So shall we get on to it now? Why not! Here we go!
25 - Journey to Atlantis, SeaWorld Orlando
Get ready to get wet!
In my opinion, this is without doubt the best water drop ride in Florida! There are so many to choose from, with the likes of Splash Mountain and Jurassic Park River Adventure to name a few, but this will always be my favourite. I should also mention that it is also very unique because it is also part roller coaster too! Journey to Atlantis was SeaWorld Orlando's bid to bring more thrills to it's park, in order to compete with the likes of Disney and Universal. It proved to be a massive hit and lots more thrilling rides have followed, including Kraken, Manta, and the newly opened Mako. Journey to Atlantis begins with a gentle boat ride through the lost city of Atlantis but things quickly take a turn for the worse. I don't want to spoil too much about the ride if you haven't ridden it but the 60ft water drop is one heck of a thrill! After the big water drop is over, the roller coaster portion begins, which is a big thrill in itself. Journey to Atlantis is certainly a very impressive attraction. The special effects in the Atlantis section are simply stunning. Be sure to check out the spectacularly themed gift shop after riding!
24 - Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin, SeaWorld Orlando
A wonderful adventure awaits inside.
Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin had a massive publicity campaign before it opened, which was very justified once it opened to huge public and critical acclaim. This is a one of a kind dark ride. It is essentially a motion-based dark ride incorporating two live penguin enclosures. Before boarding, guests witness the birth of Puck, a baby gentoo penguin, all shown through a narrated animation. Once on board, guests are taken on a ride through Puck's early years growing up, including the perils of the ocean. Guests can actually choose to ride either a 'mild' or 'wild' version of the ride. I always choose the 'wild' version as I love a good thrill. Then again though, I am a sucker for gentle rides, so I might just have to try the 'mild' version next time. Anyway! The best part of the ride is definitely the two live penguin enclosures, one during the ride, and the second when you get off the ride. The second penguin enclosure is just amazing! You can get so close to the penguins that you can almost touch them. Oh, I also forgot to mention that penguins are one of my favourite animals. That's one of the reasons I love SeaWorld so much, because they feature a lot of my favourite animals, although there are a few more which are yet to come on this list!
23 - Jungle Cruise, Magic Kingdom
"Hi! I'm Anna, and I'll be your skipper for today!"
Now what a classic the Jungle Cruise really is! For many, it is a classic attraction because the first version of the ride at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, was one of the original rides that Walt Disney had personally helped to create. The Florida version is an opening day attraction dating back to October 1st 1971. It's hard to believe that the ride is nearly 45 years old. Although the ride has had updates (like all other attractions) it hasn't aged one bit! A cruise through a jungle full of audio-animatronic animals is certainly a fun experience, but is made so much more entertaining by a funny boat skipper. One of the best things about the Jungle Cruise is that the skippers are actually allowed to improvise a lot of their script, something very uncommon from a Disney attraction. The hilarious cast members playing the skippers are pure Disney magic at it's very best! The ride also features a very well-themed queue (something I love) full of old genuine artefacts. The attraction is a true staple of Disney and it's very clear to see why so many people (myself included) love it.
22 - Shamu Underwater Viewing, SeaWorld Orlando
A truly majestic animal.
Before I discuss the topic of Shamu and SeaWorld, I want to make it very clear that I'm not going to get into a debate about what's right and wrong. SeaWorld Orlando has always been my favourite theme park in Florida (in fact, the whole world) and killer whales are without doubt one of my all-time favourite animals. One of my favourite things in favour of SeaWorld Orlando is the fact that there is pretty much nowhere else in the world that I would be able to see killer whales up close, other than in the wild. The Shamu Underwater Viewing area is the perfect place to see these wonderful animals. It is truly breathtaking to see these majestic creatures right in front of you. Depending on the time of day, you might see the whales playing with toys or even interacting with the guests! Above the Shamu Underwater Viewing area is where the Dine with Shamu experience is held, which is something I definitely want to do on the honeymoon next year.
21 - Dragon Challenge, Islands Of Adventure
You'll see Hogsmeade in the distance.
