Orlando news update: Mimes return to SeaWorld; StarFlyer coming to I-Drive

October 20, 2016, 11:46 AM · Some old favorites and a new thrill ride are on their way to Orlando-area attractions.

SeaWorld Orlando announced that it's bringing back its pre-show mimes for the holiday season. The park had laid off three longtime performers two years ago as part of company-wide cost-cutting. But fans pressed for their return, and now SeaWorld's relented. The Orlando Sentinel reports that Lynn Frey will be returning for the Clyde and Seamore's Countdown to Christmas show, along with two newly-hired mimes.

SeaWorld's one of the few remaining businesses out there that actually waits until after Thanksgiving to kick off its Christmas activities, with SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration running Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Nov. 25-Dec. 11 and daily from Dec. 16 through New Year's Eve. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer joins the line-up at the Orlando park this year, too.

The Orlando Eye is getting a new neighbor. The Orange County [Florida] Development Review Committee has approved plans for 450-foot FunTime StarFlyer swing ride next door to the Orlando Eye's I-Drive 360 development. The StarFlyer will anchor the new Vue at 360 development, which is being built by I-Drive 360's owner. Even though the project has its final approval, it still needs construction permits to be issued, but the plans are for construction to start sometime early next year.

For reference, Six Flags operates several StarFlyers as "SkyScreamer" at nine of its amusement parks across North America. The Orlando installation would be taller than any of the Six Flags rides, however, exceeding the height of the Six Flags New England SkyScreamer by 40 feet. The Orlando StarFlyer would be 50 feet taller than its neighboring Orlando Eye, too. That observation wheel tops out at 400 feet.

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Replies (10)

October 20, 2016 at 12:31 PM · I just want to say that if the article is about Orlando parks or attractions, you probably don't need to specify that Orange County is in Florida. I'm not sure Orange County California would have any say in what happens in Florida. :)

To make it even more confusing, if you're talking about Orange County Choppers...that's in New York.

October 20, 2016 at 2:26 PM · Those mimes were hilarious. It definitely was not the same without them. On a side note, I also liked the Pirate Island show better than the Sea Lion High show. Overall though, my kids and I love Seaworld and all of its sister parks...
October 20, 2016 at 6:24 PM · I'm glad one of the original mimes is back. The way they got rid of them was pretty crappy.
October 20, 2016 at 8:50 PM · Gabriel... And now you've discovered that, like an old newspaper reporter, I wrote the article before the headline. Then forgot to change the article after adding the "Orlando" to the hed.
October 20, 2016 at 10:37 PM · What sort of journalist writes the article before the headline??? Aren't you supposed to make some clickbait headline then arrange some unchecked "facts" in the article that vaguely relate to that headline? You probably even read the article after you wrote it to check for errors too. pfft

PS - I like that when I edit posts on this site, it doesn't list how many times it's been edited. That way if I reread a post I made later, no-one knows how many times I've corrected spelling

October 21, 2016 at 2:49 AM · Cool ... a giant lightning rod that will be closed half of the summer during peak tourist season
October 21, 2016 at 3:35 AM · Aren't these "StarFlyer" swings the same ones that are infamous for shutting down for unknown reasons leaving riders stranded hundreds of feet in the air?? Wish I could preorder my ticket!!
October 21, 2016 at 11:25 AM · The Orlando Wheel would be OK is there was something to look at. From what I've seen and read there's not much to see. Anything of any interest is too far away unless you are easily amused or really bored. I didn't really like the Las Vegas version and they have more to see. The only thing people repeatedly mentioned was being able to see the fireworks at WDW in the distance. Big whoop. I'm not interested in seeing parking lots and the rooftops of generic hotels *yawn* -pass. BTW The London Eye is a completely different experience. I hate Star Flyers so no on that one too.
October 21, 2016 at 12:07 PM · @Sarah Warney
You are confusing StarFlyers with Wind Seekers! In the past year I've been to three parks with StarFlyers and I was able to ride all of them with no tech issues. But the one park I went to with a WindSeeker (Cedar Point), couldn't even get it open for one of the most busy weekends of the year!

Anyway, I absolutely love StarFlyers. My favorite would have to be the New England Starflyer at Six Flags New England, and I also quite enjoyed Vol Ultimate at La Ronde.

October 21, 2016 at 1:49 PM · StarFlyers, WindSeekers, StormTroopers, SkyWalkers, TimerLakes, SeaCrests, MellenCamps...Oh my!

As for the contents in the article...meh. Not going to be a draw for me, and seems like a gimmicky waste of money.

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