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SeaWorld Orlando: General Discussion
- Thread starter Danny
- Start date
Matt N
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Shambhala (PortAventura Park)
It seems as though COVID-19 has not stopped SeaWorld Orlando's planned coaster from being built, as a shipment from B&M's plant in Clermont to SeaWorld Orlando was recently made: https://www.reddit.com/r/rollercoas...nfirm_surf_coaster/?ref=share&ref_source=link
However, it gets more interesting. B&M have integrated a model code with the shipment, and the model code integrated is SF-A. For some clarification, B&M's coding system labels rides by model and by how new they are compared to others of the model. For example, Mako was the 15th B&M Hyper Coaster model, so they code it as MC-O, presumably standing for Mega Coaster O. If you want context from our own Alton Towers, Oblivion was the first Dive Coaster, so is labelled as DC-A.
But what does this mean for SeaWorld Orlando's 2021 coaster, I hear you ask? Well, the coaster being shipped is coded as SF-A, meaning that whatever SeaWorld Orlando is building is the first of a new model from B&M. And as "SF" would be quite a fitting abbreviation for "Surf", then I'd say I can take a solid guess that SeaWorld Orlando is building B&M's first ever Surf Coaster for 2021!
What do you guys think? I personally think this is very exciting news!
However, it gets more interesting. B&M have integrated a model code with the shipment, and the model code integrated is SF-A. For some clarification, B&M's coding system labels rides by model and by how new they are compared to others of the model. For example, Mako was the 15th B&M Hyper Coaster model, so they code it as MC-O, presumably standing for Mega Coaster O. If you want context from our own Alton Towers, Oblivion was the first Dive Coaster, so is labelled as DC-A.
But what does this mean for SeaWorld Orlando's 2021 coaster, I hear you ask? Well, the coaster being shipped is coded as SF-A, meaning that whatever SeaWorld Orlando is building is the first of a new model from B&M. And as "SF" would be quite a fitting abbreviation for "Surf", then I'd say I can take a solid guess that SeaWorld Orlando is building B&M's first ever Surf Coaster for 2021!
What do you guys think? I personally think this is very exciting news!
Sam
TS Member
What's a "Surf Coaster" when it's at home?
No one apart from B&M know what a surf coaster is.
Benjsh
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
It's crazy. However is the park going too far away from its roots with all the coasters? It's not really what sea world is supposed to be about is it?
Rick
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Crux
It's not, but there's a growing dislike for what the park is (or, historically was) about.
Rick
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Crux
It is, but that's not enough to get me out of Epcot on its own.
Benjsh
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance
Yeah I also thought that had largely died down now since they committed to ending the killer whale programme.
I love coasters and sea life so it's a great park for me. I just thought that they'd try to stick to an educational park more that just loads of rides. However can't complain with the investment its been getting and continues to get. Florida really is the biggest playground on the planet. Such a shame its so far away and costs so bleeding much to go.
Matt N
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Shambhala (PortAventura Park)
I think @Rick put it perfectly; public support of SeaWorld's former star attraction has been on the decline for a while now, and that will only get worse as we move into the future. Trust me, knowing people my age, the general opinion amongst them about SeaWorld's former practices with cetaceans is far from positive. Considering these are the guests of the future, I'd suggest that sticking to their original star attraction would have been a death sentence for them. And SeaWorld as a company does not deserve to die; their rescue & rehabilitation work they do is truly amazing, and they help thousands of animals across the ocean. That work deserves to continue for the good of the natural world.
I know that SeaWorld does lots of amazing conservation and rescue work, as I just mentioned, but I don't think that was ever what the big crowd puller was in the park's early days. If you go back even as recently as to the SeaWorld of the late 2000s-early 2010s, the orcas & their respective shows were the stars of the show, and I think that can probably be implied from the fact that most things in the park had either Shamu's name or some sort of orca plastered on them until very recently. For example; Shamu's Happy Harbour. Dine with Shamu. The Shamu meet and greet in the park's entrance plaza. The entrance feature to the park that still has huge orcas on it now. I could probably think of more, but those are just some that come to mind. My point is; the orca shows were the star attraction that made SeaWorld its name, so when Blackfish, alongside other factors, hugely tarnished the reputation of these shows, SeaWorld naturally had to do things very differently in order to survive. Like the animals it helps to protect, it has had to evolve and adapt to environmental changes as time goes on (to use a topical analogy).
So the path that they've chosen to go down in order to do this is the path of rides. I personally think that this is a very good path to go down for a number of reasons. Firstly, big coasters with impressive stats will definitely pull people in and give people in Orlando a reason to visit. A roller coaster is a very eye-catching thing to be able to put into a marketing campaign, and it's a good way to pull people in. Secondly, they can really differentiate themselves from Disney & Universal in the theme park stakes with the path they've gone down. While Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando both have many great rides and are still building some very eye-catching coasters, I would not call either company a company that focuses hugely on thrill rides by any stretch (I guess you could call Universal thrill-focused to an extent, but to nowhere near the same extent as what SeaWorld now is.). A big coaster-focused park is something that the Orlando area lacks (I know Busch Gardens Tampa exists, but it's probably too far away for your average Orlando visitor to want to visit), so SeaWorld will really be able to promote themselves as something different, and they're really filling a gap in the Orlando market. Combine that with cheaper prices than Universal & Disney (I think?) and the lovely atmosphere that the SeaWorld & Busch parks have and you have yourself a very compelling product to sell!
So basically, before I ramble on for too long; I think this move was necessary in order for SeaWorld to survive in the long-term, and I think it will benefit them hugely in years to come. Besides, as @MakoMania said, I think the conservation and rescue work will still continue and will still be a popular element of the park; one thing that recent SeaWorld adverts have emphasised heavily is that visiting helps save animals.
