SeaWorld for Dinner
Once I got off work last night I high-tailed it to the Gaylord Palms, the gorgeous hotel in Orlando where my dad is staying on business for the week.
After making the 30 minute drive to the hotel, I met my dad in the lobby and we waited for a shuttle to take us to SeaWorld, where his company was hosting a dinner event for their employees and customers (and some lucky dates, like me!).
Dad + Daughter
I hadn’t been to SeaWorld in several years, and was excited to check out the marine animals and enjoy a delicious dinner with my dad.
Upon our arrival we were greeted by a huge sealion named Clyde.
Clyde
He was such a litte big ham. Clyde made the funniest noises, kissed his trainer and stuck out his tongue. He was fun to watch!
While making our way to the dinner pavilion, my dad and I grabbed some drinks. I had an ice-cold Michelob Ultra.
Beer!
My dad’s company planned the event really well because there were several different buffet tables piled with food so the guests didn’t have to wait long at all.
My Plate
I filled my plate with shrimp, crab claws, roasted vegetables, grilled salmon and salad.
I went back for thirds (yes, thirds) of the crab claws. They were delicious and already cracked for you! Doesn’t get much better than that.
Once dinner was over, we headed to Shamu Stadium for the Shamu show.
Father-Daughter Time
When I was an intern, the Shamu show running at the time was called Believe and really focused on the relationships between the trainers and the whales. It was a beautiful and moving show.
The Shamu show now running is called Shamu Rocks and wasn’t quite as good as the previous show. Likely due to the tragic events involving a trainer back in February, the trainers did not get in the water with the whales at all.
My favorite part of Shamu shows in the past was watching the interaction between the people and the whales. They seemed so happy together. Watching the whales jump and splash by themselves this time honestly made me feel sad for them. 🙁
Still, the whales truly are amazing and we enjoyed watching them and ooh-ed and ahh-ed our way through the show with the rest of the crowd.
Shamu
Flip!
After the show we headed to another area of the park where they had games, a band, karaoke, drinks and dancing.
While listening to music and talking to my dad and his coworkers, I ate Shamu. 😉
Edible Shamu
Ice cream on a stick reminds me of childhood. It’s always so creamy, cold and delicious. You gotta eat it fast though!
We hung out for an hour or so before heading back to the shuttles.
On our way out we passed some very energetic flamingos.
Flamingos
They were so pretty and very active for so late at night!
Within 15 minutes, the shuttles had us back at the hotel. I hugged my dad goodbye and thanked him for such a fun night!
It was such a treat to see my dad and attend the function hosted by his company. I wish we could’ve had more time!
I’m off to shower before heading to an Invisalign appointment this morning. Catcha later for breakfast! 😀
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Awesome! I love SeaWorld – Clyde is da bomb!
Awww, looks like you had a fun time with dad! I always love Dad & Daughter days 🙂
You’re right, ice cream in any form is delicious, but on a stick…now that definitely brings me back to childhood and hearing the ice cream truck roaming through the neighborhood! 😉
I love Clyde! He’s the cutest thing ever!
Your salad looks amazing. What a fun night!
What a fun night! I love Sea World, so sad about what happened with the whale and the trainer 🙁
We were in Florida last fall visiting some friends and went to Sea World. I think the show was still ‘beleive’ then, it really seems like it was. it’s a fun place, a place to feel like a kid!
Shamu looks delicious, LOL. So does that seafood salad, OMG. Perfectly YUM! 😀
Jenn
It must be so strange living that close to a huge attraction. I can’t imagine just up and going to Sea World. Looks like a fun night!
awww looks like such a fun time with your dad! I LOVE crab claws…I would have gone back for thirds too!
What a fun night with your dad! I loved Seaworld when I was a kid!
I would kill for some crab right now. For breakfast, yes.
Seeing animals in captivity is always so fascinating (just to have the opportunity to see them up close) but also so sad. 🙁
i couldn’t agree more. i’m such a huge animal lover, so seeing them up close is neat, but also leaves me w/ such mixed emotions.
What a fun night!
I like Clyde 🙂 What a cutie.
I feel sad for animals in captivity too…it’s hard for me to go to Zoos! I’m such a sap!
How fun! I absolutely love spending time with my Papa. I enjoy every second with him that I can : )
I am in my last two weeks of Invisalign now – so excited to be done!!!
Aww this reminds me of the time my Dad took me to a behind the scenes dinner at Sea World. One of my favorite memories ever.
Glad you had a great time.
What a treat to have dinner with the dad in the middle of the week! Jealous!
Eskimo pies were one of my favorite treats as a kid and that Shamu looks like a fun version of the same idea. Yum!
what a fun date night for you and your dad 🙂 y’all are too cute!
What fun time at SeaWorld! I love the Shamu Show! We went to the one in San Diego last year and it was the Believe show. It was a very cute show. My hubby loves whales! He says if he could have any pet in the world, it’d be a Killer Whale. 🙂
I love SeaWorld! Your so lucky you live so close. One of my best memories as a child was visiting there. I went to the Sea World in San Diego and it doesn’t even compare to the Orlando one… weird huh!?!
That looks like a lot of fun. I can’t wait for the beach and all the fresh seafood!
This post made me want to visit SeaWorld again too! I currently live in LA, so hopefully I can find some time to drive down to San Diego to visit SeaWorld this summer!
Oh how fun! I have never ever been to Sea World. Sad I know!
I swear we’ve probably bumped into each other before. My brother’s friends are trainers at the park and I go every time I get a chance. They still have the Bud Beer School since they sold the park?? That was a riot.
no, it’s gone!! so sad, isn’t it? that was literally my dad’s favorite part. when i was an intern & got free tickets, my friends & i always made it a point to hit up beer school!
oh my god i LOVE sea world! haha actually when i was there a few years back we saw the believe shamu show! it so good 🙂 my mom actually cried hahaha it was hilarious
i so don’t blame you for going back a millionth time for already cracked crab legs! i woulda been right there with you 😉
i just went to sea world back in november and saw the believe show. i loved it and thought it was absolutely amazing and inspiring.
I am pretty sure Believe is still around and is running concurrent to Shamu Rocks! I live in Orlando and I saw Shamu Rocks probably a year or two ago during an evening visit to Sea World. I saw Believe for the first time even more recently during a daytime trip to Sea World. (Love their Fun Pass for FL residents!) Anyway, IT MADE MY MOM, SISTER, AND ME TOTALLY BAWL. We felt like dorks crying in the middle of Shamu Stadium in front of all the tourists, but it was soooo touching and really emphasized family… believing in yourself… the beauty of the world… following your dreams… etc.
If only Sea World still had free beer!