Top Tens for Thrill Seekers

I guess there's an idea floating around out there that Disney World is for kids and anyone looking for some thrilling rides and attractions should head over to Universal Studios. I think I'd like to take a crack at that one with this week's top tens!

Source: doggyvolunteer (flickr)

10. Summit Plummet at Blizzard Beach is an imposing water slide at 120 feet high. It's a no-turns, straight drop down a 360 foot long flume. Standing at the top and waiting to slide down is definitely heart-pounding.

9. A classic, Space Mountain has recently been refurbished and is once again open to scare the pants off those of us who would brave a coaster in the dark. Adding to the thrill? The "stars" you go zooming past can look a little too close to the top of your car for comfort.

8. EPCOT's Test Track has been whipping guests around at 65 mph for twelve years. Climb into a model crash-test car and ride through a series of tests before shooting out of the building and around a banked track at top speed.

Source: katieharbath (flickr)

7. Twilight Zone Tower of Terror in Hollywood Studios may give you a fear of elevators, but it will definitely getting your heart pounding and your adrenaline going. The Disney secret? When the elevator goes into free fall, it doesn't actually "fall". Instead, a series of mechanically things that I'll never understand pull the car towards the ground, making you feel as if you're falling even faster and that the car has gone out of control.

6. If you don't want to trek into the park, try the marina at the Contemporary Resort. There, you can go parasailing, tubing, wakeboarding, and waterskiing. It's a great way to cool off in the Florida heat and still get some thrills into your day.

5. Mission: Space is a relatively new addition to EPCOT. Choose the Orange Team when you line up and then climb into a motion simulator for your flight to Mars where you'll experience some serious g-forces and a harrowing space flight. (Warning: If you're claustrophobic, this really isn't the ride for you)

4. As the first coaster on this list, Rock n' Roller Coaster definitely delivers the thrills. A fully indoor ride, it will take you through loops and corkscrews after blasting you out of the station at 60 mph in 3 seconds all while blasting Aerosmith music in through the back of your seat.

Source: intamin10 (flickr)

3. Expedition Everest in Animal Kingdom isn't an inverted coaster, but it's just as fun. After you climb up the side of a mountain in your train car, you'll ride through a series of drops both forwards and backwards, all while trying to evade the Yeti (probably the best animatronic I've ever seen. I swear that thing was real).

2. Sum of All Thrills can be tricky to find and the wait can be a bit long, but it's so very worth it. Before you climb into the ride, you get to design your own track. Pick between bobsled, roller coaster, and jet then add inversions, turns, and twists. Save it then hop into a robotic arm which will ride you through your custom track, upside down and all! To track this one down, head into Innoventions East and look for the tall black arms with white carts on the end swinging around wildly.

Source: chadscott (flickr)

1. Dinosaur!, tucked away in Animal Kingdom's Dinoland USA looks tame from the outside but it's certainly not for little kids. On this dark ride, you climb into a time travelling car to bring an inguanodon back to the future. The glitch? You get sent in just before a giant meteor is set to hit Earth and a giant dinosaur has tracked you down and is intent on eating you. This ride is fast paced, jarring, and full of things to jump out and scare the pants off you.

You can also check me out here (writing as rhyspuff) along with some other great blog contributors writing about Disney planning.

♥ Rhys