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====== Theme Parks ======
I like to visit theme parks.  This is a list of all the rides (particularly roller coasters) I've been on in the past couple of years.

===== Seaworld =====
[[https://seaworld.com/orlando/|Seaworld]] - Orlando, Florida (March 2020)
=== Roller coasters ===
  * [[https://seaworld.com/orlando/roller-coasters/mako/|Mako]] - Orlando's tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster.   73 mph and up to 200 feet high.
  * [[https://seaworld.com/orlando/roller-coasters/kraken/|Kraken]] - Orlando's only floorless roller coaster
  * [[https://seaworld.com/orlando/roller-coasters/manta/|Manta]] - Features a head-first, face-down inverted nosedive loop.
=== Thrill ride ===
  * [[https://seaworld.com/orlando/rides/journey-to-atlantis/|Journey to Atlantis]] - Two steep drops into water on this log flume ride.

===== Busch Gardens =====
[[https://buschgardens.com/tampa/|Busch Gardens]] - Tampa, Florida (March 2020)
=== Roller coasters ===
  * [[https://buschgardens.com/tampa/roller-coasters/tigris/|Tigris]] - Florida's tallest launch coaster.  150-foot skyward surge, and an inverted heartline roll, more than 60 miles per hour, 1,800 feet of steel track.
  * [[https://buschgardens.com/tampa/roller-coasters/sheikra/|Sheikra]] - 90-degree 200 ft drop, 70 mph roller coaster whirlwind with an Immelmann loop, a second dive into an underground tunnel and a splashdown finale.
  * [[https://buschgardens.com/tampa/roller-coasters/montu/|Montu]] - **First coaster in the world to incorporate an Immelmann loop (a simultaneous loop and roll)** 60-foot vertical loop, weightless roll, seven inversions, unique Batwing inversion
  * [[https://buschgardens.com/tampa/roller-coasters/cobras-curse/|Cobra's Curse]] - 70-foot vertical lift, 40 mph, 2,100 feet of serpentine-like track, traveling backward, forward and then spinning freely.
  * [[https://buschgardens.com/tampa/roller-coasters/scorpion/|Scorpion]] - 50mph, 360 upside down loop.
=== Thrill Rides ===
  * [[https://buschgardens.com/tampa/rides/falcons-fury/|Falcon's Fury]]

===== Volcano Bay =====
[[https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/theme-parks/volcano-bay|Volcano Bay]] - Orlando, Florida (February 2020) Water park, so lots of ring rides and flumes, but this aqua coaster deserves a mention.
  * [[https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/rides-attractions/krakatau-aqua-coaster|Krakatau Aqua Coaster]] - Uses linear induction motor technology - it launches the canoe uphill before it immediately sends riders into a downhill plunge.

===== Universal Studios =====
[[https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us|Universal Studios]] - Orlando, Florida (February 2020)
=== Roller coasters ===
  * [[https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/rides-attractions/hollywood-rip-ride-rockit|Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit]] **World's first non-inverting loop**
  * [[https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/rides-attractions/harry-potter-and-the-escape-from-gringotts|Harry Potter Escape From Gringotts]]
  * [[https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/rides-attractions/et-adventure|E.T. Adventure]]
=== 3D rides ===
  * [[https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/rides-attractions/revenge-of-the-mummy|Revenge of the Mummy]]
  * [[https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/rides-attractions/men-in-black-alien-attack|Men in Black Alien Attack]]
  * [[https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/rides-attractions/transformers-ride-3d|Transformers The Ride 3D]]
  * [[https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/rides-attractions/race-through-ny-starring-jimmy-fallon|Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon]]

===== Universal Studios: Island of Adventure =====
[[https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us|Universal Studios]] - Orlando, Florida (February 2020)
=== Roller coasters ===
  * [[https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/rides-attractions/the-incredible-hulk-coaster|The Incredible Hulk Coaster]] - 7 inversions and 2 subterranean trenches
  * [[https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/rides-attractions/hagrids-magical-creatures-motorbike-adventure|Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure]]
=== 3D rides ===
  * [[https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/rides-attractions/the-amazing-adventures-of-spider-man|The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman]] - [this might be the best 3D ride I've been on so far]
  * [[https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/rides-attractions/skull-island-reign-of-kong|Skull Island: Reign of Kong]]
=== Thrill rides ===
  * [[https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/rides-attractions/doctor-dooms-fearfall|Doctor Doom's Fearfall]]
  * [[https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/rides-attractions/jurassic-park-river-adventure|Jurassic Park River Adventure]] When built, the 85-foot plunge was the largest theme park water descent ever constructed.
  * [[https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/rides-attractions/popeye-and-blutos-bilge-rat-barges|Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges]]
  * [[https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/shows/poseidons-fury|Poseidon's Fury]]

===== Las Vegas =====
Not actually a theme park, but we rode the roller coaster in the New York New York Hotel and Casino and two of the rides at the Stratosphere in Las Vegas, July 2019
  * [[https://newyorknewyork.mgmresorts.com/en/entertainment/the-big-apple-coaster-and-arcade.html|The Big Apple Coaster]] - **World’s first coaster to feature a 180-degree "heartline" twist**
  * [[https://thestrat.com/attractions/thrill-rides/insanity|Insanity]] - " A massive mechanical arm extending out 64 feet over the edge of the SkyPod at a height of over 866 feet, this Vegas ride will spin you and several other passengers in the open air at speeds of up to three Gs. You'll be propelled up to an angle of 70 degrees, which will tilt your body into one position — straight down!"
  * [[https://thestrat.com/attractions/thrill-rides/big-shot|Big Shot]] - "Strap into the Big Shot and prepare to be shot 160 feet in the air at 45 miles per hour as you overlook the majestic Las Vegas Valley. In a matter of seconds, the Big Shot thrill ride catapults 16 riders from the 921-foot high platform up the SkyPod's mast to a height of 1,081 feet and down again. Before you catch your breath, you'll be shot back up again at forces unmatched by other Vegas thrill parks!"

