There are numerous Roller Coaster rides in the Orlando theme parks. My personal top three would be The Incredible Hulk Coaster at Universal Islands of Adventure, Kraken at Sea World and Aerosmith’s Rock ’n’ Roller coaster at Disney Hollywood Studios. All three are guaranteed to turn your knuckles white – but they are all very different!
Although you get some sense of what awaits you as you pass under the Hulk it does not prepare you for the take off! Strapped 4-abreast in your launch vehicle you’re launched at a steep upwards angle inside a tube, going from zero to 40 mph in two seconds flat! Emerging from the tube you suddenly descend to water level as you plunge towards the lagoon in the center of the park. Then follows a series of 360 degree loops and turns that leave you breathless.
A different thrill awaits as you board Kraken – you realise this when, just before you pull down the shoulder restraints, you are told to remove your flip-flops and other loose items. The ground then disappears from beneath your feet, leaving you suspended on the only floorless roller coaster in Orlando. A slow climb is a precursor to a journey that takes you as high as 15 stories and plunges you below surface level and even underground, whilst throwing you through numerous loops and curves, turning you upside down seven times at speeds reaching over 60 miles per hour, before returning you – eardrums shattered from the screams of those around you – back to your shoes!
Aerosmith’s Rock ‘n’ Roller coaster is the only one of these three which is completely indoors. Your tour of the Aerosmith recording studios is highlighted by the appearance of Steven Tyler and his band. Sadly they have to leave to go to a backstage party – but persuade their manager to hire a fleet of limousines to take their favourite fans (you) to join them. You “buckle up” just in time as the limo accelerates from 0 – 60 in 2.8 seconds. You then speed through the neon lit streets of LA and Hollywood by night (though I’m sure the real streets don’t include two rollovers and a corkscrew!) to the beat of such classic Aerosmith tracks a “Love in an Elevator”, “Walk This Way”, and “Dude (Looks Like a Lady)”, before arriving at the concert.
If pressed I would say that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is my personal number one. I can’t imagine a trip to Orlando without at least one ride on this “Crazy” coaster.
Although you get some sense of what awaits you as you pass under the Hulk it does not prepare you for the take off! Strapped 4-abreast in your launch vehicle you’re launched at a steep upwards angle inside a tube, going from zero to 40 mph in two seconds flat! Emerging from the tube you suddenly descend to water level as you plunge towards the lagoon in the center of the park. Then follows a series of 360 degree loops and turns that leave you breathless.
A different thrill awaits as you board Kraken – you realise this when, just before you pull down the shoulder restraints, you are told to remove your flip-flops and other loose items. The ground then disappears from beneath your feet, leaving you suspended on the only floorless roller coaster in Orlando. A slow climb is a precursor to a journey that takes you as high as 15 stories and plunges you below surface level and even underground, whilst throwing you through numerous loops and curves, turning you upside down seven times at speeds reaching over 60 miles per hour, before returning you – eardrums shattered from the screams of those around you – back to your shoes!
Aerosmith’s Rock ‘n’ Roller coaster is the only one of these three which is completely indoors. Your tour of the Aerosmith recording studios is highlighted by the appearance of Steven Tyler and his band. Sadly they have to leave to go to a backstage party – but persuade their manager to hire a fleet of limousines to take their favourite fans (you) to join them. You “buckle up” just in time as the limo accelerates from 0 – 60 in 2.8 seconds. You then speed through the neon lit streets of LA and Hollywood by night (though I’m sure the real streets don’t include two rollovers and a corkscrew!) to the beat of such classic Aerosmith tracks a “Love in an Elevator”, “Walk This Way”, and “Dude (Looks Like a Lady)”, before arriving at the concert.
If pressed I would say that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is my personal number one. I can’t imagine a trip to Orlando without at least one ride on this “Crazy” coaster.