It’s that time again, where every pass member can be a winner. Don’t forget to come out to the park on August 15 between noon and 4 to spin the wheel. We will not be giving out the free tickets this time, but the $20 Lowe’s gift card is still the big prize. In the past we have had up to 3 winners of the Lowe’s gift card in the same family. WOW! I wonder what they bought? Hmmmm.
In addition to PassMember Advantages, we just had a mailer go out promoting a new Friend For Free offer. Each annual pass member is able to log onto the website using your unique barcode (beginning with the letter A) and zip code and print off (1) One Free ticket. The ticket is available online now through September 26, 2010 and will need to be used by September 26, 2010. The name of the friend that will use the ticket will need to be entered before the ticket will print.
Hope to see lots of pass members on August 15 and feel free to email me with any questions.
This year we have a special treat to get you in the sprit for our 4th of July Fireworks Extravaganza. Straight from the roots and traditions of South Texas, SeaWorld San Antonio is proud to present the Palacio Brothers on July 3 and 4 at Ski Stadium as part of our pre-Firework entertainment.
This musical family trio features Delio Adrian Palacio on accordion and bass guitar,
Brian Esteban Palacio on lead guitar,
and the youngest, Marcel Nicolas Palacio, on drums.
This high-energy, eclectic band will appeal to audiences of all ages. When asked to describe their music, Delio responded,“we are a high energy, Latin rock, and blues, funk, jam band of three brothers topped off with soul.”
Come enjoy the fantastic moves, hard-driving music and exquisite melodies and harmonies of the Palacio Brothers this Saturday and Sunday – only at SeaWorld San Antonio!
Ever wonder how SeaWorld continually pulls off some of the most impressive fireworks displays in the area? We don’t just go to the local fireworks store and fill up the truck with whatever flies in the air and goes bang. Many months of planning go into one fireworks presentation.
First we start in the studio; yes SeaWorld San Antonio has its own recording and editing studio, where our creative team of producers and audio designers choose music that fits the theme. Next, we cut the music to create one seamless track that leads into the other. Then we send the track to our fireworks designers who listen to the music and create an entire visual representation of the fireworks display on a computer simulator.
Once all the creative is complete, we move on to making “The Magic” happen.
Safety is our first priority.
We create a fire watch team. Working with the local Fire Marshal we map out the placement of nine team members trained to watch for any fallout or debris that may get into a guest area. All of these members of the fire watch team are equipped with a radio on a secure channel and a fire extinguisher.
The island in the middle of Ski Lake is cut short of any excess grass that may cause a fire, and then watered down with a sprinkler system to ensure nothing catches fire.
In the past we have always started our Fireworks Spectacular at 9:15 p.m. We learned from data acquired data from our in-park Weather Bug that wind gusts in the park are greater between 8:45 p.m. and 9:20 p.m. following the setting sun. Which means our best time to shoot would be after 9:30 p.m.
Because of this date, we decided to finish the day by closing the park with our Independence Day Fireworks, starting at 9:45 p.m. This guarantees that the sun has set completely and we are being as safe as possible for the sake of both our guests and our animals.
In addition to the fireworks we will have continuous entertainment starting at 7:30 p.m., including our ski show “Cool Vibrations.” So, if you happen to see me running around Ski Stadium, I will be there organizing everything.
Say hi, but don’t leave too early because the fun doesn’t start till the sun goes down.
Our Suspicions were right. Pass members do like EXCLUSIVE water park time.
On June 9th, we started allowing annual pass members only into the Lost Lagoon an hour earlier than everyone else. So far we have had about 700 pass members take advantage of this cool event. You will see from the photos that it is a pleasant experience and there is still plenty of room for more of our loyal members.
This year, Lost Lagoon opens at noon on weekdays, so that means pass members are coming in at 11 am, claiming their spot and getting a locker if needed and oh yeah splashing in the wave pool, lazy river and breaking loose on our water slides.
Since this is only available for the month of June, there are just two Wednesday’s left. And yes if you become an annual pass member in the very near future, you will be able to take advantage of this too.
To avoid the crowd, get here early! SeaWorld’s parking lot opens at 8:00 a.m. daily. Even though the park isn’t scheduled to open until 10:00 a.m., the Entrance Plaza will be open at 9:00 a.m. At this time, you will be able to enjoy several park areas, including Sharks/The Coral Reef exhibit and Dolphin Cove. Get in early and feed the dolphins before the heat of the day! You may also want to consider carpooling or utilizing alternate transportation, such as the VIA busses.
