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Home / Destination / USA / Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin preview

Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin preview

May 19, 2013 by Gretta Schifano Leave a Comment

I was lucky enough to meet some penguins last week, and I reckon they’re pretty much like friendly small children. I was at SeaWorld Orlando for a tour of their newest attraction, Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, before it opens on May 24th. I went to see the colony of 247 penguins in their temporary home and Jo was brought out to meet me. Jo’s a young rockhopper penguin and loved being stroked:

Jo the penguin. Copyright Gretta Schifano

But when a gentoo penguin came over to join in, they were soon squawking and squabbling:

Penguins, SeaWorld Orlando. Copyright Gretta Schifano

until Tricia, one of their keepers, intervened:

Penguin, SeaWorld Orlando. Copyright Gretta Schifano

I loved meeting the penguins, but it did take me back to when my children were much younger: at one point I even put my hand out to separate Jo and the gentoo as they squabbled while Trish and I chatted. Trish told me that the SeaWorld penguins are all descended from eggs collected in the wild in the sixties and seventies, and that they have a successful breeding programme at the park. My next stop was to see their new home and attraction. I had to wear a hard hat as construction work was still underway at the 4-acre site. Because of Florida’s climate the penguins have to live in a controlled, chilly environment as it would be too stressful for them to be outside in the heat. The SeaWorld team has created an enclosed Antarctic habitat for them, complete with 50 ft high ‘icebergs’ and tons of snow, replenished daily. I didn’t see that area, but this is where people will queue for the new ride at the attraction:

Entrance to Antarctica- Empire of the Penguin. Copyright Gretta Schifano

The ride sounds like it’s going to be amazing, and will go through various different rooms to follow the journey through Antarctica of Puck, an animated penguin character. The good news for parents is that the ride has no height restrictions, so even very young children will be able to go on it as long as they can sit in a seat on their own. The ride has no tracks, so the vehicles move independently, all over the place, and you can choose a ‘mild’ or ‘wild’ journey. Each vehicle is also a motion simulator and so you’ll feel like you’re sliding on the ice as Puck slides on the ice, or escaping from a predator as Puck does. I talked to the head of the design team, Brian Morrow, and he told me that the ride is the first in any theme park in the world to be both trackless and to have motion simulators that are also mobile. It was frustrating hearing all about the ride and not being able to go on it – I hope that I’ll be able to actually experience it when I go back to Orlando in the summer with my family.

At the end of the ride, you’ll be inside the penguins’ icy habitat and you’ll be able to stay there as long as you like, to watch the penguins.  There’s also going to be a warm viewing area next to the penguins’ pool. One side of the pool is a clear viewing panel and it will be fascinating to watch the penguins under water. The penguins are wonderful, but I don’t think I’ll want to stay in the icy habitat for long as it’s going to be freezing. I’m planning to take a warm coat when I go back. I wonder if Jo will remember me?

Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Family travel lowdown: The 3-Park Ticket offers 14 days unlimited entry to SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens, and Aquatica from £90 per person.

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Categories: USA
Tags: Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, family travel, SeaWorld Orlando

About Gretta Schifano

I'm a freelance journalist and blogger specialising in family travel with teenagers, trips when parents manage to travel without their kids, and 50+ travel. I also write about vegetarian travel, parenting teenagers, adoption, SEN, ADHD and anxiety. My work's been published by the Financial Times, Guardian, Independent, National Geographic Traveller, Lonely Planet and others. I've lived and worked in Italy and Spain and am now based in rural south-east England with my husband, adoptive and birth kids and our dog. I previously worked as a social action radio producer for the BBC.

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Trackbacks

  1. Best things to do at SeaWorld Orlando | Mums do travel says:
    September 24, 2013 at 12:34 pm

    […] that it’s difficult to choose. I visited the park for the first time in May to preview the new Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin ride for the FT. I loved my day there but found it odd to be at an amazing theme park while my […]

    Reply
  2. 5 things I learnt at SeaWorld Orlando | Mums do travel: a family travel site says:
    May 24, 2013 at 1:06 pm

    […] about it. It felt very odd visiting Florida for the first time with no children in tow, but I loved meeting the penguins and couldn’t believe how friendly they were. I also spent a day being shown around the theme […]

    Reply

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This is a personal blog written and edited by me, Gretta Schifano. Sometimes I’m given products or sent on trips to review, but I always make this clear and give my honest opinion. See my About page for full details.

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