The ICON Orlando can be found on International Drive (or more commonly known as I-Drive), an 11 mile stretch of roadway that caters to nearly every tourist’s whim. There are numerous hotels, entertainment locations and eateries along an around here, with the ICON towering over them.
The ICON is a 400 ft observation wheel and is the tallest in the Eastern US.
There are 30 air-conditioned passenger “capsules” (or as I like to call them pods!), and they can carry up to 15 people each. They contain interactive iPad tablets programmed to show you various landmarks and sights viewed on your ride. You can make out Disney World and the City of Orlando and apparently on a clear day it is possible to see the space coast.
There is free parking for the ICON & surrounding attractions in a multi-level car park, and the entrance is within a few minutes’ walk. Once you enter the main building you will find the ticket area ahead. To the left is the Tussauds wax museum (we’ll write about that soon), and to the right is the Sea Life Aquarium.
Once you’ve bought your ticket and you enter through some swing doors, you are given a wrist band and whisked away to have your souvenir photo taken. You then make your way through to where you enter the pods and can purchase a beverage for your tour. As you get in to your pod the wheel doesn’t stop (although I think brief pauses are made for wheel chair users), and the doors close. The ride lasts around 22 mins and opens at 10 am daily and closes at 10pm Sunday – Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday.
It’s a very pleasant ride – not in the slightest bit scary to us & you feel very safe and not really that high up!
8401 International Drive, Orlando 32819