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The top 10 roller coasters in Orlando: Kraken (#3)


View of one of Kraken's loops at SeaWorld Orlando.
Photo by hyku

#3: Kraken

Where: SeaWorld Orlando
Launched: June 1, 2000
Design: Lift Hill/Floorless
Top speed: 65 mph
Inversions: 7
Duration: 2:02
Height restriction: 54 inches

Source: Roller Coaster DataBase

Unlike Disney World and Universal, SeaWorld Orlando is not very ride-heavy. That doesn't seem to matter, since their coasters are so intense that visitors will want to ride again and again.

Kraken is SeaWorld Orlando's high-tech, state-of-the-art floorless roller coaster, the only one of its kind in Florida. Visitors brave enough to face the elements of Kraken will reach the heights of a 15-story building all while their feet dangle from their seats.

Inspired by the mythical sea serpent of the same name, the coaster's track is built over the water and is laid out as so to replicate the look, feel and movements of such a creature.

After guests make it through the Mediterranean-themed queue, they are seated aboard a coaster train that seats 4 in a row for a total of 32 passengers. Kraken starts off ascending slowly with that all so familiar rickety click-clack sound, giving passengers a quick glimpse of International Drive from 149 feet above before immediately dropping from 144 feet at 65 miles per hour and forcefully looping through the track a total of seven times at high altitudes. At some points passengers will find themselves tunneling through the ground and close to being inundated by the water; this part of the ride is what is known as "Kraken's lair".

With a track length of 4,177 feet, Kraken was the longest roller coaster in Florida until it was edged out by Disney's Expedition Everest in 2006. 

If you're a Florida resident who plans on visiting SeaWorld this summer to ride Kraken, you might be interested in finding out how you can get a free one-day pass to Aquatica or Busch Gardens with the purchase of your SeaWorld admission.

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, Orlando Tourist Spots Examiner

Michael Salerno is a freelance writer in Central Florida with a lifelong passion for traveling and an excitement for new places and new experiences. Michael can be contacted at paperboy1005@yahoo.com.

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