SeaWorld Orlando dives into holidays
6 productions feature animals, skaters, songs
SeaWorld Orlando cannot be accused of backing away from Christmas. All corners of the theme park are covered with decoration, and at night, that even includes the illuminated Sky Tower. The park leans in on shows, too, including two allnew overlays this season. You can see all six in a day if you plan it right (I recommend the SeaWorld app, which shows your choices by times). Warning: You may have gingerbread coming out your ears at the end of the day from all the festivities.
Here’s an overview of the six shows in the order recently seen. Holiday completists will want to see the new holiday version of the Sesame Street parade also. (C’mon, Muppets with Santa beards? You know you want to.)
‘Pets Ahoy Holiday Spectacular’
■ Where: Seaport Theater
■ The skinny on the show: SeaWorld’s
usual “Pets Ahoy” show gets a new overlay set in Santa’s North Pole Village, where animals are working in a toy factory. Dogs and cats crisscross on stage performing little tricks, but those are punctuated by startling appearances by various birds.
■ The awwww moment:
There’s a public service announcement about pet adoption.
■ The animal angle: It’s an official menagerie. How do they train cats, let alone rodents and geese?
■ Surprise in the stocking:
The lighting is simple but really quite lovely.
‘Sea Lion High: The Christmas Special’
■ Where: Sea Lion and Otter Stadium
■ The skinny on the show: It’s another new holiday overlay, this time with hijinks related to putting on a Christmas pageant. Clyde and Seamore face off against a (human) villain, who has swiped the principal’s naughty and nice list. Be prepared for holiday dad jokes (“That’s Nutcracker sweet.”)