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  • Dueling Dragons – Fire Dragon | Coaster Reviews

    Written by The Coaster Critic 3 Comments
    Last Updated: November 1, 2009
    Dueling Dragons – Fire Dragon | Coaster Reviews
    Dueling Dragons | Fire Dragon @ Islands of Adventure The Dueling Dragons is a popular dueling roller coaster at Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. It consists of a red (Fire) track and a blue (Ice) track. The inverted tracks share a lift hill, but after that their layouts are unique. They boast three duels or near-misses where the trains pass within feet of each other. An Amazing Medieval C...
    • Dueling Dragons – Ice Dragon | Coaster Reviews

      Written by The Coaster Critic 8 Comments
      Last Updated: October 25, 2009
      Dueling Dragons – Ice Dragon | Coaster Reviews
      Dueling Dragons | Ice Dragon @ Islands of Adventure The Dueling Dragons is a popular dueling roller coaster at Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. It consists of a red (Fire) track and a blue (Ice) track. The inverted tracks share a lift hill, but after that their layouts are unique. They boast three duels or near-misses where the trains pass within feet of each other. An Amazing Medieval Ca...
      • Manta vs Tatsu | Roller Coaster Showdown

        Written by The Coaster Critic 8 Comments
        Last Updated: September 26, 2009
        Manta vs Tatsu | Roller Coaster Showdown
        As soon as SeaWorld Orlando announced Manta last winter coaster enthusiasts began comparing it to Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Tatsu. The two B&M flying roller coasters have interesting custom layouts and their the largest flying roller coasters in the World. So, let’s pit the flying dragon against the flying manta ray and see who comes out on top. Theming Manta’s theming is on...
        • Rip Ride Rockit vs Time Machine | Roller Coaster Showdown

          Written by The Coaster Critic 12 Comments
          Last Updated: September 16, 2009
          Rip Ride Rockit vs Time Machine | Roller Coaster Showdown
          Who Wins in a Battle of the Rocking-est Roller Coasters? Roller coasters have been incorporating music and on-board speakers for some time now. But two roller coasters that opened this year have taken the riding and rocking theme to new heights. The Time Machine (formerly Led Zeppelin – The Ride) was revamped by the new owners of Freestyle Music Park. The B&M looping roller coaster feat...
          • Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Finally Ready to Rock

            Written by The Coaster Critic 24 Comments
            Last Updated: August 22, 2009
            Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Finally Ready to Rock
            Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Open – Video & Early Reviews Last weekend, Universal Studios Orlando began a soft opening period for their delayed Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. With the ride’s uniqueness and many state-of-the-art features it’s no surprise that it took a little longer to get everything just right. Then on August 19th, the park sent out a press release stating that the ...
            • Robocoaster Coming to Harry Potter’s Wizarding World

              Written by The Coaster Critic 12 Comments
              Last Updated: July 11, 2009
              Robocoaster Coming to Harry Potter’s Wizarding World
              Next year, Universal Studios Islands of Adventure is set to open The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It’s taking over a portion of the Lost Continent section of the park as well as a plot of land that was previously unused. It will include locations from the books and films including Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forrest, and Hogwarts Castle. It is being described as a “$200 million-plus t...
              • Song List for Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Released

                Written by The Coaster Critic 14 Comments
                Last Updated: July 7, 2009
                Song List for Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Released
                Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit’s bright red track has changed the skyline of the Universal Studios Orlando with it’s 167 foot vertical lift and one-of-a-kind non-inverting loop. Aside from the roller coaster’s unique layout, riders will be able to choose their own soundtrack for their ride, and afterwards, cut their own personalized music video of their ride. Today, Universal Studi...
                • Monorail Crash at Walt Disney World

                  Written by The Coaster Critic 9 Comments
                  Last Updated: July 5, 2009
                  Monorail Crash at Walt Disney World
                  A monorail crashed into another stationary monorail around 2 A.M. Sunday morning at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The crash killed one of the train operators. More from the Associated Press: Two monorail trains crashed early Sunday morning in the Magic Kingdom section of Walt Disney World, killing one train’s operator, emergency officials said. The monorail operator died at the scen...
                  • Dream Job: Get Paid to Ride Roller Coasters

