SeaWorld's most CONFUSING ride! The History of Journey to Atlantis in Pi Minutes!
41Seahorses VS Mermaids! A weird, poorly thought out story. Effects that hardly ever worked and made no sense. A super bizarre piece of SeaWorld history!
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History in Pi Minutes is a series where I look at some popular topics in Disney or Theme Park History and cover them in a bite size format.
Opened in 1998 in Sea World Orlando, Journey to Atlantis was the park’s first major attempt to transition from an animal park with a couple of attractions into an aquatic theme park.
It had a unique ride system that allowed it to switch between a log flume and a roller coaster. And featured a massive showbuilding full of Disney style dark ride segments telling the legend of Atlantis.
This was the attraction that was set to change everything for Sea World!
It didn’t.
The story, as best I can tell, is that the ruins of Atlantis have suddenly reemerged from the sea. Guests hop on some boats to explore. An old man tries to stop us, but since we insist on going he sends his golden Sea Horse, Hermes, to help guide us. This Sea Horse is possibly the Greek god Hermes by the way. It’s unclear.
Despite the fact that we are in boats and Atlantis is supposed to be on the surface, we find ourselves in the deep sea.
We then enter the lost City where Allura the mermaid promises us magic and treasure. But Hermes leads us away. This is where we learn that Allura the mermaid is actually a Siren trying to trap us in Atlantis forever!
As we attempt to escape, a clash of lighting reveals that Allura the Siren is actually Medusa! Or maybe just a Gorgon?
This jumpscare one of the biggest things giving this ride an inconsistent tone. Up till now it was a family friendly adventure. But this is legitimately one of the most startling and effective jumpscares I’ve seen in a theme park.
We then travel through the outside of the ruins while the theme to Beetlejuice plays for reasons I cannot even begin to guess at. A chandelier almost crushes us in another surprisingly effective jumpscare. And then we plunge down a 60 foot flume!
Allura tries one last time to trap us, but Hermes the Golden Sea Horse and possible herald of the gods stops her somehow. Leading to a fun coaster segment to end the ride which I think is supposed to be Hermes flying us to safety?
It was weird.
Parts were amazing and the focus on projection effects was ahead of its time, but half the effects were broken most of the time.
The version in Sea World San Diego featured only a single short scene in a much smaller show building. The third version in San Antonio has absolutely no story or effects at all!
But the Orlando version was mostly just left alone until 2017 when it finally got a major overhaul!
Fans were excited! A couple new projections, a new narration, fix the timing issues… Journey into Atlantis could become one of the best rides in Orlando!
It didn’t.
Instead of fixing the story, they removed it. All the mermaids, Hermes, Allura, the projections, the dialogue, the entire story, everything was taken out except for the sets and a few twinkling lights.
Even the soundtrack was removed and replaced with some relaxing music on a loop. The type of music that would be playing in a spa.
The weirdest detail is that the Medusa version of Allura that used to jump at guests is still there! Just above their heads. Barely even visible with the lights that used to illuminate here all turned off. Which somehow makes her even creepier.
It seems as if instead of fixing Journey to Atlantis, Sea World just kinda gave up on it.
Want to learn more about the history and go in depth?
Theme Park Tourist did an excellent write up on the history as a part of their Disaster Files Series
ATLANTIS: The Story of the Waterlogged Ride That Sunk at SeaWorld Orlando
https://www.themeparktourist.com/feat...
B-Roll and Reference Videos:
Original Version with All Effects Working in 2009
Journey to Atlantis Front Seat on-ride POV Seaworld Orlando
Courtesy of CoasterForce
• Journey to Atlantis Front Seat on-rid...
Journey To Atlantis - Seaworld Orlando 2015 60FPS
Courtesy of Theme Park Heaven
• Journey To Atlantis - Seaworld Orland...
After the 2017 Refurbishment Removing the Storyline and Effects
[4K] Atlantis Water Coaster Dark Ride - SeaWorld Orlando, Florida
SeaWorld San Diego Version
[HD] Journey to Atlantis Water Coaster Ride POV - SeaWorld
Courtesy of SoCal Attractions 360
• [4K] Atlantis Water Coaster Dark Ride...
• [HD] Journey to Atlantis Water Coaste...
Water Sounds
• Calm Seashore - No Copyright Sound E...
This Video was made by Zach (AKA Pi the Disney Guy).
SeaWorld's most CONFUSING ride! The History of JOURNEY to ATLANTIS in Pi Minutes!
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There are 2,001 views in 1 video for Atlantis. His channel published less than an hour of Atlantis content, roughly 1.14% of the content that Pi the Theme Park Guy has uploaded to YouTube.