On March 9th, the Animal Rescue Team of Sea World Orlando rescued a young female manatee from a canal near Satellite Beach, Florida.  The approzimately 5-foot long sea cow was suffering from cold stress and is the 11th manatee to be rescued during this unseasonably chilly winter season by the Sea World team.

The Sea World Parks and Entertainment Blog posted some updated information about the manatee’s condition:  The animal remains in guarded condition at SeaWorld’s Manatee Rehabilitation Center, where she will be treated by park veterinarians and animal care specialists in hopes of releasing her back to nature. Cold stress can occur when manatees spend an extended period of time in water that dips below 60 degrees.

Sea World is the global leader in the rescue and rehabilitation of manatees.  To read more about manatee rescue efforts, please check out our blog, Sea World Orlando Helps Florida’s Endangered Manatees.

For more information or to purchase Discount Sea World Tickets, please visit our website or Kissimmee Location, The Official Ticket Center, or call us toll-free at 1-877-406-4836.

Viva la Musica is back at Sea World Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa!   The music festival and live concert series is an annual event that takes place on Saturdays at Sea World and Sundays at Busch Gardens.  Similar to Bands Brew and BBQ, the festivities will start at 12:00 PM, with concerts at 4:00 PM, unless otherwise noted.  The event features world-famous Latin music stars, local acts throughout the afternoon, delicious Latin foods and beverages, and much more!  Viva la Musica is included with park admission and with the purchase of Discount Sea World Tickets and Discount Busch Gardens Tickets.  Keep reading for concert headliners and dates:

Saturdays at Sea World Orlando

Victor Manuelle is a successful Latin Grammy nominated Puerto Rican American salsa singer, songwriter, and improvisational sonero, known to his fans as El Sonero de la Juventud (”The Youth’s Sonero”). He is identified primarily with salsa romantica or “salsa monga”, but has also experimented with styles ranging from Colombian vallenato to urban reggaeton. Unlike other young salsa performers such as Marc Anthony, he has neither recorded in English, nor made a Latin pop album, nor (with rare exceptions) ventured into acting, preferring to remain a musician grounded within salsa music.

Oscar D’León is a Venezuelan musician who became internationally famous for his salsa music. In Spanish, he is known as El Sonero del Mundo (”the Improviser of the World”). His most famous song is perhaps “Llorarás,” which he recorded in 1975 with his group La Dimensión Latina. He is also ambassador for Operation Smile.  During the 1980s, D’León achieved success in salsa music, and is now one of the great singers of Caribbean music.  Because of successful tours throughout America and Spain, D’León was the first latino to sign a contract with the BBC.

Talented Sergio Vargas is primarily a merengue singer, but has also earned acclaim for his ability to sing other forms of Tropical music, including ballads. He was born in the Dominican Republic and got his start singing with the local group La Banda Brava. Vargas founded his band, Los Hijos del Rey, in 1986 and by 1988 had become a major star throughout Latin America where he began touring. Later that year, Vargas signed to CBS Records in the U.S. and his debut album eventually went gold. By 1991, he was recording with Sony and remains one of his country’s top artists.

The quartet known as Grupo Manía was formed in 1993 and became one of the most popular young merengue bands at that time. It is composed of three brothers of the Serrano Matos family: Héctor Iván “Banchy”, Edwin and Oscar, along with young choreographer Alfred Cotto. Their debut album A bombazo… ¡sí! reached number one in Puerto Rico radio play with hits such as “Celos”, “Dos mujeres” and “Me sigue pareciendo frío”. A year later, Elvis Crespo replaced Edwin, who was then replaced by Reynaldo Santiago. At the start of the new millenium, the band released their fifth album for Sony: Masters of the Stage. At the same time, “Destiny” was nominated for a Grammy award and for an award at the first Latin Grammy awards celebration, in the Merengue category.

Sundays at Busch Gardens

Nicaraguan salsa vocalist Luis Enrique was one of Latin music’s first pioneers of the romantic “salsa sensual” style. Approaching an otherwise aggressive and bright musical style with a smoother, more emotive sensibility, Enrique laid the groundwork for salsa and Latin pop artists to follow, such as Marc Anthony and Victor Manuelle.  Though many had held the title before him, his sensual, romantic approach earned Enrique the title of “Prince of Salsa.” Enrique’s sizable discography has earned him five Grammy nominations and five Lo Nuestro Awards, in addition to numerous gold and platinum records. His 2007 release, Dentro y Fuera, marked a successful 20 years in the industry for the artist.

