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Orlando Eye

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Coordinates: 28°26′36″N 81°28′06″W / 28.443198°N 81.468296°W / 28.443198; -81.468296
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The Orlando Eye by Merlin Entertainments
The Orlando Eye in September 11, 2015
Map
General information
TypeFerris wheel
Location8401 International Drive
Orlando, Florida
32819
Construction started2012
Completed2015
OpenedMay 4, 2015 (2015-05-04)
OwnerMerlin Entertainments
Height400 ft (122 m)
Dimensions
Diameter390 feet (119 m)
Website
www.theorlandoeye.com

The Orlando Eye by Merlin Entertainments is a 400 ft (122 m) tall Ferris wheel at Icon Park in Orlando, Florida, United States. It opened on April 29, 2015.

The attraction was originally called the Orlando Eye, and was owned and operated by Merlin Entertainments, which also owns the London Eye Ferris wheel, the observation decks known as the Blackpool Tower Eye and the Sydney Tower Eye, and the Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum attractions. It was renamed the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye in 2016 and was then sold and renamed the Icon Orlando in 2018 and the Wheel at Icon Park Orlando in 2019. The 2018 renaming was accompanied by a re-branding of the surrounding property from I-Drive 360 to ICON Park. In 2024, the wheel was repurchased by Merlin Entertainments and renamed the Orlando Eye by Merlin Entertainments. The 2024 repurchase of the Ferris wheel was the first acquisition for Merlin Entertainments under the leadership of CEO Scott O'Neil, who joined the company in 2022.

Design and construction

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The Orlando Eye by Merlin Entertainments is described as an observation wheel because it "is a stabilized-driven (capsule) that gives you a really smooth experience on the way around, so it doesn't feel like when you're at 400-feet, that you're swinging around in mid-air".[1] According to its official website, the Orlando Eye is the first wheel ever to use such a system in combination with a suspended "ski lift capsule design".[2]

The wheel was reported to be in the early stages of planning in March 2011,[3] with completion due in mid-2014, and was approved by county commissioners in September 2012.[3]

In January 2013, it was reported that the expected opening date had been pushed back to "by Thanksgiving November 2014".[4] Erection of the main support structure began in December 2013.[5] In April 2014 it was reported that completion had been further delayed until early 2015.[1]

Installation of the 30 air-conditioned passenger capsules, each of which can carry up to 15 people, began in mid-January 2015, and the last capsule was installed on February 5.[6] In mid-February 2015, it was announced that the soft opening was scheduled for May 1, followed by a grand opening ceremony on May 4.[7] The Orlando Eye carried its first official passenger – a 13-year-old leukemia patient – on April 29, 2015.[8]

Malfunctions

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On July 3, 2015, at around 4:00 p.m., a few months after operations began, the eye experienced a technical fault with the system that monitors the wheel position, causing the system to automatically shut down, stranding about 66 riders for approximately three hours.[9]

On December 31, 2022, the wheel malfunctioned and suffered from a power failure around 6:20 p.m. Orange County fire crews had to rescue more than 60 people from the ride. Despite reports of a small fire, no injuries were reported.[10] The ride remained closed until February 10, 2023.[11][12]

Rebranding

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On July 28, 2016, the Orlando Eye followed its London counterpart in becoming sponsored by Coca-Cola and was renamed the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye. The deal included the renaming of the Eye and four new "Surprise and Delight" capsules, which were branded capsules with a cooler of soda and selfie sticks.[13][14]

On March 11, 2018, it was sold and rebrand as Icon Orlando.[15] On April 4, 2019, it was rebranded once again to the Wheel at Icon Park.[16]

In March 2024, the attraction was repurchased by Merlin Entertainments, and was renamed the Orlando Eye by Merlin Entertainments.[17]

References

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  1. ^ a b Fais, Scott (April 16, 2014). "I-Drive 360: Construction continues on the Orlando Eye". Bay News 9.
  2. ^ Alava, Andrea (January 20, 2015). "Passenger Capsules Begin Installation". Orlando Eye.
  3. ^ a b Cruz, Georgina (January 19, 2015). "Orlando Eye observation wheel set to open in spring". Orlando Sentinel.
  4. ^ "Construction to soon begin on Orlando Eye". Click Orlando. January 24, 2013.
  5. ^ "I-Drive Live: The Orlando Eye Goes Vertical!". Orlando Parks News. December 11, 2013.
  6. ^ Bevil, Dewayne. "Orlando Eye: All 30 capsules now in place". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  7. ^ Dineen, Caitlin (February 17, 2015). "Orlando Eye grand opening set for May 4; Harris to Tussauds". Orlando Sentinel.
  8. ^ Jensen, Christina (April 30, 2015). "13-year-old leukemia patient becomes Orlando Eye's first official rider". News 13. Retrieved January 23, 2016.[dead link‍]
  9. ^ "Orlando Eye back open after malfunction left riders stuck". WFTV. July 4, 2015.
  10. ^ Meredith, Michelle (January 1, 2023). "'Nerve-wracking': Riders recount being stuck on The Wheel at ICON Park after power failure". WESH 2. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  11. ^ "The Wheel at ICON Park still closed after power failure: Here's what needs to happen before it opens". Fox 35 Orlando. January 18, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  12. ^ McDaniel, Dave (February 10, 2023). "The Wheel at ICON Park reopens following inspection after New Year's Eve power failure". WESH 2 News. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  13. ^ "Orlando Eye is renamed the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye". Click Orlando. July 28, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  14. ^ Dineen, Caitlin. "Orlando Eye officially flies Coca-Cola banner". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
  15. ^ Santana, Marco. "Coca-Cola Orlando Eye changes name to ICON Orlando". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  16. ^ Tuttle, Brittani (April 4, 2019). "Icon Orlando now renamed as The Wheel at Icon Park". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  17. ^ "Merlin buys Wheel at ICON Park, restores name to Orlando Eye". Orlando Sentinel. March 25, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
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28°26′36″N 81°28′06″W / 28.443198°N 81.468296°W / 28.443198; -81.468296

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