The Wheel at ICON Park

Ferris wheel in Orlando, Florida

The Orlando Eye

The Orlando Eye in December 25, 2016

General information
Type| Ferris wheel
Location| 8401 International Drive, Orlando, Florida, US
Construction started| 2012
Completed| 2015
Opened| May 4, 2015 (2015-05-04)
Owner| IDL Center (FL) LLC
Height| 400 ft (122 m)
Dimensions
Diameter| 390 feet (119 m)
Website
https://iconparkorlando.com/
[1][2][3]

The Orlando Eye by Merlin Entertainments is a 400 ft (122 m) tall Ferris wheel at ICON Park in Orlando, Florida, United States. Under the name Orlando Eye, it opened on April 29, 2015. The wheel was reported to be in the early stages of planning in March 2011, at which point it was proposed for completion in mid-2014, but the opening date was subsequently delayed to late 2014 and then to early 2015.[4]

The attraction was renamed the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye in 2016; 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 attraction was purchased by Merlin Entertainments and came under it's Eye brand as The Orlando Eye by Merlin Entertainments, resurrecting the original naming.

## Design and construction[edit]

The Wheel at ICON Park is described as an observation wheel because "this 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".[5] 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".[6]

The wheel was reported to be in the early stages of planning in March 2011,[7] with completion due in mid-2014, and was approved by county commissioners in September 2012.[7]

In January 2013, it was reported that the expected opening date had been pushed back to "by Thanksgiving November 2014".[8] Erection of the main support structure began in December 2013.[9] In April 2014 it was reported that completion had been further delayed until early 2015.[5]

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.[10] 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.[11] The Orlando Eye carried its first passenger on April 29, 2015.[12]

## Malfunctions[edit]

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.[13]

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.[14] The ride remained closed until February 10th, 2023. [15] [16]

## Rebranding[edit]

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 are branded capsules with a cooler of soda and selfie sticks.[17][18]

On March 11, 2018, it was rebranded again as ICON Orlando.[19] On April 4, 2019, it was rebranded once again to The Wheel at ICON Park.[20]

## References[edit]

1. ^ Merlin Entertainments confirms talks with Circle Entertainment
2. ^ Wood, Debra (March 17, 2011). "Merlin Eyes Orlando for Ferris Wheel Project". ENR Southeast. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
3. ^ Merlin Entertainments PLC – Announcement of Intention to Float Archived September 25, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
4. ^ Jacobson, Susan (July 4, 2015). "Firefighters rescue 66 riders on stalled Orlando Eye". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
5. ^ a b Fais, Scott (April 16, 2014). "I-Drive 360: Construction continues on the Orlando Eye". Bay News 9.
6. ^ Alava, Andrea (January 20, 2015). "Passenger Capsules Begin Installation". Orlando Eye.
7. ^ a b Cruz, Georgina (January 19, 2015). "Orlando Eye observation wheel set to open in spring". Orlando Sentinel.
8. ^ "Construction to soon begin on Orlando Eye". Click Orlando. January 24, 2013.
9. ^ "I-Drive Live: The Orlando Eye Goes Vertical!". Orlando Parks News. December 11, 2013.
10. ^ Bevil, Dewayne. "Orlando Eye: All 30 capsules now in place". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
11. ^ Dineen, Caitlin (February 17, 2015). "Orlando Eye grand opening set for May 4; Harris to Tussauds". Orlando Sentinel.
12. ^ Jensen, Christina (April 30, 2015). "13-year-old leukemia patient becomes Orlando Eye's first official rider". News 13. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
13. ^ "Orlando Eye back open after malfunction left riders stuck". WFTV. July 4, 2015.
14. ^ 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.
15. ^ "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.
16. ^ 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.
17. ^ "Orlando Eye is renamed the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye". July 28, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
18. ^ Dineen, Caitlin. "Orlando Eye officially flies Coca-Cola banner". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
19. ^ Santana, Marco. "Coca-Cola Orlando Eye changes name to ICON Orlando™". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
20. ^ Tuttle, Brittani (April 4, 2019). "Icon Orlando now renamed as The Wheel at Icon Park". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved January 25, 2023.

