A New Resort and Antarctica Details from SeaWorld Orlando

SeaWorld Orlando has made a few exciting announcements over the past days, one of which involves reconfiguring the park as part of a vacation destination.  Now known as SeaWorld Parks & Resorts Orlando, the theme park will partner with seven different hotels in order to offer "full vacation experiences offering money-saving travel values, exclusive benefits, and a convenient location."

The resort atmosphere is highlighted by two additional parks in the chain, including the all-inclusive Discovery Cove park and Aquatica, SeaWorld's water park.

Guests staying at one of the partner hotels are granted exclusive benefits, including:

• Complimentary transportation to SeaWorld, Aquatica, Discovery Cove and Universal Orlando
• Complimentary Quick Queue Unlimited (front-of-the-line access) at SeaWorld
• Exclusive access to the “SeaWorld Rescue Tour” at SeaWorld on Early Entry dates and every Saturday all year long
• Free shuttle to Busch Gardens Tampa on the Busch Gardens Shuttle Express (Busch Gardens Ticket and shuttle reservation required)

Equally exciting is SeaWorld Orlando's largest expansion ever, arriving at the park in 2013.  Named Antarctica - Empire of the Penguin, the addition will be an entire new themed section of the park including ride, restaurant, penguin habitat and gift shop.  The park has released some additional details of the expansion, previously kept secret by park designers.

The area's main attraction will include a family adventure ride that "utilizes new technology for an experience that can change from visit to visit."  Guests will be able to choose the level of thrill they experience on the ride, and each car will seat eight guests.  New drawings of these vehicles can be seen in the concept art above.

The full storyline of the ride has not been revealed, but the park has said that a young gentoo penguin will be the ride's guide as guests travel through the "dangers and wondrous beauty of the Antarctic."

Actual penguins will be involved as well, and guests will be able to get closer to than ever before via a design first.  The attraction will also be cold, quite cold, as penguins are only comfortable in the low 30s and as such guests will have to enter that environment.

More details are planned for release in the future on the Antarctica expansion at SeaWorld Orlando.