ORLANDO, Fla. — SeaWorld Orlando has made more adjustments to Ice Breaker, the launch coaster that debuted last spring.
What You Need To Know
- Ice Breaker, SeaWorld's launch coaster, has undergone another change
- The park modified the ride's restraints by removing the "comfort collars" and lowered the height requirement to 48 inches
- When the ride opened last year, the height requirement was 48 inches but was raised to 54 inches due to "operational issues with smaller riders"
- RELATED: SeaWorld: Behind-the-scenes view of Pipeline surf coaster
After a brief closure, the coaster reopened over the weekend without the “comfort collar” safety restraints, which would go over riders shoulders and chest. The ride now features a seat belt system to go with the lap bar.
With the change, SeaWorld lowered the minimum height requirement for Ice Breaker from 54 inches to 48 inches.
“In consultation with the ride manufacturer, and with safety always at the forefront, we have enhanced the ride vehicle to accommodate shorter patrons to allow for an accompanied rider height requirement of 48,” SeaWorld said in a statement to Spectrum News. “We look forward to welcoming even more thrill seekers to experience the exhilaration of this amazing coaster.”
Just days after Ice Breaker officially opened to the public last year, SeaWorld raised the ride’s height requirement from 48 inches to 54 inches. At the time, the park said the change was due to “operational issues with smaller riders.”
Ice Breaker features four launches — two forward and two backward — which build up to a reverse launch into the steepest beyond vertical drop in Florida, a 93-foot-tall spike with a 100-degree angle. The coaster, which also reaches speeds of 52 mph, also features multiple airtime moments, twists and turns.
Up next for SeaWorld is Pipeline: The Surf Coaster. The new attraction, set to debut this spring, will feature surfboard-style vehicles with riders upright while in motion.
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