Velocicoaster

Backblip 2/7

We got a resort hotel, so we were able to get to Universal Studios Islands of Adventure early, but we were met by a crowd and entered only a little early. We first rode Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, which is a great coaster. It has several launches, fly-bys, hills, turns, a drop track, switch track and forward spike. Ugh. It's so fun. It was my 427th coaster.

But the real star at Islands of Adventure is Velocicoaster. This launch coaster opened in 2021. I can barely explain it; you just have to experience it. The theme is a roller coaster in the velociraptor pen from Jurassic World. You launch into an inversion, dive into another, then twist and turn around the pen, passing raptors and trees. Then you launch a second time into a top hat (see extra. The red glow is from the fireworks at Walt Disney World) that has an 80-degree drop. You go through an upside-down stall and a helix, followed by an airtime hop and the highlight of the ride, the mosasaurus roll.

The main photo shows the mosasaurus roll. It's a heartline roll just above the lagoon. It's taken quickly, and you are violently ejected into your lap restraint while upside-down. It's easily the best inversion I've ever experienced. We got two rides on Velocicoaster. It was my 428th coaster.