originally posted on 12/10/2021
Photo: Daniel Leavelle. View full-sized image.
After a successful IAAPA Expo, 89 ACE members and guests enjoyed a full day of holiday celebrations at SeaWorld Orlando. On Saturday, November 20, SeaWorld Orlando opened the park early to ACE members for an hour-long ERT session on Mako, Florida’s only hypercoaster, manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M). The inspiration for the coaster is the mako shark, so walking through the queue, riders learn about how sharks hunt for their food. In the station, they board the stylish seven-car coaster train and travel up a 200-foot high lift hill. Mako’s first drop offers a thrilling experience in any row, and riders then experience the most floating airtime offered on any other coaster in Florida!
Mako.
Photo: Tayton Laing. View full-sized image.
After ERT concluded, attendees lined up for a group photo in front of Mako’s entrance sign, after which the park opened to the public. ACEers had a couple of hours to enjoy the park’s rides and shows until attendees met at the Ports of Call pavilion for a buffet barbeque-style lunch. The hamburgers were almost bigger than the plates! While everyone enjoyed their lunch, they listened to two guest speakers from SeaWorld’s maintenance department. Charlie Pickering and Greg Benoit, both maintenance supervisors, answered many questions from the group, which included why comfort collars were included on Ice Breaker. Pickering went on to clarify that the comfort collars were included on the trains because SeaWorld wanted multiple rides to be interchangeable for parts. This meant that all trains manufactured by Premier Rides for Busch and SeaWorld parks would be the same trains. Those coasters are Tigris at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Tempesto at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Electric Eel at SeaWorld San Diego and now Ice Breaker at SeaWorld Orlando.
After the guest speakers, many Busch Gardens and SeaWorld prizes were given out via raffle. Top prizes even included complimentary single-day tickets to SeaWorld Orlando and Aquatica Orlando! The winners of these tickets were John Davidson, Kim Fowler, Hilary Pisula and Walt Strubbe. All attendees will receive an Ice Breaker Quick Queue to use after the ride opens in 2022. These passes will be printed and mailed to all guests in early 2022.
Attendees got a close-up look of Ice Breaker.
Photo: Michael Christopher. View full-sized image.
Photo: Michael Christopher. View full-sized image.
After the prize giveaway, guests were split into two groups, and each group took a turn going backstage into the restricted areas of Ice Breaker. Pickering and Benoit answered more questions while ACEers visited areas that included under the station, the launch and transfer track, the final brake run and the station itself. Some lucky members even had a chance to view the control booth.
The tour only made coaster fans even more eager to ride.
Photo: John Davidson. View full-sized image.
Photo: Michael Christopher. View full-sized image.
Photo: Drew McGowan. View full-sized image.
Once both tours concluded, guests were free to plan the rest of their day at SeaWorld Orlando. ACEers enjoyed rides on Kraken, Florida’s first floorless coaster (also manufactured by B&M); Journey to Atlantis, a Mack Rides flume (with a hint of water coaster); and Infinity Falls, an Intamin water raft ride with a 40-foot-tall drop. Unfortunately, Manta, a B&M flying coaster, was closed for the day while it was undergoing a full repaint. SeaWorld also offered shows that included educational presentations of orca whales, dolphins and sea lions. Later in the evening, SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration event started with lovely Christmas decorations and more than three million beautiful lights throughout the park. The night concluded with a fantastic fireworks show just before the park closed for the evening at 10 p.m.
The event was a huge success with visitors from all around the country. Sixteen states were represented by attendees. Apart from a little bit of “Florida’s winter” weather in the morning and afternoon, SeaWorld and ACE Florida provided a fun and exciting event that celebrated both the holiday season and SeaWorld Orlando’s future attraction, Ice Breaker. ACE Florida is looking forward to working with SeaWorld Orlando again soon and is excited to see what is in store for the 2022 ACE Spring Conference next year!
— Michael Christopher, ACE Florida Regional Representative
The event’s timing allowed attendees to enjoy SeaWorld’s holiday festival.
Photo: Keith Kastelic. View full-sized image.
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