Over sixty years, SeaWorld has transformed into a destination celebrated for its rollercoasters and attractions. With a history and deep commitment to innovation initiated at the conceptual stage, attractions at SeaWorld are meticulously crafted to resonate with a diverse demographic, ensuring an experience that delivers to all members and ages of families.
Blooloop caught up with Mike Denninger, executive vice president of attractions and capital development at United Parks & Resorts, to hear his insights into SeaWorld’s coaster innovation over the years. He also talked about the ‘So Much More to Sea’ campaign, introducing fans to the thrilling new rides and attractions in each of its US parks for Spring 2024, including ‘Penguin Trek’ at SeaWorld Orlando, ‘Catapult Falls’ at SeaWorld San Antonio, and ‘Jewels of the Sea: The Jellyfish Experience’ at SeaWorld San Diego.
Each innovative ride unfolds a distinctive narrative, creating unforgettable moments for every guest while adhering to the highest safety standards.
The new rides and attractions add to SeaWorld’s impressive portfolio across various parks. SeaWorld Orlando – the Coaster Capital of Orlando – features a lineup of eight heart-pounding rides, including the groundbreaking Pipeline, the world’s first Surf Coaster; Ice Breaker, Florida’s steepest beyond-vertical drop; Manta, the only flying coaster in the state; and Mako, Orlando’s tallest and longest coaster.
Meanwhile, thrill seekers in San Antonio can experience Texas Stingray, the tallest, fastest and longest wooden coaster in the state, or Tidal Surge, the world’s tallest and fastest ride of its kind. In San Diego, Emperor, the tallest, fastest and longest dive coaster in the state and Arctic Rescue, the longest and fastest straddle coaster on the West Coast, continue to be crowd-pleasers.
SeaWorld’s mission
“SeaWorld started with a mission focused on education,” Denninger tells blooloop. “That ethos still permeates everything we do, though we tell the stories differently and use that platform in different ways. We’re different from other theme parks in that we find ways to connect guests with nature like nowhere else. It’s never simply a roller coaster. There’s more to your journey.”
Nevertheless:
“You do get the thrills, and we’re very proud of those thrills, but guests also connect as a family.”
SeaWorld caters to a broad and diverse demographic.
“All family members of all ages have something that they can do. By connecting guests with the animals in our parks or the stories we tell—even the amazing entertainment and attractions that we offer—guests can gain more insight into the natural world and a better appreciation for this world around us that we all have to take care of.”
Conservation messaging is key and underpins the fun:
“We are very proud about that conservation messaging,” he affirms. “Guests at SeaWorld experience that in a way they don’t get to do anywhere else. The experience is rooted in fun and excitement, but it’s fun and excitement with meaning and purpose.”
Ride innovation at SeaWorld
SeaWorld is known for its innovation in the rides and attractions space. He observes:
“Innovation is a word we often use in our attraction development process. If I look back, the SeaWorld experience has evolved. We started as a park where people would come to see animals and where there were a few rides and shows. Over time, we have inserted additional and clever tie-ins to our core theme and story in new ways.
“The use of new rides and attractions allows us to take guests where they wouldn’t otherwise be taken.”
In terms of the design process for attractions, he explains:
“We look at several things. So, we look at what our parks offer right now, what our guests say, and their interests. We need to make sure we cater to everyone that comes to our parks. We also look at which new state-of-the-art technologies we can incorporate.
“When you look at SeaWorld’s rides – the children’s rides, family rides, and thrill rides – most are custom layouts, very closely themed with what we offer in our parks, which are real animal experiences that connect people with nature.”
Something for everyone at SeaWorld
SeaWorld contrives to hit all the demographic touchpoints:
“We do it with a variety of ride technology. It’s not confined to, say, roller coasters. There are also great water rides, such as Catapult Falls, which we recently opened in SeaWorld San Antonio: a brand-new prototype ride experience that you can’t do anywhere else.”
The world’s first launched flume coaster and the only vertical lift in North America, Catapult Falls features eight seats on each boat and, at approximately 55 feet tall, offers a thrilling freefall experience for adrenaline junkies of all ages:
“It’s such fun, and it’s a great family ride. It has a low rider height requirement to get the whole family on board. Our strategy is always concerned with incorporating different ways to deliver experiences.”
While SeaWorld’s development has been shaped by changing attitudes to conservation and animal welfare, Denninger comments:
“At its core, how we look at our guest experience and how our guests interact with animals has remained constant throughout. There have been some key changes along the way in how the message has been delivered, but SeaWorld allows our guests to connect with nature and do so where they wouldn’t otherwise be able to.
“It’s hard to understand unless you connect with that thing you’re trying to understand how to protect it. The SeaWorld experience is very much about exploring and understanding. Our message is one of connecting people with nature and having these meaningful experiences that put our guests out into the world in a more enlightened place.”
