The Controversial Creation of SeaWorld & The Man Who Lost It

[@robdinkel600]

This is the best Expedition Theme Park episode yet. Sam, you've outdone yourself! I live in San Diego and was a passholder a couple years ago. A must watch for anyone who loves Sea World SD. I look forward to every one of your videos. Keep it up!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

thank you so much

[@papa_shangooo]

I go to sea world sd all the time they will never close

[@chase055]

I agree! I live here in SD as well! Been a pass holder at SW for about 20 years now... I love theme park history and this was awesome!!

[@aAAAAAAv-w7b]

@@papa_shangooo Please stop going if you want to stop supporting their controversies, earning money is how they still get away with it.

[@papa_shangooo]

@ good I like to watch the whales on 🍄

[@mackpines]

Oh, the irony of having Richfield Oil (now ARCO) sponser an ocean themed attraction.

[@aAAAAAAv-w7b]

And it's ironic that Coca-Cola and Nestle are now Seaworld's biggest sponsors. Coca-Cola being the one who lobbied for recycling as a "solution" in the 80's to prevent the ban on plastics back then? And shift the blame of pollution from corporations onto the public? Coca-Cola who is now the biggest polluting company worldwide? All Seaworld does nowadays is shill the idea that "recycling is the solution!" and have MASSIVE Coca-Cola advertisements all over the place. All their "environmental" schtick is greenwash. Seaworld THEMSELVES manufactures plastic, polyesters, glitters, etc through their merchandise. The solution to plastic is to STOP MANUFACTURING. Not to KEEP MAKING IT and PRETEND that reusing is actually doing anything to stop environmental destruction from all the NEW plastics being made?? Companies have NEVER cared about the environment and never will.

[@Coaster_rider-se4vg]

Lot of people didn’t watch the video, which was about the guy who created Sea World. From an amusement park enthusiasts perspective- Sea World isn’t going anywhere. There’s three of them (Orlando, San Antonio and San Diego) but a lot of people don’t realize the same company owns the Busch Gardens and Sesame Place parks. They also own several water parks. These parks each open new coasters all the time. The future focus is rides, not animals. They’re not stupid. They’re competing with Disney, Universal and SF (San Antonio).

[@Floridapanthers2020]

@@Coaster_rider-se4vg don’t you think the shows can have an effect in that competition?

[@Coaster_rider-se4vg]

@@Floridapanthers2020 what shows? Animal shows? I don’t think they’ll eliminate animals any time soon - although I think they’re making plans for what coasters will go where the orca tanks are currently located. SW still does a lot of rescue work and animal encounters are big $$$ item at all aquariums and zoos.

[@Tsumami__]

Busch Gardens damn sure is not in competition with Disney. The Florida park isn’t even in Orlando. It’s in Tampa. Disney and Universal are A List Park competitors. BG is on the B List.

[@Floridapanthers2020]

@@Coaster_rider-se4vg yes

[@Quetzalcoatl_Feathered_Serpent]

@@Floridapanthers2020 Its likely that Sea World will eliminate the Orca Encounter once the last Orca's die off from old age in 30 to 40 years depending on age although I think one is barely 10 years old or less and likely won't die off for another 60 years give or take. Once the animals die off, they likely will close orca encounter as a Orca show and perhaps turn it into a ride or maybe as a new aquarium exhibit They have the infrastructure already there its possible to just convert it to a ocean exhibit and maybe ride as well.

[@krishnar1182]

Thanks for making this and sharing, this was very informative. This is very different from how SeaWorld/United Parks themselves portray their history. In SeaWorld San Diego there's a plaque dedicated to the four fraternity brothers who founded the park but no leading role is ascribed to George Millay. It goes to show you how history can be subjective. As far as I know there's nothing in any other SeaWorld park about the founders/early history. I went to SeaWorld Orlando 10 years ago and it was eerily empty, I thought for sure that the park would close soon. In recent years the parks turned around, they built many brand new attractions and attendance is so much better. I now enjoy going to SeaWorld more than any other park. The most interesting part for me from this history is seeing how empty Central Florida was 50 years ago. Looking at the footage from the opening days of SeaWorld Orlando there was almost nothing around the park. That area now is completely built up with hotels, restaurants and retail.

[@atlutdfan-dp]

The SD park was originally designed to be an underwater restaurant but later determined it wouldn't work out so they pivoted and made it into a marine life park. the 4 brothers didn't have the experience so they included others (millay being one) and then the park direction shifted.

[@krishnar1182]

@@atlutdfan-dp Yes, it's interesting how the park presents its history as going back to all 4 brothers and their original plan, as opposed to being derived almost exclusively from Millay's vision and efforts, which is how this video presents it.

