The list of the Top Ten Best Roller Coasters in Florida
Are you a Roller coaster lover? Are you always looking for the biggest and fastest rides? So are we! That’s why we made this list: Top Ten Best Roller Coasters in Florida
As theme park lovers, and roller coaster groupies,we felt it necessary to compile a list of the best, most awesome, roller coasters in Florida. The order in which they appear is our bias love for them. These are our personal favorites.
We rated them based on the overall experience. We looked at the roller coasters appearance, it’s theme, it’s uniqueness, it’s attention to detail, and if we had fun. We acknowledge that our top ten may look different than yours, and we would love to hear what your top ten are!
Okay so, like always, we want to make sure you get the most out of your theme park experiences, so here are a few tips to enjoy the roller coasters
- Get fast passes/express passes whatever the park has to offer. It cuts waiting time by a lot, with the added bonus of giving you the extra time to return to the rides repeatedly. If you don’t get a fast pass, check out the Single Rider line options – they tend to go faster in exchange for you riding alone and/or not getting your preferred seat
- Don’t eat heavy food. This sounds silly, but it’s kinda important. Roller Coasters are all about the thrill, and heavy food and thrill rides don’t really mix. If you are going to be riding coasters all day, eat light!
- Lock up your phone, camera, wallet….in a locker, or leave it with a friend who is too chicken to ride. Nothing is more depressing than watching your phone drop 100+ feet, and shattering on the ground.
- Remember to check the height of your shortest rider: All of these rides have different height restrictions, so important to know who can ride, and who can’t
Okay, now for the list:
10 Best Roller Coasters in Florida
#10 – Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
About the ride: The ride opened in 2009, and allows you to choose from a long list of music to listen to on the ride, so that the sensory experience is personalized. There are songs not on the list! In order to get the secret song bonuses, after lowering the restraint, on the screen, riders must push and hold the logo of the ride for approximately ten seconds. When they release their finger, a number pad will then show up. Entering a three digit code will allow the rider to listen to the song that the code corresponds to. Another fun tidbit is that it is home of the first non-inverting loop.
Park: Universal Studios Florida
Location: Production Central
Minimum Height of passenger: 51 in
Speed: 65 miles per hour
Duration: 1 minute and 37 second ride
Height of ride:167 feet
Inversions: 0
Lift system: Vertical Lift
#9 – Dragon Challenge
About the Ride: This ride was opened in 2010, and is actually two coasters in one: it is a pair of intertwined inverted roller coasters The ride is themed to two chasing dragons, one side being Chinese Fireball and the other Hungarian Horntail. You choose your dragon.
Park: Islands of Adventure
Location: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Minimum height of passenger: 54”
Speed: CF: 60 mph HH: 55 mph
Duration: 2:25
Height of ride: 125 feet
Inversions: 5
Lift System: Chain lift hill
#8 – Manta
About the Ride: This ride is shaped like a Manta-Ray and, while in line for the ride, you can get to encounter different species of Rays. The ride is designed to mirror the way a Manta Ray travels through the water
Park: SeaWorld Orlando
Minimum height of passenger: 54”
Speed: 56 mph
Duration: 2:35
Height of ride: 140”
Inversions: 4
Lift System: Chain lift hill
#7 – The Incredible Hulk
About the Ride: The Ride, opened in 1999, is themed around the Hulk. The train accelerates to 40 mph (64 km/h) in approximately two seconds before speeding through the seven inversions. The ride really provides a whole story, following Dr. Bruce Banner’s transformation into the Hulk.
Park: Islands of Adventure
Location: Marvel Superhero Island
Minimum height of passenger: 54”
Speed: 67 mph
Duration: 1:30
Height of ride: 110”
Inversions: 7
Lift system: Tire Propelled Launch
#6 – Sheikra
About the Ride: The park, opened in 2005, gets it’s name from the word “shikra“, an Asian-African hawk that is known to dive vertically for its prey. The whole ride is based on the bird’s experience. Our staff voted this one the scariest ride.
Park: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Minimum height of passenger: 54”
Speed: 70 mph
Duration: 2:20
Height of ride: 200 feet
Inversions: 1
Lift system: Chain lift hill
#5 – Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
About the ride: This ride, opened in 1999, is an indoor roller coaster. You follow Aerosmith to a concert you are all late for. At the end of the ride, you disembark onto a red carpet, ready for the show.
Park: Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Location: Sunset Boulevard
Minimum height of passenger: 48”
Speed: 57 mph
Duration: 1:22, w/ the preshow: 3:12
Height of ride: 80 feet
Inversions: 3
Lift System: LSM launch with catch car
#4 – Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
About the Ride: What’s cool about this 2014 dark ride is that it turns into a roller coaster and has become the most popular ride in Magic Kingdom. While not the fastest, it has a great concept, and the cars feel like they are tilting, as you would imagine riding in a mine would feel like.
Park: Magic Kingdom
Location: Fantasyland
Minimum height of passenger: 38”
Speed: 34 mph
Duration: 3:00
Inversions: 0
Lift system: Two chain lift hills
#3 – Space Mountain
About the Ride: This classic indoor roller coaster opened its doors originally in 1964 and celebrated its 40th anniversary this past January! It has an awesome outer space theme and the ride as it is now was last updated in 2009.
park: Epcot
Location:
Minimum height of passenger: 44,
Speed: 27 mph
Duration: 2:35
Height of ride: 60 feet
Inversion: 0
#2 – Expedition Everest
About the ride: The 2006 ride is based around the Yeti hiding on Mount Everest. Expedition Everest was the first ride for Disney to have its trains travel both forward and backward. The Yeti is also the largest audio-animatronic Disney has ever built standing at 25 feet.
Park: Animal Kingdom
Location: Asia
Minimum height of passenger: 44”
Speed: 50 mph
Height of ride: 118 feet
Duration: 2:50
Inversions: 0
Lift system: Chain lift hill
#1 – Cheetah Hunt
About the ride: opening in 2011, this coaster coincides with a cheetah exhibit – Cheetah Run, where you can actually see cheetahs. The reason Cheetah Hunt is our number one roller coaster? It’s a solid ride, it’s quiet, it’s smooth, and it’s one of the longest roller coasters in Florida. It’s not scary, it’s just pure fun.
Park: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Minimum height of passenger: 48”
Speed: 60 mph
Duration: 4:00
Height of ride: 102 feet
Inversions: 1
Life system: LSM Launch Coaster
We love roller coasters, and these, in our humble opinions, we really know what we are talking about. The truth is all roller coasters can be fun with the right perspective. Roller coasters are emblematic of theme parks, and a good roller coaster usually means a good park. So, go forth and enjoy the top ten best roller coasters in Florida.
Okay, so that’s our list! Do you agree with us? Did we get it right? Let us know in the comments!
