Category: Epcot

Hey Thrill Seekers,

Selecting just 5 attractions from the bevy of awesomeness that spills out of Florida is pretty tricky. Everyone has their likes and dislikes, some like swooping coasters, some like motion rides such as Despicable me! and some just love the beauty of a good fireworks show.

Here at Orlando Attraction Tickets we have a pretty good way of checking which rides and attractions our customer like the most, its pretty simple really, we ask them! When a customer who has booked their theme park tickets with us finishes their holiday we send them a quick email asking them what they thought of the parks, we also ask them to select their favourite ride or attraction. Below are the top 5 most voted for attractions by Orlando Attraction Tickets customers.

1) Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (votes 153)

Located: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

Type: 3d motion ride.

Description: Most count it as a two part attraction, the first part being the queuing experience which features Dumbledore’s office, the sorting hat and the defence against the dark arts classroom. The second part is the ride itself which has often been described as the Spiderman ride on steroids. Anyone who struggles with motion sickness may not enjoy this ride… I know I didn’t!

2) Expedition Everest (votes 120)

Located: Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Type: Coaster.

Description: Runaway train based around the legend of the Yeti.

3) Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster featuring Aerosmith (votes 86)

Located: Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Type: Indoor Coaster.

Description: Guests board their limo car, which lies low on the ground. They stow their small belongings either on the floor or in the small pouch in front of them. Guests pull down their full shoulder restraints, and lift up on them when the Cast Member tells them to complete the safety check. Cars seat two people per row. After the safety check is done and the car ahead of them has finished the launch, the car proceeds around the corner to view a tunnel and a sign above it, designed to look like a highway sign.As they’re moving and waiting, they hear a brief message from the radio DJ, talking about how jammed the freeways are. The highway sign flashes funny messages like: “Traffic bug you? Then STEP on it!” Guests wait for the car ahead of them to finish the ride, and eventually they hear an introduction (varies, can be “We’re only just getting started!” or “Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster”, (said in a deep, growling voice)). After this introduction, Stephen Tyler alternates between each ear the countdown of “5,…4,…3,…2,…1,…!”, as they hear the introduction of the song they’re about to hear. After Stephen reaches between the numbers 1 and 2 from his countdown, guests being to accelerate from 0 to 58 MPH in less than 2.8 seconds. It is in this initial second that the camera takes the photo of the guests. After a long straightway, the car proceeds to do an inversion, and then some less intense maneuvers. The whole ride, there are neon signs on the side of the track, designed to mimic road signs. These signs have messages like “Corkscrew ahead!” The car continues along the not-so-intense track, until it reaches the second inversion (which is a corkscrew). Finally, guests perform a humpback as they enter the VIP parking for the concert. Guests wait in a tunnel at a stop for a moment, then proceed to the VIP backstage area, where they’re greeted by a red carpet and their ride photos.

4) Soarin’ (75 votes)

Located: Disney’s Epcot

Type: Simulator.

Description: Experience the Golden State like never before while “hang-gliding” over landscapes as varied as they are beautiful.

Feel like you’re flying—and even smell what you’re seeing as you skim rolling waves, powdery ski slopes, majestic redwood forests, fragrant orange groves and familiar landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge.

In the grand Disney tradition, Imagineers pulled out all the stops to make fantasy reality, bringing California to life using a 180-degree IMAX projection dome and aerially captured footage that reproduces the flight path of a hang-glider. Thrill as you’re lifted 40 feet in the air, engulfed in the stunning panoramas, swept from one scenic locale to the next!

5) Transformers The Ride 3D (53 votes)

Located: Universal Studios

Type: Simulator.

Description: The ride begins with Evac moving out of the loading station and making a turn. The vehicle approaches the first of thirteen 3D high-definition video screens which depicts Ravage grabbing a canister containing the AllSpark. Evac spins 180° to face the second screen on which Bumblebee is fighting Sideways for the AllSpark which ends up in Evac’s possession. Evac reverses into one of two elevator shafts which ascend to the second level of the attraction. During the ascent Optimus Prime battles Megatron and Grindorchases Evac who is furiously heading in reverse until Grindor’s arm is broken off by a train. Megatron grabs Evac and the two struggle until Megatron breaks a water pipe, which sprays riders with water. Evac enters a dead end pathway before reversing and turning to face another 3D screen, which shows Megatron firing a missile at Evac while continuing to find Optimus. Hot air and fog generate the illusion of an explosion. Evac then heads through the hole in a building which was caused by the explosion. Inside lies Devastator, who is trying to suck everything out of the building. Ratchet and Ironhide cover fire while Evac reverses and escapes the suction. Here the Autobot Sideswipe helps in the battle against the Decepticon Bonecrusher. Devastator returns to the scene alongside Starscream. Evac escapes from Devastator a second time by going through him, but Starscream grabs Evac and throws him across several city blocks before landing on a construction site and smashing into some drums which release clouds of fog resulting in Evac asking if the riders are okay. Optimus Prime and Megatron continue their battle in the construction site as Evac reverses away in an attempt to protect the AllSpark. Starscream appears for a second time but is chased away by two NEST helicopters. Evac then returns to a second set of two elevators. During the descent to the ground floor, Evac forces the AllSpark into Megatron’s chest causing both to freefall to the ground when Megatron grabs Evac. Bumblebee saves Evac from destruction before Optimus Prime congratulates Evac and the riders on their mission.

What do you think of our 5 best attractions? Is your favourite amongst them?

Remember this year Universal launched Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts and the Hogwarts Express which I would expect to slowly creep up the charts, Escape from Gringotts already has 40 votes! Also Busch Gardens released Falcons Fury this month which will certainly acquire votes the longer its open.

We’ll take another look at the voting in 6 months time.

Smiles included…

Jamie