The 4th of July Celebration will take place both July 3rd and 4th, featuring musical performances, your favorite SeaWorld characters, and, of course, a spectacular fireworks display. Entertainment begins at 7:30 p.m. in Ski Stadium. The fireworks display will begin at 9:45 p.m. and end at 10:00 p.m., when the park closes. Both days will be extremely busy, so you might consider reserving your seats at Ski Stadium for the Celebration. Reserved seating is $25.00 ($20.00 for Pass members), and includes reserved seating, popcorn, a bottle of water, and a glow-in-the-dark sword.
Make your 4th of July Celebration extra special with the VIP experience at the Fireworks Extravaganza Picnic. This fabulous buffet is set in Penguin Picnic Plaza, located directly on the lake front. After having a scrumptious meal, you’ll enjoy the fireworks display from the best seats in the house. Each picnic reservation includes a complimentary blanket to use on the plaza during the show. The Fireworks Extravaganza Picnic is $44.99 for adults and $39.99 for children.
Don’t forget to make time for the Summer Nights shows: the best shows of the season! This is one celebration you won’t want to miss. We hope to see you at the park!
Wow, I just got back from SeaWorld what an awesome experience!”
“Yeah, what was your favorite show?”
“I loved all the shows – Shamu Rocks, Sea Lions Tonite, Cool Vibrations…”
“Wait a minute…..I know about Believe and Cannery Row Caper…what are these other shows?”
“They are a big part of SeaWorld’s Summer Nights.”
“I checked out Ski Lake first where I saw skiers and and powered water craft flying in and out of the water pulling off some of their best moves in the action packed ski stunt show Cool Vibrations….pretty cool stuff!”
“I thought my day was complete until I got the chance to re-live the experience with my friends Clyde and Seamore in Sea Lions Tonite…..they have a unique perspective of the shows!”
“Rockin’ and Rollin’ all night long with Shamu was really something else! They had lights, special effects and an awesome sound track that made for a sensational experience. Add the explosive energy and soaking power of Shamu and you get an experience you can take with you all the way home!”
“When I first saw Azul I was blown away by the dolphins, beluga whales, divers, acrobats, that funny pre-show guy and the awesome sound track! But, once I saw it at night under the lights it was a whole new experience! This end of the evening spectacular was a perfect ending to an awesome day!”
Last Friday SeaWorld San Antonio launched an interactive, online game that is designed to put our biggest fans on San Antonio billboards.
Have you been the park lately and taken photos of your family? Then you can play the game now! Upload your photos on seaworldfansearch.com, then click the “Share” button with friends and family so they can vote. Pictures with the most votes will be turned into billboards around the city.
And we’ve made uploading your photos easy. You can submit the old-fashioned way by visiting the site and browsing your computer’s hard drive for images. Or, you can connect the game to your Facebook account use photos that you’ve already uploaded to your account.
The game is free to play and you can submit as many photos as you like. And if you haven’t visited SeaWorld San Antonio lately, be sure to bring your camera so you’ll have a chance to play along.
SeaWorld San Antonio has held a lot of concerts this year already. Artists have ranged from Classic Rock to Mariachi style. We have had two great series with Bands Brew & BBQ and Viva La Musica, but now it is time for Praise Wave.
Jars of Clay perform on May 15
We started our Christian family days three years ago here at SeaWorld San Antonio and added a faith based Shamu Show called Praise Wave. As the event grew so did the name Praise Wave which eventually took on the name of the entire event, not just our Shamu show. As with many of our events, we have continued to grow Praise Wave. It has become one of our signature events and always proves to be very popular. Last year we hosted Third Day, Revive and Need to Breathe. All of the shows were full so we knew we needed to expand this event.
Veggie Tales is back by popular demand and will run all day Saturday and Sunday at the Sea Star Theater. There will be Veggie Tales character appearances, giveaways and a great episode for the entire family to enjoy.
Max Lucado speaks on May 16
This year we expanded to two days of Praise Wave and we have so many bands it will make you dizzy. We have turned this event into a true “festival.” There is so much going on that we had to bring in an emcee (Paul Colman) to keep everyone up to date on happenings in Nautilus Amphitheater. On Saturday we have a worship band competition starting the day off at 11:30 a.m. This will give some up and coming bands a chance to show off their talents. After this competition we have a new artist spot light. The artists performing during this time include Devyn Deloera, Lainey Wright, Pasty Boyz, and The Reliques!
Steven Curtis Chapman performs on May 16
We didn’t stop there! Nothing More, Addison Road, FireFlight, and The Afters all have sets as a part of this day! Our Headliner, Jars of Clay, hits the stage at 8:30 p.m! You might think it is over after this set, but its not! To cap off the night we will feature our faith based Shamu Show which is now named “Glory.” This show will start in Shamu Theater after Jars of Clay wraps up their show.
