What's the best rollercoaster in Florida? Vote for your favorite among these Sweet 16!
Vote now for Florida's greatest roller coaster!
Prepare for an adrenaline-fueled showdown as Florida's top roller coasters go head-to-head! From heart-pounding drops to terrifying twists, these rides are competing for ultimate supremacy. Cast your votes in our Sweet 16 bracket and let the coaster clash begin!
Discover high-speed attractions from Disney World, Universal Studios, and Busch Gardens, featuring both outdoor and indoor roller coasters with diverse themes and thrills.
Voting for the first round begins today and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, July 2. Subsequent rounds will restart weekly each Friday through Tuesday, culminating in The Finals from July 19 to 23. The champion will be announced on July 26.
Sweet 16 voting guide
Voting begins today and ends at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, July 2. Elite 8 voting will begin on Friday, July 5, featuring winners from the previous round.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Best roller coaster in Florida championships dates
- Sweet 16: June 28-July 2
- Elite 8: July 5-9
- Final Four: July 12-16
- The Finals: July 19-23
- Winner announced July 26
Jurassic World VelociCoaster vs. Trolls Trollercoaster
The thrill seeker's jewel of Jurassic Park in Universal’s Islands of Adventure and billed as the fastest and tallest launch coaster in Florida, VelociCoaster opened in 2021 and is famous for launching guests 70 mph in just 2.4 seconds. VelociCoaster faces off against the newly opened Trolls Trollercoaster at Universal Studios, which is a family-friendly coaster where guests join Poppy, Tiny, and the twins Satin and Chenille as they try to escape from spooky spiders.
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit vs. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
The Rockit at Universal Studios lets you choose your coaster soundtrack while hitting speeds of 65 mph. It's up against the family-friendly Mine Train at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, where guests race through the diamond mine from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."
Kraken vs. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Kraken is billed as Orlando’s only floorless roller coaster, where your feet dangle as you soar at highway speeds to heights exceeding 150 feet above SeaWorld. It competes against Big Thunder Mountain, a Magic Kingdom classic that takes guests on a thrilling ride aboard a speeding train through a haunted gold mine.
Mako vs. Space Mountain
This battle pits SeaWorld's Mako, opened in 2016 and billed as Orlando's tallest and fastest roller coaster, reaching speeds up to 73 mph and heights up to 200 feet, against Magic Kingdom mainstay Space Mountain. Debuting in 1975, this indoor roller coaster sends you dipping and careening through the darkness of outer space.
Iron Gwazi vs. Expedition Everest
Riding the Iron Gwazi at Busch Gardens in Tampa requires, well, nerves of steel. It’s North America’s tallest and the world’s fastest (reaches speeds of 76 mph) and steepest hybrid coaster. But don’t sleep on Disney World's Animal Kingdom's Expedition Everest, which features cool Yeti and icy Himalayan themes. Oh, at one point, it goes backwards. No problem? Well, you’ve been warned.
Montu vs. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Montu is a coaster that reigned supreme when it opened in 1996 as the world's tallest and fastest inverted coaster. Located at Busch Gardens, it squares off against a giant brand with Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Universal, a ride modeled after the wildly popular book series.
Kumba vs. The Incredible Hulk Coaster
Opening in 1993, the steel coaster Kumba at Busch Gardens is a three-minute ride known for its large inverted loops and riders reach up to 3.8 times the force of gravity. Its competition? The Incredible Hulk Coaster based on the popular comic is a ride where you "launch up to 67 miles per hour as Hulk-like power propels you upside down into a zero-gravity roll," Universal boasts on its website.
SheiKra vs. Cheetah Hunt
Two coasters at Busch Gardens will battle: SheiKra vs. Cheetah Hunt. The SheiKra thrills with a 200-foot climb, only to drop at a 90-degree angle and reach speeds of 70 mph. Cheetah Hunt is the amusement park's longest thrill ride at 4,400 feet and proudly boasts "A New Breed for Speed."
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