## External links[edit]

* Official website

* v
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Ferris wheels

World's tallest Ferris wheels (over 80 m)

| Americas|

the original Ferris Wheel
High Roller
The Wheel at ICON Park Orlando

|

Asia|

China
Bailang River Bridge Ferris Wheel
Bay Glory
Changsha Ferris Wheel
Harbin Ferris Wheel
Shanghai Ferris Wheel
Star of Lake Tai
Star of Nanchang
Suzhou Ferris Wheel
Tianjin Eye
Zhengzhou Ferris Wheel

Dubai
Ain Dubai

Japan
Aurora Wheel
Cosmo Clock 21
Daikanransha
Diamond and Flower Ferris Wheel
Igosu 108
Redhorse Osaka Wheel
Sky Dream Fukuoka
Space Eye
Technocosmos / Technostar
Tempozan Ferris Wheel

Singapore
Singapore Flyer

Taiwan
Sky Wheel

Europe|

France
Grande Roue de Paris

Italy
Eurowheel

United Kingdom
Great Wheel
London Eye

Oceania|

Australia
Melbourne Star

Other conventional Ferris wheels

For a more extensive list, see List of Ferris wheels

Americas|

Canada
Niagara SkyWheel

Capital Wheel
Colossus
Myrtle Beach SkyWheel
Seattle Great Wheel
SkyStar Wheel
Texas Star
Uniroyal Giant Tire

Asia|

Hong Kong
Hong Kong Observation Wheel

Indonesia
J-Sky

Japan
Amuran
Big O

Turkmenistan
Alem

Europe &
Eurasia|

Austria
Wiener Riesenrad

Azerbaijan
Baku Ferris Wheel

Russia
Sun of Moscow

Other types of wheel

| Transportable
Ferris wheels|

designs
Bussink Design R80XL

wheels
Roue de Paris
Steiger Ferris Wheel

see also
List of transportable Ferris wheels

|

Transportable
Ferris wheel
installations|

Australia
Wheel of Brisbane

India
Delhi Eye

Malaysia
Eye on Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur and Malacca)

United Kingdom and Ireland
Belfast Wheel
Brighton Wheel
Royal Windsor Wheel
Wheel of Birmingham
Wheel of Dublin
Wheel of Liverpool
Wheel of Manchester
Wheel of Sheffield
Yorkshire Wheel

Eccentric wheels|

Pixar Pal-A-Round
Wonder Wheel

Double wheels|

Giant Wheel (Hersheypark)

Triple wheels|

Sky Whirl

Major Ferris wheel proposals

| Construction in progress:|

United Arab Emirates
Ain Dubai

|

Unfinished projects:|

China
Turn of Fortune

New York Wheel

Abandoned projects:|

Skyvue

Quiescent proposals:|

China
Beijing Great Wheel

Germany
Great Berlin Wheel

India
Kolkata Eye

Great Orlando Wheel

For other quiescent (incomplete, delayed, stalled, cancelled, failed, or abandoned) proposals, see: Ferris wheel#Quiescent proposals

Related topics

| Designers,
manufacturers,
and operators|

Allan Herschell Company
Chance Morgan
Chance Wheels / Chance American Wheels
Eli Bridge Company
Great City Attractions (previously World Tourist Attractions)
Great Wheel Corporation (merged with World Tourist Attractions in 2009)
Intamin
Maurer German Wheels
Mondial
Ronald Bussink (Nauta Bussink / Bussink Landmarks / Bussink Design)
Sanoyas Rides Corporation
Vekoma (Dutch Wheels)
Waagner-Biro
Wheels Entertainments

|

People|

George Washington Gale Ferris Jr.

Popular culture|

List of London Eye appearances in popular culture
The Great Wheel (novel)
The London Eye Mystery (novel)

Categories
Ferris wheels
Former Ferris wheels
Proposed Ferris wheels
Transportable Ferris wheels
Unbuilt Ferris wheels

Amusement rides
Ferris wheels @ Wikimedia Commons

* v
* t
* e

Merlin Entertainments

Resort
theme
parks|

* Alton Towers Resort (England)
* Chessington World of Adventures Resort (England)
* Gardaland Resort (Italy)
* Heide Park Resort (Germany)
* Thorpe Park Resort (England)

Legoland
resorts|

* Billund
* California
* Deutschland
* Dubai
* Florida
* Japan
* Korea
* Malaysia
* New York
* Sichuan
* Windsor

