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{{short description|Ferris wheel in Orlando, Florida}} |
{{short description|Ferris wheel in Orlando, Florida}} |
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{{Use mdy dates|date= |
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}} |
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{{Infobox building |
{{Infobox building |
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| name = The Orlando Eye |
| name = The Orlando Eye |
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| logo = |
| logo = |
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| logo_size = 225px |
| logo_size = 225px |
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| caption = The Orlando Eye in December 25, 2016 |
| caption = The Orlando Eye in December 25, 2016 |
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| location = {{Nowrap|8401 [[International Drive]],}} [[Orlando, Florida]], US |
| location = {{Nowrap|8401 [[International Drive]],}} [[Orlando, Florida]], US |
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| height = {{Convert|400|ft|m|adj=on|0|abbr=on}} |
| height = {{Convert|400|ft|m|adj=on|0|abbr=on}} |
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| diameter = {{Convert|390|ft|m|0}} |
| diameter = {{Convert|390|ft|m|0}} |
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| start_date = 2012 |
| start_date = 2012 |
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| cost = |
| cost = |
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| completion_date = 2015 |
| completion_date = 2015 |
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| opened_date = {{Start date|2015|05|04}} |
| opened_date = {{Start date|2015|05|04}} |
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| owner |
| owner = Merlin Entertainments |
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| engineer = |
| engineer = |
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| architect = |
| architect = |
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| architecture_firm = |
| architecture_firm = |
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| building_type = <!-- DO NOT CHANGE THIS from 'Ferris wheel' to 'Observation wheel' without first establishing a clear consensus on the Talk: page. Changes made here without clear consensus are always reverted. -->[[Ferris wheel]] |
| building_type = <!-- DO NOT CHANGE THIS from 'Ferris wheel' to 'Observation wheel' without first establishing a clear consensus on the Talk: page. Changes made here without clear consensus are always reverted. -->[[Ferris wheel]] |
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| coordinates = |
| coordinates = |
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| circumference = |
| circumference = |
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| website = https:// |
| website = https://www.theorlandoeye.com/ |
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| image = Orlando Eye.jpg |
| image = Orlando Eye.jpg |
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| footnotes = |
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| footnotes = <ref>[https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1410402/000135448811000707/cexe_ex991.htm Merlin Entertainments confirms talks with Circle Entertainment]</ref><ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.enr.com/articles/23390-merlin-eyes-orlando-for-ferris-wheel-project | title =Merlin Eyes Orlando for Ferris Wheel Project | last =Wood | first =Debra | date =March 17, 2011 | website =ENR Southeast | access-date =January 23, 2016 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail/11747315.html Merlin Entertainments PLC – Announcement of Intention to Float] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925120354/http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail/11747315.html |date=September 25, 2015 }}</ref> |
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'''The Orlando Eye by Merlin Entertainments''' is a {{Convert|400|ft|m|adj=on|0|abbr=on}} tall [[Ferris wheel]] at [[ICON Park|Icon Park]] in [[Orlando, Florida]], [[United States]]. It opened on April 29, 2015. |
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The attraction was originally owned by Merlin Entertainments, which also owns the [[London Eye]] and [[Madame Tussaud's]]. It was renamed the '''Coca-Cola Orlando Eye''' in 2016 and was then sold and renamed the ''' |
The attraction was originally called the Orlando Eye, and was owned and operatedby[[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. |
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==Design and construction== |
==Design and construction== |
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The |
The Orlando Eye by Merlin Entertainments is described as an [[Ferris wheel#Observation wheels|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".<ref name=baynews915042014>{{cite web |
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| url =http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/on-the-town/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2014/4/15/eye_rise_constructio.html | title =I-Drive 360: Construction continues on the Orlando Eye | last =Fais | first =Scott | date =April 16, 2014 | website =Bay News 9 }}</ref> According to its official website, the Orlando Eye is the first wheel ever to use such a system in combination with a suspended "[[Gondola lift|ski lift]] capsule design".<ref>{{cite web | url =https://www.officialorlandoeye.com/news/2015/january/passenger-capsules-begin-installation/ | title =Passenger Capsules Begin Installation | last =Alava | first =Andrea | date =January 20, 2015 | website =Orlando Eye }}</ref> |
| url =http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/on-the-town/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2014/4/15/eye_rise_constructio.html | title =I-Drive 360: Construction continues on the Orlando Eye | last =Fais | first =Scott | date =April 16, 2014 | website =Bay News 9 }}</ref> According to its official website, the Orlando Eye is the first wheel ever to use such a system in combination with a suspended "[[Gondola lift|ski lift]] capsule design".<ref>{{cite web | url =https://www.officialorlandoeye.com/news/2015/january/passenger-capsules-begin-installation/ | title =Passenger Capsules Begin Installation | last =Alava | first =Andrea | date =January 20, 2015 | website =Orlando Eye }}</ref> |
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In January 2013, it was reported that the expected opening date had been pushed back to "by [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]] November 2014".<ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.clickorlando.com/news/construction-to-soon-begin-on-orlando-eye | title =Construction to soon begin on Orlando Eye | date =January 24, 2013 | website =Click Orlando }}</ref> Erection of the main support structure began in December 2013.<ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2013/12/i-drive-live-orlando-eye-goes-vertical.html | title =I-Drive Live: The Orlando Eye Goes Vertical! | date =December 11, 2013 | website =Orlando Parks News }}</ref> In April 2014 it was reported that completion had been further delayed until early 2015.<ref name=baynews915042014/> |
In January 2013, it was reported that the expected opening date had been pushed back to "by [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]] November 2014".<ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.clickorlando.com/news/construction-to-soon-begin-on-orlando-eye | title =Construction to soon begin on Orlando Eye | date =January 24, 2013 | website =Click Orlando }}</ref> Erection of the main support structure began in December 2013.<ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2013/12/i-drive-live-orlando-eye-goes-vertical.html | title =I-Drive Live: The Orlando Eye Goes Vertical! | date =December 11, 2013 | website =Orlando Parks News }}</ref> In April 2014 it was reported that completion had been further delayed until early 2015.<ref name=baynews915042014/> |
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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.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bevil|first1=Dewayne|title=Orlando Eye: All 30 capsules now in place|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-blog/os-orlando-eye-last-capsule-wheel-20150205-post.html|work=Orlando Sentinel|access-date=February 5, 2015}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/os-orlando-eye-grand-opening-madame-tussaud-20150217-story.html | title = Orlando Eye grand opening set for May 4; Harris to Tussauds | last =Dineen | first =Caitlin | date =February 17, 2015 | website =Orlando Sentinel }}</ref> The Orlando Eye carried its first passenger on April 29, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jensen|first=Christina|date=April 30, 2015|title=13-year-old leukemia patient becomes Orlando Eye's first official rider|url=http://www.mynews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/on-the-town/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2015/4/30/orlando_eye_first_ri.html|access-date=January 23, 2016|website=News 13}}</ref> |
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.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bevil|first1=Dewayne|title=Orlando Eye: All 30 capsules now in place|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-blog/os-orlando-eye-last-capsule-wheel-20150205-post.html|work=Orlando Sentinel|access-date=February 5, 2015}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/os-orlando-eye-grand-opening-madame-tussaud-20150217-story.html | title = Orlando Eye grand opening set for May 4; Harris to Tussauds | last =Dineen | first =Caitlin | date =February 17, 2015 | website =Orlando Sentinel }}</ref> The Orlando Eye carried its first official passenger{{snd}} a 13-year-old leukemia patient{{snd}} on April 29, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jensen|first=Christina|date=April 30, 2015|title=13-year-old leukemia patient becomes Orlando Eye's first official rider|url=http://www.mynews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/on-the-town/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2015/4/30/orlando_eye_first_ri.html|access-date=January 23, 2016|website=News 13}}{{dead link|date=April 2024}}</ref> |
