Archive for March, 2009

Tomorrow night is Earth Hour from 8:30-9:30 p.m. your local time. SeaWorld San Antonio and its team members have joined the millions around the world that have pledged support of Earth Hour. Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008, 50 million people switched off their lights to promote the idea of power conservation. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Coliseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

Tomorrow, the goal for Earth Hour is to get 1 billion people to switch off their lights as part of a global vote. By conserving power, you can VOTE EARTH as a global call to action for every individual, every business and every community. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support during Earth Hour 2009.

Here at SeaWorld, we’re pretty good about conserving energy at the park everyday. For example, we make sure to turn off lights when rooms are going to be empty and turning off computers when leaving for the day. However, for Earth Hour we’re going the extra mile.

A few things being turned off at SeaWorld San Antonio for Earth Hour include:
SeaWorld’s iconic flag pole LED lights
All non-essential computers (also unplugged)
Electronics unplugged (like lamps, radios, battery chargers, pencil sharpeners, coffee pots and microwaves, etc.)
Air Compressors
Heaters
Drinking Fountains
Ice Plant
Penguin Chiller
Water pumps around the park in guest areas

Even YOU can make a difference. What are YOU doing to get involved? Visit www.earthhour.org for more information!

Theme Park Insider is hosting a tournament of rides where readers and coaster enthusiasts can vote in a single-elimination tournament to select the best theme or amusement park ride in America. You can cast your vote for the Best Theme Park Ride in America on the Theme Park Insider’s Web site .

Sixty-four rides were seeded, according to their average reader rating on the site, and placed into a tournament bracket [PDF] . The competition runs until April 6.

Robert Niles from Theme Park Insider keeps us up to date on the progress of the tournament.
Stop by for daily tournament match-ups or see the winners so far . Some of them are pretty tough choices!

Check out this view from one of today’s winners, Busch Garden’s Europe’s Griffon:

Cast Your Vote Now!

The dolphins at SeaWorld Orlando are doing a really cool behavior. They have learned to create and play with bubble rings! Just take a look…

Check out more info at DolphinBubbles.com

My niece loves speed. Driving in the car, rocketing down the slides at the playground, shooting off like a dart almost anytime her feet hit the ground. You can always count on her to constantly yell “faster, faster.” Who am I to argue? So long as it’s safe, speed can be pretty fun. I may not be personally crowding the playground slide anymore, but I love coasters and isn’t that what coasters are in essence? Really amazing, tricked out slides where one can safely enjoy the thrills of speed?

I’m looking forward to this weekend with my speedy niece. She is finally tall enough to ride The Shamu Express , SeaWorld San Antonio’s coaster designed especially for younger riders. In fact, in anticipation for spring break, she made me measure her height to make sure she was at least the 38 inches required to ride the “cutest coaster on Earth.” Although she has yet to experience riding a coaster, my 3 ½ year-old niece (although she’ll tell you she’s 4) is turning out to be coaster crazy like her aunt.

After meeting the rides team working with the kids at the Shamu Express earlier this year, I’m even more excited to bring the newest coaster enthusiast in our family for a ride. This fun-loving group really helps the kids have a great time while waiting for their turn, no small feat with so many little ones in the queue line. In fact, the Shamu Express crew does such a great job, I have friends who’ve offered to hire these team members to entertain their kids at the store checkout lines! Can you imagine how many kids they’ll entertain while SeaWorld San Antonio is open every day during spring break?

So come out to the park and visit SeaWorld San Antonio. During spring break the park is open every day from today through March 22. Chances are I’ll be waiting to ride the Shamu Express, again.

Have fun and keep riding!