SeaWorld's Failed VR Rollercoaster Experiment: The Legendary History of Kraken 

Have you been on a VR coaster? What did you think

Kraken was probably the most important coaster to me. I remember watching my older brother ride it when I was little, and I was obsessed with it. I’d draw pictures of it in school, I’d take giant smart erasers and make it do coaster maneuvers (the rectangular shape kinda reminded me of Krakens Floorless trains), and when I got access to RU-vid I watched POVs of it religiously. It would be another 15 years before I returned to SeaWorld Orlando (which was in February) and I finally got to ride Kraken. The ride is everything I hoped it would be, and more. It is actually my favorite roller coaster at SeaWorld Orlando even with all the other amazing coasters in the park. It’s not my favorite B&M, but it’s up there. The ride is starting to show its age a little bit, but it’s still going strong, and I’m sure it will thrill riders for many years to come.

It's quite interesting that they chose an eel as the ride's mascot at first, since the mythological Kraken has always been a giant squid or octopus and that's what most people think of when they hear the word "Kraken", right?

Funnily enough the first I time I rode Kraken was with the VR headest then years later after it was removed. The concept was cool and it added visuals for the Kraken but ultimately I felt like it had given me more motion sickness than it would have without the VR, which I didn't really get to confirm until years later.

Honestly I liked how they wanted to go into theming stuff, it’s just a shame their attempt was with a roller coaster using experimental vr of all things.

im sill wating for one on disneyland 50th anniversary and viper and blizzard beach and walt disney world's 25th anniversary

Would you Rather Ride Kraken or Galactica? (They are both Krak-ing good rides but I like Galactica better)❤️❤️

I hope they restore journey to Atlantis one day

I went on Galactica

Oh yeah…. 2016 was weird. There was this one, and six flags had a few VR experiments too. I mean honestly if you wanna do a VR roller coaster, just do a roller coaster in VR. Not the other way around 😅

My dad worked on Kraken!! He may have been one of the bois speeding around in the time lapse parts!! Kraken means the world to me, I love my daddio and the memories this brings me!! I remember the live eels that used to live in the eggs. Made me so sad when they stopped, but I get it. Probably hard to keep them alive. Especially in the weird "fish bowl" they were in. But a great memory, regardless.

If I had a nickel for every time a b&m coaster had vr added and then taken away, id have at least 2 nickels, which isnt much but its strange its happened at least twice

I feel like the money spent on VR woulda been better spent just building physical sets to theme the ride.

The motion sickness I got from wearing that VR Headset while riding the ride ruined the rest of the day for me - even though I closed my eyes for most of it. I hated the extra weight it put on my neck too. My husband's headset didn't even work but he had tightened it so tight that he couldn't get it off while on the coaster, and had to do the whole thing blind. Kraken was a fun rollercoaster before they added all of that junk to it - and is still a fun rollercoaster now that the VR stuff is gone.

Seaworld has such an interesting history, thanks for exploring it in these videos!

Ah the good old days where parking was only 6 bucks.

I disagree that Tower of Terror being the scariest ride, I think that trophy goes to The Mummy at USF. It has several jump scares (minimum three) much of the ride revolving around common phobias like bugs, claustrophobia, and fear of the dark.

I had the chance to ride Kraken Unleashed with the VR once. I recall having a great time on it. The complicated loading process, even when the ride didn't have much of a line, really hurt the viability of keeping the VR long-term. Also I recall having a school field trip to Sea World on a day that was overcast with a bit of light rain, but the park kept both Journey to Atlantis and Kraken open with neither having much of a wait time. My group went back and forth between the two rides a few times that day. Hop off Atlantis, go straight over to Kraken, then back to Atlantis, then Kraken again. Felt pretty spoiled for excitement!

Rode this in front row with VR before it was removed. It was pretty slick. But made loading long and the headset was cumbersome.

I was apart of the opening team for Kraken Unleashed. The real reason why they took the VR out was because Figment did an update one night that caused all of the video and data that were on the trains disappear.

They gutted Journey to Atlantis. Then getting rid of the original 'Eel' theming here, killed both of these rides for me. Sad I never got to experience the VR, even if it was a bad experience.

As someone who gets severe motion sickness from VR, adding it to a rollercoaster sounds miserable.

I loved riding Dueling Dragons; too bad they had to go extinct. "Kraken is still a crackin' ride" - I was waiting for that one. Another great one, Sam.

Your content is unmatched, can't wait for another HHN season! Keep it up Sam!

nearly thought this was the Krake von Heide Park soltau... now im slightly dissapointed

Really appreciating the Florida videos. Kumba and Kraken were coasters I grew up with and now at 25 I work at Serengeti Flyer at BGT, waiting impatiently for Pipelines opening

I bet a roller-coaster with AR (augmented reality) would actually be pretty cool. Seeing that the tech works by adding an image over real time input without blocking your vision of the world around you. I bet you could really do some cool stuff with that.

Vr coasters is a gimmick that I really want to work. I feel like if you are gonna do it right is do it like a mix of the mummy and the Mario kart ride. A argumented reality darkride/ coaster hybrid. I think this would work since you could do more with the story and since you can see where you are going kinda you won't feel motion sick from it.

Rode Kraken for the first time earlier this year. Never knew that those eggs had eels before. Thanks for the deep dive!

I have been on Kraken twice. Once when I was 12 years old, and once a few months ago. Outside of small children's roller coasters (and even most of those), I did not like coasters as a kid. I fell in love with coasters when I was 17, though. I slowly worked my way up over the years, but I never got the chance to ride Kraken until a few months ago. I was with my cousin who convinced me to go on it. Even though I love roller coasters, this one stood out because of my memory of not liking it as a kid. Recognizing that this was now 14 years ago, and my opinion of roller coasters has since changed, I went on the roller coaster. OH MY GOODNESS it was so fun! I am glad that I conquered that nervousness and went on it! I have a fondness for roller coasters for a couple of reasons. First, they are incredibly fun! Second, I like to see it as a callisthenic, or exercise, for overcoming obstacles or fear. It's a nice way to practice getting used to that feeling of overcoming something, and I hope that that translates to other aspects of life! I am sad that I never got to try the VR for this roller coaster. I've done VR on a different roller coaster, and I loved it, but it was a small coaster, and I can see how people would get motion sick on it, or have other issues. Stinks that VR on roller coasters left quicker than they came, though.

I was so happy to be apart of making this VR happen though. Even though it didn’t work as imagined. Miss my kraken days

Massively underrated ride, hadn’t realised it’s age! Could plonk it in any UK park and it’ll be one of the best. Not a fan of VR, didn’t like it on Galatica. Great video 👍🏻

Thanks for another great video. I'm not sure why Sea World had the VR as an underwater exploration. Shouldn't it have been the riders being chased and escaping a kraken with several shots of the beast nearly eating the rider? The idea of a VR rollercoaster sounds very intriguing but I understand why it is difficult to execute. Maybe it will be perfected one day.

I really like vr on rides it's a shame people didn't agree. But to be fair it does sound like an ache to set up

The VR experience on Kraken was unique and fun when it was working right. There was one major flaw it had besides horrifically long load and unload times. There was a problem with its spatial orientation while on the ride. Leaving the station, everything was properly synchronized but as the ride went through it’s course, I kept having to look further and further to the right or left to keep the view looking forward while wearing the headset. In other words, my eyes would see that I was looking forward but my body says no, you are looking 90 degrees left or right. Needless to say, I felt a little queasy once or twice at the end of the ride.

I really want to have see this, this sounds amazing. I am so sad that its gone. this is such amazing idea, I think only over time it could have gotten better with tech advancements

I thought it made the ride so much better.

Just like Disney's immersive Star Wars hotel experience, it's a cool idea *in theory...*

I went to SeaWorld once, and one of the only things I remember there was riding Kraken first thing in the day. Genuinely one of the best coasters around--probably the best in Orlando.

Wow, what are the odds? I just rode this for the first time yesterday as my first inverting coaster.

Thanks for the Informative video on the Kraken it's a shame I'm from the uk & won't get a chance to ride it.

I was in the 6th grade - 2003 - on my class field trip to SeaWorld. I was afraid, nervous as a cat when I got on for the first time. I rode again twice before the day was through. My coaster bug grew exponentially in the months and years since. Some I was just as terrified at, others I had no fear over at all. But I give Kraken all the credit in the world that plunged me (no pun intended) into the roller coaster world.

