SeaWorld Orlando arctic flying ride Expedition Odyssey opening May 9 with Uki the walrus
SeaWorld Orlando will debut Expedition Odyssey, a new attraction described as an “Arctic flying theater” in on May 1 May 9, 2025, taking riders above rarely seen habitats.
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Last updated April 24, 2025; original version published Sept. 19, 2024.
SeaWorld Orlando’s Arctic ride for 2025
Soarin’ to tower, we are ready for take-off. Wait, wrong park.
On May 9, 2025, SeaWorld Orlando in Florida will open Expedition Odyssey, a flying theater ride themed to Arctic habitats and animals. Riders will feel like they’re, well, soaring over icy vistas as a large screen displays aerial footage of whales, orcas, walruses, and other creatures.
SeaWorld previously announced the opening date for Expedition Odyssey for May 1, but pushed the opening date back to May 9. The animal habitat accompanying the attraction will still open May 1 for all guests.
SeaWorld Orlando pass member previews for Expedition Odyssey will take place on the following dates:
- May 1 & 2: Platinum pass members
- May 3 & 4: Platinum and gold pass members
- May 5 & 6: Platinum, gold, and silver pass members
- May 7 & 8: All pass members
Take a look behind the scenes at the making of SeaWorld’s upcoming Arctic ride:
SeaWorld said an “award-winning” production team filmed the Arctic attraction’s custom footage. The film will not contain any CGI.
Location of SeaWorld’s new Arctic ride
SeaWorld Orlando’s Expedition Odyssey will be located in the space formerly home to the Wild Arctic simulator and seasonal “Polar Express” experience. That ride’s real estate has been closed a few years and the new ride’s description fits the animals nearby.
Family-friendly attraction
The new Arctic theater ride at SeaWorld Orlando will have a height requirement of 39 inches. The attraction will last 4.5 minutes.
SeaWorld Orlando’s description of the Arctic ride sounds similar to Soarin’ Around the World at Disney theme parks and The Lego Movie Masters of Flight attraction at Legoland parks. Incidentally, both of those rides have a nearly identical height requirement as SeaWorld’s 2025 ride (39 inches for Soarin’, 40 inches for Lego) and a similar runtime.
“This indoor immersive flying theater experience reinforces our commitment to education, animal care, and research,” said Jon Peterson, president of SeaWorld Orlando. After riding, guests will get to see some of the animals featured in the film in person.
The new Arctic ride comes on the heels of another family-friendly attraction at SeaWorld Orlando. The park most recently opened Penguin Trek, self-described as a family coaster. Meanwhile, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay — a sister park of SeaWorld under the corporate umbrella of United Parks & Resorts — will also focus on a family-friendly addition in 2025, introducing the Wild Oasis realm with a miniature drop tower ride.
Animal encounters with Expedition Odyssey
Uki the walrus is among the animals SeaWorld Orlando guests can see in person after riding Expedition Odyssey. Park personnel said this of Uki (emphasis theirs):
Among the amazing animals is Uki, an orphaned Pacific walrus calf rescued in Alaska, who will make her debut at SeaWorld Orlando in her new habitat at Expedition Odyssey.
Rescued by the Alaska SeaLife Center and deemed non-releasable last Fall, Uki arrived at SeaWorld Orlando last September. Since then, expert animal care specialists at SeaWorld have been dedicated to nurturing and supporting her growth. Now, Uki joins the walrus herd in Expedition Odyssey’s meticulously crafted Arctic habitat, providing guests a rare and meaningful connection with this extraordinary animal ambassador.
Free upgrade to a higher tier of SeaWorld annual pass
SeaWorld Orlando confirmed that annual pass members will get to experience the new Arctic ride before other guests.
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