Penguin Trek

Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin was a motion-based dark ride that ran from May 2013 to March 2020, billed at the time as the largest attraction of its kind at any United Parks & Resorts theme park.{{cite journal|title=SeaWorld reveals plans for Antarctica|journal=Park World Magazine|date=April 25, 2012|url=http://www.parkworld-online.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/2220/SeaWorld_reveals_plans_for_Antarctica_.html|access-date=August 17, 2024|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512032806/http://www.parkworld-online.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/2220/SeaWorld_reveals_plans_for_Antarctica_.html|archive-date=May 12, 2012}} The ride was temporarily closed alongside SeaWorld Orlando due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but failed to reopen with the park; the adjacent penguin exhibit stayed available on its own.{{cite news|last=White|first=Tharin|title=SeaWorld Orlando re-opens with loose rules and limited rides|access-date=March 9, 2024|url=https://attractionsmagazine.com/seaworld-orlando-reopens-loose-rules-limited-rides|publisher=Attractions Magazine|date=June 11, 2020}}

Construction walls and survey markers first went up around the Antarctica show building in December 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgYhMpCFzfs|title=SeaWorld Orlando Pipeline The Surf Coaster Construction Update 12.21.22 + MARKINGS FOR A 2024 RIDE?!|date=December 21, 2022|author=Midway Mayhem|website=YouTube|access-date=August 17, 2024}} SeaWorld Orlando filed further permits in February 2023, calling for building modifications as part of what then became referred to as Project Toboggan.{{Cite tweet|user=BehindThrills|number=1624073715439869952|date=February 10, 2023|title=Could this be the first permit for the rumored SeaWorld Orlando 2024...}} Work on the attraction’s foundations commenced outdoors in July, with the first pieces of coaster track arriving later that month from Clermont Steel Fabricators in Batavia, Ohio.{{cite web|url= https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=63t8j1SMB2o|title=SeaWorld Orlando 2024 Roller Coaster Construction Update 7.5.23 Foundation Work Begins!|date=July 7, 2023|author=Midway Mayhem|website=YouTube|access-date=August 21, 2024}}{{Cite tweet|user=EthanHershaft|number=1682171189924331520|date=July 20, 2023|title=Some track has JUST ARRIVED for project...}} The final track piece was officially lifted into place on January 30, 2024.{{Cite tweet|user=SeaWorld|authorlink=United Parks & Resorts|number=1752376284884132304|date=January 30, 2024|title=ASMR: Penguin Trek edition 🐧🛠️ As of this morning, the ride track is...}} Work then shifted towards constructing of the sets indoors, making up the queue, station, and first portion of the coaster.{{Cite tweet|user=SeaWorld|authorlink=United Parks & Resorts|number=1760779066892857851|date=February 22, 2024|title=ICYMI: Yesterday, we took a hard hat tour of the Penguin Trek...}}

SeaWorld Orlando officially announced Penguin Trek on September 28, 2023, later revealing one of its lead cars on display at IAAPA Expo Orlando on November 14, 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2023/09/28/seaword-orlando-reveals-penguin-trek-as-next-coaster|title=SeaWorld Orlando reveals Penguin Trek as next coaster|date=September 28, 2023|last=Carter|first=Ashley|website=Spectrum News|access-date=August 18, 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2023/11/14/seaworld-orlando-unveils-penguin-trek-coaster-vehicle-at-iaapa-expo|title=SeaWorld Orlando unveils Penguin Trek coaster vehicle at IAAPA Expo|date=November 14, 2023|last=Carter|first=Ashley|website=Spectrum News|access-date=August 18, 2024}} The trains began testing for the first time at the end of April 2024, and the surrounding Antarctica precinct was opened to the public on May 25.{{Cite tweet|user=CompSullivan|number=1784338512512184504|date=April 27, 2024|title=Penguin trek test and train on brakes...}}{{Cite tweet|user=Midway_Mayhem|number=1794354649266622840|date=May 25, 2024|title=Antartica Realm is open at @SeaWorld Orlando! Here is the entrance to Penguin Trek!}} Penguin Trek officially held its grand opening on July 7, 2024, featuring Puck The Penguin – the mascot of the former Antarctica attraction – and a contingent of children from Scouts of America in attendance.{{cite news|last=Taylor|first=Blake|title=Penguin Trek opens at SeaWorld Orlando with ‘arctic researchers,’ Scouts of America|date=July 7, 2024|access-date=December 19, 2024|url=https://attractionsmagazine.com/penguin-trek-opens-at-seaworld-orlando-with-arctic-researchers-scouts-of-america/|publisher=Attractions Magazine}}

The ride starts in an indoor Antarctic themed section with glaciers, snow, and an LED display before leaving outdoors, utilizing a linear synchronous motor (LSM) launch and taking a wide right turn. A series of twists and turns including a banked turn lead to another LSM launch. This second LSM launch leads to a overbanked turn.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-28 |title=SeaWorld's New Coaster, Penguin Trek Snowballs Into Spring! |url=https://theescapeeffect.com/blog/seaworlds-new-roller-coaster-penguin-trek-is-snowballing-into-spring#:~:text=The%20thrill%20instead%20comes%20from,we%20know%20here%20in%20Orlando. |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=theescapeeffect.com |language=en-US}} The ride takes a left with a airtime hill and then a wide left turn before reaching its final brake run, slowing down the train before it reaches the station.{{Cite web |last=Shane |date=2024-07-07 |title=Review: Penguin Trek at SeaWorld Orlando - Coaster101 |url=https://www.coaster101.com/2024/07/07/review-penguin-trek-at-seaworld-orlando/ |access-date=2024-09-26 |language=en-US}} Riders have compared the ride experience to that of sledding and bobsledding due to the rides' use of airtime hills and turns.

{{SeaWorld Orlando}}