I think SeaWorld will be removing most of their animals over the next decade. Expect them to milk the publicity for all its worth. As soon as the goodwill from the breeding moratorium is at rock bottom, I'd expect an announcement about dolphins. That's how they're going to save the brand. Less animals, more rides.
I think you are nuts. They aren't getting rid of the Orcas, it'll be 30 plus years before they are gone. The other shows will go on, just watch. The Orcas were big and few parks have them and that made for easy targeting, the rest is much more widespread, especially Dolphins. China is going to take up the Orca Slack, just watch and see. Nope, if anything they are going to expand animal interactions
We were at SeaWorld San Antonio this past weekend. We got to see their new area for Discovery Point Dolphin interaction. Very, very nice.
My kids did a Beluga Interaction with Beluga as we have done the dolphins at Discovery Cove. The trainers did nothing but education on the animals from orientation to the interactions itself.
Sea World San Antonio is a bit different. It needs more rides but in the past few years, they have redone their sea lion area, Aquatica offers a fantastic Stingray area where a touch is free, food is only 5 bucks and an in water interaction is 20 a person. Oh, a raft ride floats underneath it too.
Roa's Aviary is included with Aquatic as well and is rather new, the lazy river passes the it much like Discovery Cove but offers walk thru and feeding opportunities as well as a rather secluded pool.
Nope, most everything new there has been animal interaction oriented, I suspect they'll dress up the Beluga holding area soon.
As for the Orca show, that's why we went. To get one last one in. I'm curious on how they tackle turning the arena into a viewing only area. That's the best orca venue of all of them, totally covered.
SeaWorld SA has sooooooooooooooo much room for new stuff it's just silly.