Sure, you’ve taken a trip on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror once or twice. And you’re practically an engineer on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. But have you ever attempted Apollo’s Chariot? (And do you even know which park that ride is in?) Plenty of Theme Park Tourist readers have (and do), and that’s why they’ve voted that attraction as one of the best in the world! We’ve compiled the best attractions from all over the planet in our TPT100 countdown, which is updated whenever rides are ranked based on your votes. You can rate all of your favorite attractions, at Disney parks and beyond, in our free Park Guides. Last time, we explored the top 10 Walt Disney World attractions as voted by you, and now it’s time for some non-Disney rides to bask in the spotlight. So here are YOUR favorite attractions from a wide variety of other theme parks around the globe!
10. Blue Fire
TPT100 Ranking: No. 20 (full ride details)
This attraction, which is sponsored by a natural gas company and has a name inspired by burning gas, actually starts off as a dark ride. As you watch gas workers and scientists at work, the anticipation slowly builds until you’re catapulted to 62 miles per hour in 2.5 seconds. And while you zoom along the 3,465 feet of track, you’ll also get to enjoy scenery that includes brittle cliffs and underground rocks. The coaster is at Europa Park in Germany.
9. Millennium Force
TPT100 Ranking: No. 16 (full ride details)
It’s back to America for the next coaster on our list. Millennium Force has racked up the accolades since it opened (it’s on Theme Park Tourist’s lists of the fastest, tallest, best skyscraping, longest and best American costers in the world), and it even spawned its own coaster category — the giga-coaster (which refers to coasters that have a height or drop ranging from 300 feet to 399 feet and complete a whole circuit). The ride features an elevator cable lift system to more quickly propel you to the top before plunging you 80 feet. then it’s off for more twists and turns at a top speed of 93 miles per hour. Millennium Force is at Cedar Point in Ohio.
8. Cheetah Hunt
TPT100 Ranking: No. 14 (full ride details)
It’s safe to say that this is the only coaster on this list that has real animals alongside it, and once you’re on this coaster you’re treated to a long ride with three different launches. You’ll zip through a canyon and up the 102-foot Windcatcher Tower while you take in views of the entire Busch Gardens Tampa park. And animal lovers don’t have to be alarmed by this ride’s name: Busch Gardens officials have said that “Cheetah Hunt” refers to the animal itself doing the hunting, not the other way around.
7. Sprookjesbos
TPT100 Ranking: No. 11 (full ride details)
The first non-coaster on this countdown is actually a walkthrough forest attraction that features famous fairy tales. Scenes from stories such as “Sleeping Beauty” and “Snow White” are re-created in detail, and you could even find yourself hearing a cheerful baroque harpsichord Minuet in G Major if you step on one of the 12 mushrooms on the path. While the scenes are regularly updated (“Pinocchio” is a new addition this year), the attraction’s special atmosphere still remains nearly 65 years after it opened. Sprookjesbos is at Efteling, a fantasy-themed amusement park in the Netherlands.
6. Incredible Hulk Coaster
TPT100 Ranking: No. 9 (full ride details)
This coaster that transforms you into Dr. Bruce Banner’s experiment was one of the premier attractions when Islands of Adventure opened in Florida in 1999, and now it’s getting a makeover. The coaster is expected to reopen in summer 2016 after undergoing a major enhancement and refurbishment. The ride promises to be smoother as it accelerates from zero to 40 miles per hour in only two seconds and you go into a weightless “zero g” roll. You hear a roar as you gain speed, smash through the sky and plummet back to Earth.
5. Apollo’s Chariot
TPT100 Ranking: No. 8 (full ride details)
This steel coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia is a favorite because of its smooth, fast ride. Daring riders go through eight air-time hills (totaling 26 seconds of airtime) and plenty of oversized turns, and the ride even has a funny story about its 1999 opening. The famous Italian model Fabio was on hand to promote it, and on its first run, a 10-pound goose struck him in the face. Fabio’s nose was covered in blood and he was treated for minor cuts at a hospital. Luckily, there haven’t been any more reports of Italian model/bird accidents on this ride.
4. Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride
TPT100 Ranking: No. 7 (full ride details)
This “psychological thrill ride” has immersive theming, lots of surprises and a breathless journey to escape a “curse.” At one point, you even feel as if you’re being overrun by scarab beetles. This indoor coaster is one of the most technologically advanced rides on the list and it can be found at Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Singapore. Each ride has its own unique plot and track layout.
3. Nemesis
TPT100 Ranking: No. 5 (full ride details)
The builders of Europe’s first-ever inverted roller coaster had a unique challenge imposed on them: The coaster could only be constructed as high as the trees that surrounded it. So what did they do? They built a lot of it in a huge hole in the ground. The coaster sends riders up just below the tree line, then plunges them into the valley at a top speed of 50 miles per hour and puts them through barrel rolls and other twists. And interestingly, the ride at Alton Towers in England carries another claim to fame — it earned a Guiness World Record in 2004 for the “Most Naked People on a Rollercoaster” at 32 (the number of seats on a single train). It kept the record until 2010, when it was broken by Adventure Island’s Green Scream Rollercoaster. That ride in Scotland carried 40 naked riders.
2. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
TPT100 Ranking: No. 4 (full ride details)
It took three years to produce this motion-based 3D dark ride, and the effects are stunning. You follow the webslinger across 12 screens as he crashes through streets, climbs skyscrapers and plummets 400 feet in a freefall. You’ll also catch glimpses of Spidey villains such as Doctor Octopus, Hydro-Man, Scream, Electro and the Hobgoblin. And while you’re aboard your Daily Bugle vehicle, you can look for a hidden message on the manhole cover that you plunge toward at the end of the ride. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man is at Islands of Adventure in Florida as well as Universal Studios Japan.
1. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
TPT100 Ranking: No. 2 (full ride details)
This Islands of Adventure standout is an amazing thrill ride and dark ride in one, so it’s no wonder that it’s your No. 1 attraction on our list. It offers an in-depth look at Harry Potter’s entire environment. After Hermione Granger dusts you with Floo Powder and makes you say “Observatory,” you begin the journey around Hogwarts Castle, through a horde of Dementors and through a Quidditch match, among other scenes. And while you’re never turned upside down, you will drop, twist, turn and sometimes lie flat on your back. The ride has been called the most advanced and engaging in the history of theme parks, and it truly makes you feel like you’ve entered a magical world.
Do you have a favorite ride that’s not listed here? Vote for it in our park guides and you can help it get a higher ranking when we compile our next list!