Originally called Dueling Dragons, this duel roller coaster is a very thrilling experience indeed. Originally the ride was featured in The Lost Continent area of the park but was renamed and slightly altered when the area was redeveloped as the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Guests queue in an area themed to the Triwizard Tournament and it's Champions' Tent. Once inside, guests get to choose which coaster they want to ride, either the red Chinese Fireball dragon or the blue Hungarian Horntail dragon. Both coasters are unique which makes you want to try both options on the coaster. The red option is a favourite for many as it reaches the faster speed of both coasters at 60 mph. Dragon Challenge is definitely a favourite roller coaster of mine but there are many others I favour, hence why it just misses out on my top 20. Trust me, it wasn't an easy decision!
20 - T2 3-D: Battle Across Time, Universal Studios
An amazing show!
19 - Jaws, Universal Studios
It's Jaws!
Oh how I miss this attraction! When you think of theme park rides based on films, Jaws was the best of the bunch, no contest! This was just the perfect attraction, especially for a theme park dedicated to the magic of the movies. Jaws was situated in the old Amity area of Universal Studios, sadly now gone and redeveloped as the London/Diagon Alley expansion of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The Amity area of Universal Studios was truly phenomenal. It was quite simple in terms of some of the other areas but the simplicity of it made it all the more effective. It really looked like the Amity you saw in 'Jaws'. The ride itself was a boat tour of Amity Harbour. With a name like Jaws though, obviously it wasn't going to be a gentle boat ride! Unsurprisingly, the infamous great white shark made appearances on the ride, scaring many children (and adults alike) throughout it's 21 year history. The shark did look surpassingly realistic! I'll never forget jumping every time the shark popped up in the boathouse section of the ride. It was such a shame the ride had to close. It left behind many many sad fans. At least Universal replaced it with the rather fantastic Diagon Alley, which I'm still yet to see. So I definitely can't wait to see that next year!
18 - Haunted Mansion, Magic Kingdom
Not so sure if I'd want to marry this bride!
Just like the Jungle Cruise, the Haunted Mansion is another true staple of Disney folklore. It was also another attraction which Walt Disney himself had input on but sadly didn't live to see it open. Now I will be honest, the Magic Kingdom version of the Haunted Mansion is not my favourite version of the attraction, that title goes to Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris, however, I still love the Florida version! The Haunted Mansion isn't your standard haunted house attraction, far from it! This is Disney theming at it's best and a true testament to all of the wonderful work the Disney Imagineers create. The queue for Haunted Mansion is an attraction in itself! There are so many quirky jokes scattered throughout the queue, including some rather amusing tombstones. There also some surprises too, I mean hey, did that tombstone just open it's eyes? Maybe it did! The pre-show to the Haunted Mansion is where the real spooks begin. Guests are told the story of the mansion and it's many residents, including a surprise shock from a suicidal ghost, which normally frightens the little ones. Guests are then loaded into their ride vehicles, or 'Doom Buggies' to be precise! From then on, guests are taken on a tour through the mansion's many rooms, including appearances from the 999 happy haunts. There are so many special effects in the attraction that it's quite overwhelming at times. While I prefer Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris, the Magic Kingdom's Haunted Mansion is a very welcome inclusion on my list, and rightfully so.
17 - Manta, SeaWorld Orlando
Get ready to soar!
16 - Clyde and Seamore, SeaWorld Orlando
It's those loveable sea lions again!
SeaWorld Orlando is well known for its many animal shows and the Clyde and Seamore shows are definitely the funniest of them all. Clyde and Seamore are the names given to two California sea lions who perform comical shows alongside actors/trainers. Now I can't comment on their current show 'Sea Lion High' as I haven't watched it in person, only on YouTube, but I did love the previous show, 'Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island'. It was just one of the funniest things I had ever seen. You could easily watch it more than once a trip because it was different every time. If the sea lions weren't responding to their cues, then the actors/trainers would make a joke out of it, sending the audiences into hysterics. This show definitely wasn't meant to be taken seriously. The sea lions are indeed very comical and always worth a watch. One of my other favourite things about the old show was the fact that they had pre-show entertainment in a mime artist. The mime would always take the Mickey out of guests who hadn't gotten to the stadium early. We always made sure to get our seats early in order to avoid any embarrassment from the mime! I do miss those times!
