Florida Fun for the New Years!

We sure did end 2014 with a BANG!  At the end of each year, my family and I started a tradition to travel to Orlando for New Year’s Eve at one of the amusement parks; the girls chosen to go to SeaWorld since we haven’t visited that park yet.  I’m glad they chosen SeaWorld because they were doing an online deal with every paying adult, kids ages 9 and under goes for free!  I only paid $200 and tax for our tickets!

I used my favorite website Priceline to help me score a low price deal on a hotel room in Orlando right across the street from SeaWorld.  I did Priceline’s Express Deal, which is you know what star rating and area the hotel will be located but do not know what hotel it will be until you make a payment.  Priceline placed me in the Renaissance SeaWorld and I only paid $104 plus tax a night when the normal price was over $230 a night!

We were suppose to be in Orlando the day before New Year’s Eve but arrived on New Year’s Eve day because Mr. M needed to help his clients before we started our vacation.  Since the hotel was already paid for and I did the Express Deal which is non-refundable I lost some money but I didn’t worry too much about it because we got a great deal on our room anyway. 

We got to Orlando early in the afternoon, checked in, looked around the hotel which is beautiful, went to concierge desk to get our benefits card ( benefits card is for hotel guests that paid the resort fee and get early park entry to SeaWorld and Aquatica, 10% Off Dining, and 10% Off Merchandise),  then we were off to SeaWorld!  

It was an ugly day in Orlando on New Year’s Eve and I thought it would rain throughout the evening but it stopped once we checked into SeaWorld and it just stayed cold throughout the night.  SeaWorld reminds me of a park called Six Flags Marine World I use to go to when I was a kid living back in California.  Marine World has animals as well as rides.

Lauren was upset because she didn't get her Starbacks.  SMH!

SeaWorld was beautifully decorated for Christmas and I felt like I stepped foot in a Winter Wonderland. 

The animals looked very well kept and I was telling Mr. M how brightly pink the flamingos were.   I feel the animals look healthier at SeaWorld than a zoo.  Also, there wasn’t a bad smell coming from the animals either.

 But, I do like to mention something about the killer whales (orcas).  My family and I watched the killer whale show and while sitting there watching the whales perform, I felt sadness cross my heart.  These whales perform for our entertainment everything single day, several times a day.  To me, I don’t feel this is right.  So many questions were going through my mind like, “How do the trainers train these whales?”  “How do SeaWorld capture these whales in the wild without harming the whales?”  “How big are the tanks?”

You may have seen my post on Instagram about my thoughts on the killer whales and a SeaWorld supporter answered some of my questions.  Here is the dialogue:

Me: I really wonder how they train them and hope they are not tortured.

seaworld_parks_rock:  They train the orcas using positive reinforcement.  Positive reinforcement is when they reward the whale if they do the behavior correctly.  If they don’t do the behavior correctly they will be ignored and asked to do it again.  If you noticed the trainers had a whistle, each time the orca did a behavior right, they would blow the whistle to let them know they did a good job.

Me: Thank you so much for this information @seaworld_parks_rock!  This make me feel better.

seaworld_parks_rock: If you have any more questions let me know! J @missloumae

Me: One more question @seaworld_parks_rock, how do they capture the orcas from the wild without hurting them?

seaworld_parks_rock: SeaWorld hasn’t captured any orcas from the wild in 35 years.  Two of the whales out of the seven orcas in SeaWorld Orlando are from the wild.

If you think about it, these whales have been human dependent for so long if you place them back in the wild they wouldn’t be able to survive.  Before this trip, I contacted the company I go through to help me get a press trip for SeaWorld but they told me they couldn’t due to blackout dates.  I was hoping to be able to go behind the scenes and interview the trainers but I guess that will be on another press trip someday.

How do you feel about animals in captivity performing every day?

During our time at SeaWorld, we rode rides, checked out more animals, ate, ate, ate because with had an unlimited food deal pass (don’t get it the food is very mediocre), dance to the DJ’s music, and waited for the count down.

Overall, SeaWorld was fun!  I would love to go there again.  The next few days in Orlando, my family and I pretty much relaxed, lounged by the pool, shopped, and visited several restaurants. 

The weather was beautiful and it was time for us to go home but before we hit the road, we went to Daytona Beach.  It was a bright sunny day on a Saturday and we were all not ready to go home yet so we hopped on Priceline and booked a room at the Hilton Daytona Beach Resort for only $50!!!!!   We got a room on the 15^th floor with the perfect ocean view.  What a great way to end our trip!

If you ever go to SeaWorld stay at the Renaissance SeaWorld or Hilton Orlando that is around the corner that I stayed in during a press trip in November.  Both hotels are wonderful, great décor, and have an awesome pool area.  Also, Renaissance SeaWorld if you pay the resort fee two kids eat breakfast free with one paying adult meal.  Their resort fee is $20 a day but I think it is worth it.

These past few months I’ve done a lot of traveling but I’ll be slowing down a bit because my wallet needs a break, I need a break, and plus I need to focus on moving into my new place coming up.  So far on my travel agenda is Destin, FL, and somewhere in Texas, most likely San Antonio.  These trips will be in the summer.  Mr. M has been talking about going to California, but we shall see if that happens.

Do you have any travel plans this year?