Nicole Siscaretti from SparklyEverAfter.com attended the Antartica: Empire of the Penguin media preview on behalf of Mommy Musings. Please enjoy this guest post, and visit her blog which chronicles her pixie-dusted life in Orlando.
There are plenty of fish in the sea … and there’s one chilly new attraction at SeaWorld Orlando!
On Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin you’ll see the majestic South Pole through the eyes of a little penguin named Puck. Guests explore a penguin colony in a unique vehicle and ride system that ride lovers will delight in. This attraction is trackless and the ride vehicle glides across the floor in any direction and rocks multiple ways emulating a slippery glide across ice. So fun!
The queue and attraction are dazzling to look at with wall to wall snow, sparkly ice and colorful lights. Riders choose from a wild or mild expedition, but both travel the same journey. To ride wild, children must be at least 42 inches tall; for mild, children must be able to sit up on their own in the seat. I tried out both and thought they were each very calm. Remember that the whole building is considered a story-telling attraction, so your experience begins when you walk in the door. The actual ride is not as long as you may expect, but it’s only part of the experience — there are other ways that you’re immersed in the story, like going into Puck’s snow den.
Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin doesn’t end in a gift shop but in a room filled with penguins! You and your family can get incredibly close to these little feathered cuties and you may even get splashed by one. It’s 30 degrees in the building so although you may want to watch the penguins play all day, the chill in the air will have you moving out sooner.
Antarctica is the ‘biggest and most expansive attraction in SeaWorld’s history’ and also houses the Expedition Café, Glacial Collections gift shop and South Pole Beverages. A new signature drink, the South Pole Chill, makes it debut as well as penguin cups that you can decorate with accessories. The ‘Cup That Cares‘ also tracks how much CO2 you save the planet from when you choose to refill at the beverage station in Antarctica and partially benefits the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund which helps protect wildlife.
With so much being added to Orlando attractions as of late, SeaWorld definitely brings something good to the table with Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin. I think the park will definitely benefit from having this dark ride type of attraction in addition to it’s animals, roller coasters and shows. I’ve always admired SeaWorld’s attention to detail, design and colors and Antarctica delivers all. Growing up in Florida, I’ve only seen snow once on vacation. Antarctica is a fun, frigid escape and a chance to explore this majestic, icy land and it’s adorable inhabitants!
Visit seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-orlando/Antarctica for more information. And for an added layer of chilling fun here’s the penguin cam live from San Diego: seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-orlando/Animals/Webcams/Penguin-Cam.
Vanessa: thequeenofswag
May 24, 2013 at 1:14 pmWow this looks like it’s amazing. I hope to visit orlando one day soon.
HilLesha @To the Motherhood
May 24, 2013 at 1:48 pmOh, how exciting! 🙂
LyndaS
May 24, 2013 at 10:37 pmThat is one place that my family and I still need to visit in Orlando. I had not heard of that attraction before this post.
Kathleen
May 24, 2013 at 11:04 pmWe saw the signage for this during our trip there for Spring Break. It looks gorgeous. Can’t wait to make it back to see it soon!
Jennifer
May 24, 2013 at 11:39 pmI was at the special media day on Thursday too! That ride is SO fun and of course just seeing the penguins up close was icing on the cake.
Jenn- The Rebel Chick
May 25, 2013 at 12:15 amLove this! Penguins are always my favorite.
Emily @FamilyNLifeLV
May 25, 2013 at 1:17 amHow cool is this!! Love it!
Theresa
May 25, 2013 at 1:34 amSuch great photos!
Leilani
May 25, 2013 at 1:41 amMy little girls love penguins!
Tricia Nightowlmama
May 25, 2013 at 12:21 pmWOW that place looks amazing. So fun going on our family bucket list
Tiff @ Babes and Kids
May 25, 2013 at 12:22 pmThis attraction looks amazing, I want to go to SeaWorld Orlando!
nicole @nicky_olea
May 25, 2013 at 5:39 pmOH that looks awesome!
Robin Gagnon {Mom Foodie}
May 25, 2013 at 6:01 pmWow, this looks neat.
Donna
May 25, 2013 at 7:47 pmWhat a refreshing place to spend some time on a hot summer day!
Lisa
May 25, 2013 at 9:31 pmThis looks really cool!
[email protected]
May 25, 2013 at 11:55 pmI wish this had been open when I was last there. So fun!
Kelly @ A Girl Worth Saving
May 26, 2013 at 12:29 amI love penguins! What a fun new exhibit.
Colleen
May 26, 2013 at 1:05 amI was invited and wanted to go but it was in the middle of the week and I don’t live close enough for that type of travel.
Lolo
May 26, 2013 at 1:53 amWe need to take Babe to sea world for the first time!
Shell Feis
May 26, 2013 at 5:28 amThat’s amazing! I want to go see them!
Maryann
May 26, 2013 at 7:04 pmi have never been there.
Anne - Mommy Has to Work
May 27, 2013 at 9:10 amHow fun! We love to see the penguins at Sea World!
Crystal @ Simply Being Mommy.com
May 27, 2013 at 5:57 pmHow fun! We love going to SeaWorld here in San Antonio.
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell
May 27, 2013 at 7:21 pmIt’s been about 7 years since I last went there, and with this new update, I clearly need to go back! Sounds fabulous!
Mellisa
May 27, 2013 at 9:46 pmHow fun! Maybe we can make on the next trip to Orlando.
Tammy
May 27, 2013 at 11:52 pmIt’s been so many years since we’ve been at Sea World – 15 or so I think?! I think next time we’re in Orlando we’ll have to plan to visit!
TerriAnn @ Cookies & Clogs
May 28, 2013 at 12:32 pmThat looks like the coolest attraction ever! I wonder if they have something similar at the SD one!
Penelope (NYC Blogger)
May 28, 2013 at 1:17 pmThat looks like a great trip to take the boys on
Sheri
May 29, 2013 at 11:10 amIt looks like a lot of fun!
Toni
May 31, 2013 at 6:25 amI would love to get there the next time we are in Orlando!!
Marcie W.
June 5, 2013 at 4:35 pmWhat a fun attraction! It’s great that they combine a ride with an actual animal experience. Sea World is one of my favorite parks and it has been far too long since we last went.
HilLesha
June 8, 2013 at 11:52 pmThis sounds like a great place to visit!
Jenn
June 9, 2013 at 2:38 amEeee! Love me some penguins.
Anne - Mommy Has to Work
June 17, 2013 at 8:51 amWe love the penguins! Maybe we should head back to Sea World this summer..