Antarctica - Empire of the Penguin

[ReelJustice]

So basically, this is a trackless "The Seas with Nemo"?

Nah, Nemo actually has some tech this ride could've used. They could have used the glass projection aquarium tech IMO. Have some aquariums with real penguins, separate aquariums with seals. Account for lazy animals with projections.

 

[Disneyhead]

And The Seas with Nemo could have used a trackless system. But essentially the are both short high tech pieces of fluff before a more extensive "animal encounter" type exhibit.

And now that I think about it, with the associated restaurant and area themeing, I have to think that they may have been using an "Epcot" pavilion model, with the obvious Potter influences with custom beverage and specialty cups.

 

[RonaldsModernLife]

And the colors in those scenes... it's as if a team of transvestites decorated the ice continent below. Yeesh.

I'm not even sure what that means.

 

[Teebin]

I'm not even sure what that means.

Let me 'splain it to you then. Teams or groups or gaggles of Transvestites tend to wear over-the-top outfits that are gaudy and too colorful in their own attempt at female reality that isn't real. The colors used in many parts of the attraction don't exist in Antarctica, in ice or rockwork... at least not to the gaudy extent used in this attraction. I hope this clarifies what I meant.

 

[RonaldsModernLife]

Let me 'splain it to you then. Teams or groups or gaggles of Transvestites tend to wear over-the-top outfits that are gaudy and too colorful in their own attempt at female reality that isn't real. The colors used in many parts of the attraction don't exist in Antarctica, in ice or rockwork... at least not to the gaudy extent used in this attraction. I hope this clarifies what I meant.

I knew what you were trying to say, I just took it as slightly offensive. I thought the lights and colors were playful, the attraction seems to be for kids, or am I wrong about that? Kids like over-the-top colors.

 

[Skipper Justin]

After watching the POV, I'm confused why needed a trackless ride system. It seems like most of it takes place with the screen.

 

[Teebin]

I knew what you were trying to say, I just took it as slightly offensive. I thought the lights and colors were playful, the attraction seems to be for kids, or am I wrong about that? Kids like over-the-top colors.

Ooooh... I see. Well, it wasn't meant as offensive as one of my good friends was a hugely popular drag queen in Washington DC and I have hung with many others through the years. They know me, and they would laugh like hell at my comments here.

That said, I would rather our children don't grow up thinking Antarctica looks like a 1970's disco bar.

Girl, girl, girl....

 

[RonaldsModernLife]

That said, I would rather our children don't grow up thinking Antarctica looks like a 1970's disco bar.

Girl, girl, girl....

touché

 

[Spideyfreak]

I too am confused as to why they needed a trackless system. If they wanted different profiles they could have still used a track. MIB and CITH have proven this, because different cars run different profiles. I mean, the only real use I see for the trackless stuff is the entrance to the last scene as they all slide backwards. It seems like a waste of the ride system.

I know I haven't ridden it yet, but I'm gonna go ahead and call this ride a fail.

 

[April]

I got there pretty early this morning. We parked shortly after 7:30. Had to wait to get our tickets exchanged, but we were in the turnstiles line around 7:50 or so. We made the shuffle over to the area and watched the opening ceremony. It was okay. Then everyone shuffled into the queue for the ride. We got in line around 8:55 and we were off the ride shortly after 10am.

After we got inside the building, the ride broke down twice. The first time, I decided I'd sit down cause it had been about 5 minutes. I sit down, not even really close to the walls, and I manage to hit the back of my head on the wall pretty hard. It kind of seems dumb to me to have a bunch of rocks protruding out of the walls when there's going to be younger kids running around, but I digress.

I could definitely feel the slow capacity though. The ride was okay for what it was, but I definitely built it up in my head from the concept art. Before I went, everyone was commenting on the ride video they'd seen so I kind of prepared myself. Just doesn't make much sense to me why they would post concept art and then literally have something more or less entirely different besides the ride vehicle?

I came back later close to noon with a friend and the area was "closed to capacity" for a short bit. They let us in rather quick and everyone was saying the queue was 3-4 hours long. We thought they might be over-projecting it, so we got in line to see how far it went. Yeah...once we saw it went ALL the way around Pacific Preserve, we immediately backed out. My friend did not mind avoiding waiting such a long time in that hot 90 degree sun.

I'll be back at some point to do it again, but I do have to say I was slightly letdown.

 

[Capacity]

To the posts about improving the ride... Why? Why wouldn't you just make a good ride to begin with?

Im sure someone put this somewhere but how much queue is indoors?

Also what attraction is abbreviated CITH? I'm stuck...

 

[April]

To the posts about improving the ride... Why? Why wouldn't you just make a good ride to begin with?

Im sure someone put this somewhere but how much queue is indoors?

Also what attraction is abbreviated CITH? I'm stuck...

I believe someone else said it's about 30 minutes. There's like a preshow, then some queue, then you split off for the sides (wild vs. mild), then some more queue, a small preshow room (kind of like Simpsons where it's 8 guests) and then you load the vehicle.

CITH is Cat in the Hat as far as I know.

 

[Capacity]

Thanks

 

[Cwoolboy]

That's funny, Cat In he Hat was the first ride I thought of when I saw the on-ride vid. I could have swore we were supposed to ride thru the Penguins environment..oh well, whatever. At least the first part is pretty until you get to screen city. Never been a huge fan of SeaWorld, and if I ever do head over there again it won't be because this opened (I'll definitely hit it up if the wait is short enough, but my main reasons for going would be Kraken, Manta and Atlantis).

 

[The Legend]

I rode yesterday and the ride was bad, really really bad. I'm not sure how you can build a dark ride and promote it when it only has three show scenes (two of which are just screens). Bleh. I actually didn't have a problem with the animation, thought it was better then Turtle Trek, but not to the level of world class screen based attractions like star tours or Spider-Man

That said everything besides the terrible ride I really enjoyed I thought the land was indeed immersive and the exhibit itself was outstanding (though I can foresee major problems with people trying to touch the penguins)

I'm confident they will figure out breakdowns and capacity issues as it is a brand new ride system and probably opened before it should have

But man, a HUGE swing and a miss on the ride

 

[Brian G.]

When asked Brian Morrow about capacity, he wouldn't give a specific number but did state that the attraction can change the handling of capacity based on crowd levels. For example, if one of the neighboring shows finishes, the system will quickly adjust accordingly, and they can increase the capacity capabilities to handle the rush. There will be points you will be traveling with one other vehicle, or 4. Obviously, this will be more noticable when the "smell of new ride" dies down.

 

[PourJudgment]

i have NO idea what I just saw.

 

[Legolas813]

What is the loose articles policy for the ride?

 

[April]

What is the loose articles policy for the ride?

You're allowed to take your items with you. When you're in the ride vehicle, there is a small pouch right below your seat where you can place some items in. It's not big enough to hold a bag though.

 

[Hockeyman55]

Hwo about on ride photography?