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==Malfunctions== |
==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.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/orlando-eye-back-open-after-malfunction-left-rider/nmrgb/ | title =Orlando Eye back open after malfunction left riders stuck | date =July 4, 2015 | publisher =WFTV }}</ref> |
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.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/orlando-eye-back-open-after-malfunction-left-rider/nmrgb/ | title =Orlando Eye back open after malfunction left riders stuck | date =July 4, 2015 | publisher =WFTV }}</ref> |
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On December 31, 2022, the |
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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Meredith |first1=Michelle |title='Nerve-wracking': Riders recount being stuck on The Wheel at ICON Park after power failure |url=https://www.wesh.com/article/the-wheel-icon-park-power-loss-orlando/42373941 |access-date=January 10, 2023 |agency=WESH 2 |date=January 1, 2023}}</ref> The ride remained closed until February 10, 2023. <ref>{{cite news |title=The Wheel at ICON Park still closed after power failure: Here's what needs to happen before it opens |url=https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/the-wheel-at-icon-park-still-closed-after-power-failure-heres-what-needs-to-happen-before-it-opens |access-date=February 7, 2023 |agency=Fox 35 Orlando |date=January 18, 2023}}</ref> <ref>{{cite news |last1=McDaniel |first1=Dave |title=The Wheel at ICON Park reopens following inspection after New Year's Eve power failure |url-status=live |url=https://www.wesh.com/article/the-wheel-icon-park-open/42828675# |archive-date=February 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210212446/https://www.wesh.com/article/the-wheel-icon-park-open/42828675 |access-date=February 13, 2023 |agency=WESH 2 News |date=February 10, 2023}}</ref> |
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==Rebranding== |
==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 |
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.<ref name="Coca-Cola 1">{{cite web|date=July 28, 2016|title=Orlando Eye is renamed the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye|url=http://www.clickorlando.com/news/orlando-eye-coca-cola-to-make-joint-announcement|access-date=July 28, 2016 |website=Click Orlando}}</ref><ref name="Coca-Cola 2">{{cite news|last1=Dineen|first1=Caitlin|title=Orlando Eye officially flies Coca-Cola banner|work=Orlando Sentinel|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-orlando-eye-coke-announcement-20160728-story.html|access-date=July 28, 2016}}</ref> |
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On March 11, 2018, it was |
On March 11, 2018, it was sold and rebrandasIcon Orlando.<ref name="ICON Orlando">{{cite news|last1=Santana|first1=Marco|title=Coca-Cola Orlando Eye changes name to ICON Orlando|work=Orlando Sentinel|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-bz-orlando-eye-rename-20180509-story.html|access-date=May 14, 2018}}</ref> On April 4, 2019, it was rebranded once again to the Wheel at Icon Park.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tuttle |first=Brittani |date=April 4, 2019 |title=Icon Orlando now renamed as The Wheel at Icon Park |url=https://attractionsmagazine.com/the-wheel-at-icon-park-name/ |access-date=January 25, 2023 |website=Attractions Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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In March 2024 the attraction was repurchased by Merlin Entertainments, and was renamed the Orlando Eye by Merlin Entertainments.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-25 |title=Merlin buys Wheel at ICON Park, restores name to Orlando Eye |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/03/25/merlin-entertainments-buys-wheel-at-icon-park-restores-name-to-orlando-eye/ |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=Orlando Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* {{official website|https:// |
* {{official website|https://www.theorlandoeye.com/}} |
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{{Ferris wheel}} |
{{Ferris wheel}} |
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| The Orlando Eye | |
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The Orlando Eye in December 25, 2016
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 | |
| 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 | Merlin Entertainments |
| Height | 400 ft (122 m) |
| Dimensions | |
| Diameter | 390 feet (119 m) |
| Website | |
| https://www.theorlandoeye.com/ | |
The Orlando Eye by Merlin Entertainments is a 400 ft (122 m) tall Ferris wheelatIcon ParkinOrlando, 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.
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]
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]
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]
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28°26′36″N 81°28′06″W / 28.443198°N 81.468296°W / 28.443198; -81.468296