I know that SeaWorld does lots of amazing conservation and rescue work, as I just mentioned, but I don't think that was ever what the big crowd puller was in the park's early days. If you go back even as recently as to the SeaWorld of the late 2000s-early 2010s, the orcas & their respective shows were the stars of the show, and I think that can probably be implied from the fact that most things in the park had either Shamu's name or some sort of orca plastered on them until very recently. For example; Shamu's Happy Harbour. Dine with Shamu. The Shamu meet and greet in the park's entrance plaza. The entrance feature to the park that still has huge orcas on it now. I could probably think of more, but those are just some that come to mind. My point is; the orca shows were the star attraction that made SeaWorld its name, so when Blackfish, alongside other factors, hugely tarnished the reputation of these shows, SeaWorld naturally had to do things very differently in order to survive. Like the animals it helps to protect, it has had to evolve and adapt to environmental changes as time goes on (to use a topical analogy).
So the path that they've chosen to go down in order to do this is the path of rides. I personally think that this is a very good path to go down for a number of reasons. Firstly, big coasters with impressive stats will definitely pull people in and give people in Orlando a reason to visit. A roller coaster is a very eye-catching thing to be able to put into a marketing campaign, and it's a good way to pull people in. Secondly, they can really differentiate themselves from Disney & Universal in the theme park stakes with the path they've gone down. While Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando both have many great rides and are still building some very eye-catching coasters, I would not call either company a company that focuses hugely on thrill rides by any stretch (I guess you could call Universal thrill-focused to an extent, but to nowhere near the same extent as what SeaWorld now is.). A big coaster-focused park is something that the Orlando area lacks (I know Busch Gardens Tampa exists, but it's probably too far away for your average Orlando visitor to want to visit), so SeaWorld will really be able to promote themselves as something different, and they're really filling a gap in the Orlando market. Combine that with cheaper prices than Universal & Disney (I think?) and the lovely atmosphere that the SeaWorld & Busch parks have and you have yourself a very compelling product to sell!
So basically, before I ramble on for too long; I think this move was necessary in order for SeaWorld to survive in the long-term, and I think it will benefit them hugely in years to come. Besides, as @MakoMania said, I think the conservation and rescue work will still continue and will still be a popular element of the park; one thing that recent SeaWorld adverts have emphasised heavily is that visiting helps save animals.
jon81uk
TS Member
And given they have committed to ending the killer whale programme they need to plan for what the park is going to look like in the long-term when they don't have a whale show at all.
In Orlando in particular the highly-themed theme parks are dominated by Universal and Disney, so it makes sense for SeaWorld to concentrate on offering what Disney won't do. So SeaWorld & Busch Gardens are sticking to some animal/fish experiences with a lot of coasters as a long-term plan.
AstroDan
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance, Cedar Point
Well done, Matt N. I think that is the first time I have clicked 'like' one of your posts!
When I last went to Orlando in 2015, whilst SeaWorld was naturally a must visit - it was still a bit of an 'urghhh, it's SeaWorld today; (as I am not a massive Kraken nor Manta fan) - but I can tell you by the time I next go (hopefully 2021) it will very much be SEAWORLD TODAY! OH YES!
When I last went to Orlando in 2015, whilst SeaWorld was naturally a must visit - it was still a bit of an 'urghhh, it's SeaWorld today; (as I am not a massive Kraken nor Manta fan) - but I can tell you by the time I next go (hopefully 2021) it will very much be SEAWORLD TODAY! OH YES!
Dipper_Dave
TS Member
You will get to enjoy Mako too. I love that ride. Not a big fan of Manta, Kraken is ok, but Mako is awesome. May have to go back in a few years to try all this new stuff
Matt N
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Shambhala (PortAventura Park)
I'm sure you'll love it @AstroDan! Piece of advice; make sure to leave yourself a little room in the lap bar. I did on my first ride, and the airtime left me truly breathless! It's a coaster you'll want to ride over and over again; even though I only had 3 rides when I was in Orlando in 2016, believe me when I say that I could have had far, far more if I had been left to my own devices! At times, I must admit that I feel a little like I must be insane when my overwhelming favourite coaster rides of all time have been on a coaster type mostly described with words such as "lethargic" and "dull as dishwater" these days, but the ginormous smile I had coming off it every time just told me that it had to be my number 1. Let me tell you, Mako was far from dull on all 3 rides I had on it; there's a reason it's still my number 1 coaster nearly 4 years after last riding it!
I also had a thought about what the Surf Coaster could potentially be; could it entail some form of water interaction? As surfing is done in water, and SeaWorld is a marine park (and also not a park that shies away from water interaction on coasters, at that!), I think it would be plausible! Maybe it could be a launched wing coaster-style ride, but with water features; sort of like B&M's take on the elusive Intamin AquaTrax, if you like?
I also had a thought about what the Surf Coaster could potentially be; could it entail some form of water interaction? As surfing is done in water, and SeaWorld is a marine park (and also not a park that shies away from water interaction on coasters, at that!), I think it would be plausible! Maybe it could be a launched wing coaster-style ride, but with water features; sort of like B&M's take on the elusive Intamin AquaTrax, if you like?
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Brad97
TS Member
- Favourite Ride
- Montu
It's pretty amazing the amount of investment SeaWorld are making in their parks recently. All of the major parks have gotten a new coaster this year, and most of them seem to be getting one next year too. Hope it all pays off for them once the pandemic is over.
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MakoMania
TS Member
Nothing's paying off for anyone at the minute unfortunately haha
If this is the first B&M surf coaster and the project codename is "Project Penguin," penguins swim and slide laying down on their stomachs. Just a thought.