Review
Facing fears in Floridaaahh!
From scary riders for thrillseekers to animals and fun for all the family, our intrepid writer tries out roller coasters in Florida — but dodges one
THERE was a moment on this holiday I will cherish forever.
I haven’t got a glossy photo to share with you, or a video, but it is ingrained in my brain.
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It wasn’t swimming with the dolphins and stingrays at Discovery Cove. Although that was magical.
It wasn’t Florida’s gut-wrenching rides. Although they were awesome, eventually. More on that later.
It wasn’t feeding Ruby the giraffe on safari at Busch Gardens. Also very special. It wasn’t even the air boat ride hunting for crocodiles. Or watching the sunset at Clearwater Beach.
Or stopping at every 7/11 for a two-dollar slush. Or the burger at Hooters on Orlando’s I-Drive. (My boys insisted.)
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Or late-night swimming in the hotel pool. I could go on . . . but you’ll probably start to hate me.
It was the moment my two boys — aged eight and ten — danced through the pavement sprinklers at Aquatica waterpark, strumming air guitars and singing, repeatedly: “I was bor-r-r-r-r-r-r-rn in the U-S-A.” Is that it? Really?
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OK, I should explain.
My little buddies lost their mum two and a bit years ago and this moment was the first time I really noticed them care-free and loving life again.
Of course, it wasn’t just the waterpark that made them so happy. It was all of the above and more, jumbled together in a knockout week of family fun.
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Florida does that to kids. It does that to kids of all ages.
It’s a special sun-kissed playground paradise that lets you escape life’s challenges and create a lifetime of precious memories.
You’ll notice I haven’t used the D-word. The selfie with the big-eared mouse can wait.
I was here to face my fear of rollercoasters — by riding Orlando’s tallest, fastest and longest white-knuckle ride, as well as the tallest freestanding drop tower.
Trust me, it’s very high.
But let’s start at SeaWorld Orlando, home of hypercoaster Mako (named after the fastest shark).
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Imagine sticking your head out of a car window at 73mph as you twist, turn and dive down a near mile-long track. It’s two minutes and 30 seconds of pure hell.
The top of the first what-on-Earth-am-I-doing drop is 200ft up and you get “ten moments of air time” (popping out of your seat), an operator delighted in telling me.
They made me do it twice.
I should also warn you that Manta, a face-down thrill ride, is just as intense.
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Of course, SeaWorld is also the place for your kids to marvel at penguins and dolphins and sea lions and Shamu’s cousins.
And there’s also a wonderful rescue and rehab centre for wild animals — funded by park ticket sales.
We saw some manatees (swimming elephants with no legs) being treated for savage wounds from speedboat propellers.
It’s not all about profit here.
Over at Busch Gardens, an hour’s drive from Orlando, we fed Ruby and pals lettuce on the open-top truck Serengeti Safari.
You’ll find thousands of zoo animals — but thousands more dazed thrill-seekers.
Falcon’s Fury is probably the worst ride, ever.
That’s the freestanding drop tower I mentioned earlier that’s a mighty 335ft tall.
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It’s the sixth tallest building in Tampa — and on a clear day you can see St Petersburg . . . 25 miles away.
At the top, when it’s too late to say No and your stomach tries to climb out of your throat, your seat pivots 90 degrees to a face-down dive position.
Then it drops — plunging 60mph straight down towards the concrete.
Like a sky diver freefalling but a lot closer to terra firma.
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Go: Florida
GETTING/STAYING THERE: Seven nights’ room-only at Doubletree by Hilton Orlando in SeaWorld from £581 pp, with Virgin Atlantic flights from Gatwick and car hire.
Based on two adults and two kids sharing.
See or call 0344 557 3859.
OUT AND ABOUT: The Discovery Cove Ultimate Package includes one day reservation at Discovery Cove (with 30-minute dolphin swim experience, all meals and snacks) plus 14-day unlimited entry and free parking at SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Aquatica Orlando. From £194pp. See .
BEAT THE FEAR: Virgin Atlantic’S Flying Without Fear course helps thousands of people a year to overcome their fears of flying – from mild anxiety to terror.
Virgin has a 98 per cent success rate. Courses are held nationwide, including at Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds.
The Premium course is £267 and includes a 45-minute flight. See .
And all you can hear is screams. It’s horrible.
Busch Gardens is also home to Cobra’s Curse, a new spin coaster with a 70ft vertical lift. Be warned: it also goes backwards.
Then there’s old favourite Montu with its two vertical loops, SheiKra with its simultaneous loop and roll and drop into an underground tunnel, and Cheetah Hunt, Florida’s first triple launch coaster (three bursts of acceleration). Who comes up with all these ideas? The sadists.
This place is heaven for adrenaline junkies. And I rode them all.
But just when I thought my “hero dad” crown was secured, I bottled the big ride on our final day at Aquatica. It’s called Ihu’s Breakaway Falls.
MOST READ IN TRAVEL
Three riders face each other, stood upright in see-through pods, when suddenly the floor disappears and you fall 40ft down a vertical drop (20ft per second) into a 360-degree spiral slide.
No mate, not for me.
I had to do the walk of shame back down 126 steps.
Another moment my teenage daughter won’t let me forget.
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