[@carloscarpinteyro332]

My uncle was one of the VP's of Sea world in 1969. He was tasked with picking the site of, and naming this new joint venture theme park which my uncle called Magic Mountain. He was the president there in 1971, and '72. My hat icon has the original Magic Mountain logo, designed by my cousin. Great documentary about Sea world!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Nice! Does he have any information from the time at Magic Mountain to share? Ha

[@carloscarpinteyro332]

@@ExpeditionThemePark He passed away, my cousin (his son), is 82 years old. I visit him to get more details from him, about his dad, to carry the torch, so to speak, to be the family historian. My uncle was also the 5th person hired by Disneyland Inc. in 1954, before construction began on Disneyland. This is documented in a 2016 book, authored by Todd James Pierce, titled, "Three years in Wonderland", on page 105, I'm looking at it now. After he left Disneyland in 1961, he went to Cedar Point, in Sandusky, Ohio to revamp the park there. You may look that up on the Sunday morning front page issue of the "Cleveland Plain Dealer Newspaper", from Jan. 22, 1961.

[@magnusvontesla]

Always great to have a new Expedition video, your work is impeccable.

[@coppertopolo]

I've been watching your videos for years, but this next series is going to be EPIC. Can't wait to see what new videos you have been researching and editing. Great job as always.

[@fifthrider]

It's always refreshing to see a (mostly) positive piece done on Sea World. George Millay ( and most theme park operators of his day ) had good standards. I've been going to Sea World San Diego since 1974. It was really at it's best back then. I'll never forget riding on the hydrofoil, taking the gondolas over to the restaurant and back, and the mermaid show. That mermaid show building had custom sculptures from Oceanic Arts who were famous for their tiki culture stuff. I saw the pearl diving a few times too, you really had to be there at the right time though, it wasn't going non-stop all day. The Sparkletts water show was fun and ahead of it's time. At 10:14 the #4 building was the gondola ride station sponsored by Hawaiian Punch. If I ever buy a Hawaiian Punch today, it's ONLY because of that building right there. The HBJ years afterwards were kind of a dud but it got better with Anheuser-Busch. Recent ownership is rather fickle. One of the more memorable parts of a 1970's/80's trip to Sea World San Diego was the mime, Mark Wenzel. The first and the best. Today Sea World and other parks are copying his formula, and at one point Mark went to Orlando to train mimes to do what he did, but Mark was a force of nature that can't be copied. I met him again in '97 at Disneyland where he was a holiday performer in New Orleans Square. Great times and memories.

[@steveralston8837]

Thank you for the perspective of a longtime customer! It's really interesting to hear what it was like throughout the years from someone who visited, rather than just clips and official information.

[@michikip45]

Part of me misses the old Seaworld I grew up with, not for the animal shows or anything I can do without that… But the mix of aquarium and theme park used to be nice, the actual full aquarium and shark tank were great and the few rides there fit and were fun. It’s just so.. lifeless now here in Orlando, it’s sad.

[@leirawhitehart1236]

Man... as a central Floridian, the Orlando parks were a deep part of my childhood, including SeaWorld. Many fond memories there, including the last time I went out to a park with my dad before he passed, never forgetting his words after we took the Journey to Atlantis ride together where my uncle lost his hat, and we were standing at the place where you can purchase a photo from the ride, and my dad saw a guy taking a picture of the picture with his phone, and commented on it. I thought it was really funny at the time. I remember he also bought me an eel plush there. I remember watching one of those shows where the trainers would swim with the whales and dolphins, and I used to think that they had the luckiest job in the world, and I wanted to be just like them when I grew up... Then, the tragedy where that girl lost her life happened, and everything changed... Suddenly, SeaWorld seemed... _tainted..._ They changed their policy after that, and the trainers could no longer swim with the animals, and somehow, that made it feel even more tainted, even though I understood why the change wass made... I still went on occasion, mainly because it was decided for me, either by my mom that we would go, or that one time my school had a field trip there (which admittedly was probably the best field trip I was ever on, for so many reasons. Many good memories there), but for all the good times I had, since that happened, that event was always in the back of my mind... even years later. I can't even imagine how it must've been for the crowd who witnessed it happen... I wondered it even back then what it must've been like, and how those people, especially the kids who were there, felt about SeaWorld now... And it wasn't long after my school trip to SeaWorld that our history teacher decided to play for us a documentary about the horrors of SeaWorld, and how they had actively _lied_ to the public about the health of their orcas, and trained the staff to educate people that it's normal for orcas to get a floppy dorsal fin as they age, when that isn't true. It only gets like that in captivity. They also claimed that the orcas lived longer in captivity, but that wasn't true either, as they lived _shorter_ lives than out in the wild. That documentary really disturbed me, and not only did it bring up the girl who died who I heard about on the news years earlier, but also other cases of similar accidents from other parks around the country and even the world. One incident that really stuck with me all these years, was a guy from a marine park in Spain, who was doing everything correctly, when one of the orcas broke protocol, and decided to jump over him as he was riding another orca, and it landed on top of him, crushing him instantly. He couldn'tve known it would do that. No one could've predicted it would happen... It stuck with me, because he was engaged, and hearing how devistated his fiancée was... how much she loved him, what could've been between them... they were going to be married soon, and then this... I've been soured on the idea of SeaWorld and all these shows, and everything that's come to light about them has made it hard to truly enjoy them like I once did. I've still gone to SeaWorld since then, not really of my own choice now, as it was my mom who wanted to go, and I felt like I couldn't explain to her why the idea made me uncomfortable, and I tried my best to have fun, but I couldn't enjoy seeing the animals like I used to. We haven't been there in years, now that I think about it, and my mom, funnily enough, mentioned that the other day, and expressed a desire to go soon... I don't know how to explain to her all this context I know, because my mom isn't one for listening, and doesn't like when I kill her mood about something... I'm glad to hear that SeaWorld is making changes, but I still feel conflicted and sour about the place... Not sure how I should feel at this point...