After all of that we thought, WE NEED MORE. So we continue the fun on Sunday! We wanted everyone to have a chance to get to church, then head out to SeaWorld for Praise Wave in the afternoon. Beginning at 4:00 p.m. the winning band from the worship band competition gets the honor or opening our show! After that Caleb hits the stage for set followed by Paul Colman. San Antonio’s own speaker, world-renowned pastor and author Max Lucado will take the stage for an inspirational talk around 5:30 p.m. and then headliner Steven Curtis Chapman takes the stage to close out the concerts.
But wait, there is more! Once again Shamu’s “Glory” will inspire you as we end the day and our Praise Wave festival at SeaWorld San Antonio.
Nothing More
Addison Road
FireFlight
The Afters
CALEB
Paul Colman
Don’t miss out on all of the fun! I know I won’t!
Editor’s Note:All of the shows are free with admission. Wristbands are available at Nautilus Theater each day, one wristband per day, starting at 10 a.m. You must be present to get a wristband. For more details see this post.
FIESTA is not over in San Antonio, in fact at SeaWorld we are just getting into the swing of things. Our latin festival called Viva La Musica starts this weekend. This is our third year to hold this event and it just keeps getting bigger and better. We now have 4 days of concerts, food and fun.
As with most of our concerts this one will be held at Nautilus Amphitheater, and the festival will take place along the pathway between Journey to Atlantis and Shamu Theater. We will have amazing artisans in our “Mercado” area selling their goods, many of which are hand made and one of a kind. The SeaWorld Culinary team will be cooking up some great dishes including Fajitas, Sausage, Fried Jalapeños, fruit cups with chile and much more. You will probably smell the great food before you can even see the festival!
As we did last year we brought in bands from different genres of Latin Music. We kick off the event with David Bisbal on May 1st. David has had many huge hits over the last few years and his songs are sure to make you want to Dance! He has four studio albums to his credit, all of which have been huge hits. David is even singing the official song of the 2010 World Cup with K’naan. You can check out his new World Cup song and video on YouTube.
On May 2nd we have Espinoza Paz. Paz has been a singer and song writer and for years and has written many popular Mexican Regional hits for other artists. In 2008 he broke out on his own and has been sky rocketing to the top of this genre ever since.
We had so much fun with Kumbia All Starz in 2009 we brought them back for another appearance. The show last year was full of energy, singing and dancing. The band which hails from Corpus Christi, Texas blends many types of music to create their original style. Band leader A.B. Quintanilla has recently been hard at work with a new album that is due to hit stores this month! The new single Hipnotika is out now and available on iTunes.
We wrap up Viva La Musica festival with Pedro Fernandez coming in all the way from Spain! Pedro is an all around entertainer. He has stared in countless novelas (Spanish soap operas), he is an accomplished film actor and of course an amazing singer. He brings a huge sound and the show will no doubt be amazing!
Concerts all start at 7:00 p.m. and wristbands, which are required, are available beginning at 10:00am at the festival area. Last year’s shows were all full, so make sure to arrive early to get your wristband!
Tips!
You can get a VIP Package which includes a meal and early entry into the concert! This way your wristband is guaranteed if you purchase ahead of time!
Did you know you can get all of these concerts for the price of a one day ticket! Check out our Fun Card!
If you like penguins, (and really, who doesn’t?), then you will want to head out to see us this weekend. On Sunday, April 25, 2010, SeaWorld San Antonio will celebrate World Penguin Day at the Penguin Encounter from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
We have a lot of activities planned that will include children’s crafts, educational presentations and the opportunity to see Magellanic penguins up close and chat with their keepers. Special “penguin art” will also be on sale with all proceeds to benefit the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. World Penguin Day is a celebration that coincides with the annual northern migration of penguins.
Minestrone the chinstrap penguin shows off his art piece.
The Penguin Encounter at SeaWorld San Antonio is home to penguins representing four sub-Antarctic species including king, gentoo, rockhopper and chinstrap. Most of our penguins swim and waddle in the 36-degree, snow-filled Encounter. Magellanic penguins, a warm-weather species native to Chile and Argentina, can be seen during the presentations.
Can’t make it out on Sunday? You can still celebrate World Penguin Day at home!
Test your knowledge about our feathered and flippered friends by taking our Penguin Poll.
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.
Wow, I just got back from SeaWorld what an awesome experience!”
Last Friday 
If you like penguins, (and really, who doesn’t?), then you will want to head out to see us this weekend. On Sunday, April 25, 2010, SeaWorld San Antonio will celebrate World Penguin Day at the 
