penguin Christmas ornament is available per pass member, starting at 10 a.m. on both days inside the Main Entrance of SeaWorld San Antonio. This offer is good while supplies last.

Maybe I’ll get my roommate to go with me to SeaWorld this weekend. What’s better than checking out the decorations, riding some great rides and even getting a special ornament from SeaWorld for the tree?

Keep riding and see you at the park!

It was a whirlwind week for the SeaWorld San Antonio Coaster Challengers. Thanks to all of our coaster fans who took the up the challenge. We had a total of 141 riders take the challenge, but SeaWorld San Antonio rides team members saw most of the challengers within last week come through their queue lines. We invite anyone, especially our coaster challengers, to share their rides with us.

We will tally the votes this week to see who you voted as your favorite SeaWorld San Antonio Rides Team. Did the Steel Eel team keep the Number 1 spot or did another Rides Team capture your interest during the last days of the SeaWorld Coaster Challenge? Stay tuned to see if your favorite coaster team will take home the top prize.