[@dennisthebrony2022]

I personally think SeaWorld HAS STUCK with the Frutiger Aero Aesthetic A LOT LONGER than everyone else in the world. Even though other companies like Microsoft used Frutiger Aero from the Mid-2000s to the Early-2010s, most notably on Operating Systems like Windows Vista and Windows 7, SeaWorld used Frutiger Aero from the Mid-2000s ALL THE WAY UP to the Late-2010s with their Believe and One Ocean Shows.

[@slytheringingerwitch]

It's a shame that Seaworld couldn't have existed without the exploitation of sea creatures. The idea is great but the technology isn't feasible to make large enough tanks to accommodate animals who are used to the ocean expanse. I am that person who obsessively watched Blackfish a lot and was shocked on how Seaworld treated the various incidents as almost nothing, it wasn't their fault but was the fault of the trainers. This video is brilliant, it shows what I thought, Seaworld was created not to exploit but to entertain, but like I stated earlier, it ended up on the backs of exploitation of those poor animals. Today I don't hate Seaworld but their corporate lack of capability is a shame, it doesn't look at all good.

[@tomklock568]

Thank you Sam. So many good and bad aspects to this and we went several times over the years.

[@Dumbo_Bat]

17:26 As a kid, I’ve always thought the killer whales were just called shamus at the time not by the name, but by the species

[@rmartin2819]

Mr. Millay brought the original Shamu to SeaWorld from Seattle for about $25,000, Seeker said. “That's what set SeaWorld apart from other oceanariums,” he said. “Marineland had turned Shamu down, saying you can't keep a killer whale in captivity. George said, 'I have marine mammal experts on my staff who can do it.' ” - quote from obituary in 2006. Another quote comes to mind “Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah. Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could that they didn't stop to think if they should.” 😢

[@scotsmith2391]

Having grown up in Central Florida, moving here a year before WDW opened, I found this a wonderful history. Side story, we often had relatives visit that would take my sister and I do Disney with them. Christmas of 73, some relatives from PA were going to do just that. We got as far as 33rd St exit on I 4 ( about 16 miles away) before the traffic was stopped up trying to go to Disney. We plodded along and the relatives decided that we would visit Sea World instead. My sister and I were slightly disappointed but did a great job of masking that as it became our first visit to SW Orlando, LOL

[@usascorpio]

- cute - 33rd Street ramp was where I got on I-4 five times a week to go to WDW to work years ago

[@TapCat]

I feel like the theme park industry today (especially Disney) could really use some with George Millay's determination to create a great experience for guests rather than simply viewing them as suckers who only exist to feed the company coffers.

[@illannoyed9431]

Thank you Sam for highlighting this visionary’s story. I’m excited to learn more. I was initially shocked to hear that SeaWorld “fired” their “Walt Disney” to save money, but the more that I think about it, sounds like the SeaWorld that I know. 😂

[@jeffreykregel3821]

Very nice documentary, that's how I can call it. I'm excited about your future "Expeditions"

[@Happymali10]

The impact of the shift around SeaWorld's image (especially with the "Blackfish"-documentary) was so far-reaching, even the movie-adaption of "Paper Towns, a YA-novel that had had a scene set at a (closed, ironically) SeaWorld, decided to ditch that scene and any mention of the park as to not be associated with the company.

[@kaytay5197]

OMG OMG OMG you are finally going to do Geauga Lake/ Worlds of Adventure! I had a season pass for a few years when it went from one park to the entire lake park. The first year was AMAZING, second year, you could see things didn't age well.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

You know it!

[@kaytay5197]

@@ExpeditionThemePark i can tell you what i remember if you wish. Every summer my family went to sea world so seeing what they kept and what they did away with was interesting. I may even have access to old sea world photos

[@MichaelSmith-zo3tf]

I'm originally from San Diego and as a child in the 80's, I knew the name Shamu before I knew what an orca was. Went there many times as a kid and even had a school field trip out there once. I vaguely remember hearing about some of the controversies at the time, but this really answered questions I didn't know I had. This was a fascinating watch; thank you!

[@winningfreak1]

Excellent video. Honestly one of my favorite channels on the platform. Great job.

