SeaWorld’s Penguin Trek

Hot on the heels of two brand new rides in just the past 18 months, SeaWorld will unveil yet another exciting coaster to lure visitors in 2024, and it might just be the best of all, especially for families, in a one-two-three line-up of adrenalin-laced excitement.

This all-new trio of red-hot rides began in 2022 with Ice Breaker, the park’s first back-and-forth fast-launch coaster that included a 93ft beyond-vertical spike and signature top hat feature.

Then they topped that earlier this year with Pipeline: The Surf Coaster, an exhilarating and unique entry into Orlando’s pantheon of eye-catching rides, and Florida’s first stand-up coaster (even though SeaWorld doesn’t call it a stand-up coaster!).

Now we are excited to be looking forward to Penguin Trek, SeaWorld’s third novel entry into their recent explosion of coaster delectation.

It wasn’t a huge surprise, as the area devoted to this newcomer has been rumoured for something new for much of the year, and the writing has been on the wall even since 2020.

To understand that, you have to go back to 2013, and the opening of Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, SeaWorld’s most ambitious and heavily themed section of the park, which opened that year in a blaze of glory - and four-hour queues!

However, the ride part of Antarctica, featuring trackless vehicles on an indoor journey through the wilds of the southern continent, proved a technical headache as it sought to deliver riders to the innovative penguin habitat as the grand finale to the experience.

And, when all Orlando’s parks re-opened in June 2020 following the initial shut-down at the height of the pandemic, one ride was notable for its absence - Empire of the Penguin.

Then as both 2021 and ’22 passed and there was still no return for the ride section of this immersive experience, it became clear SeaWorld had other ideas for its Antarctica exhibit.

Earlier this year, there were the first signs of new construction in the back-stage area, and the rumours really began to fly about what was likely to take its place.

Finally, just last week (September 28), we had the official confirmation of the big sea-change coming to SeaWorld’s Antarctica section - Penguin Trek.

And here’s what they told us, in breathless fashion:

“This will be the coolest research mission you’ve ever joined! Prepare for Penguin Trek, an unforgettable family launch coaster adventure through the breath-taking vastness of Antarctica. Board your snowmobile and race along with your expedition team at up to 43 miles per hour, navigating twists and turns and narrowly escaping the crumbling hazards of an icy cavern. Reach the end and you’ll make the ultimate discovery: a real penguin habitat! This new indoor/outdoor family ride is the most immersive addition to the Coaster Capital of Orlando, and with a height requirement of just 42 inches, it’s the perfect journey for families to share.”

42 inches (or 107cm) is the height of the average five to six-year-old, hence it should genuinely be a ride most of the family will be able to enjoy. The ride will have two fast-launch sequences along 3,020ft of steel track, with a series of fast-paced twists and turns to mimic a snowmobile manoeuvring to avoid dangers on the ice.

The manufacturer will be Swiss coaster specialist Bolliger & Mabillard, but it will bear some superficial resemblance to the Intamin-manufactured Arctic Rescue coaster at SeaWorld San Diego, which uses a snowmobile car design. The artist’s impressions of the ride don’t show obvious snowmobile styling, but there is a bobsled-type look to it and the track could certainly be similar.

SeaWorld president Jon Peterson added: “We are incredibly excited to unveil our newest addition to SeaWorld Orlando’s outstanding coaster line-up in Spring of 2024.

“This family launch coaster embodies the spirit of adventure and exploration, offering an immersive journey through the wonders of Antarctica while further connecting our mission and commitment to our animal care, education and research. We know our guests were ready for a new thrill that the whole family could enjoy, and we’re excited to redefine the family launch coaster experience alongside our longstanding partners at B&M.”

Penguin Trek will start, and finish, as an indoor dark ride, with guests visiting Sea Station Antarctica to join a research expedition into the icy hinterland. Of course, there are perils and dangers to avoid along the way, including the ice cave and even falling ice on one section, but it all ends happily with the big finale, just like Empire of the Penguin.

For those who never experienced the previous ride between 2013 and 2020, the eye-popping finale delivered riders right to the heart of SeaWorld’s penguin colony habitat, featuring five species of penguin.

And this dramatic tableau will still be what awaits riders on Penguin Trek, an indoor extent of true ice-and-snow proportions at a decidedly chilly -1C, where guests can enjoy seeing all the penguin activities at close quarters, both on land and from an underwater viewing area.

It amounts to an amazing investment in new rides from SeaWorld, their EIGHTH genuine roller-coaster and another novel ride experience. And it should be a major upgrade on the previous Empire of the Penguin ride, which failed to pass the test of time.

Or, as we like to say, roll on 2024…!

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