NEW “WILD DAYS” EVENT KICKS OFF THE YEAR AT SEAWORLD ORLANDO

Connect even deeper to animals and the wonderful world we share during Wild Days, an all-new event at SeaWorld® Orlando happening weekends January 11 through January 26, 2014. Families can enjoy three weekends of interactive shows and up-close animal encounters and meet the leaders in the world of animal rescue and rehabilitation, celebrate penguins and immerse themselves in what they love about SeaWorld – our animals!

The best way to experience Wild Days is with a 2014 SeaWorld Fun Card. During event days only, buy one Fun Card and get one FREE at the gate with any recyclable can or bottle from a Coca-Cola beverage product. Fun Card holders can enjoy unlimited access to all three weekends of Wild Days and all of the amazing special events throughout the entire year, plus the unforgettable animal encounters, world-class thrill rides and family fun found only at SeaWorld.

Wild Days includes:

January 11-12: Jack Hanna Weekend
Join “Jungle Jack” for a wild weekend of furry and feathered fun. Recognized around the world for his boundless enthusiasm for animals and conservation, Jack Hanna helps us share in his wondrous connection to wildlife and the world we share.

January 18-19: Sea Rescue Weekend
Meet the leaders in the world of animal rescue and rehabilitation as they share incredible stories that have been featured on the national show, Sea Rescue. SeaWorld’s Animal Rescue team is on call 24/7, 365 days a year to help ill or injured animals, and for nearly 40 years the team has rescued more than 23,000 animals. Featured animal rescue stories will include: turtles, flamingos, manatees, pilot whales and dolphins.

January 25-26: Penguin Lovers’ Weekend with Julie Scardina
Penguin Lovers of the world unite! Don’t miss this refreshingly fun and educational weekend centered around penguins. Join SeaWorld Animal Ambassador Julie Scardina as she shares her lifelong love of animals and the parks’ commitment to wildlife conservation and as well as tell stories of her trips around the globe from continent to continent.

At Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, to celebrate the weekend, penguin lovers will have the special chance to virtually dance like a penguin, walk side by side with a penguin colony, and star in shareable Antarctica photo opportunities at the coolest “ice” block party.

And every day at SeaWorld Orlando, guests can get up close to penguins at Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, SeaWorld Orlando’s newest attraction that transports guests into the icy world of the penguin like never before. Experience the mysterious land through the penguins’ eyes on a first-of-its-kind family ride, and then, connect with a colony above and below the water and be inspired to make a difference.

All Wild Days shows are included with park admission with show times at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at SeaWorld’s Nautilus Theater. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Shows and times are subject to change without notice.

Wild Days Highlights:

New! Shamu Up Close
Celebrate the beauty and wonder of killer whales at the never-before-seen Shamu Up Close experience. It’s an intimate and moving look at the whales, SeaWorld’s trainers and the awe-inspiring bond between them. In this unparalleled experience, SeaWorld invites you behind the scenes into a fascinating world, with walkthrough killer whale viewing all day, complimented by even more enhanced encounters. Shamu Up Close is the living story of SeaWorld and our passionate commitment to the care of these extraordinary animals and their ocean world. This is your opportunity to be a part of SeaWorld like you never have before.

New! Trainer Talks

Learn from the SeaWorld Animal Training team what it takes to care for whales, sea lions, walruses and other animals that call SeaWorld home, and how caring for them has helped with the rescue and rehabilitation of other injured animals. Trainer Talks will take place at key locations in the park. Check park maps for times and locations.

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is one of the world’s foremost zoological organizations and a global leader in animal welfare, training, husbandry and veterinary care. The Company maintains one of the largest animal collections in the world and has helped lead advances in the care of species in zoological facilities and in the conservation of wild populations. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment also operates one of the world’s most respected programs to rescue, rehabilitate and return to the ocean marine animals that are ill, injured and orphaned. The SeaWorld® rescue team has helped more than 23,000 animals in need over the last four decades. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment employs more than 21,000 people nationwide.

The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, a registered non-profit conservation foundation, has granted more than $9 million to wildlife research and conservation projects that protect wildlife and wild places. The Fund commits 100% of donations to on-the-ground wildlife conservation efforts.