Officials: Florida manatees eat 'every scrap' in food trial
One thing wildlife officials have learned during the winter experimental feeding program to help manatees avoid starvation is that if you feed them, they will come. Manatees have eaten virtually all of the estimated 160,000 pounds (72,500 kilograms) of lettuce provided at a warm-water power plant site where manatees typically congregate during cold months, officials said Wednesday during a virtual news conference. “They've eaten every scrap of food we've put out,” said Scott Calleson of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
news.yahoo.comDisney, Busch Gardens easing back to full capacity, no masks required
Over the past few weeks, Florida’s theme parks, from Disney to Universal and Busch Gardens, have quietly eased their limits on crowd capacity. Face masks and social distancing aren’t required if you are vaccinated, though that is on the honor system. Theme parks were among the most strict businesses when it came to COVID-19 safety and reopening. They banned neck gaiters, open-chin triangle ...
news.yahoo.comThe coronavirus is threatening the single most important event for theme parks—Halloween
The fall holiday has morphed into the single most important event for theme parks, Dennis Speigel, president of International Theme Parks Services, said. These events often pad the bottom line for theme park operators like Universal, Disney and Six Flags. Theme parks across the U.S. bring in the hay bales, giant jack-o'-lanterns and cobwebs as early as August to kick-off the spooky season. Spooky alternativesWithout its marquee Halloween event, Universal has developed other, socially distant, ways for guests to enjoy the holiday. That unit includes all of Disney's domestic and international theme parks, its cruise lines, hotels and tours, as well as its merchandise.
cnbc.comStocks making the biggest moves midday: Boeing, SeaWorld, Sonos, Costco and more
SeaWorld Entertainment — SeaWorld shares popped more than 7% after a Credit Suisse analyst upgraded them to outperform from neutral. The analyst also hiked his price target on the stock to $30 per share from $13 per share, implying a 46% upside from Monday's close. Beyond Meat – Shares of the alternative meat maker jumped 6% after Piper Sandler raised its target on the stock to $178 from $130. The firm also hiked its price target to $400 from $330, citing a host of factors including "robust" traffic levels. Nvidia — Shares of the chipmaker rose nearly 3% after BMO raised its price target on the stock to $650 per share from $565 per share.
cnbc.comSeaWorld welcomes a new baby dolphin
On Tuesday, September 29, guests at SeaWorld got a glimpse of something truly special when first-time dolphin mom Bree gave birth to her calf at SeaWorld Orlando’s dolphin nursery, SeaWorld said. The Zoological team, who specializes in dolphin care, is keeping a close eye on Bree and her calf. SeaWorld made the announcement on social media. Bree, the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, became a new mother recently. Join us in welcoming the newest member of the family.”SeaWorld’s team of veterinarians and animal care experts will provide the newborn dolphin 24/7 care.
Florida’s unemployment rate falls to 7.4 percent
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida’s unemployment rate dropped a whopping four points in August, according to figures released by the state Friday, bringing it to 7.4 percent. The state reported 46,000 private sector jobs were created in August as 143,000 Floridians returned to work. [View county-by-county unemployment data using the table below]But the state’s economy isn’t out of the woods just yet. The national unemployment rate also dropped by nearly two points in August, now sitting at 8.4 percent. It’s the first time that rate has dipped to single digits since the beginning of the pandemic.
SeaWorld lays off nearly 2,000 workers due to COVID-19 pandemic
ORLANDO, Fla. – SeaWorld has filed a notice with the state that nearly 1,900 employees who were previously furloughed due to the pandemic are now being laid off permanently. The layoffs included 455 foodservice attendants, 272 park operations hosts and hostesses, 121 performers, 123 sales clerks, and 111 waiters and waitresses, among others. Theme parks across the state have struggled to attract visitors over the last six months because of COVID-19 concerns. SeaWorld closed its Orlando parks in mid-March when COVID-19 cases first started popping up in the region. SeaWorld parks reopened in June with reduced capacity and other safety measures in place.
Visit SeaWorld Orlando for rest of 2020, all of 2021 for $110
ORLANDO, Fla. – If you’ve been waiting to visit a Central Florida theme park amid the coronavirus pandemic, SeaWorld’s new ticket deal might be the ticket you’ve been waiting on. SeaWorld Orlando announced a new 2021 Fun Card where park visitors can visit for the rest of 2020 and all of 2021 for the price of $109.99, WKMG reports. There’s also a fun card for Aquatica priced at $79.99 or both theme parks for $164.98. “Just because summer is wrapping up, doesn’t mean the fun stops at SeaWorld and Aquatica. SeaWorld and Aquatica officials recently announced the parks will now be open seven days a week.