[@Replicaate]

Meanwhile, I'm still stuck on that idea of the submerged cocktail bar on a tropical fish reef. Sounds heavenly tbh.

[@kymmie_girl]

I grew up in San Diego in the 90s and 2000s, and have many fond memories of Seaworld. Shamu was cool (I still have my Shamu plushie), but I liked the dolphin and sea lion shows better most of the time. I remember when the Cirque du Soleil show started. And when they partnered with Budweiser and brought a team of Clydesdales over. The Shipwreck Rapids ride was a big deal, as was the Journey to Atlantis - the closest roller coaster to home! There was a penguin enclosure that was pretty awesome, especially on hot days. And this one encounter where we could pet small sharks. Of course there was other drama. I have vague memories of a complaint from nearby residents who were mad about Seaworld putting whale droppings in the bay. I didn’t understand their problem with it. I mean, where did they think the wild whales go? But most of my memories are good. Annual passes were a common family Christmas present, and we even had a few school field trips. After all, it was a mostly educational park! I also had the chance to go to a banquet one 4th of July, and the corresponding fireworks were pretty spectacular. Looking forward to the Magic Mountain episode, I have fond memories of there, too!

[@Mrtfarrugia]

Have you thought about doing Marineland in Niagara Falls, Ont. since it's pretty much closed now. They didn't even open the rides this year. Or would you wait until we find out what happens with the land?

[@avgjoeavglife]

Oh no... Not Marineland!

[@wynonnamareeuy]

Jake/Bright Sun Films has made 2 videos where he goes to Marineland and found it being worse off than when he last visited the place.

[@whatare8963]

Marineland Canada is a hellhole for beluga whales and dolphins. Anti-SeaWorld activists should go over there instead and leave SeaWorld to improve by their own means, like they have been trying to do since 2013. At least SeaWorld is accredited and has veterinarians that actually care for the animals.

[@babyleafsaladd5322]

Loved this one - but pleaseeeee give us an update on that Bubble Works video you promised!!!!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

i will eventually i promise lol

[@DJPixcell]

This is my first time commenting, I just wanted to say how great of an episode this was. Thorough yet interesting information the entire video. Didn’t realize how much this all connected to water theme parks of today. Look forward to future episodes. Thanks for the great work and sharing. 👍

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you so much

[@OffendingTheOffendable]

First time??

[@justbelievinginmagic]

This is such a well-put together history of SeaWorld!! Super informative but also concise!! I really enjoyed it! Cant wait for the multi part series!!

[@ryanstacy6075]

I’m so excited to see the videos on the Ohio parks in the series. ❤

[@aortaplatinum]

"The mighty ocean, cradle of life. Trivialized for your entertainment at SeaWorld amusement park!"

[@oathkeeperproduction]

While I disagree with Orcas in captivity, I think people are unfair to Sea World. I have a masters degree in marine biology BECAUSE of Sea World. They're learning and improving, and they inspire a new generation of marine enthusiasts as they go. So long as they uphold their commitments to improvement, they shouldn't be doomed for the mistakes of their founders.

PETA just hates the idea of fun. They also tried to remove horses from carousels.

[@sitten1115]

@@oathkeeperproduction also blackfish was straight up propaganda twisting facts. focusing on the past or on things that happened to animals before seaworld got them

[@oathkeeperproduction]

@@sitten1115 Exactly! I actually looked into this for my degree thesis. Most of the worst dangers also came from a single animal - Tilikum. He caused the death of at least 1 person, though it was believed to be more and hospitalised more. Yet they used him as a scapegoat for what captivity was causing.

[@jmcbango]

Hey fellow marine science master's student! Was hoping to see a comment like this! I'd be interesting in reading your thesis if its ok with you!

[@securityg]

Also interesting is how Disney's Animal Kingdom doesn't seem to receive any pushback on their captive animals. - J.D. Watkins

[@WardOfTheWoods]

I'm excited, I actually went to Sea World Ohio as a child and itll be interesting to see videos and images from my childhood come to life in the expedition series you do, along with the six flags as I've been to a few of those too! I also had not known the past as you showed in such detail and how sea world basically did a 180 with focusing more on rehabilitation, which is interesting and shocking with only knowing the minimum most people do about the parks. Keep up the good work and I shall be watching each episode as they come out!

[@sarahnickmilbratz]

This was my favorite video so far! Thank you for keeping this content going. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

[@blushslice]

You gotta go whale watching and see em in the wild, just no comparison, can’t believe they tried to convince us the drooped fin was normal.. it’s weird cause I have a photo of myself as a toddler with a killer whale at the Vancouver aquarium and the context has changed so much since it was taken like we used to all look at it in awe now it’s sad

[@SeaWorldParksRock]

The dropped dorsal fin is normal in the context of animals living in such a way, where they spend the vast majority of their time at the surface of the water. 23% of male killer whales in the New Zealand population of wild orcas have collapsed, collapsing, or bent dorsal fins as a result of spending more time at the surface of the water similar to SeaWorld orcas.

[@macaylacayton2915]

This video shows the importance of historical context. Seriously I wish more people would go something like “it was a different time” or “although it wouldn’t be okay now, it was okay back then”

[@slizzysluzzer]

Except people were balking at it back then. The 70s weren't an alien world. Going on about the context as a justification disregarding the people who raised their voices at the time is in fact ignoring the context and selective reading of past culture. You're not a sociologist and you should stop pretending to be one on the internet.

[@macaylacayton2915]

@@slizzysluzzer less people cared, geez

[@macaylacayton2915]

@@slizzysluzzer also I don’t see or hear anyone balking at zoos, care to explain that?

[@JellyFilledEmpanada]

Not very many people care about you (seriously its not even in the tiple digits) so does that mean you dont matter? By your own logic that is the case Also hilarious that someone with a feminine name is talking about the "good ole days" you want to be able to pay to see animals abused but how about being even MORE marginalized lmao, id say think before you type but you shouldn't be typing at all ​@macaylacayton2915

[@DokturProfesur]

@@macaylacayton2915 Two points I would like to make. 1. About the same amount of people cared, just nowadays it's much easier to speak up and make your voice heard, since the Internet allows anyone to give themselves a platform. For good or ill. 2. Have you ever visited a YT comments section featuring zoo animals? People balk and make accusations of cruelty/imprisonment all the time.

[@85steph]

Was that song in the beginning from an old SeaWorld ad? It gives nostalgia vibes

[@skystarry9546]

Never really knew about the origins of the park. Well done, as usual 🎉

[@Coyne.Wilcox]

Oh man what an epic soundtrack to this video ❤ I grew up with SeaWorld Ohio and I was so sad when you just breezed past it but then saw the coming attractions at the end. I can’t wait for this season! 🎉😊

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

aha yeah!

[@OTownNews]

Good use of the Believe soundtrack, probably SeaWorld’s best Shamu show (and the last great one until that… well, we know). I did get misty eyed near the end, seeing what’s to come, and can’t wait to dive in with you!

[@DarMar106]

Another great piece of work Sam. And ya history I never knew and one that SeaWorld themselves don’t really talk about. Also gotta love the way you presented the subject with the Orcas. Also in intrigued about this multi part series. Is the Wet n Wild video going to replace your old one?

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I am going to keep the original up but make a new version of it.

[@doc2w534]

I worked for SW in 2022. They said they would stop using orcas for shows by end of that year and prepare the animals for retirement. Last time I checked, Orca Encounter is still being done several times a day.

[@SeaWorldParksRock]

That’s not true. SeaWorld said they would end theatrical orca shows. SeaWorld fulfilled that goal. Theatrical shows have ended. SeaWorld never said they would end shows all together.

[@seadragonwitchbitch]

​@SeaWorldParksRock maybe not to you, random person who I'm willing to vet wasn't a fellow employee of the op 😂😂

[@aAAAAAAv-w7b]

@@SeaWorldParksRock But by all means, the orca show is still theatrical? Some of it is educational. Some of it is so vague on the topic and absolutely never goes into specification, and some of it is downright misinformation just to show off some tricks It's like saying "Oh! Humans communicate!" but you never share how advanced it is at all, even though the rest of science and the world has caught up on their knowledge of whales. All you ever go into is that you have them wave and do middle fingers and scream into the air with absolutely no specification "This is how those orcas in british colombia rub on the rocks!" And then an orca completely breaches itself and slides out of the water? Come on? Really? You can clearly tell they don't want the public thinking about the morality of captivity, if you can dumb down how whales and dolphins truly are. Growing up with Seaworld, I never cared about whales and dolphins that much until I FOUND OUT how bad seaworld was, and I grew out of that bubble, and I learned SO MUCH more afterwards.

[@techhubwiltsuk]

Absolutely amazing episode and such detail man well done

[@CosmicTraveler1901]

Awesome episode, makes me nostalgic for how much I loved seaworld as a kid. Seeing people swim with orcas and seeing how amazing orcas are in person blew my mind (obviously not understanding the impact of captivity at the time)

[@brycevo]

I miss Sea World. There's a part of me that's sad knowing the next generation will never see Orcas in aquariums, but they are migratory animals and deserve more space than they're given at most parks

[@55hole]

Don’t be sad. The next generation can take a whale watching boat tour. It’s not like an aquarium is the only way to see an orca.

PETA will pay for their lies

[@writerpatrick]

There's still Marineland in Canada but I don't know if they have orcas.

[@rockypockypuff]

@@writerpatrick They don't, the last one died in 2023

[@jamesedenart]

What I find so interesting is that these guys wanted to make orcas seem friendly. Friendly enough to come see one put on a show. I don't think they ever could have dreamed their PR campaign would have worked so well that people now know the cruelty of keeping these animals. I have very fond memories of doing Sea World summer camp as a child. It absolutely shaped my love for marine life, and that love is why I now support ending marine life shows.

