He’s big…. He’s bright… He knows how to light up the night. He’s… The Wheel at ICON Park. A true symbol of Orlando pride, this sky-scraping observation wheel is an eternal bright spot in our community. As we all hunker down during this trying time, our iconic family would like to share with you one fun way to enjoy the wonders of The Wheel from home. It all starts with asking the question, “What’s The Wheel’s deal?”

Gather up the whole fam, your friends, or whomever your social distancing with and see just how well you know your way around one of Orlando’s tallest attractions with some trivia about this rotating giant. Are you ready?! Let’s get rolling!

1.  How tall is The Wheel at ICON Park?

• 350 ft.

• 400 ft.

• 500 ft.

• 550 ft.

ANSWER: 400 ft – Clocking in at 40 stories tall, The Wheel at ICON Park is the tallest observation wheel on the east coast and the second largest in the country. So, what’s the largest? It’s none other than the 550 ft. Las Vegas Observation Wheel -High Roller.

2. When did The Wheel take its “first flight?”

• November 17, 2014

• April 29, 2015

• May 4, 2015

• July 28, 2016

ANSWER: April 29, 2015 – The Wheel opened along with the rest of ICON Park in April 2015. In true Orlando fashion, the grand opening was a star-studded spectacle that captured international attention. This brings us to our next question….  

3. What world-renowned daredevil famously walked the top of The Wheel WITHOUT a harness for ICON Park’s grand opening?

• Robbie Knievel

• Alain Robert

• Felix Baumgartner

• Nik Wallenda

• 

Answer: Nik Wallenda – “The King of the High Wire” crested the 400 ft. MOVING wheel in 5 minutes, setting a world record for the greatest distance walked at the top of an observation wheel. NBC’s Today Show covered Nik’s historic stunt and interviewed him during his walk. How’s that for multitasking!

4. Where was the final bolt driven into place at the completion of The Wheel’s construction?

• The Hub

• Capsule 13

• The Axle

• Capsule 23

ANSWER: Capsule 23 – To commemorate the end of a three-year-long construction effort, a golden bolt was driven into the joint connecting Capsule 23 to The Wheel’s structure. Nothing but the best for the big guy!

5. How long does it take for The Wheel to complete one full rotation?

• 18 minutes

• 22 minutes

• 28 minutes

• 30 minutes

ANSWER: 22 minutes – Moving at a leisurely one-half-mile-per-hour, The Wheel can complete one full rotation in just over 20 minutes. That’s just enough time for you to take in the stunning panorama of our hometown Orlando (or stream an episode of The Office from 400 ft., if that’s more your thing).

6. How much does The Wheel weigh?

• 800 tons

• 1200 tons

• 1500 tons

• 2500 tons

ANSWER: 1500 tons – Made almost entirely out of steel, it takes 14 electrical motors to rotate the over 3 million-pound wheel. I’ll bet you didn’t think this quiz would have such heavy subject matter!

7. How many capsules does The Wheel have?

• 15

• 30

• 50

• 65

ANSWER: 30 – The Wheel’s 30 capsules have a maximum capacity of 15 passengers each. Over the course of an hour, The Wheel can carry up to 450 people! Useful knowledge if you’ve got 449 friends! I mean, we sure do…

8. How many different light shows can The Wheel perform?

• 5

• 10

• 30

• 75

ANSWER: 5 – Every night, rain or shine, you can catch Orlando’s greatest showman lighting up the sky with one or more of its colorful displays. The best part? No ticket necessary. Talk about the Wheel’s deal!

9. What is the name of the bar inside The Wheel?  

• The Top of the World Bar

• Sky Lounge

• The Bar Car

• Sky Bar

ANSWER: The Sky Bar- This private experience lets you and a group of your friends sip “aviation libations” as you soar at 40 stories. They don’t call us Orlando’s party place for nothing!

10. Which of the following celebrities has NEVER visited The Wheel at ICON Park?

• Austin Mahone

• Gene Simmons

• Pink!

• Kylie Jenner

ANSWER: Pink! – While The Wheel has never had the honor of hosting the GRAMMY Award-winning songstress, it wore its best shade of pink to welcome her wax likeness to Madame Tussauds Orlando back in January.

So, how well did you know The Wheel’s deal? Be sure to share your results at any of ICON Park’s social media handles. Congrats to all the wheel whizzes out there, and we’ll spin you later with more at-home fun from Orlando’s Hometown Playground.