Page 20 - 2024-2025 Travel Guide to Florida

THEME PARKS
THE MAGIC OF FLORIDA'S THEME PARKS
Theme parks are a must when visiting Central Florida. From Tampa to Orlando, the never-ending thrills can take your breath away. Even if you’ve had a chance to experience some of the area’s major attractions on a previous visit, prepare to be wowed. Florida’s theme parks are continuously adding new, fun-packed excite- ment and adventures to the delight of families and all ages year after year.
SEAWORLD ORLANDO
Get ready for Penguin Trek at SeaWorld Orlando, a thrilling marine-themed ride launching in spring 2024. This family friendly coaster offers an exhilarating journey through Antarctica aboard unique snowmobile-styled cars on a 3,020-foot indoor/outdoor track, concluding at SeaWorld’s live penguin habitat. With speeds up to 43 mph, two launches, and immersive twists, riders experience a penguin research mission, culminating in an encounter with real penguins. This ultimate adventure, accommodating heights
from 42 to 77 inches, blends coaster thrills with genuine animal interaction. Penguin Trek embodies SeaWorld’s commitment to animal care and education, uniting family fun with conservation efforts. Join the antici- pation for this eighth addition to SeaWorld Orlando’s diverse ride collection, promising an unfor-gettable exploration for all.
SeaWorld Orlando boasts an array of other must-try attractions including Mako, Ice Breaker, Manta, Kraken roller coasters, Infinity Falls water ride, Orca Encounter, Journey to Atlantis hybrid coaster, and Dolphin Adventures—an animal show extravaganza.
The Orca Encounter is the park’s premier animal show that gives guests the opportu- nity to learn about the park’s majestic killer whales in a 30-minute captivating program. For a deeper dive, sign up for the Killer Whale Up-Close Tour, an extraordinary opportunity that highlights the popular Dolphin Nursery. It gives guests a chance to see mothers and young dolphins up close. Throughout the animal-themed exhibits at
SeaWorld Orlando, you’ll learn about the park’s ongoing work in the rescue and rehabilitation of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife—over 40,000 animals spanning a duration of more than 50 years.
Nearby, Discovery Cove, an all-inclusive day resort with a list of interactive animal adventures, welcomes guests to swim with both dolphins and sharks. The Signature Dolphin Swim Experience offers the opportunity to interact with a dolphin including an unforgettable swim. The awe- inspiring shark swim allows guests to enjoy closer-than-ever encounters with several species of these legendary marine predators.
SeaWorld Orlando for a limited time offers SeaWorld Orlando Pass Members a chance to purchase a Guy Harvey 50th Anniversary Commemorative Pass with a $5 proceeds donation going to the hallmark oceanic research institute known as the Guy Harvey Research Institute (GHRI). Discovery Cove also features a Ray Feeding experience, which gives guests as young as 6 years old the chance to feed stingrays as well as thousands of tropical fish.
18 2024-25 TRAVEL GUIDE TO FLORIDA
THE REEF POOL AT UNIVERSAL’S VOLCANO BAY • UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT