First look: SeaWorld’s Expedition Odyssey flies over Arctic

[Disney4me]

A new attraction is about to take off at SeaWorld Orlando. Its Expedition Odyssey, a “flying theater” type of ride will transport visitors, virtually, from Florida to a much cooler clime – the Arctic.

We won’t see T-shirts that say this, but we could nickname it Soarin’ (and Submergin’) in the Arctic a la the popular Epcot ride. The big-screen footage comes from several weeks of outings to spy wildlife and wondrous landscapes.

The official opening of Expedition Odyssey is May 9, but passholder previews are underway now.

The real world

Take a second to realize what this is not. It’s not CGI. Those are real animals in a real frozen environment.

“We’re SeaWorld, and those animals are – even more so in the motion – the most important thing for us. We really wanted to create those moments and that connection with the animals.” said Conner Carr, corporate vice president of rides and engineering for United Parks & Resorts, SeaWorld’s parent company.

When the polar bear makes eye contact with riders or whales appear on cue from underneath an ice slab, it’s luck plus keen editing.

“Because it’s nature photography, and they’re either there or they’re not … You have no idea what’s going to happen,” Carr said. “We got very fortunate, very lucky, and there are some incredible shots that didn’t make the film.”

Seats and sensations

Expedition Odyssey passengers sit in double-decker rows of 15 people. Once everyone is secured, the whole seating apparatus – like a giant arm – swivels to face the big screen, which was previously unseen.

The curved screen is 50 feet in diameter, and it sort of cuddles the observers and creates that immersive experience that 21st century theme parks crave.

We get coast-to-coast ocean and times and a gliding sensations through icy cliffs. When the images become mostly white – a snow shot, for instance – it felt like you could see seams that hold the screen together, though.

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Above the rows of seats are ledges that keep folks looking the proper direction (and not at the real-life ceiling), and special effects such as breeze and spritz are built into it. It’s light; not a splash zone situation.

We’re told we won’t see the dangling feet of the upstairs riders if you’re on the lower level, although the upper level was not in use during the media preview.

On the move

Yeah, there’s motion involved while facing the screen. It’s not extreme, and riders are unlikely to think they’re about to go upside down. (They don’t.)

It’s a little bumpy at times, and there’s a tilted, hanging moment that might give pause to jumpy people. But it helps when hovering  – bird’s eye view/drone perspective – above the sea and the animal group hugs.

It’s mostly about a soothing flight sensation.

“Another really difficult part on something like this is filming in a way that still makes a good ride,” Carr said. “You can go up and sit and make a still film of hours of a polar bear walking around. That’s a good IMAX film, but it’s not a good ride film.”

And yet, creators aim for it to make sense, he said.

“You don’t want to go water, and then all of a sudden you’re on top of a mountain,” Carr said. “You want to kind of create that journey.”

Beluga whales including Samson (left) and Kenai can be seen after riding the new Expedition Odyssey at SeaWorld Orlando. (Dewayne Bevil/Orlando Sentinel)

The exit and Uki

After the film, which is less than 5 minutes, passengers will pass by animals in real life, starting with beluga whales in recently refurbished habitats.

The space maintains the expedition theme and chilly conditions, which guiding visitors past penguins, seals and walruses. New to the space is Uki, a Pacific walrus calf rescued in Alaska.

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Last notes

• Expedition Odyssey is operating in the space that was home to the Wild Artic simulator ride, which closed with the arrival of pandemic shutdown in 2020.

• Among the changes is the refurbished gift shop/exit, which is now brighter and bluer.

• Height requirement for the ride is 39 inches. “So it is fun for your little ones, but it’s also fun for your grandparents and people that might not be high-thrill fans, and it really still delivers on that fact that everybody gets to experience it together,” Carr said. (Comparision: SeaWorld’s Super Grover Soap Box Derby coaster has a 38 inch height requirement.)

• SeaWorld is serious about no loose items. Passengers must empty their pockets, down to keys and wallets, and remove items such as sunglasses. And shoes in the flip-flop/Croc family are left behind too. There are cubbies right before boarding as well as more secure, larger paid lockers at the entrance to the queue.

Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters.

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