The All New Ice Breaker Roller Coaster (SeaWorld Orlando)

Written by Jerry Joyce in SeaWorld Orlando,SeaWorld Rides & Attractions

Ice Breaker is the newest roller coaster to debut at SeaWorld Orlando.  This amazing thrill ride was originally scheduled to open in the spring/summer 2020, SeaWorld choose to hold off but announced it’s grand opening for February 18, 2022.

On January 28, 2022 a preview of Ice Breaker was offered to qualifying annual passholders and the Endless Summer family qualified for this special event.  So before we talk about the ride, we would like to give a very big THANK YOU to SeaWorld for allowing us to be among the first guests to ride this attraction.

Here is our ON-RIDE POV video for the two rides that we enjoyed during the preview event.  The video also includes some off ride highlights as well as a slow motion ride that will allow the viewer to see every twist and turn.

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Ice Breaker – Frequently Asked Questions

This amazing thrill ride is a 1,900 foot long multi-directional launch vertical drop coaster.  There is a beyond vertical drop of 100 degrees from a 93 foot tall top hat, four launches, multiple air time events and an exciting of twists and turns.

What is the top speed of Ice Breaker?

The top speed of the all new Ice Breaker roller coaster is 52 miles per hour.

Does Ice Breaker have an inversions?

While riders experience a number of twists and turns as well as a 100 degree vertical drop, there are no true inversions on Ice Breaker.  

What are the height restrictions for Ice Breaker?

Ice Breaker riders must be at least 54 inches tall to ride alone.  Guests between 48 and 54 inches must be accompanied by a supervising companion at least 14 years of age or older.

Is Ice Breaker a kid friendly roller coaster?

While the all new Ice Breaker roller coaster has its share of thrills, there are no inversions or extreme features that would be considered inappropriate for children that meet the height qualifications.  During our visit for the passholder preview, there were a number of younger children who were on the ride and appeared to enjoy the attraction.

Does Ice Breaker offer a Quick Queue line?

Ice Breaker does offer a Quick Queue line and since we would anticipate large crowds once it’s fully open to the public, purchasing a Quick Queue pass might be a smart way to save time from waiting in a long line.

Is Ice Breaker the best ride at SeaWorld Orlando?

As Ice Breaker is brand new, there is no doubt that it will be one of the more (if not the most) popular attraction at SeaWorld Orlando.  While we would rank it in our “Top 5”, most roller coaster enthusiasts would probably enjoy Mako above Ice Breaker due to the size of the initial drop as well as the overall speed of the ride itself.

What type of restraints are used on Ice Breaker?

Ice Breaker has both a lap bar as well as a flexible over-the-shoulder harness that is held is place by a metal clip.  While this setup is a bit cumbersome to get situated, it keeps the guest firmly in place throughout the course of the ride.

More About Ice Breaker at SeaWorld Orlando

Ice Breaker was manufactured by Premier Rides at a cost of $8.2 million (per Wikipedia).  It is a steel launched coaster that features two ride trains with 3 cars per train.  There is a maximum capacity of 18 riders per train.

The ride starts out with the coaster train shifting tracks sideways onto the initial launch track.  Once the train is in place, guests are launched backwards up to Ice Breakers vertical spike, sending the coaster towards the 93-foot top hat.  The train just does not make it to the apex of the top hat sending it backwards with an even higher climb on the vertical spike (probably our favorite part of the ride).

Riders are then propelled forward over the top hat for an amazing descent followed by a number of twists and turns which will keep even the most experienced coaster enthusiasts on the edge of their seat.  And with Ice Breaker being new, the ride was extraordinary smooth and comfortable.

Our Review of Ice Breaker

Although we have only ridden Ice Breaker twice (during the passholder special preview event), this attraction will be among our favorites at SeaWorld.  With more than a dozen airtime moments, the four launches as well as the vertical spike, it was a very unique experience.

While it was a little short being less than two minutes in ride time and not have quite the adrenaline rush as Mako, the attraction was quite a lot of fun and one that we would highly recommend for any roller coaster enthusiast.

Once the crowds settle down after the grand opening, we look forward to making Ice Breaker one of our must do attractions every time we visit SeaWorld Orlando.

Where should we stay when visiting at SeaWorld Orlando?

Unlike Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando does not have any on-site hotels.  However, it has a number of “Official Hotel Partners” and “Hotel Partners” that provide a fair amount of benefits for your visit to SeaWorld.

As of Fall 2021, there are 11 “Official Hotel Partners” that are all within a mile of SeaWorld  with several being within walking distance.

By far our favorite “official” hotel is the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld which is located directly on the other side of Sea Harbor Drive, and a very short walk to the front gate.  This hotel has an amazing lobby with several dining options, a great pool area, and small water park / splash pad for kids.

While considering this is more of an upscale property, you can find some “deals” with room rates.  We normally don’t pay more than $150 per night.  Just be aware than parking costs and resort fees can add an additional $50+ per night.

Less expensive hotel options include the Fairfield Inn and Suites Orlando by SeaWorld or the Residence Inn Orlando at SeaWorld.  While slightly longer than what we would consider walking distance, these hotels can be found from around $100 per night and do not have resort fees.

In addition to the official hotels, SeaWorld has four “Partner Hotels” which include:

The benefits of staying at a SeaWorld official or partner hotel are comparable to those offered by on-site hotels at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando.  

  • Priority Entry to SeaWorld and Aquatica
  • 10% of Dining at SeaWorld, Aquatica and Discovery Cove
  • 10% off merchandise purchase of $50 or more at SeaWorld, Aquatica and Discovery Cove
  • Complimentary Transportation to SeaWorld and Aquatica (Official Hotels)
  • Complimentary access to the SeaWorld Rescue Tour(Official Hotels)

Jerry Joyce

Jerry Joyce has been a Florida resident since 1988 and has lived in a variety of places in the South Florida area. Jerry is an avid boater & water sports enthusiast, beach aficionado, a lover of great food, muscle car fan and a theme park annual passholder for many years. Some of his favorite places in Florida include the Florida Keys, Walt Disney World, Cedar Key, the Loxahatchee River, St. Augustine and Ten Thousand islands.

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