In the midst of the holiday chaos, I find myself easily lost in the hustle and bustle of shopping, baking and decorating while maintaining a full work schedule. Even at work, I get caught up with the many tasks to be accomplished and lose sight of what the holidays are really about. A small visitor recently reminded me to take a step back, slow down, and count the blessings that are all around me. I was watching through the eyes of a child…
I love this time of year because we celebrate the season at Shamu Theatre with “Shamu Christmas Miracles,” a fun-filled, action-packed, very festive show. During this show, we invite children to join in the fun and interact with the whales through the glass.
One lucky boy or girl gets the chance to step up to the glass with a trainer to give Shamu signals to perform behaviors, such as waving and dancing around in a circle. Interacting with a certain little boy is one of my fondest memories from this holiday season at the park.
The excitement and wonder was written all over this child’s face. His smile was huge, his enthusiasm contagious. In that moment, I felt the joy of being a kid myself. Like I said, it was contagious! My own smile grew and grew and I laughed as watched him waving and dancing with Shamu. I still have a silly grin plastered across my face.
Seeing a child’s expression when he sees Shamu for the first time or watching her amazement as the whales leap through the air reminds me daily of the dreams I had a child. My hope is that children young and old watching “Miracles” will remember their dreams and believe that miracles still happen.
December 29, 2009 by KellyMorales • Comments Off Posted in animals
Have you ever taken the time to observe an animal? I love to sit and watch animals, and as often as I can, I try to take the time to observe and appreciate the animals around me here at SeaWorld. One of the neatest animals to just sit and watch are the penguins, and believe me, they provide endless enjoyment. Their trademark comical waddle and black and white feather tuxedo are what draw us all in, but they’re more than just funny little animals. These birds are serious survivors that can thrive in Earth’s most extreme weather. In fact, we can learn so much by watching penguins that we may even learn an important lesson or two.
1. Stay true to your commitments and never give up.
Penguins make great parents, endure many hardships and make difficult sacrifices to care for and raise their chicks. Every year, as breeding season begins, many species of penguins leap from their watery homes to travel to their nesting grounds. King and gentoo penguins my walk as far as two miles inland, and chinstrap penguins may nest on rocky slopes up to 1600 feet above sea level. Enduring exhausting travel, extreme weather, starvation, and danger from predators, both male and female penguins take turns guarding the eggs and baby chicks for a period of several months.
As we head into 2010 and prepare for what lies ahead, many of us make resolutions to eat and spend less, exercise more, improve our relationships, and become more responsible. With so many commitments and new experiences along with the uncertainty of the future, we all sometimes can feel discouraged. Take a lesson from the penguins, and remember that sometimes it is important to keep going, even if it means you have to slide around on your belly for awhile.
2. Work as a team
In the case of emperor penguins, working as a team is critical. It is a matter of survival. Emperor penguin breeding season is in the middle of the winter in Antarctica. These penguins do not build nests; rather they balance their one egg on the top of their feet. They huddle together to stay warm as a defense mechanism against the cold. As they huddle, the penguins move in a circular pattern so that everyone has a turn on the inside as well as the outside. Teamwork is such an important skill. When people work together, progress is made. We achieve goals and get things done more efficiently. When one person doesn’t pull their weight, it affects everyone around them.
3. Be loyal
Penguins are monogamous per breeding season. In other words, they remain in the same pair for the season, and if they can find the same mate next year, they will pair up again. Loyalty is one of the greatest qualities a person can possess in any type of relationship. Commitment, faithfulness, and the desire to be there for that person no matter what is a trait that is not only hard to find in people but it’s also hard to do. Stay loyal to your friends and family.
4. Take a leap of faith
As the penguin chicks grow and begin to develop their feathers, parents continue to care for them, feeding them, and teaching them the basics for survival such as how to swim. Eventually, they grow their waterproof feathers; they enter the water, and become independent from their parents. Sometimes it is important to move on and let go. This week, as we leave 2009 and head into the new year, it is time to take that next step, or leap of faith into a brave new world as these little penguins do with their first courageous leap into the sea.
