The Wheel at ICON park is a new attraction and is one of the most popular rides in this amusement park. The ride takes riders on a journey through space, with the ability to see the stars and planets up close. It offers a unique view of Orlando from above, making it a must-ride attraction for any visitor.
The ride is at ICON park, part of Universal's Citywalk district. The park is open daily from 10 am until 2 am and offers plenty of other attractions for guests, such as
- The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
- Fast & Furious – Supercharged,
- Transformers: The Ride 3D.
Where is ICON Park Situated?
ICON Park is the newest attraction in Orlando, Florida. It is located inside Disney World and can be accessed by taking the monorail from Epcot Center. The new park has been completely renovated and now offers guests a chance to enjoy a few thrilling rides that will make your day at ICON Park even more enjoyable.
Address Of ICON Wheel
8375 International Drive, Orlando, FL32819
So, What Exactly Is Icon Park?
It's a theme park that offers guests the opportunity to experience an "iconic" journey through some of America's most famous landmarks. The park features many different attractions, including
The Wheel: The Wheel is one of the most popular attractions at ICON Park as it provides guests with a spectacular view of Orlando, Florida, as they ride in their gondola car! The ride takes place on a giant Ferris wheel with oversized gondola cars that can hold up to six people. Riders will be able to see all of the sights and sounds of Disney World as they make their way around the Ferris wheel, giving them a unique perspective on all of the fun things happening at ICON Park!
Features Of Ferri Wheel
This giant Ferris wheel is over 400 feet tall, making it the tallest ride in Orlando.
And while that's impressive enough on its own, there are even more reasons to visit The Wheel at ICON Park:
- It's a ride for all ages. While this is technically a thrill ride, it's designed to be something everyone can enjoy.
- It offers amazing views of Orlando and beyond. From the top of The Wheel, you'll be able to see everything from Disney World to Universal Studios — as well as much of Central Florida.
- It's an experience that lasts over an hour long! Getting up high and seeing the city around you will make for some great memories, and don't forget those breathtaking views!
- The attraction is part of the Orlando Eye complex, which also includes the ICON Orlando 360 observation tower and the ICON Orlando Eye Tower.
- The Wheel was designed by British architect David Marks and cost $100 million to build.
- The Wheel is located in the centre of ICON Park.
- This park is the main hub of the park.
- The Wheel is a giant Ferris wheel with 36 gondolas.
- The ride lasts about 10 minutes and has multiple stops where you can get off and back on if you want to do it again (or take pictures).
- The best way to see the entire park from above is by riding The Wheel.
- This will also give you a great view of Disney Springs from above!
Facts About ICON Wheel
The Wheel is the tallest observation wheel in North America, and it has 42 air-conditioned gondolas that can accommodate up to 40 passengers each. Each gondola holds up to four adults or two adults and three small children, and riders have no age requirements.
Climate Inside Gondolas
The gondolas are climate controlled so riders can expect a comfortable ride even during hot summer days in Florida.
The ride lasts about 30 minutes and offers views of Orlando's skyline and other theme parks and attractions. There are 12 stops along the way, including an open-air viewing platform at the top of the Wheel where riders can take panoramic views of Orlando's skyline and surrounding areas.
The Wheel is supposed to take riders up to 165 feet above ground level while they spin around in their capsules with nothing but air between them and terra firma below.
The Wheel was originally supposed to open on April 4th, but due to high winds during construction and testing, it was pushed back until May 1st. The original opening date was set for March 28th but was delayed again due to inclement weather conditions after it was tested on March 27th.
The Wheel is one of several attractions built at Icon Park, including a zip line ride called Flight Deck and an attraction called Dreamscape, which is still under construction.
Features Of Pods/Gondolas
The attraction features 28 pods that can hold up to 10 people each. Each pod has an open-air design and floor-to-ceiling windows so you can enjoy the view of Orlando while you ride.
The Wheel offers 20 different ride experiences and takes riders on a journey through Central Florida. Riders start their trip at the Wheel's base and travel up to three stories high before returning to ground level. The pods rotate 360 degrees as they move up or down, giving riders multiple views of Orlando.
Each ride lasts approximately 10 minutes and gives riders a great perspective of Central Florida. You'll see the skyline of downtown Orlando, Lake Eola Park, and more!
Timings
Rides are available Monday through Saturday from 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM and Sunday from 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM (weather permitting).
Incidents And Issues Of ICON Wheels
- There have been several incidents since The Wheel opened on May 1st, including one incident where a teenage girl was stuck on the Wheel for over 30 minutes because of technical issues with the ride's computers before she could be rescued by firefighters who were called in. The girl got stuck there for 30 minutes, but the technicians overcame such problems later.
- Another incident where a group of people were stranded for over an hour in the air.
- The first issue was the harnesses not locking properly, which caused some guests' legs to be exposed while riding. This problem was fixed quickly by adding more padding around the leg restraints so they would lock properly into place once again.
- Another issue was the harnesses not locking properly when they were being lifted into position before each ride began due to an electrical problem with one of the motors that lifted guests into position for their ride aboard The Wheel.
Why Choose The Wheel?
The Wheel offers views of the city that you won't get anywhere else in the area. You can see downtown Orlando and points beyond, including Lake Eola Park and SeaWorld. You'll also have great views of other attractions in Orlando, including Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and SeaWorld.
How Do You Get To The Wheel?
You can take a taxi or Uber/Lyft to The Wheel or get there by bus. The bus routes are listed below:
Route 37 – Orange Line: 7 days a week – every 20 minutes during peak hours (6:00 AM – 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM) and every 30 minutes during off-peak hours (all other times). This route will let you off at Sand Lake Road & International Drive, less than one mile from The Wheel. This route connects with all other Lynx buses at Downtown Station and SunRail at Sand Lake Road Station.
Route 38 – Green Line: Monday through Saturday only – every 20 minutes during peak hours (6:00 AM – 9:00 AM) and every 30 minutes during off-peak hours (all other times). This route will take you to the front gate of Universal Studios, Florida.
Route 18 – Red Line: Monday through Saturday only – every 20 minutes during peak hours (6:00 AM – 9:00 AM) and every 30 minutes during off-peak hours (all other times). This route will take you to the front gate of Universal Studios, Florida.
Route 29 – Blue Line: Monday through Saturday only – every 20 minutes during peak hours (6:00 AM – 9:00 AM) and every 30 minutes during off-peak hours (all other times). This route will take you to the front gate of Universal Orlando Resort.
Route 38A – Green Line Express: Monday through Friday only.
Wind Up
In short, The Wheel at Icon Park Orlando will be a must-do destination for visitors to Disney World. Like all of Disney's other theme parks and attractions, it will be a thoroughly immersive experience, both in the actual park itself and in the stories it tells.
That huge glass floor that lets you look straight down half a mile from the top is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the glass box around you means you can see everything for miles. It's spectacularly scary if anyone gets dizzy!
