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Attraction Type
Roller Coaster
Attraction Status
Existing
On September 28th, 2023, SeaWorld Orlando officially announced Penguin Trek, a new, prototype, Bolliger & Mabillard-made, multi-launch, indoor/outdoor, family coaster slated to replace the Antartica: Empire of the Penguin darkride in 2024. Official details regarding the stats of this new coaster are in short supply, but we do know that it will feature a darkride segment at the start, two launches during the course, a top speed of 43 miles per hour, and a total track length of 3,020 feet. Per the press release, Penguin Trek will accommodate rider heights between 42 and 77 inches.

Though confirmed layout information is limited, leaked SeaWorld Orlando Project Toboggan site plans from June 2023 have given us a lot of information to work with. An in-depth breakdown of the leaks can be found here.

Official Concept Art​

SWO_Penguin_Trek_1.jpg SWO_Penguin_Trek_2.jpg 383841480_324487100253050_2436261598420530153_n.jpg 750x422-SWO-Rides-Penguin-Trek-Interior-Track-Concept-Art.jpg 750x422-SWO-Rides-Penguin-Trek-Concept-Art.jpg

Press Release​

SeaWorld Orlando Announces the Arrival of The Ultimate Antarctic Adventure: “Penguin Trek” – The New Immersive Family Coaster Coming Spring 2024

· Unique snowmobile styled ride cars transport riders on an unforgettable expedition through the Antarctic wilderness with two launches, a 3,020-foot track that traverses both indoors and outside, and a grand finale arrival at the penguin habitat where riders can experience the enchanting world of these remarkable animals
· Exciting for the whole family, the coaster accommodates rider heights from 42-77 inches
· Become a 2024 Pass Member and be the first to ride before the coaster opens to the public; 2024 passes on sale now

ORLANDO, Fla. (Sept. 28, 2023) – SeaWorld Orlando, already recognized as the Coaster Capital of Orlando with an impressive array of heart-pounding rides, is about to take your breath away once again with its all-new attraction coming in Spring 2024 – “Penguin Trek” – the eagerly awaited eighth coaster to join the park's ever-expanding ride portfolio. Designed as THE ultimate family launch coaster experience, “Penguin Trek” features a unique snowmobile styled ride car where once aboard, riders will embark on an exhilarating journey through the breathtaking vastness of Antarctica as they join a penguin research mission unlike any other.

Featuring two exhilarating launches and a maze of twists and turns, this unforgettable coaster moves at speeds of up to 43 mph across a 3,020-foot track that traverses both indoors and outside. Yet, what sets this experience apart as truly extraordinary is its unparalleled finale: as the coaster comes to a halt, guests find themselves not in a simulated penguin colony, but in the very heart of SeaWorld Orlando’s own penguin habitat. An experience for the whole family, the ride accommodates rider heights from 42-inches to 77-inches. 2024 Annual Pass members can be the first to ride before the public and passes are on sale now.

"We are incredibly excited to unveil our newest addition to SeaWorld Orlando's outstanding coaster lineup in Spring of 2024," said Jon Peterson, President of SeaWorld Orlando. "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.”

Once aboard, riders will embark on an unforgettable expedition on this one-of-a-kind immersive family launch coaster that catapults them through the Antarctic wilderness at speeds of up to 43 mph across a 3,020-foot track. As they step into the shoes of intrepid researchers, they’ll navigate in a unique snowmobile ride car across the icy expanse, narrowly escaping an ice cave's clutches. This family-friendly adventure intensifies as they burst onto an outdoor coaster track, featuring two exhilarating launches and a maze of twists and turns. With adrenaline pumping, riders navigate this treacherous coaster, emerging from the looming danger of falling ice to finally reach the safety of a penguin colony, a journey that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of adventure and discovery. Yet, what sets this experience apart as truly extraordinary is its unparalleled finale: as the coaster comes to a halt, guests find themselves not in a simulated penguin colony, but in the very heart of SeaWorld Orlando’s own penguin habitat. The exhilaration of the ride seamlessly transitions into a heartwarming encounter with these charming, feathered inhabitants. This unique and immersive blend of family coaster thrills and authentic animal interaction offers an opportunity for the whole family to connect with the enchanting world of these captivating penguins, making it a one-of-a-kind adventure that will forever remain etched in their memories.

This family coaster's engineering prowess and world-class design are credited to Bolliger & Mabillard, the renowned design and manufacturers known for their excellence in roller coaster engineering. With five other remarkable coasters already at SeaWorld Orlando, including the park’s most recent thrill ride, "Pipeline: The Surf Coaster," which opened to rave reviews in May 2023, Penguin Trek is set to tie the park for the record of the most B&M coasters in one location.

SeaWorld Orlando's commitment to providing diverse thrills for all family members is evident in "Penguin Trek's" unique indoor/outdoor coaster experience. This latest addition to the coaster family promises to be another crowning jewel in a park already celebrated for its coaster excellence. Joining the ranks of award-winning rides such as "Mako," voted the #1 Best Roller Coaster by the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice poll for five consecutive years, and "Ice Breaker," which secured the #1 New Attraction spot in the same poll, "Penguin Trek" is poised to continue SeaWorld Orlando's legacy of pushing the boundaries of coaster innovation for the whole family.

