SeaWorld Orlando is just three months from opening the largest single expansion ever at the park. The new exhibit is being billed the coldest theme park attraction in the world. The attraction will feature temperatures in the 30s. Here is a list of 16 Things to Know about the ‘world’s coldest theme park attraction.’ Why 16? Well that’s the coldest it’s ever been here in Orlando (it happened in 1985).
- The attraction is a fully immersive 'realm' instead of just a themed attraction. This has been a growing trend lately, with some of the best examples of it being the most popular new attractions at theme parks across the country such as the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and CarsLand currently at Disney’s California Adventure (and rumored to be coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios). Animal Kingdom’s planned Avatarland will be another example of this.
- It officially opens May 24th, 2013, Soft opening expected to begin around the first to second week of May.
- The penguins are currently on a 7 city cross-country promotional road trip
- An official Antarctica App is available for Apple and Android operating systems. The app includes an attraction video trailer, information on the cross country road trip the penguins are currently on, an video augmentation option that allows the user to upload video of themselves and see what it’s like to be with the penguins in Antarctica, a fun fact section, and a Become an Explorer section that allows the user to upload a picture of themselves as an Antarctica Explorer.
- An all new character will be created for the attraction. The visitors will follow the story of a young Gentoo Penguin Puck™ in the trackless ride. The actual story of the ride has yet to be reveled but the free roaming ride vehicles will take guests in groups through a penguin’s eye view journey through Antarctica. Puck™ will have his own meet and greet opportunities.
- The ride will be known as 'Empire of the Penguin.'
- The ride will allow guests to adjust it their own thrill level preferences, though the exact details of how this will work with the eight seat ride vehicles is still unknown.
- The penguin exhibit and ride entrance features a large rock known at 'Penguin Rock.' The rock is supposed to look like a mother and her young.
- Live penguins will be featured in both the ride which will pass by the new enhanced penguin encounter and in a new walking portion where guest will no longer have glass separating them from the penguin enclosure.
- More than 200 penguins will call the new attraction home.
- The penguins will have a twenty foot deep pool to swim in which will be viewed via a new underwater viewing area that is featured at the attractions exit.
- Four species of penguins, Gentoo, Rockhoppers, Adieles and Kings, will be featured along with other animals. The penguins though will be the central focus.
- A rock wall near the gift shop will feature sculptures of every penguin species in the world.
- A new restaurant themed to scientists’ mess hall will feature menu items based around the idea of if the scientists have become chefs in Antarctica. The restaurant will offer both indoor and outdoor dining.
- The area features a unique to the land material composite that realistically recreates the glistening effects of Antarctica’s’ large ice layers. The material that covers most of the outdoor surfaces will glisten during the day time and glow due to special lighting at night time.
- While Manta will be visible from the attraction the blue track will help it blend well with the new attraction.
