As part of this year's Theme Park Insider roadtrip, I'm mulling what other behind-the-scenes things I can bring to you this year. But the cool thing about SeaWorld's animal interaction programs is that they're open to anyone. (Anyone in decent health, doesn't mind hanging around large marine mammals, and can pay the fee, of course.)
You can find which programs are now available by visiting SeaWorld.com, clicking to your park, then looking for the "Animal Interactions" link.
Which brings me to this week's vote. Assuming the fee were no object, which animal would you most like to get in the water with? Note that Shamu is not an option. SeaWorld might let you shake Shamu's hand fin, but no one but the pros gets in the tank with the killer whales.
(The poll options are based on current interaction options, listed at the three SeaWorld parks.)
Let's talk about behind-the-scenes tours and events at theme parks, in the comments. Have a great weekend!
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I Respond: I have MAXIMUM respect for Shamu's trainers. I would go so far as to say they have the most EXTRAORDINARY jobs in any theme park.
There's that point in the show where a trainer goes under water and and one of the KWs comes up behind him and they burst through the surface with the trainer perched on the animal's nose. The trainer goes into the air and dives back into the water.
Okay, to complete that manuever the trainer goes underwater and at one point has to look back over his shoulder and see this creature the size of a bus coming right up behind him.
How exactly does Sea World reprogram that trainer's most primal DNA to make certain that when he is flying through the air he is not screaming like an eight-year old girl?
BTW, the water for the killer whales is kept at 52-55 degrees. We had full wetsuits, but it sure was cold when water spilled in at the neck.
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