Inside Look (a SeaWorld special event where guests can get a behind-the-scenes peek at animal care areas and practices) returns for two weekends only: January 8-9 and 15-17! Occurring periodically throughout the year, Inside Look is a unique opportunity for guests to enjoy specialty tours of their favorite attractions, get up close and personal with various animals, and ask expert trainers and professionals all their animal-related questions! While exact tour offerings vary during each event, they always offer incredible, fascinating experiences (and its included in park admission)!
During past Inside Look events, I’ve explored (among others) the Manta Aquarium, Sea Lion Housing, and Wild Arctic facilities. While these were all incredible tours, SeaWorld has added a brand new venue to the itinerary: Inside Marine Mammal Care. We got to try this brand new tour last weekend, and it is awesome! Let’s take a closer look at what you might expect at SeaWorlds’ Inside Look: Marine Mammal Care!
Inside Look: Marine Mammal Care
Located near the flamingos between the front of the park and the Key West area, the Marine Mammal Care tour includes a visit to the fish house (where animal food is prepped) and a poolside experience with some of SeaWorld’s dolphins!
Fish House
Inside the fish house, our tour guide explained how SeaWorld keeps all of its complex animals fed and happy. She talked about types of fish used as food, specific animal dietary needs, and standard operating procedures for sanitation and cleanliness. While she spoke, we got to observe real life employees preparing meals for beloved sea creatures!
Dolphin Cove
At Dolphin Cove, our tour guide left us with a one of SeaWorld’s dolphin trainers for a unique animal encounter! While the details of this dolphin experience may vary greatly from group to group (depending on the animals’ physical, emotional, and social needs), my group got to have an extended meeting with a male dolphin named Dexter!
Unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed to take pictures of the actual encounter. Apparently Dexter is very good at stealing personal items, and the trainer wanted us to keep our cameras and other belongings safe and dry. So, I don’t have any snapshots of the meet and greet. What I did, however, was enjoy an extended interaction with a friendly dolphin.
The trainer asked Dexter to come right to the edge of the pool and “sit” on a ledge with a few inches of water. Once he was situated (literally inches from me), the trainer allowed us to pet him for several minutes – staying away from his blowhole and other sensitive areas, of course. Dexter seemed to appreciate the love and attention, and we enjoyed the uninterrupted moment of time to connect with such a gorgeous and magnificent creature.
Right before closing the tour, SeaWorld’s professional photographers did offer the opportunity for group photos with the dolphins.
Freaky Thoughts: Marine Mammal Care at SeaWorld’s Inside Look
What a great addition to SeaWorld’s Inside Look event! I adored getting a behind-the-scenes look at the Fish House and the personal encounter with a dolphin was truly unforgettable. (Plus, the tours are included in park admission!) You can only enjoy Inside Look for ONE MORE WEEKEND (until the next dates are announced), so don’t miss this unique opportunity!
