FYI - SeaWorld Orlando Ends Public Dolphin Feedings

keishashadow · Feb 24, 2015

Any thoughts on whether there will be age restrictions on the packages? it's the main thing my GD was excited about doing during a planned visit.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Feb 23, 2015, 9:29 PM ET

Guests at SeaWorld's theme park in Orlando, Florida, will no longer be allowed to feed the dolphins.

Visitors in the Dolphin Cove area Monday were still able to touch and pet any dolphins that approached them, but the park was no longer selling $7 trays of fish to entice the aquatic mammals.

Starting next month, guests will be able to buy 10-minute packages — starting at $15 a person — that include touching the dolphins and having photos taken with them under a trainer's supervision.

A SeaWorld spokeswoman told the Orlando Sentinel (http://goo.gl/utQQud ) that the new program is similar to popular ones in SeaWorld's San Diego and San Antonio parks.

An 8-year-old girl made national news in 2012 after her father posted a video of a dolphin biting her arm during a feeding at the Orlando park.

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina · Feb 24, 2015

keishashadow said:
An 8-year-old girl made national news in 2012 after her father posted a video of a dolphin biting her arm during a feeding at the Orlando park.

The news story about SW discontinuing the dolphin feedings actually made our 9 am news today....and we're all the way up in the snowy north.

The news report focused on the fact that this came as a result of the dolphin bite a few years back. I watched the video after it happened (it was everywhere) and feared that this would occur as a result :sad2:

.

Fingers crossed that the touch & pet sessions will accommodate a variety of guests, from the oldest to the youngest visitors.

chiamarie · Feb 24, 2015

That upsets me that the media is insinuating that this is because of the girl that made headlines over two years ago. If this is something they wanted to change because of that incident; it would have changed a long time ago.

I would assume the same "restrictions" would be similar to that of the Dolphin Up Close Tour that SeaWorld offers. Which really, there aren't any restrictions. According to SeaWorld's website; there are no restrictions to the "Dolphin Encounter"

"Do you love dolphins? Then, this experience is for you! Spend up-close time with bottlenose dolphins at Dolphin Cove®, and you’ll quickly understand what makes these clever characters one of the park's most popular animals. You’ll learn how our animal team takes care of these amazing mammals and have the opportunity to touch the dolphins while our park photographers capture that special moment.

Dolphin Encounter

Package includes your trainer-led Dolphin Encounter on day and time of your reservation only.
The total experience lasts about 10 minutes, and includes an educational overview, instruction and a three- to five-minute personal dolphin interaction.
Photos are sold separately and not included in the advertised price

Dolphin Encounter with Photo Package

Package includes your trainer-led Dolphin Encounter on day and time of your reservation only.
The total experience lasts about 10 minutes, and includes an educational overview, instruction and a three- to five-minute personal dolphin interaction.
1 6X8 group photo will be included"

http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworl...k-experiences/dolphin-encounter/?from=Top_Nav

laurafaith · Feb 24, 2015

interesting.....I was just checking this out on the website (thanks for the link) I wonder if there will be a age restriction? also if my family of 5 buys the "photo" package do we get 5 photos or just 1 .. that seems like a lot $75 for 1 6X8 photo?

keishashadow · Feb 24, 2015

Let's hope SW is quick to explain the new method quickly. jmho but they could do with a new PR machine.

fitnessmouse · Mar 4, 2015

Hmm yesterday I could book 3 months out. Today i can only book for today or tomorrow. I'd like to know how far out i can book this.

Sehsun · Mar 4, 2015

There is no age restriction for the new Dolphin Encounter. Also, I would think/hope that each paying guest for the Dolphin Encounter photo package would get a photo. Perhaps you could call SeaWorld to clarify?

(If you have Photo Key, all your photos from the Dolphin Encounter are included - just make sure you stop by the photo area near Dolphin Cove to have them added to your card.)

I also tried to see future available dates to book this experience and could only get till tomorrow. It could possibly be a glitch in the system.