[@Replicaate]

I can kind of appreciate that part; the wanting to not have people fear and hate a mysterious, rarely seen animal with a reputation as a formidable predator. Still, the only place for an orca is the open sea, with its family. I'm glad most people agree on that, even if they did love the OG Seaworld shows.

[@DarMar106]

Not only that but people not knowing that Orcas are such top predators out in the wild. The day I saw a Greta white shark had a bite from an Orca was life changing

[@DarMar106]

@@Replicaate That first Shamu tank is a downright crime

[@Replicaate]

@@DarMar106 Yeah I flinched looking at it. My poor AF high school had a larger pool than that whale did!

[@andygarwood2480]

Well done Sam great work loved it

[@rgs8970]

Oh man, I'm so excited about this series!!!

[@doc2w534]

I could listen to Sam read the Olive Garden menu and be entertained and learn something new.

[@hamtarotimefan]

Ohh looking forward to all the new videos.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Me too.

[@stacyr2775]

It's great to see a new video from you! I do wish you had gone a little bit further explaining the differences between the Florida construction culture vs. the California one, but that just have been me. Do you know if Disney experienced similar issues, and do you have a recommendation where we can go if we'd like to learn more? Thanks!

[@kingsgardens751]

That ending was amazing, literal chills. What was the song that was used/what was it from?

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

It’s from the SeaWorld show Believe

[@lukegreen5341]

1:13 Awesome Behind The Scenes Look About Sea World Resort Theme Parks In San Diego And Orlando Florida In The United States Of America And Australia. Thanks Mate. XXxxx 🇬🇧 🇦🇺 🇺🇸

[@ThemeParkMagicAndMore]

Does anyone know what the song is called that’s used at the end of this video

[@ThemeParkMagicAndMore]

Cause I’m trying to find it so I can listen to it but idk what it’s called

[@matthewhaga2323]

will you sitll do disneyland 50th anniversary and viper and blizzard beach and walt disney world's 25th anniversay for me

[@PaddletailPhilly]

Say what you must about SeaWorld, and in many cases, you'd be right, but you can't deny just how beautiful the Orlando park was, especially (speaking from personal experience) in the 90s. The landscaping, the iconography, the animal exhibits, the rides, the shows, even the commercials captured the beauty of the sea and even the land bordering it

[@patrickbox3000]

My mother was the secretary to the VP at HBJ. I essentially grew up in the Orlando park during the 80's. I got to watch it go through a lot of changes over the years. I really appreciate your content on Sea World as well as some of the lesser know attractions like Mystery Fun House. Keep up the good work.

[@austinlawler3739]

I only went to one once, and it was Orlando in 1986. I was very young, but remember several things about it. Potentially I still have the toy I go there in my parents house. At the time I thought it was amazing and had so much fun. As an adult I think its f'ed up. But It won't take away from those memories of being really excited.

[@BlueJeanBaby]

Great video as usual! I almost didn't watch as I have strong feelings about the subject. I'm glad I did.

[@MaryTatarelli]

This was really interesting.How my really enjoyed learning the history period I really love Sea World.And I first visited orlando sea world in nineteen eighty six and being in eleven year old and seeing a orca is something that's never left me

[@matthewhaga2323]

will you sitll do disneyland 50th anniversary and viper and blizzard beach and walt disney world's 25th anniversay

[@KevinSmith-qw8ip]

The Sea…is my World. There’s nowhere that I’d rather be, my world is the Sea…

[@keyman6689]

I've always loved Sea World (San Diego). That indoor water fountain show was great. I still remember the "four seasons" show. The hydrafoil boat ride was a thrill as a kid.

[@Abcdefgx-u9g]

Yeah ill take rollercoasters over animals every day of the week

[@DOCDOCFLAMINGOS]

Imagine killing a killer whale's mother so they could forceful capture her baby.... Just to use the baby to make people view them differently!!??!! Make that make sense!!

[@teamsteed1]

Thank you for posting the video.

[@TomW0odD2]

Been waiting for another expedition theme park video !!!!! Still waiting for the second part of your Thorpe park series !!!

[@dindog22]

I remember going to Sea World in Ohio when I was a kid. the water ski show was really cool. I also remember the Japanese Pearl Divers.

[@ThemeParkMagicAndMore]

What song is that called. The one used at the end of this video

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

The very end of the final montage?

[@ThemeParkMagicAndMore]

@@ExpeditionThemePark Yes Cause i find that song a good listen to so was wondering what it was called

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

@ThemeParkMagicAndMore it’s either the song from believe the Seaworld show or from Shamu and his happy friends

[@ThemeParkMagicAndMore]

Fairs. Where abouts did you get the audio from as ik it’s cut but the last music before the end credits. Is that where that musics from.

[@ThemeParkMagicAndMore]

It’s the song with the song in it which has some lyrics saying reach for your dreams. Always be true and you’ll be amazed what they can do.

