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Penguin Trek

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Ride at SeaWorld Orlando

Steel roller coaster at SeaWorld Orlando
Penguin Trek
SeaWorld Orlando
LocationSeaWorld Orlando
Park sectionSea of Ice
Coordinates28°24′43″N 81°27′36″W / 28.411926°N 81.459923°W / 28.411926; -81.459923
StatusOperating
Opening dateJuly 7, 2024; 5 months ago (2024-07-07)
ReplacedAntarctica: Empire of the Penguin
General statistics
TypeSteel – Family – Launched
ManufacturerBolliger & Mabillard
Lift/launch systemLinear 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.
WebsiteOfficial website
Quick Queue Available
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.

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. 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.

Construction walls and survey markers first went up around the Antarctica show building in December 2022. SeaWorld Orlando filed further permits in February 2023, calling for building modifications as apart of what then became referred to as Project Toboggan. 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. The final track piece was officially lifted into place on January 30, 2024. Work then shifted towards constructing of the sets indoors, making up the queue, station, and first portion of the coaster.

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. 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. 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.

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. 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. Riders have compared the ride experience to that of sledding and bobsledding due to the rides' use of airtime hills and turns.

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. ^ "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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