There is certainly no shortage of theme parks in Florida, with rides and attractions for nearly everybody. But what about those of thrill seekers who want to get their heart pumping and and the adrenaline flowing? Florida has no shortage of those either! Here’s ten of what we think are the scariest theme park rides in Florida.
10. Space Mountain – Magic Kingdom
Let’s start with what we’d call an “entry level” roller coaster before we get into some of the more extreme thrills you’ll find at Florida theme parks. To many people, Space Mountain was their very first “big kid roller coaster” and a rite of passage for so many of us since it’s Magic Kingdom debut in 1975. It may not be as scary as others on this list by today’s standards, but was scary the first time you rode this rough & tumble coaster in the pitch dark. A true classic, Space Mountain continues to scare new riders today.
9. Revenge of the Mummy – Universal Studios
If Space Mountain set the standard for indoor coasters in the dark, Revenge of Mummy took that concept and ran with it in an even scarier direction. Revenge of Mummy incorporates some dark ride elements, jump scares, special effects, and even fire to create a roller coaster experience that still holds up today, even if Brendan Frasier’s career hasn’t.
8. Mission Space (Orange) – Epcot
Claustrophobia! Motion Sickness! Overwhelming G-Forces! This baby has got it all! This Space Shuttle simulator has been widely considered too intense for most theme park guests, and was eventually broken out into two separate experiences by Disney. The less intense, more easy going “Green” side, and the original “Orange” side that still gives riders the full experience of being sucked back into your chair upon lift-off followed by the simulated weightlessness of space. Mission: Space still has a fairly bad reputation though, even with the addition of the “Green” mission, and it often has some pretty short wait times.
7. Incredible Hulk – Islands of Adventure
Ever wonder what it feels like to be fired out of a cannon? The Incredible Hulk coaster at Universal’s Islands of Adventure can check off that box for you. This ride forgets about boring old lift hills, and just gets the ride going with high powered launch that reaches 40 miles per hour in just 2 seconds. From there you’ll be going directly into a zero-g roll and down a 105 foot drop over the lagoon before you ever get a chance to catch your breath. Hulk earned a reputation as a pretty rough ride over the years, but a recent refurbishment has smoothed things out while adding on-board music and new theming to the cue.
6. Kraken – Sea World Orlando
Kraken was the start of a big shift in SeaWords approach to staying competitive in the crowded Orlando theme park scene. Kraken came at a time when SeaWorld Orlando was just starting to add more rides and attractions to attract guests who wanted more than the whale shows that were starting to earn the park some bad PR. A nice big first drop, and the floorless nature of Kraken make this one unique Florida roller coaster that is just as much fun as it is scary. The front row of Kraken is one of the best roller experiences anywhere. Seeing your feet dangle over the track as it tackles it’s series of loops and twists is breathtaking.