Kraken is a steel floorless roller coaster at SeaWorld Orlando in Orlando, Florida, built by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard and designed by Werner Stengel. It opened to the public on June 1, 2000, after a soft opening in late May of that year, and was named for the legendary sea monster said to be caged beneath the park by Poseidon.
At the time of its debut, Kraken was the tallest and longest roller coaster in Florida, a record it held until Expedition Everest opened at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 2006. The floorless design leaves riders’ feet dangling freely above the track, held in place only by over-the-shoulder restraints, adding to the sensation of the ride’s seven inversions and multiple underground dive segments.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: SeaWorld Orlando
- Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard
- Opened: June 1, 2000
- Height: about 150 feet (149-153 ft)
- Top speed: 65 mph
- Length: 4,177 feet
- Inversions: 7
The Ride Experience
Kraken’s layout includes seven inversions: two vertical loops, a dive loop, a zero-g roll, a cobra roll, a corkscrew, and a flat spin, all taken with an open floor beneath riders’ legs. The course also drops through three underground trenches, some passing beneath the park’s waterways, which intensify the sense of speed for riders seated in the open-air trains.
Three trains, each carrying 32 riders across eight rows of four, cycle through the station to keep the line moving at a theoretical capacity of about 1,500 riders per hour. Riders must be at least 54 inches tall to board.
History and Changes
From June 2017 through the summer of 2018, the ride operated as ‘Kraken Unleashed,’ adding virtual reality headsets with an original orchestral score. The VR overlay was ultimately removed after it caused slower dispatch times and longer queues. In 2022, the coaster received a fresh paint scheme, repainting the track seafoam green with dark teal supports.
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Kraken FAQs
Where is Kraken located?
Kraken is located at SeaWorld Orlando in Orlando, Florida.
How fast does Kraken go?
Kraken reaches a top speed of about 65 mph during its course.
Does Kraken still have virtual reality?
No. The VR overlay used during the ‘Kraken Unleashed’ period (2017-2018) was permanently removed due to slower ride dispatches.
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Photo: David Bjorgen / CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.