Theme Park Foodie

Photo by Joe Burbank of the Orlando Sentinel

SeaWorld’s new realm Antarctica officially opens on May 24th, and the expansion (the largest in the theme park’s history) features a new dining location. Expedition Cafe is a quick-service dining location that is designed to resemble a research outpost in Antarctica. The menu was crafted to reflect the types of food that would be served at research locations depending upon the nationalities of researchers located there. Pretty cool touch, huh? Italian, American and Asian fare are available at Expedition Cafe. The menu’s set up and pricing leads us to believe that this dining location will be included on the All Day Dining Deal, but it may not be initially included due to high interest in the Antarctica expansion. The full menu is below!

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Ristorante Italiano

Entrees
Emperor’s Spaghetti & Meatball Platter: $11.99
Italian Rope Sausage Sandwich: $8.99
Garden Lasagna: $9.99

Cafe Side Selections
Breadsticks (3): $3.99
Parmesan French Fries: $2.99

Shamu Kid’s Meal (9 and under): $5.99
Choose One Entree: Spaghetti & Meatball or Garden Lasagna
Choose One Side: Breadstick or Parmesan Cheese Fries
Choose One Beverage: Milk (White, Chocolate or Strawberry), 100% Apple Juice or Kid Size Soft Drink

Grab & Go
Sub Zero Italian  Hero: $8.99
Chicken Caesar Salad: $8.99

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Stateside Chicken

Entree
South of the Equator Fried/Baked Chicken Platter: $9.99 - $11.49
Deep Southern Fried or Savory Baked Chicken served with your choice of Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Macaroni and Cheese or French Fries and a Homemade Biscuit. Extra charge for all white meat.
2 pc. $9.99 / 3 pc. $11.49

Cafe Side Selections
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy: $2.99
Macaroni and Cheese: $2.99
French Fries: $2.99
Corn on the Cob: $3.29
Homemade Biscuit: $.99

Shamu Kid’s Meal (9 and under): $5.99
Choose One Entree: Home Dog / Fried or Baked Chicken Wing or Leg
Choose One Side: Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Macaroni and Cheese, French Fries or a Biscuit
Choose One Beverage: Milk (White, Chocolate or Strawberry), 100% Apple Juice or Kid Size Soft Drink

Grab & Go
Iceburg Wedge Chef Salad: $8.79
Turkey Club Croissant: $8.99

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Asian Grill

Entrees
South Pole Pepper Steak: $10.99
Teriyaki Chicken: $9.99
Orange Chicken: $9.99
Shrimp Lo Mein: $8.99

Cafe Side Selections
Fried Rice: $3.99
Lo Mein: $3.99
Egg Roll: $2.49

Shamu Kid’s Meal (9 and under): $5.99
Choose One Entree: Orange Chicken, Teriyaki Chicken or Pepper Steak
Choose One Side: Jasmine Rice, Fried Rice or Lo Mein
Choose One Beverage: Milk (White, Chocolate or Strawberry), 100% Apple Juice or Kid Size Soft Drink

Grab & Go
Asian Freshie Salad: $3.69

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Excited about the menu offerings at Expedition Cafe? Disappointed? Send us a tweet at @themeparkfoodie to share you thoughts!

SeaWorld Orlando announced today that it will be selling penguin-shaped cups at its newest attraction, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, set to open on May 24th. These customizable souvenirs may appear cute and cuddly (or, in our opinion, fun and festive) they are designed to encourage guests to help the planet “one refill at a time.”

The Cup That Cares program is a new reusable cup program that uses technology to create an interactive and innovative experience for SeaWorld guests. The cups were designed to connect with Coca-Cola Freestyle beverage dispensers available at the new Antarctica attraction. Guests are personally engaged through the use of a RFID chip embedded in each cup that interacts with software in the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines to calculate how guests are being environmentally responsible when reusing the cup. The technology embedded in the new souvenir cups calculate the amount of CO2 guests save from entering the atmosphere when they choose to refill their souvenir cup. Each guest’s conservation history will be logged by software developed by SeaWorld and Coca-Cola, and guests will be thanked for saving their personal amount of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. SeaWorld notes that every refill of reusable cups prevents the emission of 27 grams of CO2. The cups are also cost effective; each refill costs only $.99.

There are two versions of the Cups That Care. One, available at beverage stations at the Antarctica attraction, features photos of Puck (the attraction’s signature hero) and his penguin family. More creative guests and children will likely opt for the Create A Cup That Cares option, which invites guests to create a personalized penguin character cup by choosing from more than 40 accessory options including eyes, hair, glasses, hats, bow ties, necklaces, SeaWorld shopping bags and miniature Shamu ice cream bars.

“Just as penguins do within their colonies, humans also can band together to make a big difference through small actions,” said Dan Brown, Chief Operating Officer of SeaWorld, Discovery Cove and Aquatica Parks. “We see great potential with this new program because it encourages guests to be more aware of their actions – and reduce their carbon footprint — in an easy, fun and innovative way. Each step may be small, but it all adds up when we work together.”

SeaWorld also announced today that it will be serving an exclusive and custom vanilla-flavored beverage through the Coca-Cola Freestyle dispensers at Antarctica called “South Pole Chill.” We imagine that such a sweet concoction will soon become a favorite of young guests.

As you may remember, we recently wrote about this possibility in our column for Orlando Attractions Magazine. You can read more about Coca-Cola Freestyle and how it has the potential to change Orlando’s theme parks here.

For more information on Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, like SeaWorld on Facebook or visit SeaWorldOrlando.com.

Our latest column for Orlando Attractions Magazine is live! Coca-Cola Freestyle machines are popping up around Orlando’s theme parks, and their presence could change Central Florida’s theme parks forever.

