In honor of National Roller Coaster Day, Duffy got together with Shellie May, Gelatoni and Stella Lou to pick their favorite roller coasters in the Orlando and Tampa area. They have named these awards the “Coasties” and plan to continue this tradition for years to come. So without any further a do, Twenty Something in Orlando proudly presents Duffy’s Coasties Awards!
Best Classic Coastie: Space Mountain – Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom’s original roller coaster still holds up today. Space Mountain is the oldest roller coaster still operating in Florida, and even at 28 miles per hour still leaves guests screaming as they hurtle through space. Space Mountain is Duffy’s personal favorite coaster because he likes to pose for the picture.
Best Launch Coastie: Cheetah Hunt – Busch Gardens
A bright green and yellow figure eight towers over Tampa. Opened in 2011, Cheetah Hunt launches its riders not once but twice in this three and a half minute ride. The best part of Cheetah Hunt is the long sweeping turns through the Savannah, much like how a cheetah runs after its prey. If you turn your head in the right places, you might even see a giraffe or two! Duffy likes to look for the animals.
Best Indoor Coastie: Revenge of the Mummy – Universal Studios Florida
Revenge of the Mummy has won the Golden Ticket award for Best Indoor Coaster for multiple years for one very good reason: it is an incredible ride. At two minutes and fifty-seven seconds, it is one of Universal’s longer rides. What starts as a visit to a movie set turns into a thrilling chase through the tombs of Ancient Egypt with astounding effects and an unexpected twist. Duffy wishes someone would get Brendan Fraser his cup of coffee, he feels bad for him.
Best Coastie Theming: Dragon Challenge – Universal’s Islands of Adventure
Universal is famous for their long queues but at least they give you something fun to look at along the way. Dragon Challenge, or Dueling Dragons as most people still call it, plunges you into the fourth book of the Harry Potter series as the four champions prepare to face their first challenge in the Triwizard Tournament. You walk past banners supporting each of the champions and the Triwizard Cup itself before you descend into the tunnels to the dragons. Universal estentially did a fantastic job taking coasters they already had and retheming them to the Wizarding World. I haven’t had the heart to tell Duffy they’re closing Dragon Challenge on September 4th to make way for the new Harry Potter attraction.
Smoothest Coastie: Mako – SeaWorld Orlando
Mako is the tallest, longest, and fastest coaster in Orlando, and also the newest in the area. Mako reaches a height of 200 feet and tops out at 73 miles per hour, and never once does it take you upside down! Instead it is a series of up and down peaks that makes for one long smooth ride. Supposedly the track is laid out in a pattern tracked from a Mako Shark, but I think that is more theming than fact. Duffy’s favorite part is the Zero Gs where you come off your seat!
Best Coastie Drop: SheiKra – Busch Gardens
SheiKra is also 200 feet tall, but is a very different ride. North America’s first dive coaster takes you high in the sky and around a short bend, then you hover on the edge of the 90 degree, 200 foot drop for several seconds before the plunge begins with no warning! Duffy loves it but it’s scary, so he and Shellie May hold hands.
Most Intense Coastie: Manta – SeaWorld Orlando
This one was a toughie to decide, but eventually Gelatoni convinced everyone Manta should win because it’s the only Superman style coaster in the area. There’s something about lying down on a roller coaster that adds a new level of awesome, and a need to grip the headrest even harder.
Best Family Coastie: Cobra’s Curse – Busch Gardens
Busch Garden’s newest coaster is built for the whole family, at a slower place with a lower height requirement, but they went out of their way to make this coaster different. The queue is fantastic if you read the hand written notes all the way through as the interns commentate on the history of the Snake King, mixed with the actual live snakes in exhibits. The coaster takes you up a 70 foot elevator to face the Snake King, except he demands that you keep facing him and curses your car to spin. It’s just thrilling enough to keep this family coaster fun for everyone. Duffy likes it since it seats four per car, and he and his friends can all ride together.
Most Creative Coastie: Kraken Unleashed – SeaWorld Orlando
Kraken was SeaWorld’s first thrilling coaster, built in 2000. At the time it was the world’s longest floorless roller coaster. To update the coaster without starting from scratch, SeaWorld outfitted it with virtual reality headsets so that when you ride you are no longer seeing the park but the undersea world of the Kraken! While not a new ride, it is certainly a new experience, and a brilliant way to update an older attraction. Duffy likes seeing the ocean; he just wishes it was full of less scary things.
Best Walt Disney World Coastie: Expedition Everest – Animal Kingdom
Best Universal Orlando Resort Coastie: Hulk – Islands of Adventure
Best SeaWorld Coastie: Mako – SeaWorld
Best Busch Gardens Coastie: Cheetah Hunt – Busch Gardens
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