By Abigail Cattell
Everyone wants more for their money at the moment. Head to Florida on your holidays and that's exactly what you'll get. Theme parks are opening a host of thrilling new rides for 2009 so you get even more fun for your money!
Head to SeaWorld®
Orlando from May 2009 to experience Manta, a fantastic, Manta Ray-inspired
rollercoaster. Step into a giant, manta-shaped carriage and take off at speeds
of up to 60mph through an incredible underwater universe where you'll spot live
rays, colourful fish and other sea creatures - if you've got your eyes open
that is! You'll spin through the air horizontally and skim water as well as
inverting four times on this high-speed, thrilling ride that combines a marine-life
attraction with a rollercoaster. Young 'uns and scaredy-cats aren't left out
either - you can also marvel at mantas and other sea creatures through floor-to-ceiling
windows in the seven-acre Manta Park.
If you were bowled over by Quantum of Solace and the kids are glued to Disney's
Kim Possible, the whole family will love this new interactive attraction, opening
in early 2009 at EPCOT.
Enter the world of Kim Possible, a high school cheerleader who saves the world
from super villains in her spare time. Get your official Kimmunicator, an interactive
handheld device, and then you're off on your mission to save the world. Choose
from seven different missions against super villains from the TV show in seven
of Epcot's World Showcase pavilions from Mexico to France. Control top secret
equipment and decipher messages from Kim Possible characters to stop the villains
from taking over the world.
Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit opens at Universal
Orlando® Resort in spring 2009 and promises to be the most interactive rollercoaster
yet. Before boarding this adrenaline-pumping ride you choose your tune to rock
to en route. Throw in flashing, colour changing LEDs on board, concert lighting
and special effects and you'll feel like you're in a high-speed Saturday Night
Fever special. And like John Travolta, you'll be on camera as you shoot up 17
storeys at speeds of 65mph. When you finally get back down to earth, you can
watch the expressions on your face during the six near-miss moments you'll have
on this ride, not to mention the record-breaking loop you'll lurch through.
Then decide whether to edit out your screams or keep them in on the personalised
video you take away with you.
This ride at Universal
Orlando® Resort was voted Best New Theme Park Attraction for 2008. It's
easy to see why. Walk through the giant open mouth of Krusty the Clown into
Krustyland, and it's like walking into an episode of The Simpsons. The ride,
a multi-sensory, simulated roller coaster, follows The Simpsons' family on a
wild chase through Krustyland and its attractions, ending up in Springfield.
Everything is themed, with the safety video hosted by Itchy and Scratchy, and
as all the voices for the cartoon ride feature the original characters, you'll
get completely caught up in this heart-stopping adventure.
It doesn't open 'til 2010, but the Great Orlando Wheel will give you one of
the most amazing views of Florida. Similar to the London Eye, the Great Orlando
Wheel will be 380 feet in diameter - that's twice the size of an Olympic swimming
pool. You'll journey slowly upwards until you are a stunning 400 feet above
the earth. The view from up here will extend up to 25 miles, allowing you to
see SeaWorld®
Orlando, Universal
Orlando® Resort, Walt
Disney World® Resort and, if you time your trip right, even rocket launches
from NASA Kennedy Space Center!
If the thrills of Orlando
sound like the perfect holiday for you and your family, find out more about
the latest
deals
Abigail Cattell is a freelance travel journalist who has written for Wanderlust, The Guardian, ASOS Magazine and TTG Luxury.