Kraken (roller coaster) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kraken |
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| Previously known as Kraken Unleashed (2017–2018) | |
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Kraken's corkscrew
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| SeaWorld Orlando | |
| Location | SeaWorld Orlando |
| Park section | Sea of Legends |
| Coordinates | 28°24′40″N 81°27′30″W / 28.41111°N 81.45833°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Soft opening date | May 27, 2000 |
| Opening date | June 1, 2000 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Floorless Coaster |
| Manufacturer | Bolliger & Mabillard |
| Designer | Werner Stengel |
| Model | Custom |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 153 ft (47 m) |
| Drop | 144 ft (44 m) |
| Length | 4,177 ft (1,273 m) |
| Speed | 65 mph (105 km/h) |
| Inversions | 7 |
| Duration | 2:02 |
| Capacity | 1500 riders per hour |
| G-force | 3.9 |
| Height restriction | 54 in (137 cm) |
| Trains | 3 trains with 8 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 32 riders per train. |
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Spot Saver available
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 Must transfer from wheelchair |
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| Kraken at RCDB | |
Kraken is an exciting steel roller coaster at SeaWorld Orlando in the United States. It was built by a company called Bolliger & Mabillard. When it opened on June 1, 2000, it was one of the longest floorless coasters in the world.
This thrilling ride is 4,177 feet (1,273 m) long and reaches a top speed of 65 miles per hour (105 km/h). It also features seven inversions, which means you go upside down seven times! The coaster is named after the legendary sea monster. In 2017, the ride was updated and called Kraken Unleashed. It even had a virtual reality experience for a short time.
Contents
History of Kraken
How Kraken Was Built
In 1999, other parks started building a new type of roller coaster called a "Floorless Coaster." These rides were very popular. SeaWorld Orlando decided to build one too. They announced Kraken on May 6, 1999.
Building Kraken was a big job. Construction began in January 2000. Workers carefully put together the tall supports and the long track. The park spent about $18 to $20 million to create this amazing ride.
Kraken's Grand Opening
Kraken officially opened to the public on June 1, 2000. When it first opened, it was the tallest and longest roller coaster in Florida. It held these records for six years. In 2006, another ride called Expedition Everest opened at Disney's Animal Kingdom, which was even longer.
Kraken Unleashed: The VR Experience
On September 27, 2016, SeaWorld Orlando announced that Kraken would get a big update. The ride reopened as Kraken Unleashed on June 16, 2017. The new feature was virtual reality headsets. Riders could wear these headsets to have a special experience while on the coaster.
However, the virtual reality headsets caused some problems. They had technical issues and made the wait times much longer. Because of this, the VR experience was removed permanently in the summer of 2018. The ride then went back to being called Kraken.
Kraken's Features
Ride Statistics
Kraken is 153 feet (47 m) tall, which is like a 15-story building! The track is 4,177 feet (1,273 m) long. It can reach speeds of 65 miles per hour (105 km/h). Before the Mako roller coaster opened in 2016, Kraken was the fastest ride at SeaWorld Orlando.
The ride has seven inversions. These are parts of the track where you go upside down. They include:
- Two vertical loops (big circles)
- A dive loop (a loop that twists)
- A spiraling camelback (also called a zero-g roll, where you feel weightless)
- A cobra roll (a double inversion that looks like a cobra's head)
- A flat spin (a corkscrew that twists you around)
The Trains
Kraken uses three special "floorless" trains. Each train can hold 32 riders. There are eight rows, and four people sit in each row. This means about 1500 people can ride Kraken every hour.
The trains are called "floorless" because there is no floor beneath your feet. Your legs dangle freely above the track! You are held safely in place by restraints that go over your shoulders. When you get on the ride, the station floor moves away so the train can leave.
Kraken's Theme
Kraken is themed after the scary mythological sea monster. The story is that the monster is kept locked up by Poseidon, the god of the sea. Many parts of the ride are over water. There are even three sections where the train dives underground!
The area where you wait and get on the ride is designed to look like Kraken's secret lair. You might also see eels around the queue area. Eels are said to be Kraken's babies. The park wanted the ride's theme to connect back to the ocean, which is important to SeaWorld.
The Ride Experience
After you get into your seat, the floor of the station moves away. The front gates open, and the train makes a right turn. Then, you start climbing the 153-foot ([convert: unknown unit]) chain lift hill.
At the top, the train goes over the hill and turns right. Then, you plunge down a 144 feet (44 m) drop towards the ground! Next, you go through the first vertical loop, which is 128 feet (39 m) tall. After that, you enter a diving loop.
The ride continues with a spiraling camelback, where you feel like you are floating. This is followed by a thrilling cobra roll. After a banked turn, the train slows down on a mid-course brake run. But the fun isn't over!
The train then drops into a second vertical loop. You'll dive underground into Kraken's lair, which is a cool part of the ride. Finally, you go through a corkscrew. The ride ends with the final brake run, and then you return to the station.
