And they are MAGNIFICENT!!
I think I could have stayed watching them swim all day, but there was a lot more to cover! So we moved on. Next, Peyton asked to see the dolphins. There was a "Swim with the Dolphins" activity happening. Yes, I promised Peyton he can swim with them when he's 10 (the minimum age requirement).
There's a bat ray exhibit under the Manta roller coaster ride where you can touch them. Peyton hesitated about putting his arm into the water but got used to it.
Next, we went to see the flamingoes. Peyton was fascinated to learn that their color comes from the food they eat.
We then spent some time at the touch pools. At first, Peyton was concerned at the amount of algae in the pools. I think I've mentioned that he loves the Disney Junior show The Octonauts. One of his favorite episodes has to do with an over abundance of algae which causes the local sea creatures to get sick. The Octonauts find the source of the algae and fix it so that the crabs, lobsters, snails, etc will be happy and healthy again. So, when we approached the touch pools, he freaked out to see quite a bit of algae, but the SeaWorld employee and I assured him that it was actually a good amount of algae for the sea stars and urchins in these pools. My little Octonaut!
Then, it was time to make our way back to Shamu stadium for the orca show. We sat in the "soak zone" and waited for a fun show!
And, oh what a great show it was!!
Remember that I said we sat in the "soak zone"? Yeah, we got pretty wet. Peyton wasn't really amused about that. Luckily, I had noticed large drying machines not too far from the stadium so we went directly there after the show. We didn't get completely dry, but we weren't soaking wet any longer. And, now Peyton was ready to go back to the bat rays and really touch them!
We found a staircase that led to a walkway under the bat ray tank which was pretty cool!
We went back to the dolphins as Peyton was feeling much more confident about sticking his hand in the water than he was before the orca show. But dolphins are fast!
We were late to the big dolphin show, but that was okay. Instead, we took a look at the sea lions and seals.
And, we were right on time for the sea lion show which was very tongue in cheek. Lots of pop culture references but it was a fun show.
Yes, that last picture was a final dance to "Gangam Style". I knew pictures couldn't do it justice so I recorded it instead.
That was all before lunch! We had the other half of the park to see so we set off for the dun, dun, dun, Shark Encounter!!
Baby sharks!!
It was very cool to see all the sharks!
And they had a Megalodon replica.
Then it was off to see some turtles!
Playtime!
We ended our animal visits in the Poles. First, the Arctic sea life.
I had never seen a beluga whale and, my, what a sight they are!
Another creature I got to "meet" for the first time: walruses! I knew walruses are big, but I guess I didn't expect them to be huge! They're quite playful too!
The SeaWorld map misled us to believe we'd also see polar bears, but no, there's just a replica of a polar bear ice cave tunnel. Peyton had fun playing in it!
Next, it was off to the Antarctic to visit with some penguins! SeaWorld mimics the actual lighting conditions throughout the year. August is late winter in Antarctica, thus there is very little light and the penguins huddle together to stay warm. (If you haven't seen March of the Penguins, please do so!).
By then, we were pretty tired and decided to make our way to the exit. But, Peyton perked up when we realized that near the exit (and entrance), SeaWorld has all the state flags flying with state plaques underneath each corresponding flagpole. He has really gotten into geography this summer so he was quite happy to see all the flags!
Then, it was time to head "home". And, I was very grateful that I thought ahead and paid the additional fee for "up close" parking.
We will definitely have to go back to SeaWorld with James and again when Peyton is 10 so that he can swim with the dolphins, beluga whales and ride the scary Manta roller coaster.
What a great day!!