[@mcgarnagle6102]

In the 80's and 90's I lived 5 minutes from Magic Mountain. I had no idea it was made by the same guy that did Sea World.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

yep!

[@julieann4616]

Grew up very close to SeaWorld in San Diego & I will always love it. 💙

[@kingtrode]

I literally just went to SeaWorld Orlando. Love you posted this just after I got home.

[@timrempel]

This was Awesome! Im a huge ocean and marine nerd. I love Seaworld, its still is one of my favorite parks to go to. Seeing the history of how it all began was fantastic. I never knew a lot of that stuff, especially with Shamu and how everything got started. They sure have come a long way with the ending of the Orca program and more of a focus on rides. I will miss them when they move on, they are my favorite animal, but I totally understand why. Great Expedition, Sam! looking forward to the next!

[@jennr3850]

Have you seen Blackfish? Its well worth a watch too.

[@susannenurnberg8186]

Very informative, I enjoyed every minute of it.

[@MutualMischief]

Not sure nobody thought of the morality of capturing these wales at the time...

[@ethanshackleton]

Short sighted like most human decisions.

[@muppetsretrofan8873]

This was an AMAZING video! And it brought up some nuances about SeaWorld. While I still wish they would at the very least give the marine life bigger tanks [I don't care if they have to stop building coasters for a while, if it makes the life of the aquatic creatures at least slightly better then that is more important], I do at least acknowledge that without SeaWorld, orcas would still be feared and people wouldn't know as much. I'm also glad they're starting to focus more on helping instead of capturing or breeding. And I'm super excited for the Magic Mountain and Geauga Lake expeditions! Hoping you'll do Astroworld one day and talk more about Marvel Mcfey, as he's often only given brief mentions.

[@KronoGarrett]

Uh oh, I sense an oddly high level of Clevelandity in the new season. Are you sure you're doing okay? Do I need to scrounge up some East Coast Custard and overnight it across the Atlantic? I used to go on school trips to the one in Aurora, Ohio back when I was a kid in the 1990s, and a family vacation to the one in San Diego in 1992 (memories are a bit hazy, I do remember my hat blowing off on the tram and mom having to get it).

[@princesskristan]

I still have my Shamu plushie and necklace with a K on it from the last couple of times I went, but my favorite memory was when I went to Sea World with an old friend and her family and they bought me a pass. We also got to feed/pet dolphins and it was so healing to me because that was a childhood dream of mine. I'll never forget it

[@Ms.HarmonyJ]

You’ve crafted yet another fantastic video-I'm truly impressed by your talent! I’ve had my share of adventures, but the last time I tried to explore sea world, the heat and the endless queues made me turn back to my motel. However, now that I’m older, I find myself yearning to revisit those places.

[@killerbeanmachine]

the poor sea creatures we rip away from their families and force them to do tricks for our amusement :/

[@SeaWorldParksRock]

It’s physically impossible to force a killer whale into doing “tricks”. They’re too powerful and too sentient of a being to be forced into any behavior that is beyond their desire.

[@killerbeanmachine]

@@SeaWorldParksRock ☝️🤓

[@killerbeanmachine]

@@SeaWorldParksRock they are conditioned to like it with treats idiot

[@aAAAAAAv-w7b]

@@SeaWorldParksRock Maybe they aren't directly forced, but it's almost like you've given them a giant concrete pool with absolutely nothing else to do other than tricks.

[@jennr3850]

@@SeaWorldParksRock have a look at Blackfish. Or just animal psychology and training, just like dog training you reward the behaviour with treats / food.

[@86RSJag]

Used to consistently see protesters outside Sea World Orlando trying to ‘free Tilly’. I just wish they would make an enclosure of adequate size. I feel uncomfortable knowing these huge creatures live in such cramped conditions.

[@Quetzalcoatl_Feathered_Serpent]

Sea World was planning to expand the tanks actually. Blackfish ruined that due to the backlash thanks to ignorant people watching it but not bothering to research the parks themselves. Now the remaining orca's will live life in the current tanks until they die off individually from old age. The ones that got what they wanted pretty much are going to have the orca's have a more miserable existence of increasing loneliness as the number dwindle. Oh and yet the ones that got what they wanted will do nothing to help the ones in the wild.

[@Floridapanthers2020]

@@86RSJag they have fitted 8 whales comfortably before and one pool can hold up to 6 or 7.

[@k_schreibz]

@@Quetzalcoatl_Feathered_Serpent Sadly this is Sea World’s and regulators faults more so than the “ignorant people” who support ending the shows. The practice is barbaric and should be discontinued, Sea World could move the whales to an open enclosure in the ocean, but they refuse to do so because of costs and the government will not force them too. It’s still a huge win that captive orcas are being phased out, and it’s sad that these whales will live out their lives in isolation, but that’s sea worlds fault for forcing them to live in captivity in the first place.

