As a theme park lover, I all the time get excited after I meet a fellow parks nerd, significantly in the event that they’ve been on some lesser identified rides I am thumbs up on, like “Good Gravy” at Vacation World or the sadly demolished however fondly remembered “Chaos” on the additionally defunct Opryland park. Briefly, I’ve ridden quite a lot of enjoyable coasters over time, however none has in comparison with Common Orlando’s Islands of Journey VelociCoaster.
Apparently, I’m not the one one who feels this fashion, as a result of for the fourth yr in a row The VelociCoaster has been named the perfect rollercoaster on this planet by Theme Park Insider throughout their annual Awards ceremony. Intriguingly, the primary yr or its win it truly beat out one other Common Orlando Coaster: Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorcycle Journey!
I initially attended the opening of the VelociCoaster in June of 2021. It was my first time in a theme park since Covid occurred, and I might simply see how on the time it might have coloured my notion of how nice the brand new trip was. At that time I most likely would have thought any new trip would have been nearly as good because it will get.
Nonetheless, I am happy to report that now the VelociCoaster has stood the check of time. 4 years in, I can completely say it’s simply as thrilling to trip because it was the primary time, and it’s even higher after I get the prospect to trip it at evening and neglect when the twists and turns are literally coming.
4 years in a row is a very long time to hold onto an award. This will likely considerably need to do with the closure of Cedar Park’s Prime Thrill 2, which was imagined to formally open final summer season, however closed after only a week. It solely just lately re-opened on the Ohio theme park on Could third, so I am very to see if it’ll make any finest coaster rankings within the coming yr. (It has already recaptured the tallest coaster laud after Kingda Ka got here down.)
Regardless, I can actually say from the underside of my coronary heart the Velociraptor-based trip deserves it. Even as soon as Prime Thrill 2 is anticipated to be again in motion, I’m undecided it could compete with The VelociCoaster’s epic mosasaurus barrel roll – with no shoulder harness as well. It’s an especially satisfying trip, one Theme Park Insider believes is “The most effective coaster” and it is not simply the magazine and I touting how nice the trip is, both. On the time it opened, artwork director Gregory Corridor instructed me it was “the perfect inversion” he is ever encountered. I am nonetheless assuming this holds true as we speak.
Why This 12 months The Laud Is Particularly Spectacular
It must be famous that I am significantly impressed the trip has held onto the laud for yet one more yr, as Common Orlando itself is already previewing its model new theme park Epic Universe, and I would assume there could be some enjoyable competitors coming. Epic Universe could have its personal coasters opening, amongst different sights. Stardust Racers might be the most important coaster in Celestial Park, and can function twin launch coasters racing each other. Different rides with coaster mechanics embody the extra commonplace spinning Curse of the Werewolf coaster and household coaster Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, in addition to discuss of the city trip Donkey Kong: Mine-Cart Insanity.
Common Orlando has been previewing the brand new rides in latest months, so it stands to cause there might have been some further competitors thought-about this yr, however it’s good to see the Jurassic World-themed trip nonetheless standing with its Prime Hat tall, ready to present followers the rollback they have been dreaming of.
You possibly can see our full rundown of all of Epic Universe’s rides, ranked or wait to expertise them for your self when the park opens on Could 22.