Five Awesome Florida Theme Park Rides
April 23rd 2011 16:11
Five teeth rattling, bone jangling, scream-inducing rollercoasters in Florida
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, Universal Studios
Quick, strap yourself in then, from a small panel at your side, you have just a few seconds to pick the personalised music you want to listen to before you set off. Oh and remember to smile - a video camera captures you screaming like a small girl on the way round.
The resulting DVD is yours to take home for $34(£24). Hey, why not post it on Facebook? they suggest. Genius - you pay Universal to do their marketing for them!
From the start its a vertical climb 90 degrees straight up to around 160 feet before you plunge over the top at 65mph into a loop that leaves you feeling like youre on the final spin cycle of your washing machine. Theres more twisting and turning to come - 120 seconds or so that you wont forget in a hurry.
Really Long Link
The Incredible Hulk Coaster, Universal Studios
Spoiler alert! Spoiler alert! So, youre safely harnessed in to the car and gently set off for the climb away from the loading platform - for about three seconds before you are literally blasted like a rocket out of a tunnel and into the first of seven inverted loops. Zero to 40mph in two seconds.
Things go a bit hazy from that point - I just remember a lot of screaming, er, manly shouting, with a few choice Anglo-Saxon words thrown in for good measure. Highly recommended and worth queuing for.
Details: universalorlando.com
Space Mountain, Disney World
An oldie but a goodie. It may seem slightly dated next to newer monster-coasters but theres something rather charming about this ride that first opened back in Tomorrowland in 1975, and its genuinely thrilling to rattle about in the dark. Even the queue before boarding is quite amusing.
There are two tracks inside - Alpha on the left, Omega on the right - both mirroring each other in their twists and turns, with the cars only reaching a top speed of 28mph, although it really does feel much faster.
Details: disneyworld.disney.go.com
Manta, Sea World
Theres a palpable buzz as you get towards the front of the line for Manta - already heightend by being so close to the swooping coaster as you enter the queue area from outside.
The adrenaline rush really starts to kick in as you get close enough to see the harness drop over riders shoulders, the locks clamp around their legs and then a hydraulic hiss as the seat tilts backwards so punters are facing towards the ground, rather than sitting upright.
The clank-clank-clank begins as you head upwards, pausing momentarily at the top to look straight down before you start the first plunge at 60mph and twist upside down. Theres nearly 3,500 feet of turning, looping track and for my money, its the most scarily fun ride in central Florida.
http://www.ridemanta.com
Tower of Terror, Disney World
Not a roller coaster but great fun nonetheless. Its based on the 1960s TV series The Twilight Zone and lasts about three minutes once youve climbed on board.
The premise is that you have entered a rickety old lift of the Hollywood Tower Hotel that rises up some 200ft. You know at some point the lights are going to go out and you are going to drop....but just not when or how far. When the lunge comes the fightened screams are genuine.
www.disneyworld.disney.go.com
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, Universal Studios
Quick, strap yourself in then, from a small panel at your side, you have just a few seconds to pick the personalised music you want to listen to before you set off. Oh and remember to smile - a video camera captures you screaming like a small girl on the way round.
The resulting DVD is yours to take home for $34(£24). Hey, why not post it on Facebook? they suggest. Genius - you pay Universal to do their marketing for them!
From the start its a vertical climb 90 degrees straight up to around 160 feet before you plunge over the top at 65mph into a loop that leaves you feeling like youre on the final spin cycle of your washing machine. Theres more twisting and turning to come - 120 seconds or so that you wont forget in a hurry.
Really Long Link
The Incredible Hulk Coaster, Universal Studios
Spoiler alert! Spoiler alert! So, youre safely harnessed in to the car and gently set off for the climb away from the loading platform - for about three seconds before you are literally blasted like a rocket out of a tunnel and into the first of seven inverted loops. Zero to 40mph in two seconds.
Things go a bit hazy from that point - I just remember a lot of screaming, er, manly shouting, with a few choice Anglo-Saxon words thrown in for good measure. Highly recommended and worth queuing for.
Details: universalorlando.com
Space Mountain, Disney World
An oldie but a goodie. It may seem slightly dated next to newer monster-coasters but theres something rather charming about this ride that first opened back in Tomorrowland in 1975, and its genuinely thrilling to rattle about in the dark. Even the queue before boarding is quite amusing.
There are two tracks inside - Alpha on the left, Omega on the right - both mirroring each other in their twists and turns, with the cars only reaching a top speed of 28mph, although it really does feel much faster.
Details: disneyworld.disney.go.com
Manta, Sea World
Theres a palpable buzz as you get towards the front of the line for Manta - already heightend by being so close to the swooping coaster as you enter the queue area from outside.
The adrenaline rush really starts to kick in as you get close enough to see the harness drop over riders shoulders, the locks clamp around their legs and then a hydraulic hiss as the seat tilts backwards so punters are facing towards the ground, rather than sitting upright.
The clank-clank-clank begins as you head upwards, pausing momentarily at the top to look straight down before you start the first plunge at 60mph and twist upside down. Theres nearly 3,500 feet of turning, looping track and for my money, its the most scarily fun ride in central Florida.
http://www.ridemanta.com
Tower of Terror, Disney World
Not a roller coaster but great fun nonetheless. Its based on the 1960s TV series The Twilight Zone and lasts about three minutes once youve climbed on board.
The premise is that you have entered a rickety old lift of the Hollywood Tower Hotel that rises up some 200ft. You know at some point the lights are going to go out and you are going to drop....but just not when or how far. When the lunge comes the fightened screams are genuine.
www.disneyworld.disney.go.com
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