We’re back with an all-new update from SeaWorld San Diego! Today we’ll be taking a look at the extravagant SeaWorld Christmas Celebration event that runs through January 4th.
This event is by far the one I look forward to most at SeaWorld every year. And the decor just grows and improves every year! Because of the construction going on in the new entrance area, SeaWorld has gone all out with decorations at the temporary entrance.
New this year is a color-changing Christmas tree near the temporary entry. At two different times each night, the tree will illuminate with patterns and dramatic color changes.
It’s a bit like a one tree version of the Orlando park’s Sea of Trees. We sure would love to see that extravaganza move to San Diego next year.
Every year, the area in front of the Animal Encounters attraction holds several different activities.
Other activities include cookie decorating, a booth to purchase kettle corn, and Santa’s Cottage.
Unfortunately, Santa has left his cottage for this Christmas, but he’ll be back next December.
Between the Pet’s Rule stadium and Snow World is an enchanting wintery walk-through area lit with hundreds of lights. Snow falls here at random times throughout the day.
And speaking of snow . . . Snow World, the extremely popular holiday attraction, returned this year as well.
Guests can play in the snow, play arcade-style snow ball games, and the little ones can go sledding . . .
Between Wild Arctic and the Penguin Encounter, you’ll find a statue of penguins and polar bears trying to get the star on top of the tree.
And surrounding the Natallius Pavillion event area are these twinkling lights…
One of the cutest parts of the event is the Cat’s Christmas Parlor, located on the side of the Pet’s Rule stadium.
Of course the cats are asleep…
…but it’s still worth a visit. !
The Calypso Smoke House has also been decorated for the season!
And while you’re walking around the park, you’ll notice that even the light fixtures have been decorated to fit the season…
The Mission Bay Theater, which houses the Madagascar Live! Operation: Vacation, has also been decorated, inside and out. The show has been renamed Madagascar Live! Operation: Christmas Vacation. The show ends with a Christmas song mash-up.
It seems that SeaWorld has heard the complaints of the lack of any sort of…well anything in the second half of the Manta ride. So this year, SeaWorld has added Christmas trees all over the area.
The trees around Shamu stadium are surrounded with these lights, which really give off a stunning effect, especially when watching the Shamu show and seeing them in the background.
The Shamu show has been given a couple visual and audio tweaks.
The changes include a new introduction, a slightly revamped soundtrack (which you may not even notice), and new visuals on the LED screens.
Overall, the SeaWorld Christmas Celebration is an exceptional delight. It’s something that is a tradition for my family and we love watching the celebration grow and change every year.
Construction Central: Explorer’s Reef!
Now, let’s do a quick park update. There’s a bit of news to share.
The walkways to the Shamu Stadium and to the SkyTower have been reopened with new pavement. Also, SeaWorld has released a new video on their YouTube channel, providing a sneak peek at the SeaWorld Store, a part of the new entrance, and will be opening on January 3rd! Take a look:
In addition, here is the last video covering the new construction for Explorer’s Reef! It sure seems to be coming along quickly!
We’ll have more on the new entrance in our next update, as we count down to its opening on March 21st!
That’s it for todays update from SeaWorld. We will see you In The Parks
Now enjoy the latest episode of the Unofficial SeaWorld Podcast where Eric, Mike and Erin talk about SeaWorld Christmas at all 3 SeaWorld parks, and they share audio with Sr. Trainer Sara McGuire who spoke to the MiceChat.com meet up group on December 15th at the SeaWorld Orlando meet up.