SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium Announces New Annual Pass

SEA LIFE Orlando now offers guests the opportunity for unlimited admission to the interactive aquarium experience with its new annual pass. The SEA LIFE Orlando Annual Pass is $60 for adults and children, and can be purchased in-person at the attraction’s admissions desk or online at VisitSeaLife.com/Orlando.

In addition to offering unlimited entry to view more than 5,000 sea animals in more than 32 interactive display habitats, the pass provides a 10 percent discount off photography and the aquarium’s retail store. Each pass is valid for one year at the Orlando location, and is intended for the use of one specific individual, and cannot be used interchangeably for different individuals.

The new aquarium provides explorers, both the young and young-at-heart, to navigate through

Orlando’s only 360-degree walkthrough underwater tunnel, and take in the views of amazing marine life from the oceans of the world through floor-to-ceiling displays, window and bubble aquariums, a 180-degree walkthrough tunnel, a cold water rock pool that provides interaction with sea stars and sea urchins, a special area dedicated to the Florida Everglades, and much more.

For more information, go to VisitSeaLife.com/Orlando.

SEA LIFE® Orlando Aquarium Prepares for New Fins on the Block

SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium introduced sandbar sharks to their new home in Orlando this week. The sandbar sharks, also known as brown sharks, were transported on stretchers to their 192,000-gallon habitat, joining their new aquatic neighbors.

This marks the second group of fish to arrive at the aquarium, which previously included Everglades Pygmy Sunfish, Butterflyfish, Triggerfish, Moray Eels and more. More than 5,000 sea animals will be featured in 32 display habitats.

Opening May 4, visitors can immerse themselves in this unique and interactive aquarium experience, including coldwater rock pools, bubble and floor-to-ceiling window aquariums, and walkthrough 360-degree and 180-degree acrylic tunnels to learn about various species through interactive experiences.

School’s in for the Summer: First Group of Fish Arrive at SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium

From Angelfish to Porkfish, SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium has welcomed the first group of colorful fish and marine animals to the 25,000 square-foot aquarium attraction.

Opening May 4, the immersive, one-of-a-kind aquarium experience will eventually be home to more than 5,000 sea animals from the oceans and waters of the world. After each group arrives, the fish and marine life are acclimated to the aquarium waters before moving into one of 32 display habitats. The first grouping features a variety of smaller sea animals, including Everglades Pygmy Sunfish, Butterflyfish and Triggerfish, Moray Eels and several sea snakes such as the Yellow Ratsnake and Rough Green Snake, to name a few.

“The fish and sea animal arrival is a huge milestone for our aquarium,” said Steve Blair, Curator, for SEA LIFE Orlando. “Once our smaller animals are acclimated to their new environments, we’ll get the chance for their larger neighbors, such as rays and sharks, to move into the SEA LIFE neighborhood in a few weeks.”

Guests will have the chance to come nose-to-nose with many different sea creatures through a variety of display habitats, cold water rock pools, bubble aquariums, floor-to-ceiling aquariums, and walk through 360-degree and 180-degree clear acrylic tunnels.

For more information on SEA LIFE Orlando, or to purchase tickets, go to VisitSeaLife.com/Orlando.

SEA LIFE® Orlando Aquarium Fills Atlantic Ocean Habitat with 192,000 Gallons of Water

SEA LIFE^® Orlando Aquarium has reached a new construction milestone this month as aquarists filled the aquarium’s Atlantic Ocean habitat with more than 192,000 gallons of water on Tuesday, Feb. 24.

It will take approximately two days to fill up the entire Atlantic habitat. After that is complete, aquarists will work to fill more than 30 additional habitats. The water for all the habitats will go through a customized filtration system where salt will be added. Afterward, the salt water becomes acclimated to safely hold the aquarium’s sea animals, which include sea stars, rays, sharks and more, that will begin to arrive in the coming months.

Rowdy Gaines, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame inductee, NBC swimming analyst, and Central Florida resident joined Steve Blair, Curator, Merlin Animal Welfare and Development for SEA LIFE Orlando, for this special milestone.

“This is a huge day for SEA LIFE, as we are one step closer to the grand opening on May 4,” said Blair. “We are excited to inspire children to fall in love with the oceans of the world and the animals who call it their home.”

“As someone who has spent half their life in the water, I’m so excited to be on hand for this water fill milestone,” said Gaines, who serves as Vice President of Aquatics for the Central Florida YMCA. “It’s great to see children appreciate and learn about the world’s oceans, and how to help respect and protect the Florida Everglades which is in our backyard.”

To be among the first to be nose-to-nose with sea animals, guests can sign up for our newsletter at VisitSeaLife.com/Orlando for the chance to visit May 1-3, ahead of the attraction’s May 4 grand opening.

