Sunday, November 23, 2014

Merlin Entertainments Ready to Expand Orlando Operations


Head of Marketing for the Orlando Eye, Todd Andrus.
Yesterday we took a look at the new StarFlyer ride coming to I-Drive in Florida, which will be located in an extension of the greater I-Drive 360 complex.

One of the larger tenants of I-Drive 360 is Merlin Entertainments Group, which is opening the Orlando Eye observation wheel, a Madame Tussauds and Sea Life Aquarium as well.  During IAAPA the company revealed a massive Lego model of the new complex, spanning nine feet across and eight feet tall.


The model, seen above in all its glory, will be placed into Legoland Florida's Miniland U.S.A. - Legoland Florida is another one of Merlin Entertainments' Orlando area properties.  It would be natural to expect to see plenty of cross promotion between the two attractions in the future.

The Orlando Eye will stand 400 feet above the ground below, giving unparallelled views of Central Florida.  Located in the building below the wheel will be Madame Tussauds Orlando, filled with lifelike wax figures of celebrities from film, television, sports, history and pop culture.  The Sea Life Aquarium will feature immersive underwater experiences with fish, rays, sharks and more using floor to ceiling displays, bubble tanks, touch pools and a 360 degree underway tunnel.

© I-Drive 360
Construction on the Orlando Eye is will underway, as seen in this recent photo from I-Drive 360.  Some tenants of the complex are already open, including Carrabba's, Yard House and Outback.  The observation wheel and other attractions are headed for a Spring 2015 grand opening.


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