15 - Space Mountain, Magic Kingdom
3... 2... 1... Blast off!
14 - Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Islands Of Adventure
Harry's here to save the day!
13 - Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges, Islands Of Adventure
Prepare to get wet, very wet!
This is just pure fun, it really is! In my opinion, Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges is the best water ride at any of the parks in Florida. Kali River Rapids at Disney's Animal Kingdom are very good fun, but they're not a patch on Popeye and Bluto's at Islands of Adventure. As the name suggests, these fun water rapids are based on the famous 'Popeye' cartoons. There are so many fun visuals on this ride, including some audio-animatronic cartoon characters from the 'Popeye' series, including the famous sailor man himself! Perhaps the biggest guarantee with this ride is that you will get absolutely soaking wet! There is no chance of yourself coming off this ride with just a drop of water, you will be soaked right through. It is so worth it though, because it is a real fun experience and you're likely to dry off straight away in the Florida heat anyway. The rapids themselves are very fast, probably the fastest ones in all of Florida, which makes it all the more fun. I do love a good water ride and Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges wins hands down for me!
12 - Star Tours, Disney's Hollywood Studios
Look out for the giant AT-AT!
Now Star Tours has been a firm favourite of mine for as long as I can remember. One of my first memories from holidays in Florida was riding Star Tours with my Dad, Nan and Grandad. I've been a massive 'Star Wars' fan ever since I was little, so it's no surprise that Star Tours has always been one of my favourite attractions in Florida. As you know by know, I love my themed queues, and Star Tours has one of the best. As soon as you enter the Star Tours building, you are transported into the world of 'Star Wars'. There is so much to see in the queue, especially if you're a 'Star Wars' fan, or even if you're not. If you look up to your left, you will see Admiral Ackbar in a control room, giving orders. In front of you, you will see C-3PO arguing with his companion R2-D2. Then you enter into the droid room where some robots are being assembled. Then finally you and the rest of the guests wait to board your Starspeeder 3000, for a trip to the forest moon of Endor. After a spaceflight safety video, guests enter the Starspeeder 3000, where they are greeted by droid pilot Captain Rex. The quirky droid mistakenly lets the guests know that this is his first Star Tours flight, and surprise surprise, not everything is going to go to plan. As soon as the flight begins, it takes a wrong turn and some fun mayhem is in store. Guests encounter many familiar scenes from the world of 'Star Tours'. Now I must state, Star Tours has had a recent make-over and has been transformed into Star Tours - The Adventure Continues. Quite spectacularly, the new Star Tours boasts a total of 96 different ride options, which pretty much guarantees a different ride experience every time. I'm very much looking forward to experiencing the new Star Tours next year but I'm sure the original at Disney's Hollywood Studios will always be my favourite. I'm also very excited that Disney's Hollywood Studios features a lot more 'Star Wars' content now, so I'm going to be in heaven!
11 - Pirates of the Caribbean, Magic Kingdom
Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a Pirates life for me!
Just missing out on my top 10 is an undisputed classic, Pirates of the Caribbean. Trust me, it wasn't an easy decision to leave this off of the top 10. No one can doubt that Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the best attractions to be found at the Magic Kingdom, as well as at all of the other Disney parks around the world. Just like the Haunted Mansion and Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean is a true staple of the Disney parks, and again, is one of the last rides that Walt Disney himself had helped to create. Many people will be familiar with the ride because it spawned a hugely successful film series of the same name, starring Johhny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow. The films have become so popular that Disney have incorporated them into the rides. Now on the ride you will see appearances from an audio-animatronic Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain Barbosa. The ride itself is a gentle boat ride (bar one gentle drop) through the world of pirates, shown by many wonderful audio-animatronic characters. Playing throughout the whole ride is the song 'Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me) which I guarantee you'll be singing afterwards, I even sing it while queuing! Speaking of queuing, I can't go on any further without telling you about the amazing queue. In my opinion, Pirates of the Caribbean features the best themed queue of any single ride/attraction in Florida. The whole queue is themed around the tunnels and prisons of an old fort. Personally, it reminds me of all the tunnels from the film 'The Goonies', which is my favourite film of all time! The queue really sets the tone for the upcoming ride experience. You could argue that the queue is quite eerie in some respects but that feeling is taken away by the fantastic music that plays on a loop throughout the queue. There are so many things that I love about this attraction that I feel quite bad about leaving it off of my top 10 but I do believe that the others are more deserving. Having said that, if this was the Disneyland Paris version of the ride, then it would be right up there, as I feel that version of the ride is much more superior to the one at the Magic Kingdom. Still, it's a fantastic ride and will always remain one of my favourites, for a long time to come.
