News SeaWorld Orlando Project 2024/Toboggan: Penguin Trek (Multi-Launch B&M Family Coaster)

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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​

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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.
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Official Website​

Penguin Trek | Roller Coasters | SeaWorld Orlando

Prepare for Penguin Trek, an unforgettable launch coaster adventure through the breathtaking vastness of Antarctica.
seaworld.com seaworld.com

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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^We actually do have a currently unused, B&M-patented restraint. And conveniently enough, it’s the little brother of Pipeline!
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I do wonder what the minimum rider height will be with these (and Toboggan for that fact). The advertised Family Coaster on B&M’s website lists 115cm (45.2”), but I don’t see how this ride makes sense for anything higher than a 42” minimum. We’ll see!
 
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Im wondering if there was a exclusivity contract in place with Intamin with HTTYD/Hagrid for the straddle coaster and the same with Vekoma with Tron. Kinda like what happened in the 90s for Canadas wonderland not being allowed to build a Invert so they had to go with the SLC
 
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deere839 said:
Im wondering if there was a exclusivity contract in place with Intamin with HTTYD/Hagrid for the straddle coaster and the same with Vekoma with Tron. Kinda like what happened in the 90s for Canadas wonderland not being allowed to build a Invert so they had to go with the SLC
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I have thought this for a while, Universal and Disney combined heavily use Intamin, Mack, and Vekoma and almost certainly have exclusivity contracts for certain types of ride system. That leaves B&M as one of the biggest manufacturers not under contract in central Florida.
 
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ya i dont think mack has a exclusivity yet but with Slink down the road and Monster Spinning Coaster coming online they are probably a little to busy in Orlando
 
Well well well! Someone popped by the Clermont factory today and found some new hardware, presumably for Project Penguin!

First up: White track! I've seen a lot of B&M track photos at Clermont over the years. In my opinion, this appears to be a noticeably smaller gauge than typical B&M track, which is perfectly inline with what I expected for Project Toboggan.
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and lastly... new, unpainted supports with the code "FS-A" written on them! As the caption says, this is the first use of this code (See: Pipeline using the code 'SF-A'). Family Sitdown? Family Surf? Time will tell!
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CoasterMac said:
In my opinion, this appears to be a noticeably smaller gauge than typical B&M track, which is perfectly inline with what I expected for Project Penguin.
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That doesn't surprise me. I find it odd that a two across train would need the typical B&M track gauge. That also might explain the brake runs in the site plan that are a different setup from the typical B&M brake run. The usual protocol is there being one brake segment between the ride's main brake and the final stacking point before reentering the station. Could this be because B&M trains are heavier than most other coaster trains and require more force to stop, especially in less-than-ideal conditions? For Project Toboggan it's just brake, turn, brake, two turns, station. So maybe the trains on this one are lighter than normal B&M. But then again, both ending brakes are longer than the alleged train length, so maybe there's a brake before the rest on that last straightaway before the two turns into the building that acts as the safety brake.

Wow I just put in a ton of brakes.
 
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cschnizer said:
Could this be because B&M trains are heavier than most other coaster trains and require more force to stop, especially in less-than-ideal conditions?
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I don't think that's the case. Conditions don't really matter for magnetic brakes, and those friction brakes can have some crazy stopping force if you need them to.

This ride has a ton of 'tradition deviations' by B&M, the biggest being two sliding switch tracks (one splitting from the main layout to the maintenance area, and one splitting off to each storage bay). They've done the rotating switch on the Flyers and Hollywood Dream, but this will be a first (if Zachary & myself read the plans right).
 
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