Gabrielle Russon
A polar bear playing in the snow and orcas swimming underwater in the Arctic: those images from SeaWorld Orlando’s Soarin’-style ride opening Friday aren’t CGI or your generic b-roll.
On Expedition Odyssey, riders fly above Arctic nature scenes during a 4.5-minute video playing on a 40-foot diameter screen. You feel the exhilaration, water sprays included. The minimum height restriction is 39 inches.
Behind the scenes, the company commissioned three expeditions in 18 months to record animals in some of the most remote parts of the world.
“There’s some things in there that we can’t even believe that we got on film. There’s a polar bear that slides on his stomach down the hill,” said Conner Carr, corporate vice president of rides and engineering, during a recent media event.
“Those are all just things that, frankly, we were lucky enough to get to witness and have the camera rolling to be able to share with our guests.”
The expedition’s ship was docked in Norway as the crew of about 20 people headed north. The documentary crews used custom cameras and drones over several weeks of filming to show walruses, glaciers and more. They filmed for hours and got lucky, Carr said.
“All of the production, all of the filming, was … to deliver on the one goal of this project,” Carr said. “That was not just to show the Arctic, but to take (guests) there and to create that connection with all the animals here at the park.”
Carr acknowledged that the Arctic trips’ price tag was a “big expense,” although he didn’t provide cost specifics.
“We’ve done similar things. But to this scale, to this level, for an attraction, this is definitely a first,” Carr said.
Expedition Odyssey replaces Wild Arctic, a forgettable motion simulator ride that officially retired in 2020. Some complained the ride made them feel sick. Wild Arctic had originally opened as Mission Bermuda Triangle in 1992 and underwent several re-themes over the years.
What hasn’t changed on Expedition Odyssey: the finale of the ride ends in the animal exhibit to see a close-up walrus and beluga whale.
