antarctica empire antarctica empire theme area headlined kind motion based dark ride attraction opened largest attraction theme park area generally received critics public opening history rumors announcement august september filed antarctica theme area empire amusement ride led rumors orlando replace encounter exhibit dark ride report october confirmed plans citing government interviews people familiar elements time publicly reveal plans november orlando announced multi year expansion plan featuring opening antarctica empire details ride released creative director said ride attraction world follow journey tiny april park revealed details attraction guests ride person vehicles choosing levels intensity mild wild surrounding area feature new habitat restaurant store construction allow construction begin closed january attractions demolished half vertical construction beginning july construction continued construction walls coming week attraction opening cost attraction reported excess million opening february announced antarctica empire open unlike attractions ride soft opening period instead open select number employees families travel media public opening opened antarctica empire public opening drew thousands guests ride waiting hours board escaped open air enclosure water public viewing area returned exhibit unharmed ride experience exhibit guests enter queue antarctica themed area park large groups riders admitted pre room multiple projections landscape blended exhibits narrated video guests introduced colony antarctica featuring newborn named pre guests follow path junction choose mild wild ride divided groups riders boarding ride vehicles stations riders seated rows restrained lap bars riders boarded vehicle dispatched travels indoor environment spinning view variety scenery projection screens story began pre continues sea underwater chased leopard seal land ride theme song antarctica world family played guests watch live habitat glass vehicles return platform unloading station guests open air habitat air temperature approximately exhibit minimal barriers guests inhabitants designed guests hear sounds total live exhibit species include king lighting exhibit allows park control seasons foot glass window allows guests pool underwater viewing area entire experience takes minutes open air environment staff clean exhibit times daily replace pounds snow day theme area antarctica themed area spread acres inside foot high entrance adjacent smaller entrance near journey atlantis ride addition theme area home attractions minute soundtrack played area south pole center area carvings surrounding walls south pole sell food drinks production ride system antarctica empire features prototype motion based dark ride system producer ride systems curse ride kind world antarctica empire announced november developed working prototype ride vehicle concept art attraction released april circular ride vehicle seating riders rows filed patent application ride technology november attractions expo revealed motion based ride vehicle public battery powered vehicle platforms riders sit upper platform provides degrees freedom lower platform provides lateral movement unlike previous ride designs system wheel motor configurations allow movements diagonal rider perspective vehicles use dead system developed navigate way environment allowing vehicle cross path vehicle features built controller central ride system controller movement commands issued ride system controller executed vehicles controllers specially designed battery charge system allow vehicles quickly charged docked loading unloading platforms marketing announced antarctica empire park largest expansion far months announcement opening park wished generate demand ride campaign released promotional video july series videos freeze featuring creative director reception orlando sentinel said hottest attraction theme parks week interviewed park guests comments included thought ride cool beautiful described better attractions replaced said guests love ride central character preferred wild version ride describing actually family friendly saying exhibit huge highlight attraction agreed highlight attraction exhibit described dispatch procedure crucial ride dispatch quartet ride vehicles minute designed fans find fun ride later article highlighted guests criticisms ride describing lacking engaging story delivering ride views attraction stars argues promotions creating expectations experience ride deliver setting visitors disappointment daily_mirror susan simon daily_mail shared sentiment reviewers stars said ride options mild wild allowed children thrill enjoy experience equally susan described ride section thrilling calling highlights attraction gave ride stars gave moderate rating felt conflicted animations good overall storyline sparse ride system intriguing utilised concluded taking bold initiative build major league attraction stated ride feels rushed short commercial perspective opening day area saw guests waiting line hours experience flagship attraction estimated approximately half time consulting firm expected attendance increase percent speculated rise higher single attraction unveiled percent increase opening november won award outstanding themed entertainment experience design ride system developed antarctica empire
Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin