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5. Dragon Challenge

Location: Universal's Islands of Adventure

When Universal’s Islands of Adventure opened in 1999, it was billed as the most technologically advanced theme park on Earth. It was a fair statement! While impressive dark rides and animatronics experiences were the bulk of the hype, the Dueling Dragons coaster was equally impressive. Actually made up of two intertwined B&M inverted coasters, sophisticated computers weighed each train to precise measures and adjusted brakes along the ride to ensure that the trains would “duel” at three near-miss points. At those points, riders would come within 18 inches of the other train.

A few inexplicable accidents forced Universal’s hand as they announced that the Dragons would never duel again. At nearly the same time, the ride was absorbed into the under-construction Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade where it got its new name. Today, the two coasters (called “Hungarian Horntail” and “Chinese Fireball”) are still among the most thrilling in Florida, though the red-tracked Fireball is often given the advantage by enthusiasts for its superlative statistics. 

4. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster

Location: Disney's Hollywood Studios

Disney’s first inverting coaster in the US, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Walt Disney Studios Paris is seriously thrilling. The ride begins with a heart-pounding countdown to a 0-57 mile per hour launch in less than 3 seconds, which blasts the train into a confusing and knotted course of inverting track, twists, overbanked turned, and hills. The ride goes upside down three times as it zooms through a blacklight, comic-book style recreation of Hollywood, and is surprising enough to captivate even well-traveled coaster enthusiasts.

3. Montu

Image: Busch Gardens Tampa

Location: Busch Gardens Tampa

Commonly considered the best inverted B&M coaster in the world, Montu at Busch Gardens Tampa is located in the park’s Egyptian section… which is instantly recognizable by its location amid obelisks, pyramids, and sand pits. The ride itself features many of the elements seen on other B&M inverts, but something about its pacing, placement, seven inversions, and attitude just registered with fans who consider it a gold standard for the model.

We can't help but love how the ride dives into sandy pits held back by ancient stone walls along the ride's course. Very cool! In its early days, trains departing the ride’s station would glide over a pit of very real crocodiles. The animals have since been relocated, but that was one heck of a thrilling send-off for riders aboard an already-crazy coaster.

2. Kumba


Image: Jeremy Thompson, Flickr (license)

Location: Busch Gardens Tampa

Named for the African Congo word for “roar,” Kumba lives up to its name as the coaster’s deep rumbling bass fills the park. With seven inversions (including a round-the-lifthill loop not repeated until Kings Island’s Banshee) and a 135 foot first drop, Kumba dives through almost 4,000 feet of track during a 3-minute ride time. Aggressive, active, and twisted, the ride is thrilling beyond belief. 

1. Incredible Hulk Coaster

Location: Universal's Islands of Adventure

One of the most instantly-recognizable symbols of Universal’s Islands of Adventure, the Incredible Hulk Coaster opened with the park in 1999 and has remained iconic ever since. The 110 foot tall ride is unique, as it was the first B&M coaster in the world to use a launch (though B&M, infamously devoted to using only reliable and tested systems, built only the track, leaving Universal to outsource the launch to a third party; B&M will try their hands at their own launch with 2015’s Thunderbird at Holiday World.)

The ride features a 0 – 40 mile per hour launch in 2 seconds, blasting riders uphill with the same force needed to launch a jet. The upward thrust digs riders into their seats before cresting into a 110 foot high zero-G roll over the water. The train then blasts downward at the ride’s top speed (67 miles per hour) and into the ride’s iconic cobra roll over the park’s central lagoon. The blazing green ride is perhaps as fun to look at as it is to ride. After its cobra roll and vertical loop, the coaster leaps over itself and dives backstage where the rest of its convoluted and twisted circuit double the inversion count.

Basically, Hulk’s got it all: crazy inversions, awesome speed, a twisted circuit that’s unguessable, a super unique launch, and a postcard-ready layout.

 
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Comments

Thank you for putting Kumba at #2. One of my greatest fears is that this coaster will be removed, since it has very low ridership despite its incredible ride. If you go to BGT on any given day, I can 100% guarantee that Kumba will NEVER have more than a 5 minute wait.

Good list. I might disagree with the order of some of these, but generally speaking the list is great. I've always thought Hulk was a bit overrated by many, mostly because it "feels" slower than other coasters, in my opinion. But, I do love the launch and the angry sounds it makes as it rolls over the tracks...I've often wondered whether the "growling" sound the coaster makes was intentional when it was built...

You guys didnt mention rockit rollercoaster at Universal

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