Theme park fans could anticipate a cool experience from a ride with an Antarctic atmosphere and snowmobile-inspired trains. SeaWorld Orlando’s new Penguin Trek roller coaster also goes for the smooth factor.
The attraction received mid-ride reviews of “surprisingly smooth” during media previews Monday. The ride officially opens to the public on July 7.
Penguin Trek also includes two launch sequences (one dramatic, one less unnerving), twists, turns, hills and a disorienting route amid other coasters in the park. The cars’ moves have a slalom-like, snowmobiling effect, but you could also imagine the maneuvers of penguins swimming underwater.
The ride does not go upside down, fling riders from side to side or have bone-rattling maneuvers. Its top speed is 43 mph, and it peaks out at 65 feet high. The height requirement is 42 inches.
Those stats plant Penguin Trek into the “family thrill” ride category.
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“We knew we needed to re-energize this section of the park and bring a better use to this facility,” said Rob McNicholas, corporate vice president of operations. “And what better way than to do an incredible ride with a lower height requirement, a first for B&M, and this vehicle design? I think it’s paying off. It’s going to be a fan favorite.”
He credits manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard for the smooth ride. SeaWorld Orlando now has five B&M coasters in operation.
“They do a really nice job with the placement of the footers. And their unique track design allows for more distance between footers,” he said. “They really do a nice job of ensuring a smooth experience,”
The new ride takes the space previously inhabited by the Empire of the Penguin dark ride. Its white ride almost looks entangled with the neighboring Manta coaster, and screaming Kraken passengers can be heard in the plaza beneath the Penguin Trek rails.
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“A lot of our coasters kind of go into the back[stage] area. … This one is smack in the middle, crossing over a pathway, so lots of energy and excitement,” McNicholas said. “I do think the lower speed will help encourage riders, but, really, it is going to be word of mouth that ‘Grandma, you can do this.'”
The speedier parts of the ride are outdoors, but the attraction begins with a dark-ride segment indoors, along with the bulk of the queue. Before launching into the Florida sunshine, passengers have expedition-themed scenes, snow-capped ice cliffs, a dark stretch, visuals of penguins in action and a brief strobing sequence.
“You’re coming to a base camp in Antarctica,” McNicholas said. “It’s our most themed show element for a ride in this park. You’re going on an expedition and you’re exploring. … You hear the wind and the ice falling … and you launch.”
“It is a repeatable, fun attraction — not scary,” McNicholas said.
In a design similar to Empire of the Penguin, the attraction gives access to about 300 of the real-life birds, a cooled area that also allows underwater views of the penguins. (This area can be visited without riding the coaster.)
It’s the third consecutive year for SeaWorld Orlando to open a new coaster, following Ice Breaker in 2022 and Pipeline in 2023. The park now has eight coasters. Is there a ninth in the works?
“You never know what the future holds,” McNicholas said.
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