Be Among the First Family to Ride “Penguin Trek” with a SeaWorld Annual Pass

Guests can experience the best of SeaWorld Orlando with a 2024 annual pass including unlimited visits, unbeatable benefits, and the opportunity to be among the first family to experience “Penguin Trek” before it opens to the public. 2024 annual passes are on sale now and start at $14 per month with no down payment. Membership includes unlimited admission, access to vibrant seasonal events, and exclusive Pass Member benefits like FREE guest tickets, FREE parking and special savings on merchandise, and food and beverage. Plus, Pass Members receive special monthly rewards throughout the year such as exclusive Pass Member merchandise, behind-the-scenes animal experiences, festival-exclusive food & beverage deals, and discounts on admission to SeaWorld’s separately ticketed Howl-O-Scream event. The SeaWorld Orlando Annual Pass program features the bronze, silver, gold, and platinum annual pass, which grants access to all 11 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment locations nationwide including, three SeaWorld parks, two Busch Gardens parks, two Sesame Place parks and several award-winning water parks. Annual Pass Members also get exclusive discounts at Discovery Cove. The program is structured in a guest-friendly way that allows visitors to choose the pass, the benefits, and the parks that are the best fit their needs. Restrictions apply.

For more information, park hours and to purchase tickets, visit SeaWorldOrlando.com. Follow SeaWorld Orlando on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news from SeaWorld.

Official Website​


Project Timeline​


Leaked Site Plan​

Site Plan.jpg

Speculative Layout Based on Leaked Plans​

Rough Layout Graphic REDUCED.png

NoLimits Recreation of Speculative Layout​

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In Midway Mayhem’s latest update video, Dan noted that they’re cycling the ride hundreds of times a day now to meet their testing quotas, thus indicating that contractors are off site and the ride has officially been turned over to the park from B&M. My money is on sometime in July and I think we’ll hear an announcement sometime in the next couple weeks on the opening date. I don’t know if they’ll even hold passholder previews now at this point just based off how pushed back the timeline ended up, they might just want to get it open to the public ASAP after media day.
There is a chance that the ride has been turned over to the park for testing and training for 1 or 2 train operation. If i had to guess though, if the park did take this route, their are most likely pulling a Universal with Hagrid's and testing/training on the two trains between certain hours of the day and programmers are working on the attraction during other times of the day to get the coding just right for three trains to run reliably.
 
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Direct Link to Embedded Media Source who’s ready for another round of an attraction opening then shutting down for unknown reason!!!

I’m literally going to every pass member preview day to lock in as many rides before the end of opening day when it inevitably closes because of the 2024 curse. Wow that’s a long sentence
 
I'm really excited to see the interior of this coaster. Though it won't be as determinative to the quality of the ride overall as the interior of its sudo-sister coaster, DarKoaster, was, I do think the quality of the interior could take this from an interesting family coaster to something legitimately great. I'm tremendously curious to see if the story focus found on Loch Ness Monster up in Williamsburg this year also made its way down south to Florida. Fingers crossed!
 
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I'm really excited to see the interior of this coaster. Though it won't be as determinative to the quality of the ride overall as the interior of its sudo-sister coaster, DarKoaster, was, in do think the quality of the interior could take this from an interesting family coaster to something legitimately great. I'm tremendously curious to see if the story focus found on Loch Ness Monster up in Williamsburg this year also made its way down south to Florida. Fingers crossed!
My thoughts perfectly stated^
 
Hey friends! Its time for another Penguin Trek Update!

So honestly, there isn't a ton to report on since the ride is basically complete.

As many of you know, the park has officially announced the opening date and preview dates for the coaster! Previews begin on 7/2 and continue through 7/6 for the different levels of pass holders with the grand opening being on 7/7!

-Sadly the coaster was not testing while I was at the park, but they have started testing the ride with three trains on the track!
-New speakers have been installed along the final brakes.
-The bridge leading up to the sealion and otter stadium has is in the process of being painted a dark brown color.
-WORK WALLS ARE DOWN on the path leading to Pacific Point Preserve! There are tons of great views looking into the ride track area for the final brakes and first launch!


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Hello! Here is my final Penguin Trek Construction Update as of 6/27/24! The next time I'll be at the park, I'll hopefully be riding it!

-The ride was once again testing with 3 trains. It did seem like on train was still being commissioned as it was cycling empty. The other two trains were running for the ambassador preview! Lots of happy employees exiting the ride!
-I'm not sure how long this has been in place but it looks like a garage door has been added to the opening to launch one. Probably to protect the inside of the building during annual maintenance or hurricanes.
-Work walls are still up around the men's restroom and they most likely will remain until work is done on the rumored chick-fil-a/haunted house area.
-The ride was running with most of the effects on. The final brakes will have themed music that you can hear in the video. One thing I heard is that one of the show scenes is not operational yet but they still have a few days to work out the bugs.

Sadly, I was only able to film about 6 trains with ambassadors on it due to a thunderstorm rolling into the area. Over all the ride looks amazing and I can't wait to ride it in a few days!

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Leaked plans:


@CoasterMac's precreation:

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Both show the darkride portion. It's just a couple turns mainly. I assume we have only seen the last hallway so far? (I assume the screen we saw was the turn into the launch straightaway?)
 
Leaked plans:


@CoasterMac's precreation:

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Both show the darkride portion. It's just a couple turns mainly. I assume we have only seen the last hallway so far? (I assume the screen we saw was the turn into the launch straightaway?)

The screen I believe is on that turn, and surprisingly it’s not recycled footage from empire of the penguin
 
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The first entry in this thread is a WikiPost. As such, it can be edited by anyone with the appropriate permissions.
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