From Manny Barron on August 5, 2009 at 9:11 PM
This is great news for the San Diego park. Blue Horizons is wonderful in Orlando. The old show was a bit dated with that "surprise" with the Sea World trainer, so putting in this new show is good news. Most importantly they should consider putting some shade in Dolphin stadium like in Orlando. The weather in San Diego is wonderful but the sun still shines brightly and temps do get a bit warm in the summer and its clear that many people are bothered by this while watching the show with lots of people holding up their park maps to block out the sun. Anyway its good news that Blue Horizons is coming but maybe they should take advantage of this and put in some shade.

From Rob P on August 6, 2009 at 1:19 AM
Blue Horizons is both spectacular and really really blue. Your eyes are in for a blue overload.
If the show manages to capture the scale of the Orlando set then it's going to be a great addition to San Diego's Park.
I have photos of the Florida show. How do I post them here ?

From Gareth H on August 6, 2009 at 3:41 AM
Altogether now.

"Into the blueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee........."

From Robert Niles on August 6, 2009 at 9:17 AM
To submit photos of the Orlando show, click the "Orlando version" link in the story, then scroll down and click the "Submit Photo" button. (You do need to be a registered member of the site to submit photos.)

From 216.123.246.60 on August 6, 2009 at 12:26 PM
I visited SeaWorld San Diego a couple weeks ago, after having not visited for several years, and was surprised to see that they were still doing the same dolphin show.

While I agree that it is time for an update, I really wish they wouldn't move in Blue Horizons. I've seen the show several times, both in Orlando and San Antonio, and it's always been my least favorite of all the SeaWorld shows. I always feel that it takes too much of the focus off the animals in favor of the performers. After all, didn't we come to the park to see the animals? Horizons seems to cast them as the second-stringers.

I wouldn't have a problem with an additional show featuring the aerial acrobatics, and would likely go see it, but when I go to see the dolphins, I want to see the dolphins.

Or maybe it's just the former dolphin trainer in me :)

From Bruce Lane on August 6, 2009 at 8:00 PM
Whoa... Robert, I had no idea you'd done any training work with the critters. Which park was it, and when? I have to wonder if we might have crossed paths at either a park or IMATA conference, and not even realized it.

With that said - I agree wholeheartedly! Shows like "Blue Horizons" make me wonder why Sea World doesn't simply pack up and move to Vegas, where such silliness would be right at home (the old saying about 'What happens in Vegas...' etc.)

Interestingly enough, myself and my lady had a long discussion about that very thing with a senior Sea World Orlando trainer at the last conference. His position was "We're just giving the audience what they want."

My position remains at "No, you're giving the audience what they THINK they want." Honestly, I question whether most audiences have any clue what they really want in any such environment.

Happy travels.

From David Eggert on August 7, 2009 at 8:55 AM
Hey Bruce, the previous comment was actually mine. I posted from work and forgot to log on first. But to answer your question, I worked at the Dolphin Lagoon at West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alberta. At the time we had 4 Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins (and we were also responsible for the 18 African Blackfooted (Jackass) penguins). The dolphins have since passed on and been replaced by sea lions, and I'm now working as a mechanical engineer.

From 66.19.201.104 on August 7, 2009 at 11:11 PM
I Find Blue Horizon to be the most boring show at Seaworld Orlando. The birds and the dolphins are ok, but the human performers just drag the show into the world of boredom. OOOOh, watch me dive into the blue water. OOOh, watch me swing above the blue water. OOh watch me on the big screen swing above the blue water. Oooh, watch me wave to the crowd.