SeaWorld San Diego is phasing out its long-running killer whale shows at the California theme park starting next year, the company's new CEO told investors Monday afternoon in Orlando.

Once a staple of a day at SeaWorld, the "One Ocean" show featuring Shamu will come to an end at the San Diego park in 2016.

In 2017, we will launch an all-new orca experience. It's going to be focused on the natural setting, the natural environment, and the natural behavior of the whale. It will have a strong conservation message.

— Joel Manby, SeaWorld Entertainment CEO

At this time, only SeaWorld's San Diego theme park is ending orca performances. SeaWorld Orlando confirmed to News 13 on Monday evening no changes are planned at this time for the "One Ocean" show currently running inside Orlando's Shamu Stadium.

"We are listening to our guests. We are evolving as a company. We are always changing," SeaWorld Parks and Resorts CEO Joel Manby said Monday, moments before announcing the change in San Diego.

Although the orcas living at SeaWorld San Diego will stay at the theme park, visitors will view them differently. Manby told investors the changes come after visitors offered suggestions.

"They [California visitors] want the whale experience to be activities the whales do in the wild," Manby said.

The changes coming to SeaWorld San Diego will use capital dollars set aside for the "Blue World" project announced last year. Manby said he is not comfortable with investing $100 million in a project while pending litigation continues.

The Blue World project was announced before Manby joined SeaWorld Entertainment in April from Herschend Family Entertainment, the company behind Dollywood and Wild Adventures just north of the Florida boarder in Georgia.

Monday's announcement comes following an October ruling by the California Coastal Commission that would ban the park from breeding its orcas in California, if the Blue World project were to move forward. The theme park operator plans to fight that ruling in a California court.

More changes to SeaWorld are coming. See details below ▼
 

Meantime, longtime SeaWorld critics PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, issued a statement Monday following Manby's announcement:

An end to SeaWorld's tawdry circus-style shows is inevitable and necessary, but it's captivity that denies these far-ranging orcas everything that is natural and important to them. This move is like no longer whipping lions in a circus act but keeping them locked inside cages for life, or no longer beating dogs but never letting them out of crates.

As U.S. Rep. Adam B. Schiff indicated when he introduced the federal orca-protection bill, no change to SeaWorld's tanks will be sufficient to satisfy the needs of these animals. That's why PETA is calling on SeaWorld to stop breeding orcas and start building sea sanctuaries where they can experience an actual natural setting and finally thrive.

— Jared Goodman, PETA Foundation Director of Animal Law

Manby addressed criticism by PETA and other activists, which has escalated in recent years following the 2010 death of Dawn Brancheau, a trainer at SeaWorld Orlando who was dragged underwater by the orca Tilikum, and the 2013 release of "Blackfish," a documentary film that blasted SeaWorld's practice of keeping killer whales in captivity.

"We didn't do it from activists," Manby said Monday. "Frankly, the activists will not be pleased with anything we do."


Dawn Brancheau. (SeaWorld Orlando, File Photo)

The orcas are expected to remain at the California park in the same habitat, that will received modifications to look more natural. The park did not share specifics on the changes or whether the Blue World program would still be implemented at its parks in Orlando and San Antonio.


SeaWorld Orlando to expand over next 5 years

Besides changes in California, Manby also announced changes and additions coming to SeaWorld Orlando.

Starting in 2016, Manby promised five years of new attractions at the Florida park, saying growth in Orlando was "underfunded."

Mako, Florida's tallest and fastest roller coaster, is expected to open this coming summer. Standing 200 feet tall, the coaster will become an eye-catching marquee along International Drive as the teal and purple track runs parallel to the road. Construction crews are currently pouring cement footers for the roller coaster that will travel at 73 mph.

Some track sections near the Shark Encounter at SeaWorld have been lifted into place. SeaWorld again turned to renowned roller coaster manufacturer Bollinger and Mabillard to design Mako. The company also designed the parks floorless Kraken and flying-style Manta coasters. Parts of Mako have already been shipped to Florida from the Swiss manufacturer's ironworks plant outside Cincinnati, Ohio.


Mako concept art. (SeaWorld Orlando)

Manby promised investors even more additions are coming on a rotating scale of grandeur:

  • 2016: Mako
  • 2017: Smaller attraction
  • 2018: Large capital investment
  • 2019: Smaller attraction
  • 2020: Large investment

One of those investments may be a hotel or resort property.

Mentioning accommodations Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, Manby said the park is looking at places to add overnight lodging.

Highlighted during the presentation was a map with 95 acres outlined in the SeaWorld parking lot that could be converted into resort space. Another 45 acres in the I-Drive area were also highlighted.


(SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment)

The map points to a wooded location south of Aquatica on International Drive, space northwest of the existing SeaWorld parking lot between SeaWorld Drive and Westwood Boulevard, and a sliver of land with I-4 frontage that is now home to SeaWorld's marketing offices. This same tract of land was once home to Harcourt Brace Jovanovich's "Places of Learning" attraction and the defunct "Stars Hall of Fame" wax museum.

According to Manby, getting the resorts built will follow a similar plan already in use at other Orlando theme parks. Manby shared with investors that SeaWorld Entertainment is seeking a partner to help defer the cost of construction and operating the hotel.

Universal Orlando partnered with Lowes Hotels; the four properties at Universal have distinct themes but fall under the Loews umbrella. Disney also sought a partner for the Swan and Dolphin Resort. Both hotels are part of the Westin family, a member of the Starwood resort portfolio.

During the presentation, Manby also outlined plans to add resort space to Busch Gardens Tampa. A look at the map in Tampa outlines back-of-house areas behind the Kumba roller coaster that currently hold Busch Gardens merchandise and marketing offices could be used for resort development. Two fields bordering the Adventure Island water park are also potential sites.


(SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment)

SeaWorld is also jumping on the intellectual property bandwagon. Like Universal buying the theme park rights from Warner Bros. to develop Harry Potter attractions and Disney using Marvel characters for attractions at its Asian theme parks, SeaWorld has secured the theme park rights to Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. The characters from the television program aired each holiday season will highlight holiday events at both Busch Gardens and SeaWorld in 2016.

Manby also praised Discovery Cove, once rated by Trip Advisor as the No. 1 theme park in the United States. The title in 2015 went to Universal's Islands of Adventure, with Discovery Cove falling to a second-place ranking.

A "mini-Discovery Cove" will open at SeaWorld San Antonio this summer. "Dolphin Point" will give Texas visitors a chance to interact with dolphins while entering the water with them.

The Discovery Cove expansion doesn't end there. Investors were also told that recreating Discovery Cove as a standalone park in other large tourism markets is a possibility. Manby shied away from naming cities, like Las Vegas.

Manby also shared images of a new roller coaster with cars that resemble personal watercraft bound for the California and Texas park. The plan is connected SeaWorld's TV programming highlighting the company's animal rescue operations.


A SeaWorld Animal Rescue-theme ride concept announced Monday, Nov. 9, 2015. (SeaWorld Entertainment Inc.)


A SeaWorld Animal Rescue-theme ride concept announced Monday. (SeaWorld Entertainment Inc.)


A SeaWorld Animal Rescue-theme ride concept announcd Monday. (SeaWorld Entertainment Inc.)

A new, simplified ticketing strategy was also introduced  that Manby said will help drive visitors from within a 300-mile radius who are seeking shorter vacations.

Guests who purchase their tickets online will on average save $20 over the cost at the front gate. An emphasis on buying a season pass will also be outlined at the point of sale.


(SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment)