Animals You Amaze Me!

So Saturday I went to SeaWorld in Orlando. I love SeaWorld in SanDiego and wanted to see how they compare. Much more expensive in Orlando. I made $14 for parking and then $85 for my day pass!!!! $100 before I even got in the gates. I took a deep breath and let it go. I had to see everything because I'm probably never coming back, not at that price.  First thing in the gates is a ride called the Manta, totally recommend it. It was BRILLIANT!

You are essentially riding on your stomache the whole time, except when you go on you back head first for a loop. It was a lot of fun. Then I ran to catch the Shamu show, funny SanDiego has Shamu too, he must be constantly flying back and forth, haha.

I do feel sad when I see his fin bent from captivity. I'm not all crazy animal rights person but its still sad. Also the set/background was really cool. The show was great and they used more Killer whales then I remember at the one in SanDiego.

This group of drummers/dancers were outside the show. The drummers were all on stilts and the other two were in stilt,bouncy things. Look closely the one is jumping in the air. They were SUPER impressive and fun to watch. Below is me looking good, as always and on my way into the sealion show.

Again another awesome set.

This guy and his sealion friend were searching for a map. It is so cute how the animals can mimic their trainers and almost seem like people. Though this sealion was forgetting his lines and it was hilarious watching the trainer/actor try to work with him and continue the show.

This was the set for their dolphin show. It also had divers, trapzee people, and dancers up in the sky on ribbons/bars.

And then this guy roped two and rode them. I want to do that someday, it looks AMAZING. I wonder if its easier then water-skiing?

I love this picture below, I caught all 5 dolphins. And its a great shot.

The final show I went to was acrobatics. The girl below is in pointe shoes and on one shoe balancing on the guy's head. That has got to hurt.

I also went to another show with dogs, cats, birds, a pig, and a rat. I was pretty impressed that they could train cats so well. It was okay. But the other four shows were really fun to see. Then I had two more rides to do, the Kraken (huge roller coaster) and Atlantis. Kraken was a lot of fun.

Here is Atlantis a roller coaster in water essentially.

Here is me again before the rides. The line at Atalantis was long and there were 3 kids in front of me, the youngest probably 5 and they were TERRIBLE. Seriously whiny and hitting and yelling and over and over. Their parents were waiting outside and they were on their worst behavior. I had a headache just from having to hear them. Then the little one while kicking and jumping away from brother for the 50th time she landed right on my pinky toe. I was LIVID, they were monsters and my toe had a HUGE blister on it from the day before. I refrained from saying anything but I gave her a nasty look hoping she'd get the hint and stop screwing around, she didn't. So we finally got to the ride and the worker wanted me to go with them and sit by the boy, I told him I'd prefer not to. He asked why and I simply said, "they have issues." So I was put on the boat behind them, thank goodness!!! The people I rode with were funny and it was a great ride. Just as they promised the darkest, scariest, and wettest ride. Well not the scariest but it was dark and I did get SOAKED. But it felt great.

I saw other animals and exhibits along the way and got some ice-cream, it was a hot day. At the end of the evening I went to the Dolphin encounter exhibit where if they get close enough you can touch them. Earlier they would come right up to the wall and sit and let people rub them, touch their tongues, etc. End of the day they were toying with us.

They would either be above the surface and just out of reach OR right along the wall but just too deep to touch, as show below. I waited for like 20 minutes and FINALLY got to briefly touch one as it swam by. It was so smooth, not slimy just very smooth. I wish they did this in SanDiego. Overall It was a fun day and I got to see everything but I still think it was overpriced. SanDiego I think is the right price for what you get.

Oh also while there I was eating my ice-cream before I could go in to the acrobat show and a lady told one of the employees she saw a snake in the grass nearby. He replied, "oh yeah, there are tons of them all over, they aren't poisonous." She was really upset that he was so nonchalant and not going to do anything about it. So in case you are not okay with snakes you may consider that before going. But I was there all day and never saw one.

 I also forgot to tell you at my airboat ride, I held a baby alligator. Florida seemed to be all about upclose encounters with ALL animals. I left SeaWorld and went up to the Orlando LDS Temple for a couple pics.

It was very beautiful and I really wish I had a better camera, I've been thinking that this whole trip. So before my next adventure I will purchase a more worthy camera.

Then I ate dinner, changed into some more comfortable pants and drove to Lake City, FL where I spent the night at a Rodeway Inn and it was much nicer than the nasty one in Florida. Can't wait to tell you all about Atlanta.