As we all fledge from 2009 into 2010, never miss an opportunity to be still and observe nature. See it. Appreciate it. Love it. You never know how much you will come away with and learn about yourself in the process.
This year, I would like to resolve to become more like a penguin.
Okay, so I'm not really doing the actual painting... but it shows how huge the pool is!
I’ve been in this pool a million times before, but this time, it’s different. Maybe it’s because nearly one million gallons of water are missing! In my 21 years at the stadium only a handful of times has it been empty of water. Seems at lot bigger from this vantage point.
In preparation for a spectacular new show in 2010, Beluga Stadium is getting an overhaul. We are applying a refresh coat of paint and making some minor repairs. In addition to the paint job we have refreshed the back wall and will install new scenery. After all, it’s been 10 years since the premiere of VIVA! and it’s about time for a face lift. And we have a good one planned for our guests!
Aside from the physical changes to the stadium, we are currently in the creative stage of producing a new show. It has been fun listening to newly composed music and brainstorming the choreography of the beluga whales and Pacific white-sided dolphins. There’s a lot to think about. Behaviors are timed down to the second with the music. Logistics of animals and people must be thought out so that the show flows. The bulk of the work has yet to be done. Once the pool is again full of water, we can start rehearsing. We plan to use the month of January to concentrate on rehearsing with the animals and then in February our human acrobats (including the return of the ever-popular “Chad, the funny guy”) will be added to the rehearsals. I’m looking forward to seeing what evolves.
No VIVA! shows this holiday but be sure to check out the holiday themed shows "Shamu's Christmas Miracles" and "Deck the Halls with Clyde and Seamore."
Be sure to stop by and see the new show in 2010. It’s gonna be great!
SeaWorld San Antonio would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas. Check out what amazing things our feathery friends can do to celebrate the holiday season!
December 23, 2009 by LesliePopiel • Comments Off Posted in News
That’s one of the things I love about Christmastime. It’s the season of giving, of looking past yourself and seeing the needs of others. It’s about sharing what you’ve been given with someone who may need it more. Sheri Soltes does this all year round.
Recently I visited Texas Hearing and Service Dogs, a non-profit organization with a fantastic mission. Founder Sheri Soltes rescues dogs from local animal shelters and with the help of a very dedicated staff, teaches the animals to assist people with physical challenges. Not only do the people gain a freedom they would not otherwise have, the dogs get a new lease on life.
In 1995, Sheri let us join in the fun. She contacted Dave Force, our former Vice President of Animal Training then Zoological Operations at SeaWorld San Antonio seeking our philosophy in training animals. The relationship has grown ever since. Steve Aibel, Assistant Curator of Animal Training, and Tricia Dees, Senior Animal Trainer, share their time and knowledge in regular visits to the facility near Austin. I am honored to have been invited myself and look forward to more visits in the future.
The trainers of Texas Hearing and Service Dogs are simply amazing. Their commitment and passion for what they do is inspirational. They literally change lives on a daily basis. I am humbled to have the opportunity to use what I have learned as a whale trainer at SeaWorld to help enrich the lives of animals and ultimately the lives of other people.
Tricia Dees agrees, “It is such a rewarding experience. Not only are we able to help a non-profit organization, but we get to do something completely different from what we do daily at SeaWorld. It’s fun to watch training sessions regardless of whether the animal is a dog or parrot or whale. They share the belief that we should treat the animals with respect. What they do is inspirational. Sheri was a lawyer who wanted to give back and now helps both people and animals.”
Stephanie Racier with Excalibur
…And this is only the beginning. Sheri and her team are reaching out to more humans and canines alike on a daily basis. They are able to train dogs that assist those who have sacrificed so much to help us by serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. Additionally, they train Child Advocacy dogs that serve to calm children in difficult courtroom scenarios. Texas Hearing and Service Dogs has also begun the Honor Dogs program where newly adopted dogs will live with and be trained by inmates – another win-win situation.