 

Fun facts:

• 45,000 pounds of sand have been placed inside the aquariums
• More than 90,000 pounds of salt will be used to acclimate the water
• SEA LIFE Orlando will have temperate habitats which will help create a more diverse ecosystem to house colorful and vibrant animals
• The 360-degree tunnel, weighs eight tons and has a buoyancy of 60,000 pounds lifting it like a bubble
• The animals that will call SEA LIFE Orlando home include: Sand Bar sharks, Pacific Black Tip sharks, Grey Reef sharks and Bowmouth Guitarfish
• The aquarium’s windows are approximately four inches thick
• More than 40,000 gallons of water are held in an underground reservoir beneath the aquarium

 

About SEA LIFE Orlando

Opening May 4, 2015, SEA LIFE Orlando is an immersive, one-of-kind aquarium experience that allows marine life enthusiasts to experience the magical world beneath our oceans of the world with interactive touch pools, bubble aquariums, floor-to-ceiling displays, and 360-degree and 180-degree ocean tunnels featuring more than 5,000 sea creatures. The 25,000-square foot aquarium attraction will be home to colorful fish, sharks, sea horses, sting rays, jellies, sea turtles and much more.

SEA LIFE provides a glimpse of the diversity of marine life, while also playing an active role in animal and environmental conservation. Visitors will see strong evidence of the Breed, Rescue and Protect program with activities around the world, and new projects developed locally, as well as educational initiatives, including guest lectures and talks.

SEA LIFE is the world’s largest aquarium chain and SEA LIFE Orlando is the 50th location aquarium launched in the world and the 8th in the U.S. SEA LIFE Orlando is located at 8337 International Drive in Orlando, Florida, inside I-Drive 360, the entertainment and dining complex which is the home of the 400-foot Orlando Eye observation wheel and celebrity wax attraction Madame Tussauds Orlando.

For more information, go to www.visitsealife.com/orlando.

Merlin Entertainments PLC Announces Grand Opening Dates and Ticket Prices for The Orlando Eye, Madame Tussauds and SEA LIFE

Merlin Entertainments PLC, the world’s second largest attraction operator in the world, has announced the grand opening for its three newest Central Florida attractions, The Orlando Eye, Madame Tussauds Orlando and SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium. All three highly anticipated attractions will officially open on May 4, 2015. Guests who sign up for the attraction newsletters will have a chance to be among the first to preview each attraction.

Tickets to each attraction start at $25 ($20 for children 12 and under), however, combination tickets are available across multiple attractions and sister attraction LEGOLAND® Florida.

·      One Attraction: $25 for adults/$20 for children (12 and under)

·      Two Attractions: $39 for adults/$34 for children (12 and under)

·      Three Attractions: $49 for adults/$44 for children (12 and under)

·      Three Attractions and LEGOLAND Florida: $99 for adults/$94 for children (12 and under)

Merlin has also announced special limited access opportunities to all three attractions, May 1-3, ahead of grand opening, for guests who sign up for the attraction e-newsletter on OfficialOrlandoEye.com, MadameTussauds.com/Orlando or VisitSeaLife.com/Orlando. Slots are limited. 

“We are thrilled to announce the May 4 grand opening of the newest additions to Central Florida, rounding out Orlando’s world-class offerings!” said James Paulding, Head of Southeast Region for Midway Attractions for Merlin Entertainments. “Along with the entire community, we’ve been eagerly watching the construction of this incredible observation wheel and we cannot wait for guests to experience The Orlando Eye, Madame Tussauds and SEA LIFE Aquarium.”

All three attractions are located at the brand new I-Drive 360 entertainment and dining complex in the heart of Orlando’s famed International Drive.

Visit OfficialOrlandoEye.com, MadameTussauds.com/Orlando or VisitSeaLife.com/Orlando for more information on each attraction.

SEA LIFE Orlando Kicks Off Search for Young Environmentalists Panel

SEA LIFE Orlando, the brand new immersive aquarium experience opening at I-Drive 360 in spring 2015, has announced a contest to select five children to serve on its Young Environmentalists Panel. Each of the panelists, between the ages of 7-12, will serve as ambassadors to help educate the community about SEA LIFE, and its local and global conservation efforts.

 

SEA LIFE Orlando is asking children in Florida, between the ages of 7-12, who are passionate about marine life and conservation, to submit an entry by writing a 150-word essay or 30-second video on ways they protect the environment.  Finalists will have the chance to participate in preview events leading up to grand opening; and participate in special events throughout the year where they will help communicate SEA LIFE’s conservation messages and get involved with activities to help protect the environment.

 

“We are excited to launch our Young Environmentalists Panel and begin engaging with young marine life enthusiasts in our community,” said Steve Blair, displays curator for SEA LIFE Orlando. “From protecting our oceans to helping with animal conservation, our young panelists will not only promote our conservation outreach, but also help to inspire and educate others throughout the State of Florida.”

 

To enter, or to learn more about the Young Environmentalists Panel, go to www.VisitSeaLife.com/Orlando, and download the Parent/Guardian Release Form to submit along with your child’s essay or video. All entries must be submitted via email to andrea.alava@merlinentertainments.biz. The deadline for entries is January 15, 2015.