SeaWorld Orlando pass members: Sign up now for extra summer perks

SeaWorld Orlando pass members should be receiving notices by mail and/or email about a host of summer offers just for them — and most are free! Many experiences require the pass member to reserve a space online, so if you’re interested, don’t delay because the events fill up quickly.

Beginning this week — June 8 to be exact — SeaWorld Orlando is hosting a pass member preview of its new Kraken Unleashed. Each pass member can register to bring a guest to the event, but he or she must have or pay separate admission into the park. The popular roller coaster will have a Virtual Reality overlay, and guests can choose whether to wear the headsets or not.

“It’s going to take you into a new story told by SeaWorld of legendary sea creatures and exotic underwater environments like you’ve never seen before,” said Brian Morrow, vice president of theme park design experience. “When you put your headset on, you’re going to be in Sea Base. Our coaster station will be transformed into this environment digitally — 3D, 360 stereoscopic-sound-involving conversion experience. Once you leave the sea base, you dive into the ocean and we found there is seismic activity taking place. And we go take a look. We get sucked into a glowing crack and into a world we could not have imagined. … This is an action-packed cinematic coaster experience we are delivering.”

Kraken Unleashed roller coaster opens to the public on June 16. If you miss the preview, pass members will be given early access to the ride on Tuesdays and Saturdays June 17 through Aug. 5 during the hour before the parks opens. (It’s not necessary to sign up for early entry.) Also, in July, pass members can register for one-time, front-of-the-line access to the ride.

SeaWorld Orlando’s new “Pop” bubble show starring world record holder and bubble master Fan Yang debuted over Memorial Day weekend in the Nautilus Theater. Pass members still have time to register for reserved seating, which is offered daily through June 16. Each pass member can register to bring a guest, but he or she must have or pay separate admission into the park.

“It is a show inspired by our natural world, a show inspired by the bubbles we find in the natural ocean — the bubbles we find in the froth and the foam at the shore, the bubbles a penguin can leave behind as it is diving through the water, the bubbles that dolphins and beluga whales actually blow, and even shapes like jellyfish and deep sea creatures,” said SeaWorld’s Steve Welch. “Those things were inspirational for us, and they are core and crucial to make this show a SeaWorld experience.”

Pass members also have the opportunity to sign up for reserved seating at Shamu’s Celebration: Light Up the Night. Part of the new nighttime Electric Ocean celebration, Light up the Night features orcas performing to high-energy music and a fireworks finale. (You can read my review of the show here.) Pass members can sign up online for one-time reserved seating at shows daily from June 17 through 30.

Other summer pass member benefits include:

** Celebrate Mako’s one-year anniversary with a one-time, front-of-the-line access to the ride and a ride photo for just $10. Sign up online.

** 1 free SeaWorld car magnet per pass member in July. Print receipt online and redeem in the park.

** Meet marine wildlife artist and conservationist Guy Harvey on June 24 and 25 in the park. Pass members can donate $5 to the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation and receive a dolphin-themed commemorative hard stock pass.

** The redesigned dolphin nursery is expected to reopen this month, and pass members will be given early access on Tuesdays and Saturdays, one hour prior to park opening.