Zion & Lennox are one of reggaeton’s most recognizable duos. Felix Ortiz (Zion) and Gabriel Pizzaro (Lennox) grew up in Carolina, Puerto Rico, as neighbors.  After three years of building their fan base and positive reputation with guest spots and compilation records, Zion & Lennox released their first full-length record, Motivando a la Yal. Thanks to the record’s success as it hit the charts with force, Zion & Lennox toured all over the Americas, performing before large and appreciative audiences. Soon industry demand and personal pressure caused Zion & Lennox to go in different directions. Although new releases are expected from the popular duo in the future, they are no longer tied to one another.

Noted Grammy Award-nominated Tropical Salsa singer, La India is also known as the “Princess of Salsa”. At the early age of 16 India decided to become a singer in the dance group TKA, one of the first ensembles of the Latin Hip Hop generation.  Since then La India has become a superstar in the world of Salsa music with her mix of intense emotional overtones that sets her apart from any other female artist in the business.  La India also maintains a busy yearlong touring schedule performing past and present club hits around the world along with her Salsa band.

Milly Quezada is a Latin Grammy-winning Dominican Merengue music singer. She is a famous singer in Latin America; especially in those Latin American countries bordered by the Caribbean Sea, and in the eastern seaboard region of the United States.She is also known as the queen of Merengue music.  In early 2009, Milly joined eleven other Dominican music legends on a national tour celebrating the merengue and bachata music traditions of the country.

For more information or to purchase Discount Tickets, please visit our website or Kissimmee location, The Official Ticket Center, or call us toll-free at 1-877-406-4836.

Sesame Street Safari of Fun opens this year at Busch Gardens, and kids 5 and under can enjoy it for FREE!

If you are a Florida resident and you have a child 5 and under, a FREE commemorative Busch Gardens Preschool Pass is waiting!  It’s all your child needs to explore Busch Gardens and the all-new Sesame Street Safari of Fun – for all of 2010!  Parents and older siblings can join in on the fun by purchasing Discount Busch Gardens Tickets through us at The Official Ticket Center.  Keep reading for Frequently Asked Questions:

FAQs:

1. What is the Busch Gardens Commemorative Preschool Pass?

Busch Gardens is delighted to premiere Sesame Street Safari of Fun in 2010. To commemorate the attraction’s opening, Busch Gardens is offering a FREE pass to kids ages 5 and younger. The pass grants kids complimentary admission through Dec. 31, 2010.

2. Who is eligible?

The Busch Gardens Commemorative Preschool Pass is available for kids who are Florida residents and are ages 5 and younger.

3. My child is 5 this year, turning 6. Am I still eligible?

As long as your child is 5 years of age on the date you register for the Pass, you are eligible.

4. Do I have to be a Florida Resident?

Yes, the Busch Gardens Commemorative Preschool Pass is only available to Florida residents. We want to offer our neighbors the chance to explore what’s new in their own backyard and come back to our newest playland as often as they’d like in 2010.

5. How long is the Busch Gardens Commemorative Preschool Pass valid for?

The pass is valid through December 31, 2010.

6. Is it available at other SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment parks, such as SeaWorld?

No. The pass is only valid at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, since it is being offered to commemorate Sesame Street’s Safari of Fun’s opening year.

7. How do I register?

Visit SesameStreetSafariOfFun.com and click on “FREE Preschool Pass” to register. Fill out the form and submit. Print the e-ticket and bring it to the front gate, along with a valid form of identification that proves the child’s date of birth.

8. Where do I receive the Preschool Pass?

This offer is not available at the gate. You must register online before you get to the park.

9. What kind of identification do I need to provide?

Valid identification includes a copy of a certified birth certificate or a travel Passport. Please note that school IDs or children security IDs will not be accepted.

For more information, please visit our website or Kissimmee location, The Official Ticket Center, or call us toll-free at 1-877-406-4836.

Enjoy smokin' BBQ and sizzling performances at Bands, Brew & BBQ

This weekend will be your last chance to experience the Rockin’, Smokin’, Saucy, and Sweet good times that Bands Brew & BBQ has to offer!  Included with park admission and with the purchase of Discount Sea World Tickets and Discount Busch Gardens Tickets, guests can enjoy savory BBQ culinary options (available to purchase), live local bands and line dancing, and headliner performances by country music stars. 

YES at Sea World Orlando – Saturday, February 27th at 4:00 PM

Far and away the longest lasting and the most successful of the 1970s’ progressive rock groups, Yes has proved one of the lingering success stories from that musical genre. The band, founded in 1968, has overcome a generational shift in its audience and the departure of its most visible members at key points in its history to reach the end of the century as the definitive progressive rock band.

Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo at Busch Gardens – Sunday, February 28th at 4:00 PM

Pat Benatar is a certified rock’n'roll superstar, a four-time Grammy winner with six platinum and four gold albums to her credit as well as such hit singles as “I Need A Lover,” “Heartbreaker,” “Fire and Ice,” “Treat Me Right,” “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” “Hell Is For Children,” “Shadows of the Night,” and “Love Is A Battlefield.”  Benatar and Giraldo have been a working couple since Neil penned the song, ‘We Live For Love” from her debut album “In The Heat of the Night”, and has continued to wear many different hats, including producer, guitarist, and songwriter as well as soulmate. “Musically, we’re still in touch with each other. We like to play together,” says Pat. “It’s who’s cooking dinner tonight that’s the problem.”

For more information, or to purchase Discount Sea World and Busch Gardens Tickets, please visit our website or our Kissimmee location, The Official Ticket Center, or call us toll-free at 1-877-406-4836.

Sea World Orlando Saves Florida Manatees

 Today we visited Sea World in Orlando, near Disney World. We have already taken you to three places where people are trying to protect and care for manatees. On Day 1, we visited Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park, and on Day 2, we visited The Living Seas, in EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World, and on Day 3, we visited Lowry Park Zoo. Of all these places, only Lowry Park Zoo can take in manatees that need medical treatment for injuries or sicknesses.

There are only three places in all of Florida that are called primary care treatment centers. Primary care treatment centers are equipped to treat sick or injured manatees when they are rescued. These places can even do surgery on manatees to help them get better. Florida’s three primary care treatment centers are the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, the Miami Seaquarium, and Sea World in Orlando. The largest manatee primary care center in Florida (largest in the world, too!) is Sea World in Orlando.

It took us about 15 minutes to drive from our base in Kissimmee to Sea World. Our visit to Sea World was arranged by Dan O’Dell, Ph.D. Dr. O’Dell got his degree from the University of California, at Los Angeles (UCLA). He studied sea lions and sea elephants on San Nicholas Island. Some of you already know about this island if you read the book, Island of the Blue Dolphins. San Nicholas island is the Island of the Blue Dolphins. Dr. O’Dell told us he discovered some old Indian cave paintings in a sea cave, just like Karana did in the book!

Dr. O’Dell has been working with manatees for over 20 years. Dr. O’Dell wrote the best manatee book of all, called Manatees and Dugongs. (We got Dr. O’Dell to autograph our copy of his book. Look for information on the book by clicking on “Expedition Library”.)

Dr. O’Dell first took us to see the manatee rehabilitation center. This is a large area behind the public viewing areas that is used for the research and rehabilitation of rescued manatees. There are 3 manatee treatment pools with their own life support systems. Like Lowry Park Zoo, SeaWorld Orlando also separates the boys from the girl manatees.

Part of this center includes an emergency treatment clinic to treat injured manatees. The treatment clinic is off-limits to the public, but you can go on a special tour called “The Manatee Rescue Tour”. This tour takes you to the rehabilitation center to see the rescued manatees that are here in the rehabilitation pools. If you’re lucky you may be able to see a baby manatee, like we did. His name is Pistachio, and he is only about 3 months old.

SeaWorld Orlando has one really cool manatee treatment pool. When manatees are treated or checked, they have to be taken out of the water. At Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park, they take a manatee out of the water using strong slings, like straps for seat belts in your parents’ car. The straps go under the manatee. The straps are connected to poles and people pick up the poles to lift the manatee out of the water. At Lowry Park Zoo we showed a picture of a crane that is used to lift the sling out of the water. At SeaWorld when it is time to check a manatee the manatee is lead into a special treatment tank that has a special floor that moves up and down. When the manatee is in the treatment tank the floor slowly lifts up, out of the water. After the manatee is checked, the floor sinks back under water and the manatee swims away.

SeaWorld Orlando had 5 manatees in their treatment and care center today, but they can take care of as many manatees as they need to. Dr O’Dell told us that usually about 20-25 manatees need to be rescued each year. One of the manatees in the treatment pool was named Snorkel. He got his name because when he was rescued he wouldn’t eat so they put a special plastic feeding tube into his stomach through his mouth. People thought it looked like a skin diving snorkel, so they named him “Snorkel”. Snorkel is now eating on his own. In fact, the whole time we were there it seemed like all he was doing was eating the romain lettuce that his caretakers had put in his tank. It looked like Snorkel was covered up with a blanket. The “blanket” was actually made of out scuba diving wet suit material. The material was wrapped around Snorkel to help him float. When Snorkel was rescued he had a puntured lung, from being hit by a speeding boat. Manatees need their big lungs to help them float. With one lung damaged he had trouble coming to the surface to breathe. The “wet suit” Snorkel wears now gives him the extra buoyancy he needs to breathe at the surface.