Guests can expect a wider selection of beverage options at the Orlando theme parks. They can choose from the 120 plus flavors provided by the machine, but they also have the option to mix different flavors to come up with new beverage creations. A few of our favorite example combination recipes include Dreamsicle Coke (½ Orange Coke, ½ Vanilla Coke), Mai Tai (Fanta Orange, Fanta Peach, Minute Maid Lemonade, Hi-C Fruit Punch and Dasani Lime) and Very Berry Lemonade (Strawberry Minute Maid and Raspberry Minute Maid). There are more than 14,000 two drink combinations alone, so the possibilities for creative mixtures are almost endless.

Click here read more about what the arrival of Coke Freestyle machines means for your next theme park visit and how they may be used by theme park culinary teams to add further detail to the immersive themes of the area’s attractions.

SeaWorld Orlando is preparing to open it’s newest attraction, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin on May 24. The area will feature the “coldest theme park ride in the world,” a new penguin exhibit and a new dining location.

As the attractions’ grand opening date approaches, we’re getting more and more excited about the new dining options offered in the area. As we prepare to do a write up on all of the food or specialties that we would love to see (and those we actually expect to see) at Antarctica, we have to ask:

What dining options would YOU like to see offered at SeaWorld’s Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin?

Through April 6th, SeaWorld Orlando visitors will have the opportunity to try a new dining option offered for the Spring Break season. The Ocean Terrace Lunch Buffet, located at the Dine with Shamu venue in the park, if available from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The cost for adult attendees is $19, but children can dine for as a little as $9.

The adult menu includes turkey and gravy, beef stew, chicken cacciatore, an assortment of salads, an assortment of cookie and brownie desserts, and the children’s menu features hot dogs, mac and cheese, carrots with ranch dressing and pudding.

Although I am a big fan of SeaWorld’s food offerings and the high quality of its culinary options, I personally wouldn’t pay $19 to give this dining option a try. The turkey and beef stew entrees seem out of season and too heavy for the springtime Orlando sunshine, and the dessert selection leaves something to be desired. For $19, an adult can purchase a full meal of chicken, brisket, ribs and a side with a dessert and a drink at Voyager’s Smokehouse. 

Bands, Brew & BBQ returns to SeaWorld Orlando on February 9th and runs through March 17th. The event, included with park admission, features mouth-watering barbeque from SeaWorld and local restaurants. Guests can also enjoy a number of Craft Brews, available on the park’s Bayside Pathway.

2013 Bands, Brew & BBQ concert lineup:

·         Saturday, February 9            Chris Young with Jerrod Niemann

·         Sunday, February 10             Merle Haggard

·         Saturday, February 16           The Beach Boys

·         Sunday, February 17             Styx

·         Saturday, February 23           Big & Rich

·         Sunday, February 24             Third Eye Blind

·         Saturday, March 2                  Daryl Hall and John Oates

·         Sunday, March 3                    Darius Rucker

·         Saturday, March 9                  Michael McDonald

·         Sunday, March 10                  Josh Turner

·         Saturday, March 16               Rodney Atkins with Uncle Kracker

·         Sunday, March 17                  Sheryl Crow

Yesterday, About Theme Parks opened nominations for its annual Reader’s Choice Competition! Theme parks fans and employees may nominate for the following categories:
 
• Best New Theme Park Attraction of 2012
• Best New Theme Park Show of 2012
• Best New Roller Coaster of 2012
• Best New Water Park Ride of 2012
• Best Theme Park Halloween Event of 2012
• Best Theme Park Holidays Event of 2012

This year, there are two exciting NEW categories:

• Best Full-Service Park Restaurant
• Best Quick-Service Park Restaurant

Nominations will be open through Feb. 11, and voting will run from Feb. 19 through March 19, with winners announced March 27.

If you have a favorite theme park restaurant, this is the perfect way to let your voice be heard and share your appreciation for the dining location!

To nominate a park and to learn more about the awards program, visit The 2013 Readers’ Choice Awards for Theme Parks and Water Parks main page.

Photo Courtesy of SeaWorld Public Relations

SeaWorld Orlando is kicking off 2013 with the Just For Kids Festival, a special event designed just for little ones that features popular children’s entertainers. Children can dance, sing and play the day away while enjoying performances by Choo-Choo Soul, the Imagination movers and more! Other festival highlights include Elmo Rocks!, a Sesame Street show featuring Elmo and friends in their very own rock concert, and the introduction of the Franklin meet and greet character from Franklin and Friends.

Our favorite part of Just For Kids is, of course, the food! There are two special dining experiences available during the festival that kids will love for the characters and parents will love for the food. Guests who pre-purchase one of the below character breakfasts receive reserved seats to that day’s featured concert. Reservations for these experiences can be made at SeaWorld.com or by calling 1-888-800-5447.

Elmo’s VIP Character Breakfast at Sharks Underwater Grill
Have breakfast with Elmo and one of his special Sesame Street friends at the Elmo VIP Character Breakfast. Families will enjoy a full-service breakfast experience at Sharks Underwater Grill.  Following breakfast, little ones, (and parents, too), will visit with everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends for photo memories that will last a lifetime. Each family will receive one complimentary photo. Those attending the 9 a.m. VIP breakfast will receive VIP seating for the 11 a.m. Just For Kids concert.

Shamu & Friends Character Breakfast Buffet at Terrace Garden
Enjoy time with Shamu & Friends during a special character breakfast at the Terrace Garden Buffet restaurant. Join SeaWorld characters for meet-and-greets and photos. Each family will receive one complimentary family photo. Guests dining at the 9 a.m. breakfast receive guaranteed admission for the 2 p.m. Just for Kids concert and those eating at 11 a.m. receive guaranteed admission for the 4 p.m. concert.