SeaWorld Orlando Launches Enhanced Mobile App

Orlando, Fla., (May 23, 2014) –Want to know how to get from Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin over to TurtleTrek or find out show times for Blue Horizons? Do you remember where that restroom was that you passed a while ago? Exciting, new enhancements to SeaWorld Orlando’s popular park mobile app, available for iPhone and Android devices, was announced earlier this week, with interactive park maps and locations featuring GPS navigation.

Dive into the new SeaWorld Discovery Guide app that includes a variety of features that are both fun and useful, and can be downloaded free from the Apple or Google Play app stores.

Each park’s Discovery Guide app will save guests time and increase their enjoyment as they navigate through the park using GPS-enabled interactive maps, access real-time updates of show schedules and events and receive broadcast park notifications.

SeaWorld Discovery Guide makes planning out your day easier with up-to-the-minute ride wait times and show times, ride-height filters and insider park tips that help you make the most out of your day. You can even add fun photo frames to the memorable moments you’ve captured throughout your park visit and easily share the photos on your social channels! These combined features are unique to the theme park industry and address the desires of today’s connected customer. 

“This announcement is part of our larger focus on guest innovation and the important role that mobile and social media plays in the travel planning process,” said Jim Atchison, President and Chief Executive Officer for SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. “We designed these apps based on consumer insights and mobile best practices to give our guests a premier user experience while still allowing us to invest our dollars efficiently.”

One of the most fun features of the SeaWorld Discovery Guide is the in-park 50th Celebration Scavenger Hunt that is part of our “Sea of Surprises™.” If you’ve downloaded the app and are in the park, test your SeaWorld knowledge to collect badges as you visit certain locations throughout the park and earn valuable in-park rewards ranging from themed merchandise to culinary treats.

At the end of the fun-filled day at SeaWorld, guests will be able to find their car with the handy “car finder” feature to mark your car location when you arrive, so it’s a cinch to find when you leave.

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. worked with TE2 (The Experience Engine Inc.) as the platform provider to power the apps for a personalized digital in-park experience using feedback from park guests and users of previous versions of park apps. Insights from consumer trends and mobile technology leaders guided the development of new enhancements in three key areas: increased utility, easy purchasing and social gaming.

Other Features include:

• Easy purchasing and upgrades: This summer, a mobile wallet will be added with one-touch purchasing. This allows guests to make spur-of-the-moment upgrades to skip lines with Quick Queue or add the All-Day Dining Deal. Later this year, new functionality will even allow guests to pre-order meals on the go for easy pick up at select locations.
• Push notifications: Starting next month, guests inside the park will be alerted automatically on their mobile device with offers and discounts only for app users, such as tours or culinary specials. In future releases, guests will receive contextual notifications, based on interests particular to each guest.

The new mobile apps offer a more personalized and interactive approach using technology that’s easy to access from a device guests already use every day.

“Guests are interacting with their smartphone throughout the day,” said Darla Morse, Chief Information Officer. “Our goal was to ‘put the park in your pocket,’ using a device they are already familiar with and comfortable using. These new apps are powered by the TE2 platform that scales across our 11 parks and is tied into our existing operational systems which ensures the guest will get a seamless experience.”

Mobile app users will be automatically notified to upgrade to the new Discovery Guide when more new features are launched throughout the year. For more information about the new Discovery Guide mobile apps, check out the video at SeaWorldParks.com/mobile.

The app has been deployed on TE2’s leading edge Experience-as-a-Service (XaaS) platform, which allows each park operations group to create and manage experiences at a local level to ensure the optimal experience for each park. The platform also provides the ability to test new services and roll out added functionality throughout the year.

“SeaWorld Entertainment truly took the point of view of their guests, investing in technology to improve guest engagement with their brand in a more personal way,” said Scott Sahadi, CEO of TE2. “Our company was founded to take the guest experience to new levels and we look forward to driving this new innovation with them.”