The Orlando Eye, the 400-foot-high observation wheel, slowly lit up Thursday night.

After a four-week-long installation process, the Orlando Eye reached a luminous construction milestone when it officially lit up for the first time at a special event for Merlin Entertainments employees, friends and family.

“I’ve seen the one in Vegas and I thought, you know what, it would be really cool if Orlando got one and there it is. It’s very cool you can see it from very far away," said Jordan Allen from Clermont.

About 64,000 LEDs were installed on the observation wheel. The LED lights — or light-emitting diodes — will use 92.7 percent less energy than traditional light bulbs, Merlin Entertainments said. The Orlando Eye will offer a variety of lighting options to celebrate holidays and other special occasions.

"We’re not a ferris wheel," said Merlin Entertainments regional general manager James Paulding. "That’s the first thing to say. A ferris wheel where you’re in a little capsule swinging around. We’re about a 20 minute flight. That’s what we’re about. It’s a stable driven capsule that you travel around in. It’s a 20-minute experience, air conditioning. There are interactive tablets, you can learn about what you’re seeing, offers you a 360-degree view. You don’t have anything blocking your view and it gives you a very different experience."

A Make-A-Wish family was selected to flip the switch to power on the lights in bright white Thursday night.

The Orlando Eye is located at 8401 International Drive and opens May 4.

Another big event happening on the Orlando Eye will take place on April 29, less-than two weeks from now.

Well-known tightrope walker Nick Wallenda says he's going to walk on the wheel as it spins.

Fun facts about the Orlando Eye's lighting

  • The Orlando Eye has LEDs, which use 92.7 percent less energy than traditional light bulbs.
  • The Orlando Eye has 2,652 individual fittings, which in turn each fit 24 LEDs, giving a total number of 64,000 LEDs on the wheel.
  • The lighting system uses an RGB system to provide for a large variety of color options to fit any special occasion or holiday.
  • In the future, the Orlando Eye, which has a white exterior, will have a rainbow of color effects to choose from with the newly installed LEDs.