Expedition Odyssey: SeaWorld Orlando's Immersive Arctic Adventure

Orlando (IAAPA News) – Exploring the Arctic’s wildlife is now again possible in the Sunshine State. On May 1, SeaWorld Orlando debuted Expedition Odyssey—an innovative attraction that merges innovative ride technology with real-world encounters. 

This Arctic-themed flying theater ride offers guests a journey through frozen landscapes, featuring stunning visuals featuring polar bears, orcas, and beluga whales.

Chris Baker, SeaWorld vice president of park operations, knows the importance of balancing the park’s offerings. “We've added some great coasters in the last few years, with Pipeline: The Surf Coaster, Penguin Trek, Ice Breaker, and this, helps us bridge that gap between thrill and family.” 

Baker explains Expedition Odyssey, with its 39-inch height requirement, is an attraction that appeals to all ages. The ride system, provided by Mack Rides, is a custom installation of the German manufacturer’s Airific flying theater. Mack Rides worked closely with SeaWorld to design components of the ride to fit through existing doors in the park’s Wild Arctic habitat, reducing the need for additional construction work.  

Conner Carr, SeaWorld corporate vice president of rides and engineering, highlights the ride's advanced motion system that simulates an arctic expedition.

“We sent teams on several weeks long expeditions to the Arctic. This is all custom film for this attraction for our guests, and brought those two together to create this multi-dimensional experience where you get to see all of the animals and experience them and come face-to-face with them in the film in a dynamic way,” says Carr.

The film begins with riders swiftly scaling a snow-capped mountain top before diving down a cliff, plunging into Arctic waters, and navigating icy terrain while portions of the experience offer closer to ground, slower-paced, bird’s eye view of animals in their environments. 

“When it came to the animals, we really want to create that connection that we've always cared about at our park, whether you're here enjoying one of our habitats, one of our up close encounters with the animals, or on this attraction, when it comes to the animals, we want you to pause, take a breath, and just really connect and have that kind of moment with the animal that that really isn't possible anywhere else,” continued Carr.

As guests disembark the new attraction, they step into a refreshed, heavily-themed, realistic habitat featuring Arctic animals. The adventure seamlessly transitions from simulation to reality helping to make guests feel as if they have stepped into the Arctic wilderness.

Expedition Odyssey furthers SeaWorld’s mission to inspire appreciation for wildlife conservation with an engaging mix of adventure and education. The newest resident of Expedition Odyssey is Uki, a Pacific walrus calf rescued from Alaska.

Dr. Claire Erlacher-Reid, SeaWorld senior veterinarian, shares that Uki was found orphaned and was rehabilitated by the Alaska Sea Life Center before being transferred to SeaWorld Orlando to be with her new surrogate mother, Kaboodle.

“She's an experienced mother, so we thought she would make a fantastic surrogate for Uki, and that has definitely proven to be the case. Since she made her journey here to Orlando, she and Kaboodle have created a really nice bond with each other, often brushing each other's vibrissae whiskers around their muzzle and sleeping close together,” Erlacher-Reid explains.

Guests can now meet Uki and other Arctic animals up close, adding an educational dimension to the experience.

Expedition Odyssey exemplifies SeaWorld Orlando’s mission to blend excitement with wildlife awareness. The attraction combines storytelling, innovative technology, and interactive encounters to create an unforgettable experience for guests of all ages.