Archive for the ‘Theme Parks’ Category

More pics of Alfred Jesse at Sea World in Orlando

Sunday, May 20th, 2007

Here are some more pics from our trips to Sea World. I have the two trips mixed up but these are some of the better shots we have. The camera I have right now is a better video recorder than camera and these shots are pretty grainy. I think we need a higher resolution camera so we can get some better print shots for everyone.

AJ in his wife beater at Sea World

AJ, Robby and Mommy wore matching wife beaters to Sea World on our second trip and AJ is here chillin poolside at the Shamu show. This was just prior to getting soaked by Shamu and AJ is anxious for things to get started. He’s over me and the camera so getting him to look at me for a good still shot has become a chore but I can trick him into some good shots still.

AJ rides the carousel at Sea World

AJ rode the carousel and chose to ride in the chair and not on a horse like Mommy and Daddy are in this pic. AJ was tired at this point and ready for a seat after hanging in the lines for so long. It can be very hot and although they try the attractions can’t seem to keep us cooled down all day long. It costs like $20 in water to make it through a day at the prices they charge for a bottle of water and keeping cool and relaxed is important to enjoying the day for us so easy relaxed rides like these are awesome if you can get on it quickly and without to long a wait inline. It’s always best to get to the theme parks early and I have found no lines in the first hours of operation makes for a great early start.

AJ on the bubble ride
AJ has only recently taken to riding on things and this bubble ride takes you p pretty high in the air. AJ was cool about it and now seems a thrill seeker willing to ride just about anything. Of course he does get scared but he keeps on trying new things so thats great. He likes the bubble ride at Sea World so we’ll have to get back soon. Last shot is AJ blinking while watching the show. i told you getting a good shot of him has been a trick lately.
AJ watching the show

AJ goes to Sea World

Wednesday, May 16th, 2007

We decided to spend some time visiting the many attractions here in Florida before our adventurs in Jamaica and we bought passes that will allow us to visit SeaWorld whenever we want. We’ve been twice already and AJ simply loves it. Our first trip we sat further back during the shows and actually missed the Shamu show because it was overloaded. We were able to watch the Dolphin show and many other things on the first trip and then went back and caught the Shamu show and other missed things on the 2nd trip. Our next trip will focus on the favorites and it looks like the Shamu show in the Soak Zone is a hit. AJ had more fun and never laughed so hard as when we got splashed by Shamu in the front rows. It was a total shower and we were literally soaked from head to toe. A full grown killer whale can kick up quite a wave and we caught one full face. AJ was excited but it was a bit much for Robby as you can see in the pics below. More trip pics to come from future trips soon.

AJ, Robby and Mommy at the touch Tank in Sea World

AJ did not care much for touching things in the tank but mommy got a kick out of feeding the stingrays. She wants a tank here in the yard but I’m thinking it’s not going to happen.

Mommy feeds the stingrays at Sea World

The dolphins put on a great show and every time they jumped in the air AJ got a big kick out of it. It’s sad that we capture these beautiful animals and pen them up to perform for us but to be honest how else would our kids gain an appreciation for them and how else would we be able to school them on the value of the natural world without some form of controlled environment for them to experience it. I don’t necessarily agree with the4 performance aspect of it but the animals seem to enjoy it for the most part and if their sacrifices make a difference in the lives of the ones in the wild then I think it’s a valuable service to humanity and nature.

I was however a bit put off by the Budweiser element and the targeted advertising for alcohol sales. The kids bath stalls has Bush logos all over and I don’t see that as appropriate marketing to children but they do own the place and I agreed to enter so it’s on me I suppose. They should however beware of targeting kids with that stuff.

The Dolphin Show at SeaWorld

AJ, Robby and Mommy at Sea World

As I said the second trip with the Shamu show was a real hit and getting splashed inteh Soak Zone was the most fun for AJ. Here you can see we are pretty darn close to the tank and a full grown killer whale is very impressive when it passes close by.

Shamu at the Sea World Show

Shamu at the Sea World Show

Shamu at the Sea World Show

Here you can see AJ and his excitement as he has just been splashed by Shamu the whale and is soaked with water. AJ loves to splash and to have been splashed by the whale was a highlight of the day and beyond. It’s been two weeks since we went and AJ still goes on and on about how he was splashed by the whale at Sea World.

AJ gets splashed by Shamu

AJ and family gets splashed by Shamu

Shamu waves goodbye at the end of the show.

Shamu says goodbye

Of course there is lots more to do at Sea World and we have some misc pics of that for you as well.

AJ rides the bubble ride at Sea World

AJ rides the bubble ride at Sea World

AJ and Robby have some fun riding the slides and in the jump house at Sea World
AJ on a slide at Sea World

AJ in the jump house at Sea World