Celebrating 60 years of SeaWorld
The 60th-anniversary So Much More to Sea campaign, which continues to deliver on this messaging, promises guests enriching experiences for years to come:
“We are extremely excited about So Much More to Sea,” he remarks. “60 years is quite a milestone.”
21 March 2024 was the 60th anniversary of SeaWorld opening its doors to the public in San Diego.
“In addition to all the new attractions opening in each of our SeaWorld parks this year, we also have some new presentations and shows and some exclusive content in the parks. There are new food, beverage, and merchandise opportunities that look back over our 60 years and allow our guests to enjoy their memories.”
Some SeaWorld guests have been visiting since 1964:
“We are allowing guests to share their memories with us over the past six decades.”
Turning to SeaWorld’s latest innovations in terms of rides and attractions, he adds:
“SeaWorld Orlando is already recognised as the coaster capital of Orlando. We already have an amazing array of coaster attractions catering to the whole family. Last year, we opened Pipeline, a groundbreaking first-of-its-kind surf coaster.”
Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, Pipeline features surfboard-shaped vehicles.
Penguin Trek
Now, Penguin Trek, opening this Spring, is the eighth coaster to join the park’s expanding portfolio.
“Penguin Trek is the ultimate family launch coaster experience,” he comments. “It has a very low rider height requirement to allow children and their families to ride together. It’s an impressive ride: guests board their unique snowmobile-style ride cars, then embark on an exhilarating journey through the vastness of Antarctica, this unknown world where they are looking to join a penguin research mission. It’s unlike any other experience.”
The launch coaster adventure reaches speeds of 43 miles per hour, navigates twists and turns, and narrowly escapes the crumbling hazards of an icy cavern.
“It’s a sizable ride experience,” he says. “What sets it apart is the finale, where the guests come face to beak with real penguins in our very own penguin habitat.”
Notably, he explains, the ride is designed for the whole family:
“Something we look to do is place these attractions in our parks that allow everyone in the family not just to do things on their own but also to do things together that they will all enjoy. This ride isn’t only for thrill seekers, and it’s not only for the smallest of children. It’s a great mix because everyone will enjoy the experience. There is something for everyone. When you consider the ride, the theming, and the animals together in one attraction, it’s truly an amazing experience.”
And, of course:
“Everybody loves penguins.”
SeaWorld innovation: staying ahead of the curve
Denninger keeps a finger on the pulse of what is current and popular when exploring the criteria for new rides. Offering some insights into the emerging trends he perceives, he identifies nostalgia as a factor:
“To an extent, what’s old is new again, at least at SeaWorld. Beyond that, I think people want their experiences to matter; they want to have a purpose in their journey. It’s interesting because we have been delivering that since the very beginning, 60 years ago.
“We see so much of this in the social sphere where people are talking about living their life with purpose and wanting to find true meaning. Something the SeaWorld parks have always offered is this connection to nature. What we continue to do through our innovations is find new and clever ways to deliver the stories that give people this connection to nature, which reinforces that purpose.”
Nostalgia notwithstanding, he explains, this can be achieved through new and immersive technologies:
“For example, our new Jewels of the Sea jellyfish experience at SeaWorld San Diego is not a ride but a new animal habitat combining a mesmerising view of the jellies, which are already mysterious and captivating, with an amazing high-resolution immersive digital walkthrough experience.”
Technology, in short, can enhance and contextualise the underlying experience. However:
“Sometimes it’s as simple as being right up against the glass as the dolphin is right on the other side, and you’re looking each other in the eyes. There are so many great ways to get those connections. People are looking for meaning, and we have great ways to provide it to them.”
Animal rescue and conservation at SeaWorld
In addition to connecting visitors to wildlife through attractions and animal encounters, SeaWorld also has a legacy of animal rescue that stretches back over half a century.
Over that time, SeaWorld’s Animal Rescue Teams have helped rescue more than 40,000 sick, injured and orphaned animals in need, partnering with multiple government agencies, conservationists, stranding networks, zoological facilities and others to rescue and help animals in need of care, always to rehabilitate them and return them to the wild.
Denninger says:
“As well as dolphins, birds, turtles, sea lions and so on, we are also rescuing coral. We have a nationally recognised coral rescue centre in Orlando. We are propagating coral in our rescue centre, in our park right here, where guests can see this amazing science in action.”
In short, he adds:
“The guest experience is constantly growing and evolving. SeaWorld parks are finding new ways to connect people to the natural world through the innovation and storytelling in our rides and attractions. We have great presentations and groundbreaking shows, and we use cutting-edge technology. This evolution can also be seen in our rescue operations, where we innovate and are a leader in the space.”
There is, after all, he reiterates:
“So Much More to Sea.”
