Nik Wallenda sets record with no-net walk across spinning 400-foot-tall Orlando Eye

You want more ways to spend your hard-earned $$ on I-Drive? Merlin Entertainment just gave you three with the May 4 opening of I-Drive 360 and the Orlando Eye, that spanking-new 400-foot-tall observation wheel. The debut ceremony on April 29 was attended by Gov. Rick Scott and Orange County Mayor Theresa Jacobs, as well as a media mob including NBC’s Today Show, and featured a stunt by Nik Wallenda, the third-generation tightrope walker best known for traversing high wires over Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon. Despite a few storm clouds passing through, the weather held up, and Wallenda walked the length of two of the capsules on the outside rim of the Eye while it rotated. (Ahem: WHILE IT ROTATED.) Then, to celebrate his feat, he rode down standing on top of one of the capsules, texting, taking selfies and posting to Twitter. A mere $25 will get you a single-rotation ride on the Orlando Eye, which takes about 20 minutes. Double that and you'll get admission to the new Sea Life Aquarium and the newest iteration of Madame Tussaud's wax museum, too. —HVK

04/29/2015
Photos by Holly V. Kapherr
Scroll down to view images
It started out sunny ... damn, that wheel is really tall.
Holly V. Kapherr
It started out sunny ... damn, that wheel is really tall.
Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs welcomes the daredevil to I-Drive
Holly V. Kapherr
Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs welcomes the daredevil to I-Drive
Clouds rolled in, but didn't deter Nik Wallenda from his stunt
Holly V. Kapherr
Clouds rolled in, but didn't deter Nik Wallenda from his stunt
A closer look ...
Holly V. Kapherr
A closer look ...
Closer ...
Holly V. Kapherr
Closer ...
There he is!
Holly V. Kapherr
There he is!
This guy has balls, er, nerves of steel.
Holly V. Kapherr
This guy has balls, er, nerves of steel.
Nik Wallenda sets record with no-net walk across spinning 400-foot-tall Orlando Eye
Holly V. Kapherr
Wallenda rides one of the capsules down to earth
Holly V. Kapherr
Wallenda rides one of the capsules down to earth
Wallenda waves
Holly V. Kapherr
Wallenda waves
It was pretty hard to actually see him all the way up there — luckily, there were big screens
Holly V. Kapherr
It was pretty hard to actually see him all the way up there — luckily, there were big screens
Wallenda takes a selfie
Holly V. Kapherr
Wallenda takes a selfie
Wallenda chats about his feat(s) at the podium
Holly V. Kapherr
Wallenda chats about his feat(s) at the podium
The crowd looks on
Holly V. Kapherr
The crowd looks on
The view from above
Holly V. Kapherr
The view from above
Things look nice from up here
Holly V. Kapherr
Things look nice from up here
Your chariot awaits
Holly V. Kapherr
Your chariot awaits
The Orlando Eye lobby
Holly V. Kapherr
The Orlando Eye lobby
Entrance to Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum
Holly V. Kapherr
Entrance to Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum