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Park News - (1/19/10) SeaWorld has confirmed on their Facebook page that the Manatees will be leaving the San Diego park due to a request by the US Fish & Wildlife Services that they be relocated back to Florida. However, it seems nothing is known at this point in time as to what will replace the attraction. I imagine all plans are still up in the air, thought I would think a Shark’s Underwater Grill type facility could be on the short list of options.
    (1/15/10) In a follow-up to our Shark’s Underwater Grill rumor for 2011 (see below) we’ve now heard that the Manatee’s are actually being removed from SeaWorld California entirely starting February 3rd. Its rumored that some issue has come up between the park and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission that is bringing an end to the long term “loan” of the animals outside the boundaries of the state. 
    According to one source, they believe an issue came up about how the Manatees had to be eventually rehabilitated and released to the wild but according to the department’s own document (Page 1 under 1997 bullet points) the five manatees transferred to SeaWorld San Diego were deemed to be “not suitable for release”.  Hmmm… anyone know more?
    (1/6/10) SeaWorld San Diego welcomes Sully, a new young male pilot whale, to the park this week. Sully had beached himself on Curacao last July, an island in the Caribbean, and was nursed back to health. The local rescue teams made several attempts to re-introduce Sully back into the wild but each time Sully would follow the boat back to shore, showing no sign of wanting to return to the ocean. With no long term care facility to take care of Sully, it was determined that SeaWorld San Diego was the most suitable new home for him, as the park has a long history of care and experience in taking care of pilot whales for over 20 years.
    (1/5/10) While new horses have come in to take over the former Hospitality Center stable in Orlando, it seems that the stable area at the San Diego park has simply been closed down and shut. It also seems that the California park isn’t quite as in a big a hurry to remove all of the Busch references and logo items as the Florida parks, though I’m sure it’s all just a matter of time.
    (12/31/09) SeaWorld San Diego is offering a special deal on Annual Passes, when you pay for a year, you get a second year free. So dropping that $109 for your annual pass will actually get you two-years of fun.
    (11/24/09) A reader send in a picture showing of the construction taking place inside the Blue Horizon’s stadium as well as a look at the new temporary Ice Skating rink installed near the base of the Skytower.

2010 - Blue Horizons - Confirmed - (11/12/09) A local reader has sent in a few construction pictures from Blue Horizons this week.
    (9/11/09) Some new concert artwork has been released for the new Blue Horizons show coming in 2010 to SeaWorld California.
    (8/21/09) According to the Passholder newsletter the last Dolphin show will take place on Labor Day Weekend, after which the stadium will close to begin work on the installation of Blue Horizons, which wont open until May 2010.  The letter did mention something interesting however… that a “special dolphin show’ would take place inside Shamu Stadium in late November 2009.
    (7/27/09) Sources have told us that SeaWorld California has been given the final green light to update their current Dolphin show into a new version of Blue Horizons, a mixture of a dolphin and Cirque style show experience that opened at SeaWorld Orlando about four years ago. SeaWorld Texas also created a similar show the year before Orlando did and called it Viva. I don’t know if the new San Diego show will keep the Blue Horizons name or come up with a new one, but we’ve heard that it will likely be a fairly major overhaul to the facility.
    (5/11/09) Screamscape sources tell us that in late 2009 the park’s Dolphin Stadium will be closed to undergo a massive transformation that may see the stadium expanded to add in about 700 more seats along with numerous scenic and technical improvements that will allow them to add their own version of Blue Horizons to the park.
    Blue Horizons is the name of the current show in the Dolphin stadium at SeaWorld Orlando, which is a mix of dolphin show elements and Cirque de Soleil style acrobatic performances and music. While the Orlando show has been quite popular with the guests, perhaps the biggest complaint was always that the new show featured too many Cirque acts and not enough Dolphins. At this point there is no telling if the San Diego version of Blue Horizon’s will be a carbon copy or if they will just use the basic concept and come up with their own creation.

2011 - Shark’s Underwater Grill - Rumor - (1/14/10) We’ve heard an interesting rumor claiming that Blackstone is interested is expanding the “Shark’s Underwater Grill” high-end restaurant concept started at SeaWorld Orlando and expanding it into the California park. Of course at the Orlando park this resulted in the main viewing area of the former Shark Encounter attraction being converted into a giant restaurant and re-routing the guest traffic to bypass this area and move right into the underwater tube. The interesting thing is that the San Diego park already revised the attraction to bypass the old main tank viewing room when they converted it as a stand-alone Manatee exhibit. If they move the Manatees to a new exhibit, I would think it would be simple to convert this space into a new restaurant as well. You can see a great picture of Shark’s Underwater Grill here. Anyone know more?

2014 - New Coaster Attraction - In Development - (3/1/10) Remember that coaster that indoor/outdoor launched coaster project that was put on hold for SeaWorld San Diego?  I’ve heard that “Project: Reef Runner” may be back on the 5 year Masterplan, but not to look for it until around 2014 at this point.  Given the amount of time involved and the fact that there are new owners in charge too, I’d look for the track layout to likely be modified as well from the drawings that were previously leaked for this adventure ride down into a deep abyss…
    (7/18/08) Bad news from SeaWorld San Diego for the coaster enthusiasts. That wonderful looking 2010 themed coaster project has been put on hold while all the InBev issues are settled and we find out about if they will attempt to sell off the Busch parks to a new owner. Instead in 2010 the park will apparently bump up their plans to renovate the long running Dolphin show instead. Given the changes that the SeaWorld parks have already made to their Dolphin shows in Texas and Florida in the last few years (Viva in Texas and Blue Horizons in Florida) where try to mix a little Cirque with their Dolphin fun, I’d say to look for this new show to move along this same basic concept.
    (6/3/08) Today we get to sneak a peek at the new thrill ride that SeaWorld has planned for 2010 with the aid of a proposed layout for the new attraction. From the look of things it appears to be an indoor and outdoor coaster attraction as previously rumored. Given that our last rumor indicated that Premier Rides may be behind this attraction, the design seems very similar to what we’ve seen Premier do for Universal’s Mummy coasters, including what I’m guessing are slow dark ride sections, a backwards drop and at least one LIM launch. I’ve also included a current aerial image showing off the area of the park where this attraction will go.
    (10/25/07) Another name has also dropped into the swirling rumor pot for SeaWorld’s 2010 thrill ride... and this one comes with a reputation - Premier Rides.  Yes... Premier Rides, the company known primarily for their LIM launched steel roller coasters. From more family oriented rides like the Italian Job coasters, to the indoor unique Revenge of the Mummy coasters up to your standard outdoor unthemed giant launched coasters (Mr. Freeze, Speed: The Ride). The common trait for virtually every Premier Ride coaster however is a magnetic LIM launch system... something they really wrote the book on. Given the land issues involved at SeaWorld California, a LIM coaster would be the perfect space saving solution.