DBF and I did the Dolphin Encounter last Friday and had a very nice time (the trainer who led our encounter was the same person we had for the Marine Mammal Keeper Experience last August, which was so cool - she immediately remembered us!).

We did not book this ahead of time. We just walked up to the reservation window (?) near Dolphin Cove and booked it for ourselves at the next available time, which was about 15 minutes from when we inquired about it. Keep in mind this may vary during different parts of the year - i.e., during the summer months, they may have less availability for same-day reservations.

Overall, the new experience is very good. Probably better than the feedings. I feel it is more of a personalized, educational experience. Plus it's safer for the dolphins and guests.

chiamarie · Mar 5, 2015

Sehsun said:
There is no age restriction for the new Dolphin Encounter. Also, I would think/hope that each paying guest for the Dolphin Encounter photo package would get a photo. Perhaps you could call SeaWorld to clarify?

(If you have Photo Key, all your photos from the Dolphin Encounter are included - just make sure you stop by the photo area near Dolphin Cove to have them added to your card.)

I also tried to see future available dates to book this experience and could only get till tomorrow. It could possibly be a glitch in the system.

DBF and I did the Dolphin Encounter last Friday and had a very nice time (the trainer who led our encounter was the same person we had for the Marine Mammal Keeper Experience last August, which was so cool - she immediately remembered us!).

We did not book this ahead of time. We just walked up to the reservation window (?) near Dolphin Cove and booked it for ourselves at the next available time, which was about 15 minutes from when we inquired about it. Keep in mind this may vary during different parts of the year - i.e., during the summer months, they may have less availability for same-day reservations.

Overall, the new experience is very good. Probably better than the feedings. I feel it is more of a personalized, educational experience. Plus it's safer for the dolphins and guests.

That right there is why SeaWorld has made the decision to change the system. They need something that is still a really good guest experience and something that is better for the dolphins (they can now actually control how much food every animal is getting) as well as have it safer for guests. From my experience, most people did the feed so they could touch the dolphin and get a photo with the dolphin. Now, they still have that opportunity to do so, but it's safer.

I am willing to bet that because of this new system; it will limit how many guests will have the chance to do these interactions; probably less than the feeds; so during those busy seasons, it will fill up and book fast.

FLOIR · Mar 6, 2015

Right now it is not possible to reserve this online. I believe the experience itself has been stopped for a period of time, not an error with the website. If I get a chance I will go over there and see if the tours are still happening and if not see if I can get an update.

919Florida · Mar 6, 2015

FLOIR said:
Right now it is not possible to reserve this online. I believe the experience itself has been stopped for a period of time, not an error with the website. If I get a chance I will go over there and see if the tours are still happening and if not see if I can get an update.

I dont know what exactly happened but Dolphin Cove is closed again and will reopen on March 17. I have not heard why. If you find out let us know

FLOIR · Mar 6, 2015

Right now it is scheduled to be closed until Mar 23

WendyLou · Mar 20, 2015

any news on this? We are going 4/30 and Ds is really excited about the dolphins.

FLOIR · Mar 20, 2015

All constructions walls are down and trainers are in the area. It did not look like the dolphin experience had started again but I would suspect that small groups will start going through within a few days.

By the end of April when you arrive it should be easily up and running, unless more problems arise.

RabFlmom · Apr 1, 2015

Have been there since and it is actually better chance to see and touch dolphins than when you had to buy fish. If you didn't buy fish you were stuck down in an area where the dolphin didn't go often. Now general public is where the feeding used to be and the special stuff is at the far end. We were there at a time when it didn't seem there were any special groups and the dolphin were coming up to the edge interacting with people. It may change but that was our take when we were there on one of the concert days.

FYI - SeaWorld Orlando Ends Public Dolphin Feedings

keishashadow

Proud Redhead...yes, I have some bananas!

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina

Life is short. Live it well.

chiamarie

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laurafaith

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keishashadow

Proud Redhead...yes, I have some bananas!

fitnessmouse

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Sehsun

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chiamarie

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FLOIR

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919Florida

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FLOIR

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WendyLou

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FLOIR

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