10 - Mickey's PhilharMagic, Magic Kingdom
Be our guest!
Kicking off my top 10 is one of the most impressive theme park attractions that I've ever experienced, the fantastic Mickey's PhilharMagic. This is a one of a kind show that you are not likely to experience anywhere else in the world other than in the realms of Disney. The show takes place inside the Fantasyland Concert Hall, where Mickey Mouse is going to be performing with his PhilharMagic Orchestra. Guests are told to put on their "opera glasses" (3D glasses) then it's showtime! On a large 3D screen (the largest purpose-built screen in the world) Donald Duck is told by Mickey Mouse to prepare the orchestra's instruments. Mickey hurries off the stage, warning Donald not to touch his famous Sorcerer's hat. With the instruments ready, Donald can't resist the temptation of Mickey's Sorcerer's hat and unsurprisingly puts it on his head. Suddenly, the instruments all come to life, playing an unpleasant melody, then Donald is taken through a whirlwind, which takes him though classic Disney film moments, including 'Beauty and the Beast', 'The Little Mermaid' and 'Aladdin'. Donald interacts with all of the characters in each scene, including a rather sweet moment with Ariel during her song 'Part of Your World'. The show features some great humour from Donald Duck, not surprising as he is one of the funniest Disney characters, and also one of my favourites. As I mentioned this is a one of a kind show for many reasons. One of my favourite things about the show is that the animation itself is all 3D renderings of originally 2D cartoons. They work to great effect. One of the most impressive special effects in the show is scents. During the 'Be Our Guest' segment, you can actually smell all of the food, and let me tell you, it's a wonderful sensation! Definitely Disney magic at it's finest. I would argue that this is one of the best things that Disney have ever produced for it's parks. It's a very fine and deserving inclusion in my top 10 favourite attractions in Florida.
9 - The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, Islands of Adventure
An 'amazing' adventure awaits!
As the Americans would say, this ride is simply "AWESOME!" I'll never forget how amazed I was the first time I rode The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. It left an impression on me that I'll never forget. I remember when it first opened, it was stated as the park's headline attraction, and it was very clear to see why. I first rode it in 2001, at the age of 8, which when I think about it now, was probably the perfect age for something like this. Back then, I was never much of a superhero fan, Spider-Man however, was one I did like. It made sense to ride this and I was absolutely blown away. The special effects, the visuals, the sensation, just everything about it was amazing. Ever since that first ride experience next to my Dad and Grandad, I have ridden on it every holiday since. The ride is an absolute blast! Like most of my favourite attractions, Spider-Man boasts a stunning queue, which sees guests walk through the offices of The Daily Bugle newspaper, where Peter Parker (Spider-Man) earns a living. The theming is so intricately detailed that you can read the newspapers from a distance, and they will include many references to Spider-Man and also a few more hidden references to other superheroes. The ride itself though, oh wow! Guests board a special 'Scoop' vehicle and are sent on a mission for The Daily Bugle newspaper to see why five supervillains led by Doctor Octopus are causing havoc in Manhattan. Guests are taken on a fast paced spin through the streets of Manhattan, facing all 5 supervillains throughout the ride, but not to worry, because Spider-Man is there to save the day! The motion-based 3D dark ride is definitely the best of it's kind. There's nothing quite like it. Some people would argue that Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is the better of the two dark rides in Islands of Adventure, but I would have to disagree, although both are stunning attractions in their own right. It's not surprising to read that The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man has won a staggering 31 theme park awards since opening in 1999. It's very deserving of the accolades and is a welcome inclusion on my top 10. However, it is not the highest Islands of Adventure attraction on my list, that accolade goes to a true beast of an attraction, which is coming up very soon!
