5 Facts You May Not Have Known About the History of SeaWorld Orlando

    For over 46 years, SeaWorld Orlando has been entertaining visitors from all over the world. Along the way, they have changed, evolved, and have even gone through a change of ownership. With the plethora of changes that have taken place over the years. Remnants of past attractions or experiences still remain, waiting to be rediscovered. Today we will look at 5 facts, or interesting things to note, about the history of SeaWorld.

1. A Killer Whale sized stadium replacement

    When SeaWorld Orlando opened in 1973, Shamu/Orca Encounter stadium had not been built yet. The Killer Whales and dolphins took turns having shows in what is now known as Dolphin Theater, where Dolphin Days is currently running at. It was not until 1984 where the Killer Whales would get a stadium of their own. A huge stadium with 2 million gallons of water and the ability to seat 5,500 guests. This new facility not only allowed for more guests to see the show, but it was also expanded over the years to create an underwater viewing and dining area for guests to have even more interactions with the parks Killer Whales.

2. Stadium Air-Conditioning

    Florida is notorious for its extremely hot and humid climate. SeaWorld Orlando was built with this in mind. Both Dolphin Stadium and Sea Lion and Otter Stadium were built with air conditioning vents underneath all of the benches in the stadium. So even on the hottest days in Florida, you could watch the shows in comfort. Although, eventually SeaWorld realized just how expensive trying to air-condition an outdoor was and all of the vents were covered up. However, you can still see all the round plates that cover up the air-conditioning vents under the benches to this day!

3. The SeaWorld Logo

    Over the years SeaWorld's logo has changed and the original logo used in the park in 1973 was phased out in favor of their current one. Besides retro-themed merchandise, it is hard to find the original in the park. There is one glaring exception to this, however. On the roof of Shamu/Orca Encounter Stadium, you will find the original SeaWorld logo painted on it. Although it has faded over the years, you can still see this logo while riding the SkyTower or by looking at Aeriel photography of the stadium. 

4. From Bermuda to the Arctic

    In 1992, SeaWorld Orlando built their first thrill ride, Mission Bermuda Triangle. In this attraction, guests would enter a ride vehicle dressed as a submarine where they would partake in a simulated adventure through the mysterious depths of the Bermuda Triangle. Only 3 years later, however, SeaWorld gave this attraction a glow-up by turning into Wild Arctic in 1995. In this attraction, guests travel to base station Wild Arctic in a simulated helicopter ride where they encounter animals such as narwhals, polar bears, and caribou. With this retheme, an entire indoor exhibit was built. After the guests have completed their adventure, they could now see some of the animals found in the Arctic up close. While all references to Mission Bermuda Triangle are gone, the interior of the ride vehicle is almost exactly the same as the one found in Mission Bermuda Triangle. The only major difference is the paint scheme. Wild Arctic, at the time of this article, is still open for guests to this day.

5. The SkyTower: From Retro to Rustic

    The SkyTower at SeaWorld Orlando opened in 1974. At a height of 400 ft, it was the tallest structure in Orlando until 1988. It is also an icon for SeaWorld Orlando that can be seen from the nearby Interstate 4. However, the SkyTower you see today is completely different from the one you would have seen in 1974. Until 2003, the SkyTower was blue with red and white accents. The base of the tower was also only made up of metal walkways that allowed guests to enter and exit the tower. However, in 2003 the tower received a major renovation to fit in with the new area that was built called the WaterFront. The Skytower received a new Island surrounding it called Tower Island, and the walkways used to get guests in and out of the cabin for the SkyTower were now disguised as a worn-down stone fort.