After visiting the manatee rehabilitation center and seeing all the manatees there Dr. O’Dell took us to see the manatee habitat where the public can see manatees. Sea World has the biggest and best manatee habitat anywhere. If you go to Florida in the summer you won’t be able to swim with manatees, but you can still see them. The best place to see manatees in their natural habitat is Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park. If you can’t get your parents to take you all the way over there, the best place to see manatees in a simulated natural habitat is at SeaWorld.

Sea World’s manatee exhibit is called, “Manatees: The Last Generation?”. You first walk into a big room with a huge movie screen. You watch a cool movie, about 5 minutes long, that talks about manatees and how they are endangered. After the movie you go into a big underwater viewing area, with one big, thick, curved window that is about 10 feet high and 60 feet long! There were 6 manatees here to see. There were also cool interactive displays that would do things when you touched them. After this you walk up a ramp to go above ground and see the manatees by looking into the water from above.

After showing us all around, Dr. O’Dell had to get back to work. We thanked him for his time and went to explore the park.

Sea World in Orlando is like SeaWorld in San Diego, but this Sea World is bigger and fancier, with more things to see and do. There is also a really fun ride here that Sea World in San Diego doesn’t have, called “Journey to Atlantis”. I knew you guys would want to know about the ride so I went on it for you. Someone loaned me a poncho to wear, because on this ride you will get soaked! Fortunately on my boat I had two junior high girls in the seat in front of me and they warned me when to duck, to keep from getting too wet. The ride is part water ride and part roller coaster. The biggest drop is usually where you get the wettest, but there are lots of other places where you get wet, too. After the big drop I was happy I had on my poncho, because I didn’t get very wet, but all of a sudden it was like I was getting rained on. I discovered that along the sidewalks there are water cannons that kids can use to squirt people has their boats go by!

We learned a lot about manatees today from Dr. O’Dell. He told us that boat propeller guards do help protect manatees, but the biggest danger to manatees is not from boat propellers, but from boat themselves. He told us “speed kills”! Speeding boats can seriously injure or kill manatees. Right now people are trying to make a law that a boat speeding ticket will go on a person’s driver’s license. Too many tickets and that person could lose their driver’s license!

If you are traveling to Orlando and need Discount Sea World tickets, then call us toll free at 1-877-406-4836 to order you tickets. Remember that Sea World is running a promotion that will get you a second day free on your ticket. You will have to use your free day within 7 days of your your first visit.

If you missed Willie Nelson at Busch Gardens last weekend, here's what he got to do right before he took the stage - a private meet-n-greet with Mattie The Bald Eagle

Bands Brew and BBQ  is still smokin’ this weekend at Sea World Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.  The event is included with admission and with your purchase of Discount Sea World Tickets and ]]> http://blog.officialticketcenter.com/2010/02/sea-world-and-busch-gardens-host-john-rich-and-huey-lewis-the-news/feed/ 0 http://blog.officialticketcenter.com/2010/02/sea-world-busch-gardens-montgomery-gentry-and-willie-nelson-perform/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sea-world-busch-gardens-montgomery-gentry-and-willie-nelson-perform http://blog.officialticketcenter.com/2010/02/sea-world-busch-gardens-montgomery-gentry-and-willie-nelson-perform/#comments Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:07:12 +0000 oticketc http://blog.officialticketcenter.com/?p=1695

Sea World Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa celebrate country music’s finest with the second week of Bands Brew and BBQ.  Guests can enjoy live concerts, savory BBQ culinary selections, line dancing, and of course, ice cold beer.  The annual event is included with park admission and your purchase of Discount Sea World and Busch Gardens Tickets. 

Montgomery Gentry performs at Sea World Orlando on Saturday, February 13th.  Now in their 10th year on the national stage, Montgomery Gentry can look back on one of country’s most impressive legacies. They have released more than 20 charted singles, with anthems like “My Town” and “Hell Yeah” becoming indelible parts of the honky-tonk landscape. They have hit the top of the singles charts three times, with “If You Ever Stop Loving Me,” “Something To Be Proud Of” and 2007’s multi-week chart-topper “Lucky Man.” And now, with the release of Back When I Knew It All, they have taken the next big step forward, with popular hits such as “One in Every Crowd.”