                    Written by The Coaster Critic 7 Comments
                    Last Updated: June 7, 2009
                    Dream Job: Get Paid to Ride Roller Coasters
                    Occupation: Roller Coaster Rider? Orlando’s 67 Days of Smiles competition sounds like my dream job. For 67 days one lucky duo will get paid $25,000 to ride the rides of Orlando and experience the area’s other attractions. The winners will document their adventures via Facebook, Twitter, and blogs. To apply, just make a one-minute video and fill out the application on OrlandoInfo.co...
                    • Manta @ SeaWorld Orlando | Roller Coaster Review

                      Written by The Coaster Critic 33 Comments
                      Last Updated: May 30, 2009
                      Manta @ SeaWorld Orlando | Roller Coaster Review
                      Manta – SeaWorld Orlando’s New Signature Attraction After the eight hour drive down to Orlando for the Manta Grand Opening and Media Day, I was hoping to not be disappointed and thankfully I wasn’t. It was my first time to SeaWorld, but right away I recognized that I was at a Busch-owned theme park. The park was clean and beautifully-themed. Manta is the much-hyped flying roller ...
                      • Interview: Designer of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Louis Alfieri

                        Written by The Coaster Critic 11 Comments
                        Last Updated: May 27, 2009
                        Interview: Designer of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Louis Alfieri
                        While I was in Orlando last week, I was lucky enough to be able to interview Universal Studio’s Creative Director Louis Alfieri. He’s one of the minds behind their new ground-breaking roller coaster Hollywood: Rip Ride Rockit. I was eager to learn more about the new roller coaster that combines state-of-the-art audio and visual technology with a unique ride. Lights Camera Action!  &#...
                        • Back from Orlando

                          Written by The Coaster Critic No Comments
                          Last Updated: May 24, 2009
                          Back from Orlando
                          I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted, but I’ll have a Manta review and my exclusive interview with the Creative Director of Hollywood: Rip Ride Rockit up soon. On my way back from Florida, I also stopped at Wild Adventures in Valdosta, Georgia. It was a great trip and I’ve got some really cool content to put up. For now, here’s a picture of Manta’s dive t...
                          • SeaWorld & Universal Orlando Trip

                            Written by The Coaster Critic 1 Comment
                            Last Updated: May 16, 2009
                            SeaWorld & Universal Orlando Trip
                            Next week I’m headed down to Orlando for SeaWorld’s grand opening of Manta. It’s been open for over a week, but the Media Day will include the ‘Manta Cam’. It will basically be a personal camera pointed at me while I ride. It’s also supposed to include other point of view shots and angles. Now that I think of it, it sounds a lot like the on-board video feature o...
                            • Manta Set to Take Flight at SeaWorld Orlando

                              Written by The Coaster Critic No Comments
                              Last Updated: April 25, 2009
                              Manta Set to Take Flight at SeaWorld Orlando
                              SeaWorld Orlando’s Manta is about a month from opening and it looks great. As Florida’s only flying roller coaster Manta could take that genre of rides to a new level. At one point during the ride, the winged manta-themed trains will fly riders face down right over water. I’m not sure, but that huge stingray shaped piece at the front may actually dip into the water and cause the...
                              • SeaWorld Orlando’s Manta Promo Video

                                Written by The Coaster Critic 6 Comments
                                Last Updated: February 7, 2009
                                SeaWorld Orlando’s Manta Promo Video
                                SeaWorld Orlando’s flying roller coaster, Manta, is one of the most highly anticipated new rides of 2009. Recently, SeaWorld uploaded a promo video to YouTube. You don’t get to see the actual ride, but you do get a sense of the world-class theming that will surround the ride. Here’s an excerpt from the official press release describing the ride’s theming: The journey begins...
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