In 2019, SeaWorld announced on its Instagram page that the motion simulator at the San Diego location would have its final day of operation on January 10, 2020.

The exhibit stayed open (containing all the animals), but the ride (and the non-motion theater) could not be accessed and never reopened in both Orlando and San Diego.

The SeaWorld San Diego ride was replaced by Arctic Rescue, an Intamin family launch coaster that exits into the animal exhibits.

Guests queued outside the "Franklin Exploration Center", where it was presumed that they were waiting to board a helicopter which took them to "Base Station: Wild Arctic".

Guests who required stationary seating were taken directly to a Gate Boarding Room B where they viewed the ride film and then the interactive animal exhibit.

Soon, White Thunder was caught in an avalanche and ice flow until Emerson narrowly escaped the storm by piloting through a narrow cavern, and to safety.

Several marine mammal enclosures can be viewed, from both above and underwater, primarily consisting of beluga (or white whales), Pacific walruses and harbor seals.

At the end of the exhibit, guests exit through a long series of ramps and into a gift shop, where Arctic-themed items and general SeaWorld merchandise can be purchased.

Adjacent to the indoor viewing window was a simulated polar bear "ice cave" for smaller guests (primarily children) to explore; the cave featured manmade frozen ice-walls and polar bear "tracks" leading visitors inside, in addition to periodic growling and loud roaring sound effects, something which reportedly frightened many small children.