Welcome to the final chapter of our I-Drive: 360 adventure where Lacey, Duffy and I ride the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye. Part one covered the SEALIFE Aquarium and part two talked about our photoshoot at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.
To enter the Orlando Eye, we had to go through a bag check that wasn’t present for the other two attractions and then another round of green screen photos. The line to board was not very long so Lacey and I were watching curiously to see if we’d get paired with other people. There was a sign warning you may be put with other parties and waiting for your own capsule was not an option, but since the demand was low everyone was getting their own. We only waited about five minutes.
Yay free soda!
The Eye rotates slowly and steadily, but it doesn’t stop, making it what attractions people refer to as an “omnimover”. I imagine they have the ability to stop it if they needed to in order to load a wheelchair, but it moved continuously as we hopped on. The capsules are huge and hold up to fifteen people. There is a railing running around and an iPad mounted to help you figure out what you are looking at. There is a pole in the middle with a circular seat that looks like the lid of a Coca-Cola bottle, and in the corner there was a cooler with two cans of Coke inside and a selfie stick for us to use. Apparently there are only four out of thirty capsules that have the cooler and selfie stick. They’re called “Surprise and Delight” capsules and we just lucked into getting one. Cool!
The doors closed behind us and we began the slow trip skyward. The Eye is 400’ tall and it takes approximately twenty-two minutes to get around. I didn’t actually clock it, but it felt like longer.
We eagerly stared out towards Universal and the Volcano Bay construction, trying to see what details we could make out. I had an almost immediate realization I should have brought my glasses and Lacey laughed at me for not thinking of it sooner. (I usually only wear them to drive so I didn’t even think about it when I left them in the car.) I could still clearly make out Doctor Doom’s Freefall and Rip Ride Rockit beyond the Volcano construction but I couldn’t make out Hogwarts.
We were almost to the top and I decided to try the selfie stick, a horrible device I have never once used in my life, but it seemed simple enough, and the pictures turned out really well. The best pictures of the two of us came from using it, so maybe they’re not so terrible outside of theme parks.
We started the descent on the other side and we were now presented with new things to look at. In the distance we could see Disney Springs, recognizable because of the hot air balloon. There was a tall, round blob that might have been Epcot, but I wasn’t sure. I could see SeaWorld but I couldn’t tell if I was looking at Manta or Mako since they’re the same color. I never realized just how big the Orlando Convention Center actually is.
It was a crystal clear, perfect day. Hardly a cloud in the sky. I could see all sorts of lakes out in the distance, but Lacey used the iPad guide more than I did so I couldn’t tell you what I was looking at. Supposedly it’s possible to see all the way to the coast, but without my glasses it certainly wasn’t possible for me.
They have you hop off almost as soon as the doors open, onto a ramp as the capsule hasn’t quite reached the bottom. It’s close, but not there yet as the flat part is where the next party gets on. So we got out, Coke cans in hand and headed back into the building where we were offered a third photobook. I asked the guy if I could take a picture of the book, where our pictures weren’t even visible, for the blog and he snapped at me, and begrudgingly let me take a photo of the front.
I’d really like to go back and try it again at night. I’m curious how much the light coming off the Eye itself affects your view. Unlike the London Eye, the Orlando Eye can change colors every single night. Sometimes it is lit up at random, other times it is for a specific event or charity. I don’t know what it costs to change the colors but there’s a link on their website with the month’s schedule and how to contact them about partnering with them for whatever color you want.
Cost: Gate Price for all three attractions is $49. If you buy online at least a day in advance it is $41. For Florida Residents it is $35 at the gate with a valid ID.
Duration: 2-3 hours.
Value: Totally worth it, will be going back.
Add Ons: Photobooks! There’s also a Champagne Experience on the Orlando Eye for $39 at the gate, $34 online where you get a glass of champagne as you ride, priority boarding, and admission to the 4D Experience, whatever that is.
At Madame Tussauds you can order wax models of your own hand or hands.
At SEALIFE Aquarium you can go on behind the scenes tours.
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