Feeling adventurous? You could seek out one of the world’s most terrifying white-knuckle rides…
WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT – ORLANDO, FLORIDA
Disney World is the daddy of them all with four super-sized lands. Magic Kingdom, with its fairytale castle, is the one that started it all. Ride-wise, it’s less about hair-raising excitement and more about Mickey and co. Next in line is EPCOT. One half is Future World, where innovative rides await, like Test Track where you’re turned into a crash test dummy. The other half is World Showcase, a collection of mini countries. Hollywood Studios, meanwhile, is home to white-knuckle thriller, Rock’n’Roller Coaster – a high-speed indoor loop-the-looper. Last but not least is Animal Kingdom – a suped-up safari-come-theme park. Check out Expedition Everest, a coaster that whisks you up inside a snow-capped peak.
UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT – ORLANDO, FLORIDA
This is two parks in one. The biggest bone-jarring rides are in Islands of Adventure. This park is broken up into five themed islands. Kids go crazy for Dr Seuss’ wonky world while Marvel Super Hero Island is home to the Incredible Hulk – a coaster with a jet-powered launch. The second park, Universal Studios, is a working film and TV lot. Split your time between rides, behind-the-scenes demos and being part of a live studio audience. Most rides revisit Universal’s classics – the most famous is the Jaws tour, where you can inspect the killer shark’s dental work. Backstage, you can take part in your own movie on the brand new Hollywood Rip, Ride, RockitSM – a 17-storey rollercoaster with a difference.
PORTAVENTURA – COSTA DORADA, SPAIN
This one is home to the world’s loopiest coaster. With eight twists, whizzing round the Dragon Khan is like taking a spin in a washing machine. It’s not one for the faint-hearted. And neither is the brand new Furious Baco. This 2-G roller catapults you off the starting block and hurtles you round the track, feet dangling in the air. True to its Universal roots, the park is spread over five themed areas. In the Far West, the Stampida roller clickety-clacks round a wooden frame. Mexico is all about the gut-wrenching 100-metre free-faller, the Hurakan Condor. And it’s the wetter the better on Polynesia’s Tutuki Splash.
TERRA MITICA – COSTA BLANCA, SPAIN
Talk about a super-sized claim to fame. Big dipper Magnus Colussus is the longest wooden coaster in Europe, and it cuts quite a figure, criss-crossed against the hillside. It comes complete with a double drop and plenty of butterfly-inducing dips. The park’s other hair-raisers are divided between five themed areas – Egypt, Rome, Greece, Iberia and the Islands. All the usual white-knuckle suspects are here – log flumes, drop towers and pendulum swings – the biggest of which is Inferno, a looping rollercoaster that cart-wheels as it goes. It all comes with a generous side-order of entertainment. Cue gladiator battles, circus shows and pirate skirmishes.
GARDALAND – LAKE GARDA, ITALY
Imagine Disney with an Italian accent and you’ve kind of got Gardaland. Italy’s biggest theme park is based around the country’s favourite cartoon character – a goofy green dragon called Prezzemolo. There’s one thing that puts this place head and shoulders above its rivals – its location. There’s no other place on earth where you can board a Thunderbird-style UFO and fly high enough to see the snow-tipped Alps. As far as rides go, there’s plenty to get in a twist over. Magic Mountain is a classic loop-the-loop coaster while Sequoia shuns speed in favour of slow-motion thrills. Double-decker water chutes, pirate boats and jungle excursions complete the adventurous line-up.