Seaworld "Lights up the Night" with its new summer Shamu Celebration Show!

As a huge fan of Shamu Rocks at Seaworld Orlando, I was a little skeptic on how the park was going to update a long standing summer show.  Granted, Shamu Rocks was dated, but it still had its energy and was fun to experience year after year.

So, with an opportunity to get "preferred seating" for a Passholder Event, I took the opportunity to see the new show a few nights ago.  I was pleasantly surprised at how much I actually enjoyed the experience.

Officially titled Shamu's Celebration: Light up the Night, the new show boasts original high energy music, new costumes, a graphics update for their infamous rotating screens, and of course your favorite Shamu orcas! It also features a live DJ to kickstart the party (who also shows up at times in the show).

The party kicks off with a musical escapade of songs spun by the resident DJ while the crowds get to their seats.  The pre-show also features an opportunity to "show you dance moves" on the big screen as you boogy to moves from the 70's to today.

The show then oddly begins with a Q&A session with a Shamu Trainer.  I feel this is just a PR move to show the world how much Seaworld cares for their animals (aw).  I thought this whole session was a little out of place, but I understand Seaworld's need to push their animal care for all the world to see (Blame Blackfish).

And then the show starts, the title music and theme song begin, and then it's Shamu's Celebration time! Opening with a highly addictive original new pop/dance song called Light up the Night, the opening scenes showcase the usual spectacle of the amazing orcas jumping up from the water.  And then, queue the stage, where the Shamu Trainers now display dazzling new costumes for the show.  The costumes fit with the show's theme perfectly.

The show continues with around 4-5 sessions of the orcas performing, each featuring original variances of the theme song and some other original music made for the show.  The one thing I want to point out is, unlike Shamu Rocks, the new show ONLY features original music.  Shamu Rocks on the other hand, featured some renditions and covers of current mainstream songs.

From flips in the air, to up close and personal touches with the Shamu Trainers (minus the trainers actually getting in the water), the orcas really shine in this show.  And of course, no Shamu show would be complete without the obligatory fin splashs.  As the song lyrics play "Make a Bigger Splash...", the orcas do their normal rounds of splashing the lucky or unlucky guests in the Splash Zone.

And as the show reaches its finale, the theme song again blares, and a firework display shoots off behind Shamu Stadium! The fireworks are incredible and light up the sky for the remainder of the finale.  Seaworld tried doing the fireworks after the Shamu show last year, but in this show, it works a lot better.  The show has a great finale, and trust me, you will be humming the theme song after you leave.

Overall, I really enjoyed the show and thought it was a great replacement for Shamu Rocks.  This show will do well, especially for the Shamu fans.  It's a nice update and a great addition to Seaworld's Summer Event.

Preview of the Show on my Youtube Channel