This Christmas, I am thankful for the gift Sheri Soltes has given me. She has given me the chance to be part of something that is so much bigger than me.
Want to help? Foster homes are needed for the animals on weekends. www.servicedogs.org
With money tight and Christmas right around the corner, I wanted to share a few ways that you can stretch the average dollar and still be able to take a visit to SeaWorld San Antonio during the holidays.
One thing I have noticed, is most of our pass members are only purchasing annual passes to our park for a couple of their family members and then getting Fun Cards for the rest of the family. This is more than $30 in savings for each Fun Card purchased. Usually the adults have the annual pass and the kids have the Fun Cards.
The annual pass includes parking and gets you 10% off food and merchandise. This is great especially if the family chooses to eat “family style,” meaning everyone doesn’t have to buy their own hamburger and fries. For example, if you have a family of 3 – 5 people you could just order a couple of meals or items from one of our restaurants, vending carts or concessions and then share. This really works out great at the park, since SeaWorld always offers healthy portions.
As a matter of fact, many of our pass members have been taking advantage of the $.99 refill on any SeaWorld mug offer. They share the refilled drink with other family members by pouring some of the drink into the other SeaWorld mugs they brought with them to the park.
You could do all this and top it off with that special SeaWorld dessert you’ve always wanted, all while having a great time at the park and still having money left over for your Christmas shopping. Don’t forget the key is to share!
Ever wanted to enter a magical underwater world where everyone’s favorite SeaWorld costumed characters are getting ready for Christmas – the SeaWorld way? Imagine holiday calypso music, twinkling lights, decorations, and snow, all of which transform FantaSea into an enchanting walkthrough and holiday picture opportunity.
Curious to see who is at FantaSea? Check out our amazing line-up that includes Shamu, Dolly Dolphin, Sydney Shark, Pete and Penny Penguin, and of course our two favorite sea lions Clyde and Seamore.
Sporting his own custom made Santa Claus costume and throne; Shamu Claus eagerly takes center stage while he awaits a photo opportunity with all of his guests in FantaSea.
Dolly Dolphin adorns her lovely Mrs. Claus ensemble, in front of the SeaWorld sunken ship. This makes for a great photo opportunity with the most adorable Mrs. Claus you’ve ever seen!
Visiting his SeaWorld family all the way from the outback and decked out in his holiday vest and hat, Sydney Shark is excited to show everyone his beautifully decorated Coral Christmas Tree.
Pete and Penny Penguin enjoy the warmer weather here in Texas, while wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Holiday fun and merriment is never complete without a visit from everyone’s favorite SeaWorld pranksters, Clyde and Seamore Sea Lion!
Bring the old and the young, strollers are welcome and pictures are encouraged. So if you haven’t been to FantaSea, you should come and FantaSea it and let SeaWorld become a family tradition for years to come.
December 17, 2009 by TriciaDees • Comments Off Posted in animals
Jamie, Jason, and Annie with Clyde behind the scenes at "Deck the Halls with Clyde and Seamore."
I had a chance to sit down with the Sea Lion, Walrus, and Otter Stadium team to talk about their holiday show, “Deck the Halls with Clyde and Seamore,” in terms of all the animal behaviors. Here is what they said:
What behavior do you want people to notice in the show?
The list pull, since it might get missed in the background and that there is a trainer talking on stage. The list pull is on the dock, where the otter comes out and pulls a string to change how the “naughty and nice list” reads.
What behavior took the longest to train?
The sleigh pull with the otter, but only because we changed where the sleigh was going several times.
What behaviors are you training for the next show?
In 2008 we brought the holidays back to SeaWorld San Antonio. After all who doesn’t love a great event, especially at Christmas time? As we continue to grow our events we are always looking for another reason to throw a party!