Willie Nelson performs at Busch Gardens Tampa on Valentine’s Day, February 14th.  As a songwriter and a performer, Willie Nelson played a vital role in post-rock & roll country music. Although he didn’t become a star until the mid-’70s, Nelson spent the ’60s writing songs that became hits for stars like Ray Price (”Night Life”), Patsy Cline (”Crazy”), Faron Young (”Hello Walls”), and Billy Walker (”Funny How Time Slips Away”) as well as releasing a series of records on Liberty and RCA that earned him a small, but devoted, cult following. During the early ’70s, Willie aligned himself with Waylon Jennings and the burgeoning outlaw country movement that made him into a star in 1975. Following the crossover success of that year’s The Red Headed Stranger and “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” Nelson was a genuine star, as recognizable in pop circles as he was to the country audience; in addition to recording, he also launched an acting career in the early ’80s.

For more information, or to purchase Discount Sea World and Busch Gardens Tickets, please visit our website, The Official Ticket Center, or call us toll-free at 1-877-406-4836.

Bands Brew and BBQ is every Saturday at Sea World during the month of February.  Event is  included with park admission and with your purchase of Discount Sea World Tickets. For more information, visit our website, The Official Ticket Center, or call us toll-free at 1-877-406-4836.

Zac Brown Band to replace LeAnn Rimes at Bands Brew and BBQ tomorrow at Sea World

As we reported earlier this week, Bands Brew and BBQ at Sea World Orlando kicks off tomorrow, and there is already a change in the line up.  According to the Sea World Orlando Facebook page, Zac Brown Band will be the headlining performer tomorrow afternoon, with the show taking place at 3 PM instead of 4 PM, replacing LeAnn Rimes. 

Apparently, LeAnn had to cancel due to illness.  Thankfully, the Zac Brown Band will be performing in Daytona tomorrow night at 6 PM, and agreed to help out and make sure the annual country music event remains memorable for guests. 

Zac Brown Band is famous for country music hits “Chicken Fried,” “Toes,” and “Whatever It Is.”  They received four nominations for the 2009 CMA Awards including New Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Single of the Year, and Music Video of the Year for their Number One single, “Chicken Fried”.  The band also received three Grammy nominations for Best Country Album, Best Country Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocals and Best New Artist. On January 31, 2010, the band won the award for Best New Artist, becoming only the fifth country act to win the award in its fifty year history.

Bands Brew and BBQ is included with park admission, and with your purchase of Discount Sea World Tickets from The Official Ticket Center.  For more information, please visit our website or call us toll-free at 1-877-406-4836.

Shamu is feeling the love this Valentine's Day at Sea World Orlando

Looking for a special way to celebrate Valentine’s Day 2010 in Orlando with your honey?  Sea World and Discovery Cove are both offering special holiday packages.

Valentine’s Evening with Shamu

Romance your Valentine in the height of elegance and style.   Couples will begin their evening with a champagne and strawberries reception at Shamu’s Underwater Viewing area.  Your sweetheart will receive a complimentary rose at check-in, and enjoy canapes and a stroller guitarist during the reception.  A commemorative photo of you and your sweetheart is included with the package.  You will then be escorted to the exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Dine with Shamu restaurant where you will enjoy a delicious dinner buffet.  After dinner, enjoy an elite interaction with Sea World’s biggest star, Shamu!  Enjoy a complimentary gift of boxed chocolates as you exit.

Reservations are required.  Check-in is at 5:30 PM.  Dinner starts 1t 6:30 PM.  Package costs $199 plus tax per couple, and park admission is required.  For more information, or to purchase Discount Sea World Tickets, please visit our website, The Official Ticket Center, or call us toll-free  at 1-877-406-4836.

Tell Your Sweetheart You love Them in a Very Special Way!

Discovery Cove Valentine’s Day Add-On Packages

Enhance an amazing day of swimming with dolphins, with these great Valentine’s Packages.  From chocolate and roses, to champagne and private cabanas, these three Valentine’s packages are available for the entire month of February:

•Valentine’s Honey Package Starting at $74.95, this sweet treat includes a souvenir 6 x 8 photo and frame; boxed chocolates; and a keepsake buoy with a personalized message delivered to your honey by one of Discovery Cove’s lovable Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.

•Valentine’s Sweetheart Package Upgrade to the Sweetheart Package $215.95, to enjoy the souvenir photo and frame, chocolates, and dolphin “love note” on a personalized buoy, a dozen red roses, plus a private cabana, a bottle of champagne, boxed chocolates and two souvenir toasting flutes.

•Valentine’s Romance Package The Romance Package $295.95, gives guests the ultimate experience, combining Honey and Sweetheart package amenities with a champagne chiller, one dozen red roses, and a souvenir DVD of their Discovery Cove experience.

Package prices are in addition to park admission and require the purchase of at least one dolphin-swim package. Space is limited, so please book your Valentine’s Package early. For more information, please call us toll-free at 1-877-406-4836.