Last month, I made a quick day trip down to check out the new SeaWorld Discovery Point in San Antonio. It was a special media day where I was invited to get up close and behind the scenes with everything new. There was so much to see. Follow along as I take you inside…
It didn’t take much to convince me to hop on a plane and head down to San Antonio for this event. San Antonio is one of my favorite places to visit within Texas – a city full of charm, history and adventure. Many don’t realize it’s also home to SeaWorld San Antonio, though the location is hours away from the Texas coast.
I’ve had the opportunity over the years to go behind the scenes many times, talk with staff and trainers, and even spend the night within the park during the holidays. SeaWorld San Antonio holds a lot of special memories for me.
This time I would be traveling without my family, though it’s been made fairly clear that I must take them with me next time, preferably this summer, to enjoy all the new features.
Media day was to focus on the new SeaWorld Discovery Point, an area that I’ve been watching them work on from afar.
The new SeaWorld Discovery Point area is included with any SeaWorld admission. This includes access to Dolphin Lagoon, the Dolphin Underwater Viewing and Explorer’s Reef. However, there is a Signature Dolphin Swim opportunity available for an added cost. As part of the special media day, I’ll tell you that I was able to experience the Dolphin Swim firsthand and it was incredible. I’ll be writing about that in detail soon, so be sure and visit again!
FACT: Discovery Point is located within SeaWorld San Antonio and is included in admission. It is not a separate park.
As you approach the Discovery Point section of the park, you’ll first see the expansive Dolphin Lagoon. With amazing hues of blue, this lagoon is home to a playful pod of bottlenose dolphins. There are varying degrees of depth to the lagoon and areas of separation as well.
This is the very same lagoon that is home to the Signature Dolphin Swim, though it’s participants are on the opposite side. If you are lucky, you might get to see some of the encounters.
The Dolphin Lagoon replaces the old dolphin area and one thing you’ll immediately notice is that park goers no longer are able to purchase fish to feed the dolphins. Though dolphin feeding has ended here, the area is more serene and beautiful because of it. It has the feel of a polynesian resort with thatched roofs and palm trees.
Dolphins! Of course, our favorite bottlenose dolphins are housed within the lagoon.
I’d like you to meet Donley, who had some serious talent with the basketball. While you may not be feeding them fish, don’t even worry about them ignoring you. Dolphins love to interact with people. They will do a lot of things to get your attention, including splashing you! They’ll show off for you, like Donley here was doing with the basketball. They’ll talk to you (in their own special way). They’ll make your heart melt.
Once you drag yourself away from the top of the lagoon, you’ll approach the Dolphin Underwater Viewing. This area takes you “under the sea” as you go down deeper to see the lagoon from the underside.
The pathway to get there is simply beautiful and I just had to show you this amazing dolphin mosaic.
As stunning as the image is, I dare say that photographs simply do not do it justice. It was the most breathtaking aquarium type setting I’ve ever seen. There were so many things for the dolphins to interact with and I happen to know they get the opportunity to play with iPads too. Yes, iPads! They enjoy the entertainment just like you and I do, from movies to music and more!
Though they were finishing up some last minute things and I couldn’t walk inside, here at Discovery Point you’ll also find Explorer’s Reef, home to several species of sharks, many of which are endangered, along with exotic fish and a living coral reef.
The stars of Discovery Point, well, they even like selfies! 🙂
Stay tuned as I’ll be bringing you my unforgettable Signature Dolphin Swim experience at SeaWorld Discovery Point soon! Check out the travel tab above for more adventures!
To learn more about Discovery Point visit SeaWorld San Antonio’s website.
So cool! I love Sea World. I love all the conservation and rescues that Sea World is responsible for. It’s heartwarming! We need to set a date to take our granddaughter to swim with the dolphins in San Diego. She’s been dreaming about it for years and is finally old enough.
I love your blog! Beautiful pictures of Sea World. My wife and I have been here for 15 months and have yet to make it over there. Work takes a lot of my time but hopefully one of these weekends can go check it out.
Oh Nate, I think you and your family would love it! And thank you!