The Orlando Eye shares first glimpse of passenger capsule

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The capsules weigh 6,600 pounds each and will hold 15 people each.

Richard Bilbao

Reporter- Orlando Business Journal

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I-Drive 360's Orlando Eye is taking shape, and another major piece of it has arrived in Orlando – the passenger capsules.

The wheel will come equipped with 30 of the 6,600-pound capsules, and each capsule will hold 15 people — reaching a maximum wheel-capacity of 450 people at one time. The wheel will continuously load and unload passengers as it rotates. Also, the capsules will be air-conditioned and include audio effects for riders' 20-minute experience.

"Construction on the Eye is moving at great speed, and once the outer wheel has been completed, it will be exciting to see the installation process of the capsules. Approaching that milestone signifies just how close we are getting to our spring 2015 grand opening," said Orlando Eye General Manager Robin Goodchild.

The Orlando Eye is one of several attractions at the $200 million I-Drive 360 development, which has created thousands of new construction and permanent jobs and will help boost the $50 billion tourism industry in Central Florida.

Check out those photos above and be sure to check out our latest visit to I-Drive 360.

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