A Mom and The Magic

If you're heading to SeaWorld Orlando with kids in tow, there are a few things you might want to consider before you reach the turnstiles. Here are some tips for newcomers to help you enjoy your day to the fullest.

** Food: Everyone likes to eat, right? This can be an expensive part of your day at any theme park when you're feeding a family, but there are ways to minimize the expense. First, know that SeaWorld's policy is to restrict outside food and beverages from the park. The only published exceptions are for special diets or baby food.

SeaWorld does offer an All-Day Dining Deal, which allows guests to choose unlimited food from six restaurants, with a few exceptions. Adults pay $32.99, and kids ages 3 to 9 cost $17.99. This can be a good value if you're going to be in the park for more than one meal. My favorite deal, though, is the refillable soda cups, which can be used on the day of purchase and any subsequent days. The price of the cup is based on the style, but all refills are $1. And SeaWorld Orlando now features Coca-Cola products.

** Shows: There are so many amazing animal shows at SeaWorld Orlando that you could spend the entire day moving from stadium to stadium just to see them all. (Extra shows have been added, too, for Summer Nights, which runs through Aug. 12.) Most families don't take that approach, however, so you'll need to prioritize the shows and then work the rest of your day's plans around that schedule. The two Shamu shows -- One Ocean and Shamu Rocks! -- and the Blue Horizons dolphin show are among the most popular, so plan to get to them at least 30 minutes early. (For more on the summer shows, please see my previous blog post.)

** Roller coasters: If your children like roller coasters, make sure you check the height requirements to avoid any disappointment in the park. For the two biggest thrill rides, Kraken and Manta, kids must be at least 54 inches tall. Journey to Atlantis has a height requirement of 42 inches.

** Additional costs: Some experiences at SeaWorld Orlando are not included in your admission. For animal feedings, such as dolphins and stingrays, you'll have to buy the food. (More details about the dolphin feedings in another post.) There is a $5 charge per 20 minutes in the paddle boats, and up-close tours also are a separate price. If you would like to skip the long lines for popular attractions, you can purchase Quick Queue for one visit per major attraction or get the unlimited version for the day. Prices for Quick Queue vary, based on the option you choose and date of your visit. Currently, Quick Queue one-time is $14.99 per person and Quick Queue Unlimited is $24.99.

** Photos: If you're used to relying on Disney's PhotoPass photographers who are dispersed throughout the parks, you may be surprised to find only a handful of professional photographers at SeaWorld. They usually are concentrated near the entrance to the park and by the Dolphin Cove pool. So, if you want a lot of photos from your day, be sure to bring your own camera.

** Extra clothing: SeaWorld has more opportunities for guests to get wet than other theme parks -- from water rides to animal feedings to splash zones at the performances. There is even a water play area in the Happy Harbor kids section. If you are concerned about your kids walking around in wet clothes, you'll want to bring extra outfits or maybe rain ponchos.

Forgot something? Don't fret; it happens to all of us. SeaWorld is more than likely to have what you need for sale. Even this theme-park veteran had to buy sunscreen on her last visit.

Thanks to a new Orlando attraction, we now have a better understanding of some Florida wildlife that we got to see in a completely new way. TurtleTrek opened at SeaWorld Orlando just in time for the summer crowds, and we recently joined the tourists to check it out.

TurtleTrek is the first 3D domed 360-degree attraction in the world, and that's certainly the best part of the experience. Inside the theater, about 200 audience members are immersed in the story of Nyah, following the green sea turtle from hatchling to adult. The computer-generated movie is even from her perspective, which adds to the larger-than-life feeling.

Nyah's journey from the sand to the water is not without struggle, portraying the real-life dangers hatchlings face. Only about ten of the dozens of eggs laid in each turtle nest will grow into adulthood. Nyah goes up against a shark, a crab and a swooping bird and still comes out alive and moving forward. The special effects during these segments make the audience jump and then laugh at how real they seem. However, it's not too scary for kids to enjoy.

The seven-minute movie is fast-paced and the turtle's environment is breathtakingly beautiful. In fact, the audience stands during the presentation, and there definitely are parts where guests will want to hold on to the handrails.

Before the movie, visitors will see real turtles in their SeaWorld tanks. If you'e familiar with The Seas With Nemo & Friends at Walt Disney World, you'll recognize the vantage point of seeing into the aquariums from below the surface. It's fun to watch the turtles swim and glide, though I have to confess to thinking they move just as Crush does in Disney's "Finding Nemo."

Guests also will see four manatees in a separate tank. (TurtleTrek has taken over the building where the Manatee Rescue attraction was previously based.) These huge gentle sea cows are amazing to watch. The SeaWorld employee who was giving the informative talk in this section of the attraction said they really don't carry a lot of excess weight. They're just big-boned. Ha!

The TurtleTrek theater exits onto a deck, where guests get yet another view of the turtles -- this time from above. Guests are welcome to stay out here as long as they like, unlike the inside viewing rooms, which are designed to entertain before the movie.

On the day we visited TurtleTrek, the posted wait time was 40 minutes. Although the queue isn't really themed or interactive, as guests have come to expect at DIsney World, it is in the shade, which is a welcome relief from the hot Florida sun. The time seemed to pass fairly quickly and before we knew it we were entering into Nyah's world.