[@jennibennett9724]

@@Quetzalcoatl_Feathered_Serpent SeaWorld were not banned from building the Blue World extension. They could build it today if they wanted. They just had to do it under a breeding ban. SeaWorld chose not to improve their current animals welfare, not activists.

[@Quetzalcoatl_Feathered_Serpent]

@@jennibennett9724 . Why build a major expansion that would have resulted in a near empty pool in 30-50 years as the Orca's died off from old age or other issues? Sea World knew that the breeding program was required for the Blue World project and there was no reason to continue it due to the restrictions and other factors. Sea world invested the 100 million into other attractions and to improve current ones to push its conservation efforts which Sea World does do for animals, and honestly has done more for animal welfare and safety.

[@Lugiapkm]

Love your video as always, just a small criticism: lower the background music volume, the first 1-2 minutes with the jump cuts to clips of sea world with background music were far too loud, I had to run to my phone to lower it as I was going to listen. So far so good after minute two, thanks.

[@lauracayer3097]

Honestly the happiest moment of my day…. Seeing a new video drop! Thanks Sam!!

[@neilengel3715]

Was maintenance man back in 1982-85. Grossly understaffed but a fun place to work.

[@Replicaate]

Any good/bad stories of back in the day?

[@neilengel3715]

I used to open all the shows in the wee hours of the morning. I set all the props for the day and made sure everything was tight and anchored so nothing on the sets could fall off and hurt the animals. I also fixed and painted character costume heads as well as the pyro for the old waterski show. Hard work but good memories.

[@Replicaate]

@@neilengel3715 Must've been wild to see a park that size totally empty. Yknow, before we all got super into abandoned sites as entertainment (me included).

[@Kenz-the-oakes]

Wooooooooohooo! new expedition

[@mariad.6373]

God bless all sea creatures and rest the souls in particular of those that had the severe misfortune of encountering bad and/ignorant humans.

[@merauble6658]

Yay for George, I loved Wet n Wild! Great vid, thank you, so interesting.

[@Giantcrabmatron83]

Alright 👌 that preview of upcoming videos looks absolutely perfect, great series 👍

[@TrooperClerk]

Honey, Sam’s posted another expedition theme park today

[@GracieAra]

Such an exciting start to a new season!

[@MissMyMusicAddiction]

does anyone else see parallels between the transition at seaworld and the path that disney is on, today? you can't put finance bros in charge of creative enterprises. period. accounting and finance belong in their beige boxes, advising, not deciding.

[@matthewhaga2323]

will you sitll do disneyland 50th anniversary and viper and blizzard beach and walt disney world's 25th anniversay

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

eventually!

[@matthewhaga2323]

@@ExpeditionThemePark relly

[@matthewhaga2323]

@@ExpeditionThemePark wcith one will you do frist

[@matthewhaga2323]

@@ExpeditionThemePark why are you anyway

[@matthewhaga2323]

wchih one will you do frist

[@pickles3128]

I love your show Sam, but to frame SeaWorld as innocently ignorant to orcas' needs, then doing a 180? They lobbied against orca regulations, and that "ending captive breeding" mandate was court ordered. Even Walt was concerned about the tank size!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I’m not defending it and I missed the whole middle part of the history as I was only talking about its creation which is why I didn’t go into the real info of it

[@pickles3128]

@@ExpeditionThemePark Yeah, it's kind of hard to maintain a neutral tone and talk about it. Do you plan on part 2? I feel like 90s SeaWorld was really brushed over, & it's my childhood SeaWorld.

[@pickles3128]

@@ExpeditionThemePark Oh and PLEASE cover JJ the baby gray whale! I got to see her @ SeaWorld's tank F in June 1997!

[@Meatball2022]

It was a different world back then. It’s not fair to judge their behavior 50 years ago using today’s eyes. Lots of horrible practices were socially acceptable and commonplace. The further back you go, the more of those you find. Was the entire world racist in the mid 70’s? If you watched tv shows then, you’d think so. Things change…

[@DK-zt5oo]

So excited to see a new video from you pop up in my recommended.

[@audiovideophile5317]

Fingers crossed for a Marineland video sometime.

[@dylanjimenez1952]

SeaWorld should play these classic songs 🎵

[@brent_in_aussie]

Excellent documentary as always and can’t wait for the next ….. and to think I saw the original Shamu in 2012 …wtf

[@sirrickthe2nd583]

In Florida, things have to be built to withstand hurricanes, which might take a bit longer.

[@edvaira6891]

The pride of my hometown, San Diego…took close to 60 years to make it something more than an afterthought here, though, to the Zoo

[@TransPaladin]

I went to SeaWorld Ohio a handful of times as a kid in the late 1990s to mid 2000s. It always made me uncomfortable and was always very poorly maintained. I had also wanted to go to Geagua lake instead (the other park attached to SeaWorld.) I only ever got to go to that one once and it was an incredible time. It's a shame that both parks are destroyed now. But Ohio is an unpopular hellhole so it makes sense that it didn't last.