Penguin Trek is a family launch coaster at SeaWorld Orlando in Florida, built by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard. It opened to the public on July 7, 2024, following a soft opening on July 2, replacing the long-running dark ride Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, which had closed in 2020 and never reopened after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ride sends guests through an indoor queue and launch station themed to an Antarctic research expedition before an LSM launch system propels trains outdoors into a course of airtime hills and swooping turns. Riders and reviewers have compared the sensation to sledding or bobsledding across the ice, and the layout blends indoor show scenes with an outdoor circuit around SeaWorld’s Wave Village area.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: SeaWorld Orlando
- Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard
- Opened: July 7, 2024
- Height: 65 feet
- Top speed: 43 mph
- Length: 3,020 feet
- Inversions: 0
The Ride Experience
Penguin Trek’s queue and station are themed as an Antarctic outpost, setting up the story of a snowmobile trek through the ice before the LSM launch system kicks trains out into daylight. From there the coaster winds through airtime-filled hills and banked turns designed to feel like a high-speed dash across the tundra, all within a family-friendly 42-inch height minimum.
As a Bolliger & Mabillard family launch model, Penguin Trek trades inversions for pacing and terrain-hugging turns, making it accessible to a wider range of riders than SeaWorld Orlando’s larger coasters while still delivering a real launch and sustained speed across its roughly 3,020-foot circuit.
Replacing an Orlando Favorite
Penguin Trek occupies the space once held by Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, a trackless dark ride and penguin habitat that operated from 2013 until its 2020 closure. SeaWorld Orlando repurposed the site to add a new coaster credit to its lineup while continuing the park’s Antarctic and penguin theming that guests had come to expect from the area.
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Penguin Trek FAQs
What type of roller coaster is Penguin Trek?
Penguin Trek is a steel family launch coaster manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, featuring an LSM launch and no inversions.
When did Penguin Trek open?
Penguin Trek officially opened at SeaWorld Orlando on July 7, 2024, after a soft opening on July 2, 2024.
How fast does Penguin Trek go?
Penguin Trek reaches a top speed of about 43 mph during its outdoor launch sequence.
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Photo: Quxyz / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.