SeaWorld Orlando is to the central Florida theme parks as Chris Bosh is to the Miami Heat. SeaWorld
Orlando is a very good park just like Chris Bosh was a very good basketball player, just not on the
level of LeBron James or Dwyane Wade. That’s similar to SeaWorld Orlando how it just can’t
match Walt Disney World or Islands of Adventure. The park has a top heavy ride lineup.
The park recently opened their sixth roller coaster in Ice Breaker, which joins a trio of
B&Ms and a top-notch water coaster. There aren’t too many other rides, but there are some others
worth a spin, so in this video, I will rank the top 10 rides and attractions at SeaWorld Orlando.
This list will not include any of the animal exhibits since it’s tricky to compare them
with a ride. I also will not be including any of the animal shows. I enjoyed the
older ones like Pets Ahoy and Sea Lion High, but the newer ones are a lot less exciting.
Unless otherwise noted, the attractions on this list are at the main SeaWorld park.
This list will include a few water slides at the adjacent Aquatica water park. This may be a
separate admission ticket, but it’s included with most annual passes and just a 2 minute drive.
10) Sky Tower- This 400 foot or 122 meter tall observation tower is the park’s icon.
It isn’t open often, but it features a stunning 360 degree panoramic view of the park
and surrounding area since Florida is flatter than an accountant’s behind.
9) Karekare Curl at Aquatica- This raft slide has a great drop giving a pinch of airtime followed by
a giant wave with some solid weightlessness. The slide may be basic, but it’s still quite fun.
8) Ray Rush at Aquatica- This features a similarly solid drop and wave as the prior attraction,
but Ray Rush has far longer layout. The ride starts with a unique little boost section.
It’s not too powerful, but it’s theatric with all the water jets around you. You then have
a miniature funnel that slides you around. After that aforementioned half pipe bit,
you return indoors for a dazzling display of lights on the final tube section.
This well-rounded ride experience makes it the best raft or tube slide at Aquatica.
Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin- This ride has been standing but not operating for nearly 2 years
and it’s unknown if it’ll reopen, but it was a mixed bag. The
trackless ride system was incredible. The way you’d dance around each room while spinning and
rumbling was neat. The sets and visuals didn’t match the splendor of the ride system though.
However, the final reveal of the penguin exhibit after the attraction is breathtaking.
You could argue seeing those penguins is more impressive than the ride itself.
Wild Arctic- This simulator is another ride that may not reopen, but it was a rambunctious
experience. It was an older simulator, so the visuals were dated. But the plot was
well-suited to the ride system and the abundance of motion enhanced the experience for me. Plus
this is another one that dumps you off into a wonderful animal exhibit at the end.
7) Journey to Atlantis- The original Mack water coaster is a very good attraction.
I love the dark ride scenes at the start between the musical score
and physical sets. Then the coaster bits add to the experience as well. The initial drop gives
a pop of airtime and is very good. The finale is more of a novelty, but it’s still pretty quick.
The ride is refreshing in most rows, but comically drenching up front due to this evil little dip in
the middle of the ride. 6)
Infinity Falls- This Intamin river rapids ride is one of the wettest water rides in the world.
The rapids alone are almost guaranteed to leave you drenched. Most of them are quite sizable and
there’s a sequence where you charge over a few back-to-back-to-back. This one also has a neat
layout between the rare elevator lift, the largest drop on a rapids ride in the western hemisphere,
and all the lush landscaping. And the soundtrack just adds to the experience as well.
5) Ihu’s Breakaway Falls at Aquatica- This tall speed slide complex is comprised of a quartet
of slides. You have three of the most intense drop pod slides in the world. Each starts with
a steep plunge with some weightlessness followed by an intense series of turns.
Between the relentless speed, crazy sliding, and moderate positive Gs, it’ll blow you away.
Then the final slide has two strong drops and a similarly fast-paced ride experience. These have
a claim as the best speed slides in the world. 4) Kraken- This Bolliger & Mabillard floorless
coaster was recently repainted, but the ride experience is just as good as ever.
The ride has a series of strong inversions, but I particularly love the super whippy zero-G roll
and the second vertical loop which takes place in a trench. Those trenches in the second half
differentiate Kraken from the other floorless coasters. And the ride is quite smooth too,
making it one of the better floorless coasters as I talk about in a separate review.
3) Manta- This B&M flying coaster is a wonderful. The ride balances power and grace well.
The first drop has good snap in the back and then the pretzel loop delivers crushing
positive Gs in all rows, which is what all the flyers do. The rest of the ride alternates
between graceful inversions and fun turns, particularly those in the second half that
take place over water or adjacent to rockwork. 2) Ice Breaker- This Premier Rides quadruple
launch coaster was marketed as a family coaster, but it has some serious power to it. The launches
aren’t all that impressive, but the second half of the launch sequence is interesting.
The stalls on the top hat and beyond vertical spike induce some wonderful weightlessness.
Then you also get airtime every time you head over those small humps, particularly on the final pass.
Both the top hat and small bunny hills deliver some very strong ejector airtime, arguably the
strongest ejector airtime in Orlando. The ride is also super smooth and arguably the sleeper
hit of 2022, as I discuss in a separate review. 1) Mako- This B&M hyper coaster has one of the
best first halves of any coaster. The first drop and every airtime hill have incredible sustained
fl-jector airtime, particularly the first camelback. The second half does let its foot off
the gas, but its still solid. The final bunny hill still gives some floater airtime and the swooping
turns offer some laterals and great visuals. It’s also glass smooth and super reridable.
Plus that station and musical score around the attraction get you pumped up for your rides.
I have a separate review going into more detail, but this is still the king of SeaWorld Orlando.
So those are the top 10 rides and attractions at SeaWorld Orlando. What is your favorite ride
the flagship SeaWorld park? Let me know your thoughts on any of the rides I mentioned or
any you think I missed down in the comments. If you enjoyed this countdown, I’d appreciate it
if you gave this video a like and you considered subscribing since there will be a lot more roller
coaster and amusement park videos here at Canobie Coaster. Thanks for watching!