ORLANDO, Fla. — The much-anticipated Orlando Eye doesn’t open until Monday, but a young girl got her wish to ride it first.
Jackie Jara, 13, was diagnosed with leukemia and is part of the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
While surrounded by family and friends, she rode the Orlando Eye Wednesday, not too long after daredevil Nik Wallenda’s history-making walk across the attraction earlier in the day.
Raw: Watch full replay of the walk |Wallenda talks about the walk
Photos: Wallenda walks Orlando Eye
Raw: Virtual ride on the Orlando Eye
Step-brothers Austin Swan and Elijah Wallen also got a chance to see Orlando from up above and said it won’t be their last ride.
“It’s astonishing. It’s nothing like I ever expected,” Swan said.
The view shows not just the city, but a skyline of amusement rides, shopping and dining that have emerged, some in recent months.
“I thought it was cool seeing Orlando. I have a new respect for the city now,” said Wallen.
It’s all part of renaissance happening in the city, said Visit Orlando CEO George Aguel.
“It’s sort of capturing the opportunity for our guests to be here for a number of hours in one spot and that gives them an entire strip of options to do,” he said.
While Aguel said Orlando will always be known for its theme parks, it’s no secret the reason it served a national record of 62 million visitors last year was bolstered by new shopping options and growth on International Drive.
“I think if I went to Sea Life then I would want to go to SeaWorld. I think it really plays off of the other parks and they really complement each other,” said visitor Patricia Buchanan. “Especially the night life; it would really make me come to International Drive."
WFTV
