SeaWorld Orlando debuts Polar Express

SeaWorld Orlando has debuted its Polar Express Experience simulator ride. More importantly, however, the ride's installation is temporary, marking the first quick-change conversion package for a high-tech simulator ride. The process involved acquiring the rights to a theme-park version of the movie The Polar Express, investing more than 100 hours in engineering and computer programming and building sets based on the film. "I'm not going to say it's easy, but we have a phenomenal team, from the art direction to the programming of the ride to the visuals," said Michael Fletcher, SeaWorld's vice president for entertainment. Other industry analysts and insiders are excited about the idea of "quick conversion" packages. "I'm intrigued by the idea," said Kevin Coons of Gary Goddard Entertainment, a California-based attractions-design firm that helped develop simulator rides such as The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man at Islands of Adventure. "I think it's a smart way to go." "If it is successful, you'll see an expansion of that sort of concept to other attractions," said Dennis Speigel, president of International Theme Park Services in Cincinnati. One other such quick conversion change commonly happens every fall at Disneyland, when the park's classic Haunted Mansion ride is overtaken by the characters of The Nightmare Before Christmas for the holidays.