===== Disneyland Paris =====
[[https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-us/destinations/disneyland-park/|Disneyland Park]] - Paris, France (May 2018)
=== Roller coasters ===
  * [[https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-gb/attractions/disneyland-park/big-thunder-mountain/|Big Thunder Mountain]]
  * [[https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-gb/attractions/disneyland-park/indiana-jones-and-the-temple-of-peril/|Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril]]
  * [[https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-gb/attractions/disneyland-park/hyper-space-mountain/|Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain]]
=== 3D rides ===
  * [[https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-gb/attractions/walt-disney-studios-park/ratatouille-the-adventure/|Ratatouille: The Adventure]] - This is one of the first 3D rides I think I was on.  Better than I expected.
  * [[https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-gb/attractions/disneyland-park/star-tours-the-aventures-continue/|Star Tours: The Adventures Continue]]
=== Thrill rides ===
  * [[https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-gb/attractions/walt-disney-studios-park/rc-racer/|RC Racer]] - This was just a half-pipe meets a roller coaster, but it was fun.
  * [[https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-gb/attractions/walt-disney-studios-park/twilight-zone-tower-of-terror/|Twilight Zone Tower of Terror]] - Fun drop ride.
  * [[https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-gb/attractions/walt-disney-studios-park/toy-soldiers-parachute-drop/|Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop]]
=== Rides ===
  * [[https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-gb/attractions/disneyland-park/its-a-small-world/|It's A Small World]] - Not exactly a thrill ride, but it's a ride.  Memorable for how surreal it was.
  * [[https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-gb/attractions/disneyland-park/peter-pans-flight/|Peter Pan's Flight]]
  * [[https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-gb/attractions/disneyland-park/pirates-of-the-caribbean/|Pirates of the Caribbean]]

===== Alton Towers =====
[[https://www.altontowers.com/|Alton Towers]] - Staffordshire, England (May 2011 and June 2016)
=== Roller coasters ===
  * [[https://www.altontowers.com/explore/theme-park/rides-attractions/the-smiler/|The Smiler]] - **World's first 14 loop rollercoaster** Height: 30 metres, Top speed: 85 km per hour, G-Force: +4.5G, Ride length: 1,170m
  * [[https://www.altontowers.com/explore/theme-park/rides-attractions/nemesis/|Nemesis]] - Inverted roller coaster. Maximum Height 13m, Top speed 81kph, G-force +3.5G, Track Length 716m, Ride Features 4 inversions
  * [[https://www.altontowers.com/explore/theme-park/rides-attractions/oblivion/|Oblivion]] **First ever dive coaster** - Maximum Height: 60m, Top speed: 110kph, G-Force: +4.5G,Track Length: 373m
  * [[https://www.altontowers.com/explore/theme-park/rides-attractions/runaway-mine-train/|Runaway Mine Train]]
  * [[https://www.altontowers.com/explore/theme-park/rides-attractions/galactica/|Galactica]] - First ride I tried wearing a VR headset.  Maximum Height 20m, Top speed 75kph, G-Force +3.5G, Track Length 840m, Ride Features 2 inversions
  * [[https://www.altontowers.com/explore/theme-park/rides-attractions/th13teen/|TH13TEEN]] - I really liked the pitch black drop in this ride. Maximum Height: 20m, Top speed: 42kph, G-Force: +3.2G
  * [[https://www.altontowers.com/explore/theme-park/rides-attractions/rita/|Rita]] **First Hydraulic Launch roller coaster of its kind in Europe** Riders accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (100 km/ph) in just over 2 seconds. With a top speed of 100km/ph, Rita is the 5th fastest roller coaster in the UK. Riders on Rita experience a maximum G force of 4.7. That's the highest g-force roller coaster you'll find at Alton Towers Resort!
  * [[https://www.altontowers.com/explore/theme-park/rides-attractions/spinball-whizzer/|Spinball Whizzer]] - This was Sonic and Knuckles themed when I was there at one point.  First spin rollercoaster I'd been on.  "Feel like a pinball being catapulted along the 470 metre track at speeds of up to 60km per hour! Each car will spin 360 degrees whilst flying around the tracks." Maximum Height: 17m, Top speed: 60kph, G-Force: +3G, Track Length: 470m
=== Thrill rides ===
  * [[https://www.altontowers.com/explore/theme-park/rides-attractions/congo-river-rapids/|Congo River Rapids]]
  * [[https://www.altontowers.com/explore/theme-park/rides-attractions/hex-the-legend-of-the-towers/|Hex The Legend of the Towers: The Vault Ride]] - This was really interesting.  Very surreal.  Felt like I was going to fall out of my chair, but my drink hardly spilled.
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