500 Adrenaline Adventures (Frommer's) - Lois Friedland [266]
Kingda Ka, Six Flags Great Adventure & Wild Safari, Jackson, New Jersey, U.S.A.: At 456 feet (137m) above the ground and a top speed of 128 mph (206kmph), Kingda Ka is a double world-record holder—for height as well as speed—and a force to be reckoned with. The acceleration on this beast is from zero to 128 mph (206kmph) in just 3.5 seconds. The duration of this ride, however, at only 50 seconds, may leave some visitors feeling short-changed. www.sixflags.com.
Dueling Dragons, Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.: This unique ride features two competing coasters, one themed Fire, the other Ice. At three points during the ride, passengers come within inches of each other. Don’t plan on staying right-side up, either. Fire, for example, has five inversions, including two corkscrews, a vertical loop, and a couple of white-knuckle Immelmanns (a half-loop followed by a half-twist). www.universalorlando.com.
Extremis: Drop Ride to Doom!, London, England, U.K.: You have been tried, sentenced, and must now face the consequences for your crimes. A hangman in a black hood awaits to administer your final punishment at this theme ride. A noose drops in front of you, the trap door opens, and suddenly you’re freefalling 4.5m (15 ft.) in the dark. www.thedungeons.com.
The Roller Coaster at New York-New York Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.: This roller coaster takes riders (in fiberglass imitations of New York yellow cabs) in and among the casino’s now-familiar replicas of New York City. With a drop of 144 feet (43m) and a top speed of 67 mph (107kmph), it’s not breaking any records—except perhaps for ticket prices ($14 per rider). Some folks have complained that the restraints are poorly designed and cause neck pain—something you might not want to gamble on. New York–New York Hotel & Casino, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S. ( 702/740-6969;www.nynyhotelcasino.com).
Vild-Svinet, BonBon-Land, Denmark: The Vild-Svinet (which translates as “wild boar”) takes passengers on a freaky 97-degree ascent up, then tosses them down to the ground with a steeply banked curve, a loop, a helix, and a hump that lets riders experience zero gravity. The ride is about 1 minute long. www.bonbonland.dk.
Balder, Liseberg, Gothenburg, Sweden: This is a prefabricated wooden coaster, which runs as silky-smooth as a steel coaster. It’s not an especially tall or fast ride, clocking in with a respectable top speed of 90kmph (56 mph) and an altitude of 35m (118 ft.). Nonetheless, fans rave about this 2-minute ride for its impressive zero-gravity feature; riders experience the thrill of catching air 10 times during the 1,053m-long (3,510-ft.) ride. As a result, it has twice been voted Best Wooden Tracked Roller Coaster in the World. www.liseberg.com.
The Cyclone, Coney Island, New York, U.S.A.: This is the classic old woodie that makes true roller coaster fans get misty-eyed. Debuting in 1927 to much fanfare, it’s been delighting riders ever since; it’s even listed as a National Historic Landmark. With a top speed of 60 mph (97kmph) and a height of 85 feet (26m), it’s a terrific ride. It’s a bit aggressive, and is not afraid to knock heads during hairpin 180-degree turns. It’s also a long, 2,640 feet (792m) of track, giving riders enough time to experience every bit of its uneven, rough-and-tumble wooden ride. www.coneyislandcyclone.com.
Millennium Force, Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio, U.S.A.: This Midwestern monster takes no prisoners, and broke 10 international roller coaster records when it opened in 2000. Millennium Force takes riders up a 310-foot (93m) hill, then drops them at speeds of up to 92 mph (148kmph). There’s airtime galore, and at 6,595 feet (1,979m), it’s a sweet, long ride. The ride was also the first to use a magnetic braking