We Need Your Thoughts on This New Ride That Rivals Disney's Soarin'

SeaWorld Orlando has opened a NEW ride, and it may feel awfully familiar to Disney fans.

SeaWorld

Earlier this spring, the wildlife-themed park opened Expedition Odyssey, a flying theater-style attraction designed by Mack Rides that uses environmental elements, including sounds, smells, and temperature, to immerse riders in an arctic landscape. If that sounds familiar, it should, as the concept is very similar to Disney’s Soarin’ attractions.

According to SeaWorld, Expedition Odyssey — which is housed in the former Wild Arctic building — sends guests on “a breathtaking tour of the Arctic” where they “will feel the rush of navigating powerful currents as they dodge towering icebergs, race alongside pods of beluga whale and dive deep into the hidden depths of the sea—all while experiencing seamless motion and immersive sensory elements that make every twist and turn feel impossibly real.”

©SeaWorld

While the ride system is visually close to Soarin’, the park claims it’s a massive step forward technologically. The park stresses that the “next-generation vehicle delivers an unparalleled range of motion, allowing guests to soar, dive, twist, and glide with the fluidity of ocean currents.”

As with many of SeaWorld’s attractions, Expedition Odyssey’s exit leads directly to a live animal encounter, which gives guests the opportunity to come face to face with real Arctic animals, including beluga whales and walruses.

The ride, which opened in May, is located in SeaWorld’s Sea of Power section. The attraction, which the park classifies as a Family Thrill level ride, has a height requirement of 39”.

©SeaWorld

SeaWorld’s newly opened Expedition Odyssey attraction seems quite similar to Disney’s Soarin’, but does it surpass that theme park landmark from the early 2000s? Stay tuned to AllEars for more on this new Orlando-area attraction.