For the last year there has been one thing in Orlando that I have been waiting for more than anything, The Orlando Eye! Over a year ago I had the chance to take a walk through a huge concrete building that would become the home to The Orlando Eye, Madame Tussauds and SEA LIFE Aquarium! I remember walking with John Stine and trying to picture where the massive structure would be and just how high it would be! After the media event with Nik Wallenda, I got to fulfill my curiosity! Lets talk about The Orlando Eye and what you can expect on your breathtaking view around Orlando!
First off in case you didn’t know, the retail price for The Orlando Eye is $25 bucks a person for an adult. To add another attraction, the cost goes up to $39. For all three attractions the cost is $49 and to do all three attractions and add a day at Legoland Florida the cost is only $99 a person!
I was in the first group of 10 people to go onto The Orlando Eye and wanted to share my experiences with you! First off, when you get into the area there is a photo booth area where they take your family photos with a green screen. These photos will be used for a book of photos that I will talk about later. After the picture you are given 3D glasses and loaded into the 4D theater for a short video.
The video showcases both amazing attractions in and around Orlando and the natural beauty of central florida. Some of the attractions that are showcases are Gatorland, Universal Orlando, Kennedy Space Center, Seaworld Orlando, and the I Drive 360 complex. Shockingly, Walt Disney World was not showcased in this video however they do point it out while on The Orlando Eye. The video uses wind and water effects as well and is a stand up theater with no seating options that I saw. After the video you are taken to the loading platform of The Orlando Eye.
Each capsule holds 15 people and there are 30 cars total. The Orlando Eye when running does not stop unless it needs to, therefore loading and unloading are done as the capsule is moving. One of the attendants say that it does stop from time to time to allow loading of wheelchairs and for other problems such as slow moving guests either on or off the eye. After a smooth loading process, we were slowly raised in the direction of Universal Orlando. Overhead speakers told us about what we were seeing and focused our attention on things such as Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World, the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and more.
Also located in each capsule will be iPads that will be interactive to show you what you are looking at, and you can click on them to give you more information about what they have to do! I think the interactivity of these capsules are amazing! Also in our capsule was a worker for The Orlando Eye that was there to answer any questions about the eye itself, Orlando, and I Drive 360! I also think these workers are there for safety and security measures. Its unclear if this will be a full time thing or just until they get things rolling.
On to the view. The view of Orlando is amazing from 400 feet up. I went up 3 times that day, twice in overcast weather in the day and once on a clear evening and I must say that even though the views are great in any weather, the clear day was the winner for me. I was able to see for many miles and even got a glimpse of the VAB at Kennedy Space Center which is 53 miles away from The Orlando Eye! I was also amazed at how clear I saw Spaceship Earth, Tower of Terror, and even Space Mountain at Walt Disney World!
For me, this attraction was great. There has been some people saying that The Orlando Eye is not worth the money so I feel the need to chime in. First off, The Orlando Eye is not a rollercoaster, thrill ride, or ride at all. The Orlando Eye is an observation wheel that allows you to see just how beautiful this city and the surrounding area is. If you are going for a fast moving ride or thrill other than the height then you should look elsewhere. The Orlando Eye for me is a fun, interactive journey that allows you to see what you would not see on a daily basis in Orlando! Next lets talk about the money issue. Is $25 bucks worth a ride on The Orlando Eye? For me there is only one answer! Is paying $14 bucks for lunch at a theme park worth it? How about $20 bucks for a stuffed animal? For me here in Orlando, you get out of something what you put in! If you go expecting to be disappointed then you will be because you set yourself up for that! Again, I loved the experience and cannot wait to do it again! I would love to do a sunset trip or one during fireworks at Disney! Come on, you know you would love to see Wishes or Illuminations from 400 feet up!
Remember that photo that you took at the beginning? Well when you leave the eye, you exit into the gift shop of The Orlando Eye. Note: In case you do not know, I do believe it is a FL law that every attraction, show, ride, and anything with entertainment value has to end up in a gift shop! When you are in the gift shop take a look at your flight book that comes with 2 different photos that you took with the green screen that places you and your family into The Orlando Eye. The book also showcases things you saw on your trip, and even a download code to get the photos directly to your phone to share on social media!
In conclusion, I love The Orlando Eye! You will never experience the same trip twice and there will always be something you will notice different! The entire experience from the 4D theater, the wheel, the beauty of being up that high and all the interactive elements made this a must do for me! I highly recommend all three attractions at I Drive 360 for you and your family!
So with that said, will you be going on The Orlando Eye? Have you been on? Comment below and let me know what you are either looking forward to or what you liked or didn’t like about it!
Jason Mayhew
My name is Jason Mayhew, and I am the owner of OFF On The Go. When not traveling with the website, I own my own marketing and PR company, J Mayhew Marketing. I have the best job where I get to travel the world and showcase the most amazing and unique experiences!
