Penguin Trek

Last updated

Penguin Trek
Penguin Trek Logo.webp
SeaWorld Orlando
Location SeaWorld Orlando
Park section Sea of Ice
Coordinates 28°24′43″N81°27′36″W / 28.411926°N 81.459923°W / 28.411926; -81.459923
StatusOperating
Soft opening dateJuly 2, 2024;11 months ago (2024-07-02)
Opening dateJuly 7, 2024;10 months ago (2024-07-07)
Replaced Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin
General statistics
Type Steel  – Family  – Launched
Manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard
Lift/launch system Linear motor launch
Height65 ft (20 m)
Length3,020 ft (920 m)
Speed43 mph (69 km/h)
Height restriction42 in (107 cm)
Trains3 trains with 9 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 18 riders per train.
Website Official website
Quick Queue availability logo.svg Quick Queue Available
Attraction transfer icon.svg Must transfer from wheelchair
Penguin Trek at RCDB

Penguin Trek is a family launched roller coaster located at SeaWorld Orlando in Orlando, Florida, United States. The ride is manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard and features both indoor and outdoor sections, providing an experience simulating an Antarctic snowmobile expedition. [1] [2]

Contents

History

Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin was a motion-based dark ride that ran from May 2013 to March 2020, billed at the time as the largest attraction of its kind at any United Parks & Resorts theme park. [3] The ride was temporarily closed alongside SeaWorld Orlando due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but failed to reopen with the park; the adjacent penguin exhibit stayed available on its own. [4]

Construction walls and survey markers first went up around the Antarctica show building in December 2022. [5] SeaWorld Orlando filed further permits in February 2023, calling for building modifications as part of what then became referred to as Project Toboggan. [6] Work on the attraction’s foundations commenced outdoors in July, with the first pieces of coaster track arriving later that month from Clermont Steel Fabricators in Batavia, Ohio. [7] [8] The final track piece was officially lifted into place on January 30, 2024. [9] Work then shifted towards constructing of the sets indoors, making up the queue, station, and first portion of the coaster. [10]

SeaWorld Orlando officially announced Penguin Trek on September 28, 2023, later revealing one of its lead cars on display at IAAPA Expo Orlando on November 14, 2023. [11] [12] The trains began testing for the first time at the end of April 2024, and the surrounding Antarctica precinct was opened to the public on May 25. [13] [14] Penguin Trek officially held its grand opening on July 7, 2024, featuring Puck The Penguin – the mascot of the former Antarctica attraction – and a contingent of children from Scouts of America in attendance. [15]

Ride experience

The ride starts in an indoor Antarctic themed section with glaciers, snow, and an LED display before leaving outdoors, utilizing a linear synchronous motor (LSM) launch and taking a wide right turn. A series of twists and turns including a banked turn lead to another LSM launch. This second LSM launch leads to a overbanked turn. [16] The ride takes a left with a airtime hill and then a wide left turn before reaching its final brake run, slowing down the train before it reaches the station. [17] Riders have compared the ride experience to that of sledding and bobsledding due to the rides' use of airtime hills and turns. [16]

References

  1. ↑ Bowyer, Kelsey (2024-07-01). "Penguin Trek at SeaWorld Orlando: An In-Depth Review". Orlando Informer. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  2. ↑ McLeod, Emily (2024-07-07). "Cool coaster: Penguin Trek opens at SeaWorld Orlando". WKMG. Retrieved 2024-08-19.
  3. ↑ "SeaWorld reveals plans for Antarctica". Park World Magazine. April 25, 2012. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  4. ↑ White, Tharin (June 11, 2020). "SeaWorld Orlando re-opens with loose rules and limited rides". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  5. ↑ Midway Mayhem (December 21, 2022). "SeaWorld Orlando Pipeline The Surf Coaster Construction Update 12.21.22 + MARKINGS FOR A 2024 RIDE?!". YouTube . Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  6. ↑ @BehindThrills (February 10, 2023). "Could this be the first permit for the rumored SeaWorld Orlando 2024..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ↑ Midway Mayhem (July 7, 2023). "SeaWorld Orlando 2024 Roller Coaster Construction Update 7.5.23 Foundation Work Begins!". YouTube . Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  8. ↑ @EthanHershaft (July 20, 2023). "Some track has JUST ARRIVED for project..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ↑ @SeaWorld (January 30, 2024). "ASMR: Penguin Trek edition 🐧🛠️ As of this morning, the ride track is..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  10. ↑ @SeaWorld (February 22, 2024). "ICYMI: Yesterday, we took a hard hat tour of the Penguin Trek..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. ↑ Carter, Ashley (September 28, 2023). "SeaWorld Orlando reveals Penguin Trek as next coaster". Spectrum News . Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  12. ↑ Carter, Ashley (November 14, 2023). "SeaWorld Orlando unveils Penguin Trek coaster vehicle at IAAPA Expo". Spectrum News . Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  13. ↑ @CompSullivan (April 27, 2024). "Penguin trek test and train on brakes..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ↑ @Midway_Mayhem (May 25, 2024). "Antartica Realm is open at @SeaWorld Orlando! Here is the entrance to Penguin Trek!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ↑ Taylor, Blake (July 7, 2024). "Penguin Trek opens at SeaWorld Orlando with 'arctic researchers,' Scouts of America". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  16. 1 2 "SeaWorld's New Coaster, Penguin Trek Snowballs Into Spring!". theescapeeffect.com. 2024-03-28. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  17. ↑ Shane (2024-07-07). "Review: Penguin Trek at SeaWorld Orlando - Coaster101" . Retrieved 2024-09-26.
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