Seaworld to open "Antarctica--Empire of the Penguin"

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SeaWorld

In spring 2013, SeaWorld will open "Antarctica -- Empire of the Penguin" on the site of its current penguin attraction. An artist's rendering shows an entire section of shops and restaurants with an interactive ride at its center, somewhat similar to the wildly successful Harry Potter attraction at Universal Orlando, the Associated Press reports. Parts of the experience will also include a radical (but unspecified) temperature change that chief designer Brian Morrow says will create "the coldest attraction ever constructed."

Dennis Speigel, a Cincinnati-based theme park consultant, told AP that SeaWorld's expansion is "a big move on their part. It follows suit with what Universal did with Harry Potter and what Disney is doing with some of their properties. I think it was needed, and I think it's very timely for SeaWorld Orlando."

SeaWorld debuted its first new themed Shamu show in five years in April, a little more than a year after a killer whale dragged a trainer to her death in the tank, AP notes. The park is spending tens of millions of dollars on new safety features in preparation for trainers to eventually work with the animals in the water again.

By Laura Bly
November 10, 2011

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