B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure
On the CWORLD Arrival to Orlando we were separated [from] another 737 by 7 miles. At CWORLD we encountered increasing intensity wake turbulence descending through 12;000' to MCO. At one point the aircraft rapidly rolled right approximately 40+ degrees of bank with the autopilot connected and LNAV and VNAV engaged. I promptly disconnected the autopilot and rolled wings level. During the upset the EGPWS (Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System) announced bank angle but the upset was quickly corrected.  After recovery I offset the arrival by .5 miles to the right of course for about 10 miles while we connected the autopilot again in HDG and Vertical Speed.  The alarming issue however was not so much the upset but the cavalier attitude of air traffic controllers. When we announced the lateral deviation due to wake turbulence they said we were 'only' following a 737 and he was 7 miles ahead of us. They did not believe nor did they take seriously the fact that we encountered wake turbulence strong enough to roll us to 40+ degrees of bank rapidly by 'just a 737'.
B737NG Captain reported encountering wake turbulence 7 miles in trail of another B737 on descent into MCO that rolled the aircraft into a 40 degree bank.