Fantastic video! Was sad when they removed the big eel from the entrance.. but glad it got some love with a new paint job. Thank you for exploring Krakens history!

Oh wow I remember this! I rode this and then Iron Dragon at CP had a VR. Both made me incredibly motion sick and weren’t the greatest experience, but i respect something different 😂

Reminds me of the darron brown ghost Train at thorpe park, maybe they could try again in ten years

Yo the new ghost train at thorpe is actually rlly good. Thank god they’ve finally made it into a good experience

I must be one of the only people who actually really enjoyed Kraken Unleashed. It was a major theming upgrade and made the ride unique not only at SeaWorld but among roller coasters, even rides in Florida in general. The technical issues were a bummer and it's understandable that they eventually had to give it up, but I'm not sure why they felt the need to also remove the theme and original music altogether. Now it's about as generic of a ride as it could conceivably be.

I got a chance to ride this, it was definitely interesting. I don’t remember much of the actual experience, but I do remember holding onto the headset the entire time.

Kraken was the first ride I rode when I first ever arrived in Orlando. It holds such a special place in my heart. Great vlog again . Awesome coaster .

not a lot of vids out there exploring Orlando's park history in total so this was a treat to watch! awesome content as always :)

Love Kraken. Glad it's at one of my home parks. Never got into the coaster VR thing though and to this day have never done it. Kraken is exciting enough on its own without having to add a gimmick. The VR thing on coasters seems to have disappeared. It was a short lived fad. didn't one of the Funspot parks try VR as well?

The one and only time I got to ride Kraken VR it was raining ( not enough to hurt) but it made the ride experience more enjoyable. I must have gotten lucky , also I do remember hating the virtual line

Loving these More Frequent Videos! Krack on! (That joke hurt to write)

I never got to ride the Vr version of this attraction as its recently my home park but i love it none the less

Kraken is a great ride. It was my first major roller coaster. It certainly is iconic

I was listening to your previous Seaworld video earlier lol Happy to go on another expedition with this channel

I did my first VR Coaster quite recently, I was actually quite impressed. However it had three key components: 1. The VR headset was easy to operate, collect and return. 2. It was an indoor coaster. 3. It was a family coaster.

Went on it 1st week! Now i❤Monty and Kumba, but Kraken was AWESOME! Soooo much fun..saw the eels..eh. it's the ride was fn amazing ❤

Great video Sam. That’s too bad the VR didn’t work out on Kraken. That would be so cool. I understand how difficult it would be to make everything sync.

So I did this back in the day & actually enjoyed it. Also, SeaWorld gave you the option not to put on the headset. I also did the VR on the Legoland FL wild mouse coaster. It was also fun. It really is subjective. Crunchy peanut butter vs creamy. To each his own.

One of my favourite coasters from my time in Orlando. (2007) I’m sure there are better, but just got great memories from riding this and then going straight back to the queue to ride again.

Whoever thought adding VR - a medium which nauseates a person through dissociating then from reality - would be a good combination with a roller coaster which nauseates a person through its sheer number of inversions is beyond me. Never rode the VR version myself, but I couldn’t imagine it produced anything other then a headache for it’s riders.

Let's face it though, no ride could ever be as exciting as the thumbnail! 👍🦕🏆😂🤣

Universal Studios Japan still does VR coasters every summer, usually themed to anime.

I work at SWO now as a camp counselor and its funny how VR kraken had wait times upwards of 6 hours that you'd have to join a virtual queue for but now any time I really want to ride a coaster I can go and hop on kraken after work and only wait 5 minutes for it because it's so jerky.

I rode this in VR. IT SUCKED the visor hurt like hell. It's edges were digging in my skin with every turn and drop! The video was out of sync and the visor reeked of sweat and alcohol

I just went on Kraken as well as all of SeaWorld Orlando's coasters (except for Ice Breaker) last month. Kraken is still their best coaster.

I love how the announcer in the ad almost snarls "Kraken is on the loose" like he hates us or something 😂

I think universal Japan has a vr roller coaster of either demon slayer or attack on titan

im sill wating for one on disneyland 50th anniversary and viper and blizzard beach and walt disney world's 25th anniversary

I remember getting something like 10 back to back rides on Kraken one trip. Fun coaster, but it was no Kumba, or Montu.

It’s funny seeing people talk about Medusa because that’s at the six flags I grew up going to and you never really hear about it.

I've been on Kraken back when I was a junior in high school, nearly 20 years ago. I remember getting that my folks having set a meet up time and place in the park because we had to leave early, but there was a bout of miscommunication and in the end, I completely fuck up the plan by going my own way and rode the roller-coaster several times. Oh well.

True immersive VR is just a bad idea for a roller coaster. I think the tech will be seen more in theme parks but I think AR is the way they will go.

I experienced the VR on Kraken once and I disliked it a lot. With my glasses it wouldn't stay on and I had to hold it on my head to keep it from slipping off. Not a fun experience and made me nauseous.

Just watching the VR clips in this video made me nauseated. I couldn’t imagine watching it while riding a coaster. 🤢

4:57 love this bit. Wrong way round mate!!!!! 😂

I remember when kraken was built I remember the test rides. I still ride it til this day once a week at least. She’s a lot rougher now but still my all time favorites as it was my first roller coaster. Kinda sentimental to Me in a way

I actually did get to ride this! Despite the changes I thought it was unique. In the fact when I rode it. I couldn’t feel the ride? My brain couldn’t compute with my body that I was going upside down or being flung around so quickly. It was very odd. I even took my brother in law and he felt the same!

Oh geez I remember that commercial. There was no escaping Kraken when it opened XD

I love the Kraken, We went there in a november and noone was there and we rode it like 3-4 times in a row in the front row, which is legend. Never tried vr thank god

First time I went to sea world kraken had ver and I fainted bc I got so dizzy from it, it was fun tho.

Seems like the Star Tours model of "VR ride" makes a lot more sense.

I love the Kraken. I will always remember getting in the park really early and there was no queue so I went on it 4 times in a row. Good times

I love all of the B&M coasters I've been on. I never rode this one with the vr but I've been on it a bunch of times. This video made me sad that Dragons is gone ( I know it's been a long time) I miss it. Thanks for another great video

i got to ride this when the vr was in. i remember it kept sliding up my forehead every time we went on a loop, i was very annoyed

The way you say Orlando, give me goosebumps

It's interesting to say that Kraken had VR on their ride before they removed them during that time. But luckily people get to experienced it!

Great one, Sam. Always go by FAA standards for height stats. 🥃

I did the vr kraken, it was ok, made me feel a weird motion sickness that lasted a bit

I've never been hugely into rollercoasters, I would usually avoid them. I ran out of line at dueling dragons when my family tried to get me to ride it. Kraken is the only coaster I have ever ridden to this day, and I've ridden it a grand total of two or three times. Something about it seem less terrifying than other coasters. It will forever have a special place in my memories. Kinda glad I never experienced it in VR, I can totally see it detracting from the experience.

Hey my friend so glad to see another amazing video yes I did have a Chance but it wasn't what I thought it would be but it was OK

Disney: no one wants just rides plopped on a parking lot People: go to parks that are just rides plopped in a parking lot Disney: Builds DCA. 😂

When I got the notification, you released a new video I kinda expected it to be about Poseidon after I seen you and Jackie ride it for a final time

With your accent I thought there was now a "flawless" roller coaster. I thought, that's nice that they can make a 100% perfect roller coaster now. Impressive quality control! Later in the video I discovered what was actually removed was the kind of flaw you stand on!

I had completely forgotten about the VR part as I'm not riding coaster anymore. Thanks for the memories!

Love the original Kraken. Have fond memories riding it with my brother, when we were kids. I'm glad the VR is gone now. Road Kraken: Unleashed once and I guess the headset had a loose connection because the picture kept cutting out, leaving me blind for most of the experience. Now, bring back the eels and cave music!

God, 2016 was weird. Great vid btw!

The idea actually seems pretty cool but the tech definitely wasn’t good enough then and probably still isn’t. I bet in 5-10 years though we’ll have a real solid VR coaster.

I remember thinking these VR-enhanced rollercoasters looked like the coolest idea, but this appraisal of the real-world experience (poor sync, poorly-fitted headsets, longer wait times) definitely puts this fad in a new light. VR can be really cool but the headsets have gotta get less cumbersome before it gets bigger. Something more like a light pair of glasses.