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Sheikra. Busch Gardens, Tampa
Sheikra at Busch Gardens, Tampa is without doubt one of the best roller coasters in the many Florida theme parks. But what makes this ride so different?
For those of you who look for something different in a roller coaster, Sheikra at Busch Gardens has it in abundance. The screams you hear as you approach are testament to the fear factor associated with this ride which begins at a sedate pace, before dropping you 200 feet, oh and by the way that’s straight down!
As you would expect the queues for this particular ride can be long, and as such very time consuming. It also has to be said that the queuing system currently in place is far from the best, leaving many riders in direct sunlight for sustained periods of time, with very few fans to offer relief from the sometimes-high temperatures. So be sure to take a hat and top your sunscreen up before joining a long queue.
Once you are near to the front however you begin to forget the time spent waiting for your turn on this unique ride. You have the choice of three seating positions, front, middle and rear. Each row has seating for 8 riders, and since the removal of the floor, yes I did say the floor, this ride has become even more exhilarating for those thrill seekers amongst us.
Click here to buy the new Orlando Flex Ticket online from just £97!As you would expect the wait for those premium front row seats ca be slightly longer for the remaining seats, although there is normally a number of carriages running at any one time. When my family and I visited on 3rd and 4th August this year, there where 4 separate carriages running making the wait times that much shorter, although the average wait time during the day was around 25-30 minutes.So you have made it to the front of the queue and its time to chose your preferred seating location. It was at this point that I realised that my decision had been made as my two kids made headway towards the front row. Initially I acted cool and just went along with it, however I soon began to notice the faces of returning riders who had also opted to sit up front. I quickly realised that perhaps I should have opted for either of the other seating areas!
Too late was the cry, as our carriage arrived. The safety gates opened and I found myself walking towards the further most front row seat. Lifting myself into the seat the anticipation really kicked in, the harness is considerable and along with many of my co-riders I found myself pulling on the harness ensuring it was secure.
With feet dangling, we where off. A slow start as the carriage turned a short corner towards the foot of a huge incline, and I mean huge 200 feet! Although I knew this was coming before I got on, it is still something else o experience it. I have to say the views during this controlled ascent are something else and quite stunning.
Reaching the peak, the carriage levelled off and began it short turn towards the first drop, and I have to say the highest. Typical why can’t they break the riders in slowly?
Determined to keep my eyes open, we reached the point of no return. Edging our way forward towards the drop zone, my hands drew tighter around the chrome handles on the harness. Then just as I got myself ready, it happened the carriage stopped, leaving me looking straight down! What made it worse was the fact that I could only see the first 6 feet of track, before it disappeared from view. I had heard that the first drop was negative, but thought that this was someone teasing other riders, but no it was right!
Wow the wait seemed like a lifetime, then without warning the brakes where released and whoosh we where dropping straight down. The screams around me made me feel a little better, after all it meant there where other riders with the same feelings as me.
As the speed of the carriage increased, I felt myself rise from my seat and press firmly against my harness. I knew that extra attention at the time of boarding would pay off.
The remainder of the ride consisted of a 360 degree twist and yet another albeit smaller vertical drop, before returning to where it all began. Wow.
One of the best, and most cost effective ways to visit Universal Studios, Orlando is with an Orlando Flexticket, which gives you unlimited admission to up to six separate Florida theme parks in 14 consecutive days from the date of first use. Get your Orlando Flexticket here.
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