The board-of-directors of SeaWorld have approvedambitious developmentplanswhich include a new river rapids ride, Infinity Falls, and adding a virtual reality (VR) experience to the park's Kraken roller coaster.
CEO Joel Manby says the park will continue to create,"Experiences that Matter."Adding a VR experience to an existing roller coaster is not in itself a revolutionary idea. Both Merlin Entertainments and Europa-Park claimed to be the first theme park operator to do so with Alton Towers'Galactica(formerly Air) and The Alpenexpress VR Riderespectively. However, with VR technology advancing rapidly it will be interesting to see how a reinvigorated Krakencompares. Bearing in mind that Disney's CEO Bob Igerstated last month that Disneydoesn't see a future for VR in its parks and will instead invest in augmented reality (AR), it will be interestingto see whether SeaWorld's move willadd fresh impetus to an excting new developmentor be part of a short lived trend.
SeaWorld Orlando is also looking to VR to enhance the visitor experience of its live animals.
Kraken Unleashed
The 65mphsteel floorless roller coaster fromBolliger & Mabillard will giveriders the option of wearing aVR helmet.During the ride - now called "Kraken Unleashed" -they will battle and encounter sea creatures indluding the MiddleJurassic apex predator, Liopleurodon. Riders will also visitLost City of Atlantis in the ride.
A SeaWorld spokesperson said, "We are at long last giving our guests the opportunity to finally see the mighty Kraken." The ride opens June 16th.
Along with the new coater experienceSeaWorld will also introduce anew show using bubbles as art, Pop. They will also debut Electric Ocean, a new nighttime spectacular.
At the press conference onThursday, SeaWorld’s creative team also revealed they have plansto create a ride reservation system that will save guests from waiting in line.Though they didn't share further details,this looks like another step towards the reservation-only theme parks of the future.Another new Orlando attraction this summer,Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallonat Universal Orlando will be the park's first ride with a virtual queue.
Infinity Falls, the world's biggest river rapidsride
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJBbL6kMc7oSeaWorld also announced that a new river rapids ride, Infinity Falls will open in2018. The Intamin designed ridewill be the world's biggest river raft ride. This new attraction willfeature an elevator lift, leading to a 40 foot drop.Itwill be richly immersive and themed around aSouth American jungle expedition.
Brian Morrowis VP Theme Park Experience Design at SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment. He said,"We are reinventing the river rafting adventure.These rivers are full of adventure, exotic locations and high thrills.We are going to build the best-in-class river rafting ride, reinventing it for the modern times".
Uniquely, the standardlift hill for the ridewill be replaced with an elevator. Then, the 8 passenger rafts will ride above the tree line (30 feet) before dropping40 feet into a deep trench.
Construction on Infinity Falls will start immediately, ahead of ananticipated summer 2018 opening.