One thing we haven’t done before that will become another great SeaWorld tradition is a New Year’s Eve party. Since SeaWorld is the place for families to visit and create memories the park thought it would put on an incredible event for our guests of all ages to enjoy! The park wanted an event specifically for families with younger children and when discussions began about New Years, we quickly decided it was something the park had to do.
As we worked on the plans for the event we wanted to focus on the little ones which is why SeaWorld San Antonio’s New Year’s Eve Twilight Party will be celebrated at 8:00 p.m. complete with a countdown and an extraordinary fireworks show choreographed to fun and moving music.
In addition to our world class shows the San Antonio Fire Department will be at the park with a giant fire truck and Sparky the dog during the afternoon, and the San Antonio Police will be at the park with a police car and will be providing parents with child ID kits! As it gets dark our gift shops will have a ton of great New Year’s Eve glow products that are sure to be fun and festive, and our Chefs are putting on an incredible reservation only dinner with VIP seating for the fireworks.
In order to keep the party going, the park is open with our Christmas Celebration through Jan. 3, 2010, and yes, your Fun Cards and annual passes are good through Jan. 3. I hope lots of families come out to enjoy our first annual New Year’s Eve Twilight Party and make it a fun and safe tradition for many years to come! I can’t wait!
Christmas Underwater with Santa and Elf Diver Bailey
So, did you ever wonder what Santa Claus likes to do in his free time? Well, he loves to SCUBA dive of course.
This December he traded in his sleigh and eight tiny reindeer for an underwater mask and eight spotted eagle rays over at Sharks/The Coral Reef at SeaWorld San Antonio. This is where the park celebrates Christmas underwater following the coral reef feeding shows.
Also, Santa and elf divers hand-feed over 800 Indo-Pacific reef fishes and the other stars of the show, the spotted eagle rays, one of the largest species of stingray around.
Did you know that spotted eagle rays have been known to reach a gargantuan size of over 500 pounds and eight feet across from the tip of one wing-like pectoral fin to the other? They possess several venomous barbs (usually 2-6) at the base of their tail, used to fend off would-be predators, like sharks. Of course, they are quite docile when not threatened, so they make a perfect companion for Santa as he stops by to pay a visit to our guests.
Often our underwater Santa will even swim around to take some pictures with you. The whole crew of elf divers love to share stories of our amazing animals and take pictures with you and the big guy himself, Santa!
Wave TV is SeaWorld’s bi-weekly video feature program created for team members. Wave TV debuted in 2005 and was originally conceived to showcase park events for team members as they rode the shuttle bus to their workstation. Last year, this award-winning communications program moved to the SeaWorld YouTube channel; now everyone can share the program. Check out what’s new behind the scenes at SeaWorld San Antonio.
Seeing a child’s expression when he sees Shamu for the first time or watching her amazement as the whales leap through the air reminds me daily of the dreams I had a child. My hope is that children young and old watching “Miracles” will remember their dreams and believe that miracles still happen.
Have you ever taken the time to observe an animal? I love to sit and watch animals, and as often as I can, I try to take the time to observe and appreciate the animals around me here at 
In the case of emperor penguins, working as a team is critical. It is a matter of survival. Emperor penguin breeding season is in the middle of the winter in Antarctica. These penguins do not build nests; rather they balance their one egg on the top of their feet. They huddle together to stay warm as a defense mechanism against the cold. As they huddle, the penguins move in a circular pattern so that everyone has a turn on the inside as well as the outside. Teamwork is such an important skill. When people work together, progress is made. We achieve goals and get things done more efficiently. When one person doesn’t pull their weight, it affects everyone around them.
4. Take a leap of faith
As a matter of fact, many of our pass members have been taking advantage of the $.99 refill on any SeaWorld mug offer. They share the refilled drink with other family members by pouring some of the drink into the other SeaWorld mugs they brought with them to the park.
