Sea World San Diego Shamu Stadium - New Show Soon?

[Belgarion42]

I remember reading somewhere that Shamu Stadium at Sea World San Diego will be closing soon. They will be temporarily moving the show to the Shamu Close Up area while they renovate it and put together a new show.

I think this is supposed to start this November (2005), but I don't remember for sure. Can anyone confirm this for me or correct me on it?

Thanks!

[SCUBAbe]

I'm not sure, but when I was there in august the up close part was closed and drained being renovated.

[PirateMickey]

We'll be there for Thanksgiving w/e. I hope that they have it straightened out by then.

[xfkirsten]

I'm not sure about the exact date these days, but around November sounds right. They have to wait until they're finished renovating the Close Up area (they're moving Dine With Shamu over there, hence the heavy construction) because they will have interim shows in that pool while the stadium is closed. The latest I've heard is that the Shamu Stadium renovation was cut down to just 6 weeks. Once that's back up and running, they'll continue to hold The Shamu Adventure there until the new Shamu show is ready to debut next spring (last I heard, April was the goal, but May was more likely).

[Belgarion42]

I'm not sure about the exact date these days, but around November sounds right. They have to wait until they're finished renovating the Close Up area (they're moving Dine With Shamu over there, hence the heavy construction) because they will have interim shows in that pool while the stadium is closed. The latest I've heard is that the Shamu Stadium renovation was cut down to just 6 weeks. Once that's back up and running, they'll continue to hold The Shamu Adventure there until the new Shamu show is ready to debut next spring (last I heard, April was the goal, but May was more likely).

Thanks Kirsten! I'm planning a trip either 10/29 or 12/17 (both Saturdays). Which would you recommend?

[xfkirsten]

In terms of crowds, both should be fairly light - 10/29 probably slightly moreso, just because 12/17 is closer to Christmas. In terms of what shows will be up and running, though, that's still up in the air. It depends on how quickly they finish up the projects they're working on. There's also a planned closure at the Sea Lion and Otter show, which is supposed to be closing soon for a rewrite (maybe a month-ish of downtime?), but I haven't heard any dates for that one yet.

[GapToothed]

The Shamu Adventure closes on Sunday and moves to Shamu Close Up until Thanksgiving. The show will be called the Shamu Experience. The Shamu Adventure returns to A pool from Thanksgiving until January 3rd. Then the show returns to Close Up while the set is struck and the new stage is installed. The show will return to A pool with a modified Shamu Adventure. The new Shamu show "Believe" will premiere in May.

Dine with Shamu will officially open at Close Up in February.

[figment1986]

The Shamu Adventure closes on Sunday and moves to Shamu Close Up until Thanksgiving. The show will be called the Shamu Experience. The Shamu Adventure returns to A pool from Thanksgiving until January 3rd. Then the show returns to Close Up while the set is struck and the new stage is installed. The show will return to A pool with a modified Shamu Adventure. The new Shamu show "Believe" will premiere in May.

Dine with Shamu will officially open at Close Up in February.

oh no.. that sounds like another arobatic show.. please say not another one.. FLA's dolphin show is good.. but needs more focus on the animals...

[xfkirsten]

oh no.. that sounds like another arobatic show.. please say not another one.. FLA's dolphin show is good.. but needs more focus on the animals...

Acrobats had been talked about, yes, but last I heard, they scrapped that idea. They'll have Cirque de la Mer just a few hundred yards away, anyways, during the summer.

[Belgarion42]

Thanks xfkirsten and GapToothed! That's very helpful (as was the press release posted in another thread) in planning my upcoming visits. I might try to make it during the time the "show" is moved to Up Close just to see it in a different setting.

Now I just hope that the whole Believe show isn't just choreographed behaviors. While the previous showing was wearing thin, I do like to hear the trainers talk about the animals and their interactions with them.

[GapToothed]

Now I just hope that the whole Believe show isn't just choreographed behaviors. While the previous showing was wearing thin, I do like to hear the trainers talk about the animals and their interactions with them.

uh-oh...

[xfkirsten]

Now I just hope that the whole Believe show isn't just choreographed behaviors. While the previous showing was wearing thin, I do like to hear the trainers talk about the animals and their interactions with them.

Agreed. As someone who's worked in the wildlife care industry (with animals at the Seattle Aquarium, as well as working in wildlife rehabilitation in Washington state) I think education is a hugely important part of the zoo animal industry. SeaWorld is in a great position to reach millions of people, and I think it's important that education remains an important part of the day shows. That's my biggest bone to pick with Orlando's new show ("Blue Horizons") - no educational content of any kind, not even a hint of a conservation message.

[figment1986]

That's my biggest bone to pick with Orlando's new show ("Blue Horizons") - no educational content of any kind, not even a hint of a conservation message.

This is great... someone else agrees

[Darkbeer]

I have photos of the refurbs at my site (see below)...

[cstephens]

Here's the announcement about the new show from Sea World's website.