Sea Life
locations|

| Standalone
attractions|

* Kelly Tarlton's Sea Life Aquarium
* National Sea Life Centre, Birmingham
* Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World
* Sea Life Benalmádena
* Sea Life Busan Aquarium
* Sea Life London Aquarium
* Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium
* Sea Life Orlando Aquarium
* Sea Life Porto
* Sea Life Shanghai (Changfeng Ocean World)
* Sea Life Sydney Aquarium
* UnderWater World Sea Life Aquarium

|

In resort
theme parks|

* Sharkbait Reef, Alton Towers
* Atlantis, Legoland Billund Resort
* Sea Life Legoland, Sea Life California Aquarium, Sea Life Nagoya Aquarium, Sea Life Malaysia Aquarium
* Chessington Sea Life Centre, Chessington World of Adventures
* Atlantis, Legoland Deutschland Resort
* Gardaland Sea Life Centre, Gardaland
* Atlantis Submarine Voyage, Legoland Windsor Resort

Sanctuaries|

* Cornish Seal Sanctuary
* Hunstanton Sea Life Sanctuary
* Manly Sea Life Sanctuary
* Scottish Sea Life Sanctuary

In malls|

* Sea Life Arizona
* Sea Life Charlotte-Concord
* Sea Life Grapevine
* Sea Life Istanbul
* Sea Life Kansas City
* Sea Life Michigan
* Sea Life Minnesota
* Sea Life New Jersey

Madame
Tussauds|

* Amsterdam
* Bangkok
* Beijing
* Berlin
* Blackpool
* Budapest
* Chongqing
* Delhi
* Dubai
* Hollywood
* Hong Kong
* Istanbul
* Las Vegas
* London
* Nashville
* New York
* Orlando
* Prague
* San Francisco
* Shanghai
* Singapore
* Sydney
* Tokyo
* Vienna
* Washington D.C.
* Wuhan

Dungeons|

* Alton Towers
* Amsterdam
* Berlin
* Blackpool Tower
* Edinburgh
* Hamburg
* London
* San Francisco
* Shanghai
* Warwick Castle
* York

'Eye' attractions|

* Blackpool Tower Eye
* Jurassic Skyline
* London Eye
* The Wheel at ICON Park Orlando
* Sydney Tower Eye

Wild Life locations|

* Wild Life Hamilton Island
* Wild Life Sydney

Australian Tree
Top Adventures|

* Illawarra Fly
* Otway Fly

Other attractions|

* Falls Creek
* Hotham Alpine Resort
* Legoland Discovery Centres
* Shrek's Adventure
* Warwick Castle
* Cadbury World
* London Planetarium

category

* v
* t
* e

Greater Orlando

Florida

Principal cities|

* Orlando
* Kissimmee
* Sanford

Counties|

| in MSA|

* Lake
* Orange
* Osceola
* Seminole

|

in CSA|

* Flagler
* Hardee
* Polk
* Sumter
* Volusia

Populated places|

| over 25,000|

* Alafaya
* Altamonte Springs
* Apopka
* Buenaventura Lakes
* Casselberry
* Clermont
* Daytona Beach
* DeLand
* Deltona
* Four Corners
* Lakeland
* Meadow Woods
* Ocoee
* Oviedo
* Palm Coast
* Pine Hills
* Poinciana
* St. Cloud
* University
* The Villages
* Winter Garden
* Winter Haven
* Winter Park
* Winter Springs

|

10,000–25,000|

* Auburndale
* Azalea Park
* Bartow
* Conway
* Davenport
* DeBary
* Dr. Phillips
* Dundee
* Eagle Lake
* Eustis
* Fairview Shores
* Fort Meade
* Frostproof
* Goldenrod
* Haines City
* Hillcrest Heights
* Horizon West
* Hunter's Creek
* Lady Lake
* Lake Alfred
* Lake Butler
* Lake Hamilton
* Lake Mary
* Lake Wales
* Leesburg
* Lockhart
* Longwood
* Maitland
* Mulberry
* Mount Dora
* Oak Ridge
* Orange City
* Pine Castle
* Polk City
* Southchase
* Tavares
* Wauchula
* Wekiwa Springs
* Zolfo Springs

Topics|

* Attractions
* AdventHealth
* Orlando Health
* SunRail

28°26′36″N 81°28′06″W﻿ / ﻿28.443198°N 81.468296°W﻿ / 28.443198; -81.468296
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