8 - Test Track, Epcot
Get ready to push the speed limit!
It's been ages since I last mentioned Epcot but there was no way this attraction wasn't going to make my top 10 list. Test Track is simply one of the best attractions I've ever experienced. The first time I rode it I remember saying to myself "This is one of the best things I've ever been on!" To tell you the truth, it still is! The original version of the ride saw guests board a test car, which would go through various trials, including suspension tests, breaking tests, and even all weathers tests. The highlights of the ride included a near miss of a large semi truck and a finale featuring a speed test, which saw the car reach a maximum speed of 64.9 mph. I'll never forget experiencing the finale of Test Track for the first time. The sensation of speed and breeze in your hair was just amazing. In 2012, Test Track went through some renovations which resulted in a slightly different attraction. Guests now had the option to build their own version of the car in the queue, and the chosen options would be tested during the ride and the end of the ride would show whose car won. Most of the actual ride experience was the same, including the amazing finale, but the ride interior had more of a futuristic vibe to it, a bit like something out of the film 'Tron'. I must admit, I never made my own car because I used the single rider queue last time, which skips the car design area. It didn't bother me though because I just enjoyed the ride experience without worrying about how well my version of the car would have gone. It's great that Disney give their guests this option but it doesn't really appeal to me to be honest. Test Track is without doubt the best attraction at Epcot, although with the recent opening of Frozen Forever After, that may change, and I am a 'Frozen' fan, so I may be swayed when I ride that for the first time (in forever) next year. We'll see!
7 - Universal's Horror Make-Up Show, Universal Studios
"You're just going to sit there and watch me die?"
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this show! There is so much for me to love about this show that it is easily a top 10 for me. Growing up, I adored horror films, especially the original 1930s classics made by Universal. The likes of 'Frankenstein' and 'Dracula' have forever been favourites of mine. This show is just perfect for fans of the horror genre. I also think it's great on Universal's part that they have the show as a tribute to the films that made the company the powerhouse it is today. The lobby of the theatre is full of horror film memorabilia. You'll see props from classics such as 'Jaws' and 'The Thing'. Once the doors open, guests enter the theatre and sit in front of what looks like a mad scientists laboratory. Host, Alex Ross, welcomes everyone to the show. All of a sudden, we hear a piercing scream and a make-up artist by the name of Mark James (Marty James if it's a female performer) crawls into the theatre. After tempting an audience member to pull out a fake knife stuck in Mark, he joins Alex on the stage and welcomes everyone to the show, promising to demonstrate some of the many make-up techniques used in the world of horror cinema. There are tributes to the many horror films released by Universal, including the 1930s classics as well as some right "Crap!" as quoted by Mark. Tributes are also paid to famous actor Lon Chaney and revolutionary make-up artist Jack Pierce. The show is laced with humour, including quite a lot of jokes for the adults. I especially love the line that Mark says to a kid in the audience "You know this isn't Disney, we don't have to be nice to you!" It's all in good spirits and not really a scary show by any means. You'll more than likely leave the show with a huge smile on your face from laughing so much at the jokes. This is one of the reasons that I do like Universal Studios because it is a lot more aimed at adults, which can sometimes be a nice break away from Disney.
6 - The Incredible Hulk, Islands of Adventure
It's hard not to miss this one!
Kicking off four roller coasters in a row in my top 10 is Island of Adventure's The Incredible Hulk. Before I go on, I have to say that this one and number 5 were incredibly hard to decide between but I think I have a valid reason for the next one to be slightly higher on my list. Anyway! The Incredible Hulk is unmissable. It's simply huge, and being a bright green roller coaster, you're not going to miss it! I love how you can easily see it on International Drive, from just outside the Universal Orlando complex. I must add that the coaster has just had a big makeover, so I wont be able to describe the current version having not been on it yet. I will however be talking about the original version of the attraction, which I love very very much. This is one hell of a roller coaster! As soon as you board, you are sent on a fast launch which kickstarts the ride! There are so many loops, twists and turns, I've lost count! Now I'm not very technical when it comes to roller coaster terminology, so you'll have to excuse me for that! This is definitely one of the most thrilling roller coasters in Florida. It's clear to see why it has won lots of awards in the past. My only criticism would be that your head does get bashed about quite a lot on it, although hopefully that has changed with the new makeover. The whole coaster track has been replaced, which will hopefully make for a smoother ride on my next visit. The Incredible Hulk is normally my first ride when I visit Islands of Adventure. There's no starting slowly with me, I like to get right into it!
5 - Kraken, SeaWorld Orlando
I'll never forget riding this bad boy for the first time!
As I mentioned above, it was a tough call between choosing this and The Incredible Hulk. I decided to put Kraken at the higher number 5 because it was the first extreme roller coaster I ever went on. I remember when I first started going on coasters. My first big coster was Space Mountain. After riding I thought to myself that I would go one step further and go on a roller coaster with loops. So the first one that came my way was Kraken at SeaWorld Orlando. I was slightly scared before riding but my courage started to build up the closer I got to the front of the queue. Once on board, the panic set in again as the coaster began climbing the lift hill. Then as soon as I went down the first drop, the panic turned to pure joy. I absolutely loved it! I thought I would be terrified of loops but they felt absolutely sensational to me. My first time feeling g-force on a roller coaster was just incredible! I loved it so much the first time that I rode it again straight away. It became an instant favourite of mine and from then on I started riding every roller coaster at the parks, nothing fazed me anymore. It's still one of my favourite roller coasters and is definitely my favourite thrill ride at SeaWorld Orlando. A visit to Kraken next year is in store, that's for sure!
4 - Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, Disney's Hollywood Studios
Get ready to rock!
What's not to love about this one? A fantastic roller coaster playing the sounds of Aerosmith, I love it! Aerosmith are one of my favourite rock bands, so the combination of their music and roller coaster is just inspiring! I love the elaborate theming to this ride. The outside of the show building features a giant red Fender Stratocaster guitar, as well as a blue Cadillac, which looks very similar to the ride vehicle you're about to sit in. Once inside the building, guests walk through a recording studio called 'G-Force Records'. After waiting, guests enter the pre-show in the recording studio where Aerosmith are busy recording a new record. All of a sudden, the band's manager turns up to tell them that they are late for a concert. Singer Steven Tyler voices his discontent at leaving the guests alone, so invites them along to the concert. The band manager reluctantly agrees then guests are led through into the next part of the queue, before they board the roller coaster. Now the beginning of this ride is the best part in my opinion. Once you enter the ride, the vehicles moves very slowly around the corner and stop in front of a highway sign, which reads out different humorous messages, such as "Traffic bug you? Then STEP on it!" All of a sudden, you hear the sound of Steven Tyler in your ears counting down from 10 to 1, then whoosh! We're off! Guests are launched from 0 to 58 mph in less than 2.8 seconds! It's an exhilarating moment, and gets me every time! After the launch, guests are sent on a wild roller coaster ride, with different Aerosmith songs playing in their ears. There's nothing better than rushing around on a roller coaster and listening to the sounds of 'Sweet Emotion' and 'Walk This Way'. It's really an awesome experience. God forbid they ever change the band fronting this ride, because Aerosmith make it all the more better, they really do! This is a firm favourite of mine, and my second favourite roller coaster in all of Florida. Rock on!
3 - Revenge of the Mummy, Universal Studios
"Your souls will be mine!"
