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New Rides and Attractions at Orlando Theme Parks

Speedy Roller Coasters and a Sky-High Ride Debut this Spring, Summer

Apr 24, 2009 Kara Williams

Families hitting the major Orlando theme parks this summer will enjoy some brand-new attractions and rides at Universal Orlando, SeaWorld and Walt Disney World Resort.

Theme-park enthusiasts who are not afraid of heights (or speed) will likely embrace the new attractions at three of the most popular amusement parks in Orlando this summer.

Hollywood Rip Ride RockIt at Universal Orlando

This ride is being heralded as a one of the "most radically innovative roller coasters ever invented." Indeed, the coaster features three never-before-seen maneuvers:

The "Double Take," the world's largest non-inverted loop, which is 136 feet tall and 103 feet wide at the diameter
The "Treble Clef," where the steel tracks twist and turn to take the shape of the music symbol
The "Jump Cut," a spiraling, negative-gravity move

Add three more thrilling maneuvers, a 17-story vertical lift, and 65-mile-an-hour speeds, and this new ride sounds like one exhilarating experience! But there's more: riders choose their own audio soundtrack -- including songs from rap/hip hop, country, classic rock/metal, pop/disco and club/electronica. Riders listen to the music on the ride, and these tunes also accompany the personal "music video" of their experience that riders can purchase afterwards. (Price not set yet for take-home DVD.)

Hollywood Rip Ride RockIt is set to open in "late spring/early summer" according to Universal Orlando officials.

Manta: Ride the Flying Ray at SeaWorld Orlando

The experience begins as soon as visitors stand in line to ride SeaWorld Orlando's Manta coaster. That's because the queue actually leaders passengers through an aquarium of sorts: into a cavern-like setting with floor-to-ceiling, nine-foot-tall views of several different kids of rays, a variety of fish and dozens of other sea creatures. There are 3,000 different total animals in the tanks.

Then, riders board the coaster -- face down in a horizontal position "underneath" a flying ray. They are transported in this thrilling (crazy?) position through the sky and over a lagoon at speeds of up to 56 miles an hour. The highest point is 140 feet high, and the longest drop is 113 feet; the entire ride is just over two-and-a-half minutes long. Manta: Ride the Flying Ray is set to open Memorial Day Weekend.

Downtown Disney's Characters in Flight

This is a tethered, 72-foot-diameter, gas balloon that rises 400 feet into the air to offer riders a true birds-eye-view of Walt Disney World Resort and beyond. Thirty guests at a time can board the tram underneath the mammoth balloon that is decorated in hand-painted silhouettes of dozens of Disney's famous "flying characters," including Mary Poppins, Peter Pan and Dumbo.

Characters in Flight debuted in April. It is open seven days a week, into the late evening. Tickets are $16 for ages 10 and up, $10 for ages 3 to 9, and can be purchased on site.

The copyright of the article New Rides and Attractions at Orlando Theme Parks in SE U.S. Travel is owned by Kara Williams. Permission to republish New Rides and Attractions at Orlando Theme Parks in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.