The Orlando theme parks are home to some of the most thrilling rides in the world. From exhilarating coasters to big splashes and attractions that plunge you into total darkness, there’s something for everyone. If you’re looking for something seriously scary though, Orlando’s white-knuckle drop rides are sure to get your heart racing. We’ve put together a list of our favourite drop rides in Orlando, but be warned, they are definitely not for the faint-hearted! Daredevils read on…
Orlando drop rides at a glance
Ride | Theme Park | Drop Height |
Falcon’s Fury | Busch Gardens Tampa Bay | 335 ft |
Mako | SeaWorld Orlando | 200 ft |
SheiKra | Busch Gardens Tampa Bay | 200 ft |
Dr. Doom’s Fearfall | Universal Islands of Adventure | 185 ft |
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit | Universal Studios Florida | 167 ft |
Jurassic World VelociCoaster | Universal Islands of Adventure | 155 ft |
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror | Disney’s Hollywood Studios | 130 ft |
Jurassic Park River Adventure | Universal Islands of Adventure | 85 ft |
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure | Magic Kingdom Park | 52 ft |
1. Falcon’s Fury
Where? Busch Gardens Fear Factor: 5
Falcon’s Fury at Busch Gardens holds the record for being the tallest freestanding drop tower in North America, standing at an incredible 335 feet. Once you reach the highest point of the ride, you’ll be tilted 90 degrees in mid-air, putting you in a face-down dive position. As the suspense builds, get ready for a 60mph plunge straight down to the bottom. This will definitely give you that stomach-churning free-fall sensation that we know all thrill-seekers secretly love.
2. Mako
Where? SeaWorld Fear Factor: 5
If you’re in search of the ultimate adrenaline rush, look no further, because SeaWorld’s Mako is the tallest and fastest roller coaster in all of Orlando. If you’re up for the challenge, you’ll be sent racing around the track at speeds of up to 73mph, before tackling a staggering 200-foot drop! This amazing ride is designed to replicate the movements of a real Mako shark in the wild (the fastest shark species in the world). There are no shoulder restraints (just lap guards) and this gives you optimum upper body movement which makes you feel as though you're speeding through the ocean and makes the whole experience even scarier. This is one you won’t want to miss!
3. SheiKra
Where? Busch Gardens Fear Factor: 5
Standing at a staggering 200 feet tall, SheiKra was the first dive coaster built in North America and features stunning drops galore. The most terrifying of all the drops on this 2-minute long ride is the first, which leaves riders teetering over a 90-degree gravity-defying drop for four full seconds before plunging face-first back to Earth at the ride’s maximum speed of 70 miles per hour! Definitely not for the faint-hearted, the ride then continues into loops followed by ANOTHER 138-foot drop at a near 90-degree angle. Phew.
4. Dr. Doom’s Fearfall
Where? Universal Islands of Adventure Fear Factor: 4
The Fantastic Four’s arch-enemy Doctor Doom has created a terrifying device to extract every bit of fear from your body so that he can use it to battle against the foursome. On Doctor Doom's Fearfall, there are two separate towers, each standing at an impressive 200-foot-tall and making it twice as scary. Once you’re strapped into your seat, prepare to rocket 185 feet into the air before you plummet back down to earth faster than the force of gravity itself!
5. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
Where? Universal Studios Florida Fear Factor: 4
Universal's Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is a unique attraction that puts you in charge of your own ride experience, by letting you select a dramatic up-tempo track to go with the even more dramatic drop. Choose from hits like ‘Born to be Wild’, ‘Rock Star’ and ‘I Will Survive’ before you start the nail-biting ascent to the top of the 167-foot-tall tower. You won’t have much time to admire the views, as you’ll be racing back down again at speeds of up to 65mph in no time! This is one of the most popular rides at the Universal Orlando Resort, so make sure you try it for yourself.
FUN FACT! Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit was the world’s first coaster to have a non-inverting loop, so make sure you add this record-breaking attraction to your must-do list!
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6. Jurassic World VelociCoaster
Where? Universal Islands of Adventure Fear Factor: 4
Jurassic World VelociCoaster is one of the newer rides in town, but despite only opening in 2021, it has quickly cemented its place as the ‘apex predator of roller coasters’ and is a firm favourite with Orlando regulars. Not only is VelociCoaster the tallest and fastest launch coaster in the whole of Florida, reaching speeds of 70mph and a peak height of 155ft - before dropping smoothly back down at an 80-degree angle - but with just a lap bar keeping you safely in your seat you’ll experience a thrilling 12 seconds of airtime throughout the ride.
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7. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Where? Disney’s Hollywood Studios Fear Factor: 4
By far one of the most iconic rides at Walt Disney World Resort, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is famous for its terrifying drops. That’s right, drops; you’ll have to face more than just one, with a random sequence of surprise drops inside the elevator of this 199-foot-tall hotel making the ride experience different every single time. Did we mention that you’ll be in complete darkness too? When you reach the 13th floor, the doors unexpectedly swing open, allowing your screams to echo across the park.
8. Jurassic Park River Adventure
Where? Universal Islands of Adventure Fear Factor: 3
Be warned - this drop ride is going to give you a serious soaking! While the scenic river cruise may seem innocent enough to start with, things soon take a dramatic turn when out of nowhere, you’re bumped off course and find yourself in the ‘restricted area’ of Jurassic Park… and if you’ve seen the movies you’ll know what that means! The grand finale comes when you have to escape from an enormous T-Rex. The problem is, the only way to escape is with a terrifying 85-foot drop into total darkness!
9. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Where? Magic Kingdom Park Fear Factor: 2
Prepare to get completely soaked on this fun-filled log flume adventure that includes 950,000 gallons of water! Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (previously Splash Mountain) is the most family-friendly drop ride on this list as, while it still has a thrilling 5-storey splash as its finale, it’s significantly shorter than other drops in Orlando at just 52ft, making it the perfect ride for kids to test their limits when it comes to adrenaline. The whole family will also love the fun and colourful Princess and the Frog theming, spotting characters from the film - and a few new ones too - as you make their way down the bayou.
Think you can handle Orlando’s biggest drops? Browse our Orlando attraction tickets to experience them all yourself!
