3. Revenge of the Mummy
Okay, The Mummy isn’t the freshest intellectual property today. Brendan Fraser’s third outing was forgettable, and the Tom Cruise reboot largely failed. Don’t let your apathy toward the film franchise dissuade you from riding this coaster, though. It’s brilliant!
Revenge of the Mummy is one of the best themed coasters in North America. It goes all-in on the premise that you’re in Imhotep’s tomb, and you are the most unwelcome of guests. You’ll go down what seems like a linear path, only to discover that you have to change course to avoid the wrath of an undead Egyptian. A clever implementation of fire will accentuate the sensation that your mortal soul is in peril if you don’t escape. And the ride also flips directions at one point, a clever surprise that still elicits screams of terror almost 15 years after the ride’s debut.
Universal rarely goes toe to toe with Disney in the realm of theming, but this attraction proves that they can more than hold their own when so inclined.
2. Expedition Everest
Do you ever have that sinking feeling that the tracks up ahead are broken? Do you worry what will happen if you’re right? With Expedition Everest, Disney deduces the fear of every train (or maybe I should say monorail) rider and turns it into an explosive roller coaster adventure.
The theme here is that the villagers of Serka Zong need a shortcut through the Himalayas. So, they build a transportation system that cuts straight through the mountains. Too late, they realize that their construction has awoken a presumed mythical creature…and this beast wakes up cranky. Clearly not a morning person, the Yeti disrupts the journey, forcing the train operator to thrust the vehicle backwards into darkness. In this manner, Expedition Everest uses some of the best ideas from Revenge of the Mummy and Space Mountain to create something truly special.
For years, Disney has fought back against the argument that it’s sorely lacking in true thrill rides. Expedition Everest is the creation that refutes those assertions. It’s a masterpiece of ride design.
1. Kraken Unleashed
To stand above the others as the best roller coaster in Florida, you have to do something special. You have to offer some originality that nothing else on the list can match. The 2000 version of Kraken did that when it debuted. The SeaWorld Orlando attraction offered a floorless roller coaster experience that was inimitable at the time. Kraken offers 4,177 square feet of track and a top speed of 65 miles per hour, both of which skew toward the top of the coasters listed here. It also offers seven inversions and a 144-foot drop, both of which are fantastic.
Still, the Kraken of 2000 isn’t good enough to lord above the other roller coasters in Florida. It’s only the recent refurbishment that has put this ride on top. In the summer of 2017, Kraken Unleashed introduced a previously unknown element to Florida roller coaster design. It added virtual reality.
Riders strap on headsets as they wait to depart on their journey. The imagery in these headsets matches the ride that the person is receiving. SeaWorld engineers have added timing sensors around the track to make sure that the timing is correct everywhere. This attention to detail guarantees that the rider believes that they are fully submerged underwater, engaged in a life and death struggle to escape the legendary Kraken.
If you study the video above, you’ll see the stark contract between the previous version of Kraken, the one without virtual reality, and the current one. The difference is staggering. While some riders choose not to use the headsets, a viable choice for people with sensitive stomachs, those who are brave enough to add VR to the mix earn a historically unprecedented ride experience. Virtual reality may not be ready for prime time quite yet, but Kraken Unleashed offers proof of concept about how much this technology will advance the field of roller coaster engineering. Kraken is unquestionably the best and most original coaster in Florida right now.
Other coasters that received consideration but didn’t quite make the list are the aforementioned The Dragon at Legoland Florida, Montu at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, The Incredible Hulk at Islands of Adventure, Manta at SeaWorld Orlando, and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
What’s your favorite Florida roller coaster? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
Comments
Wow. I have never disagreed with a list on this site more than this one.
How can you even have Test Track on this list? It is not by any definition a roller coaster. It's not even in the roller coaster database. Then you arbitrarily discount rides with "velocity limitations" but then you include space mountain which actually has a slower top speed than the two examples you listed as being excluded. Then the most egregious error. Leaving the Hulk and Montu off of the list? Wow just wow. They are two of the best rides in Florida let alone coasters. And they are oftentimes ranked decently high in several "best of" coasters in the country. That's nothing to say about leaving off dragon challenge, Cheetah Run, or Manta off the list You state you crossed the Hulk off of the list because it didn't qualify due to lack of themeing but you include the Kumba which has absolutely zero themeing and is on my personal list for worst coaster in Florida because it rides about as smooth as chunky peanut butter. The thrill of Kumba may last for a couple minutes but the headache it gives you will stay with you for the rest of the day.
My personal Top 10 FL Coasters (I have not been on Mako yet)
1. Montu
2. Dragon Challenge
3. The Hulk
4. Kraken
5. Thunder Mountain
6. Rockin' Roller Coaster
7. Space Mountain
8. Expedition Everest
9. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
10. Manta
But I get it. It's your article and your list and you absolutely love Test Track, I do too! (even though it is not a roller coaster) and I love your other articles and this website so we'll just have to agree to disagree :)