What a ride this is! Revenge of the Mummy proudly holds the title of being my favourite roller coaster in all of the theme parks at Florida. For me, it was a no brainier! This is simply the best roller coaster I've ever ridden. It has everything that I love about a ride, good thrills, stunning special effects and a fantastically themed queue area! Revenge of the Mummy almost suffered a huge backlash from theme park fans before it opened because it replaced Kongfrontation, which was a favourite for many people who visited Universal Studios. Some people were upset that Universal were making a ride based on 'The Mummy' film series, starring Brendan Fraser. While there are still some sceptics (there's always one) Revenge of the Mummy opened to huge acclaim, from critics and fans alike. The ride takes guests through Ancient Egyptian high priest Imhotep's tomb. Almost as soon as the ride begins, guests are told that the curse of Imhotep is real and we see Imhotep in mummified form, who warns "With your souls, I shall rule for all eternity!" That doesn't sound very good does it? Well, if it makes for an exciting journey ahead, then I suppose it doesn't matter! Guests are then taken into a huge chamber where we once again see Imhotep, but this time he's surrounded with his mummified guards. Then the real fun begins! Guests just about escape a falling wall when they're confronted with huge amount of scarab beetles. Then the ride turns 180 degrees, then you're launched at 40 mph while Imhotep shouts "Your souls are mine!" Then straight into the drops, twists and turns you go! It's such a good experience. The audio-animatronics and projection special effects are simply stunning. I've not seen a roller coaster quite like it anywhere else in the world. It of course has a spectacular queue, surprised? I think not. The first half of the queue is themed as a film set for a new 'Mummy' film being made, the second portion of the queue is themed to be right in the middle of an Ancient Egyptian temple. There are a few scare effects in the queue, which can actually be triggered willingly by people in the queue. For personally, Revenge of the Mummy is the best roller coaster experience you'll ever have. It's a very worthy number 1 roller coaster on my list, especially considering the amount of fantastic roller coasters in Florida!
2 - Shamu, SeaWorld Orlando
Dawn Brancheau. One amazing performer. Very sadly missed.
SeaWorld Orlando, easily my favourite park in all of Florida. I know there are many other parks in Florida that have a lot more rides but to me, SeaWorld Orlando is the perfect theme park. It has a very relaxing vibe throughout the park, which makes it a perfect theme park to spend your first day of the holiday. Funnily enough, it's always been a tradition for my family to visit SeaWorld Orlando on the first full day of our Florida holidays. I just love everything about the park. It has the perfect mix of rides and shows in my opinion. Attractions aside, it is mostly known for it's animal exhibits. One of my biggest problems with people who criticise SeaWorld Orlando is the fact that they fail to realise just how many animals the SeaWorld company have helped rescue. SeaWorld do so much more for their animals than many people realise, but I don't want to get into a debate about that. Like I said, SeaWorld Orlando is known for it's many animals on show. I mean other than in the vast ocean, where else am I going to see my most favourite animal in the world, the killer whale. Seeing these beautiful creatures up close is one breathtaking sight. I've always loved killer whales. I think watching the film 'Free Willy' started my love affair with killer whales, or orcas as they're also known. I remember when I was young, I thought Tilikum at SeaWorld Orlando was actually Willy from the film! I was young though, so I had an excuse! Seeing these whales in front of my very own eyes was a truly awe inspiring sight, and you know what, it still is! Seeing these majestic creatures performing is just stunning. The way they move through the water is so gracious. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see them in their natural habitat, but it's very hard to do so. In my opinion, the best Shamu show that SeaWorld Orlando have ever done was Believe. The show used to feature an amazing soundtrack (which I own on CD) and featured some of the best waterworks (trainers doing stunts in the water with the whales) that I had ever seen. Sadly after the death of Dawn Brancheau, the trainers had to stop all waterworks with the whales. The shows have never been the same since but they are still fantastic nonetheless. I'd also like to point out that the Shamu Stadium is stunning in it's own right, it's just massive! People might be surprised that I've put the Shamu shows as the runner up in my top 50 theme park attractions in Florida, but I've always loved them and always will do. I know SeaWorld Orlando will soon be stopping their killer whale shows in favour of more educational experiences (which I'm all for) so I'm very happy to say that I've been lucky enough to see the best of the Shamu shows. The memories will live long with me, that's for sure.
1 - The Great Movie Ride, Disney's Hollywood Studios
The greatest ride of all!