Disney to start reopening its Florida theme parks with Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom on July 11
Disney said Wednesday it has proposed a phased reopening of its Florida-based theme parks in July. Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom are expected to be the first to reopen on July 11. He did say the company would adhere to the CDC's 6 foot social distancing guidelines when limiting attendance. Disney's Florida parks will have additional hand washing stations, temperature checks and social distancing measures throughout, including at restaurants and lines for rides. Contactless payments via Apple Pay, Google Pay and Disney Magic Bands will be encouraged.
cnbc.comSeaWorld closing its theme parks for the rest of March
Add SeaWorld to the list of amusement parks now closing their doors over coronavirus concerns. On Friday, the theme park joined Disney and Universal Studios in announcing it would shut down for the rest of March as a precautionary measure. Starting on Monday, the company will temporarily close all its theme parks across the country, including SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens in Florida. “We are monitoring this COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation closely and coordinating with public health officials,” the company said in a statement. For more information please visit https://t.co/VJihdaNges pic.twitter.com/M4vJSPfZ5J — SeaWorld (@SeaWorld) March 13, 2020For a complete list of frequently asked questions, visit SeaWorld’s website.
SeaWorld bans dolphin-riding from its shows
ORLANDO, Fla. – The next time you go to SeaWorld, you could see a major change. Trainers will no longer ride dolphins at the three theme parks. This comes after a nearly year-long campaign by animal rights activists to get the company to prohibit the stunt. It includes riding on the backs of dolphins and standing on their faces. SeaWorld says the phasing out of the stunts will take place over the next few months.
Get the first look at SeaWorld Orlando’s ‘Ice Breaker’ coaster
ORLANDO, Fla. – SeaWorld Orlando and its ride developers showed off the ride vehicle for its newest roller-coaster, Ice Breaker, at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions this week. The ride will give chills to its riders as it breaks the ice at SeaWorld Orlando in spring 2020. Ice Breaker will be located near the parks other attraction, Wild Arctic. The two-person ride vehicle is painted an icy blue color, with hints of broken ice chunk fragments throughout. The ride track is bright orange, with ice blue supports.
Baby Sea Otter Orphaned in Alaska Learns to Swim in Her New Home
Splashing, playing and getting stronger by the day, Cinder the baby sea otter is settling in nicely to her new home at SeaWorld in California. The little otter was found stranded by strong currents near Homer, Alaska, when she was just 5 weeks old. On Sept. 7, Cinder was flown to SeaWorld in San Diego so that she could be cared for in the facility's sea otter nursery. When she is a little older, she will be introduced to SeaWorld's four other female sea otters: Mocha, Coco, Clover and Pumpkin. Fish and Wildlife Service when she was rescued, Cinder will continue to live at SeaWorld.
3/17: Violent storm drops egg-sized hail in Texas; SeaWorld to end killer whale shows
Hail ranging in size from an egg to a tennis ball destroyed just about everything in it fell on Thursday morning in the Dallas-Fort Worth area; SeaWorld is bowing to public pressure and ending its famous killer whale shows as well as its controversial orca breeding program
cbsnews.comFacebook urged to curb hate speech: #CBSNBusiness headlines
Oil-services giant Halliburton to cut another 5,000 jobs, SeaWorld admits to spying on animal-rights activists, and Puerto Rico's debt woes could force a partial government shutdown. Jill Wagner has this and more with today's Business Headlines.
cbsnews.comSeaWorld hopes to turn the tide after negative publicity
After years of negative publicity, SeaWorld hopes that a new CEO and approach can help. The animal water park is fighting to stay afloat after a one-two punch sent ticket sales into a deep dive last year. Erik Sandoval of CBS Orlando station WKMG reports.
cbsnews.com5/9: Beverly Hills cracks down on water wasters; SeaWorld hopes to turn the tide after negative publicity
Starting June 1, California cities have to cut their water use from 8 percent to as much as 36 percent. Among the 36-percenters: Beverly Hills. Carter Evans reports how they're cracking down on drought dodgers; After years of negative publicity, SeaWorld hopes that a new CEO and approach can help. The animal water park is fighting to stay afloat after a one-two punch sent ticket sales into a deep dive last year. Erik Sandoval of CBS Orlando station WKMG reports.
cbsnews.comMoneyWatch: Oil prices keep falling; SeaWorld CEO steps down
MoneyWatch: Oil prices keep falling; SeaWorld CEO steps down The price of one barrel of oil dropped below $60, the lowest price in five years. Also, the CEO of SeaWorld is stepping down after a drop in attendance at the parks. Jill Wagner reports on the day's top MoneyWatch headlines.
cbsnews.comSeaWorld’s plans to rebound after controversy
SeaWorld’s plans to rebound after controversy Under pressure from all sides, including its own stockholders, SeaWorld has announced big changes to improve the lives of its top attraction: Orcas, also known as killer whales. John Blackstone reports.
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