SeaWorld Launches Enhanced Mobile App

SeaWorld-app-May28

SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc. has introduced new enhancements to its popular park mobile apps, available for iPhone and Android devices.

The SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Sesame Place Discovery Guide mobile apps offer new features for a more personalized and interactive experience during a park visit, 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. 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 CEO 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.”

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.

Features include:

!!! Planning: Up-to-the-minute ride wait times and show times, ride-height filters, car finder function and insider park tips help make the most out of a visit. The interactive map provides a walking path showing clear starting and ending points with estimated walking time.

!!! 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.

!!! Gaming: The 50th Celebration Scavenger Hunt follows a growing trend in gaming and is available at all three SeaWorld parks. Guests collect badges as they visit locations throughout the park to earn valuable in-park rewards. New games for additional parks will be added in 2014.

!!! Sharing: Fun photo frames used to showcase photos taken in the parks can be easily shared on social channels.