"Hooray... for... HOLLYWOOD!" Yes that's right, my proud number 1 and most favourite theme park attraction in all of Florida is The Great Movie Ride! I bet you probably didn't even expect it to be number 1, to be honest, a lot of my friends and family are surprised when I tell them it's my favourite. Why not a coaster or a theatre show? Simple. I love films! I absolutely adore the world of film, or magic of the movies as I would say in America. For me, there was no contest in choosing this as the top of my pile. It's been my favourite attraction for as long as I can remember. I think another reason people find this a surprising favourite of mine is because it's a gentle ride. As you can see from my list, I've included a lot of thrill rides, so I do love them, don't get me wrong, but I love this one more than anything else. This ride is the perfect tribute to the history of film and epitomised everything that the original Disney's MGM Studios stood for. The ride itself is housed inside a replica of Grauman's Chinese Theatre. The outside of the building looks exactly like the real theatre on Hollywood Boulevard, California. It really is an exceptional beauty. You have to admit that Disney did a sensational job when building The Great Movie Ride. You can see The Great Movie Ride right from the entrance of the theme park, and it's a very welcoming sight. Once inside the building, you queue in the foyer of the theatre, which features some film props. Props in the past have included the chess table from 'Star Wars: A New Hope' and also a pair of Dorothy's ruby red slippers from 'The Wizard of Oz'. The next portion of the queue sees guests watching film trailers on a cinema screen, including the likes of 'Alien' and 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'. Next is when guests finally board their open-top ride vehicles, then it's lights, cameras, action! Music belts out of the speakers and we hear the iconic line "Hooray for Hollywood!" Guests are then taken on a journey through some of the most iconic scenes in film history, all told through audio-animatronics and a tour guide. Most film genres are touched on here. You'll see the world of musicals, gangsters, westerns, adventure and one or two surprises. You may also find yourself somewhere familiar if your vehicle takes you on that famous yellow brick road! Your tour guide might also make an unexpected stop, but don't worry, it's all part of the show! The ride finishes with a montage of some of the greatest film moments of all time on a huge cinema screen. It's the perfect way to end an attraction that celebrates the history of film. You know, I love this ride so much that I could probably write a whole blog about it. Now there's an idea! On a sad note, I've read a lot of rumours lately saying that The Great Movie Ride may be closing in favour of a new experience next year. Now I hope this isn't true because I would be absolutely gutted if The Great Movie Ride were to close. Some reports have said they may redo the ride to add Mickey Mouse into everything, but why? Mickey Mouse has enough presence in the park, let alone all the other parks. Just leave the attraction as it is. It's bad enough that the ride now has a pre-recorded narration, something I'm yet to experience on the ride. I don't mind Disney improving their rides, but this one really needs to be left alone. The only thing I would do is maybe change around one or two scenes, but nothing major. For me, The Great Movie ride is everything I love about the magic of Disney, and Florida parks in general, therefore, making it my most favourite theme park attraction in all of Florida. I hope it's here to stay forever and ever!
Well that's about it now! Thank you so much for reading this. I hope you enjoyed reading it. This has definitely been my most personal blog to date. It has brought back a lot of memories of my past holidays, memories I treasure very much. It was a lot harder than you may think for me to choose all of these. Trust me, it was very, very difficult! I feel quite bad that I couldn't fit some of the attractions onto my top 50, so there's the possibility of a new blog about all of them ones. Watch this space! Thanks again for reading!
I agree with Rock n Roller Coaster, Kraken, Antarctica, and I also loved Jaws Ride! Although my son is still traumatised from when we took him on it aged 22 months old and Jaws came up out of the water right next to him with Jaws open! Oh well he is 24 now and should be out of counselling soon....
ReplyDeleteI also loved Clyde & Seymour the Sealion Show and Sealion High is a poor poor replacement! It still has the main characters but is now aimed at children and tries to be educational so its kind of boring in places! I miss the Clown who made fun of everyone before the show and its just not as good! Probably OK for school age kids but I would not bother with it next time!
Shamu Show never disappoints and I also remember when the trainers got in the pool with the Orcas and rode them and it was so exciting!
We bought our youngest son a Plush Toy Shamu when he was 4 and he went around with it pretending to splash everyone with the tail for a long time!