We all have that one friend who is a die-hard adrenaline junkie who loves to discover their next greatest adventure. That friend is me…
This feature is all about uncovering Lake Nona and Orlando’s greatest activities, especially if you enjoy living life on the edge!
This month had me dying with anticipation as I waited for the June 1 grand opening. The Orlando StarFlyer is located at Vue at 360 on International Drive, right by ICON Orlando (formerly known as the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye). There are 35 structures like it in the world, but at a whopping 450 feet tall, the Orlando StarFlyer is the world’s tallest. Naturally, that achievement has my name written all over it.
The StarFlyer was designed in 2007, and the parts were fabricated in Lienz, Austria, in 2017. (That explained the Austrian band performing in lederhosen at the grand opening.)
You can enjoy the Orlando StarFlyer for just $12 per ride (online ticketing coming soon), and additional same-day rides are $7. There is no age limit or weight limit, you just need to be able to fit in the seat safely and be able to fasten the seatbelt. There is a height requirement of at least 44 inches. The Orlando StarFlyer is “a unique attraction that appeals to the young and old and the adventurous and not so adventurous. A family friendly high-thrill experience,” according to the official website. I’d have to agree. It’s pretty easy to get distracted taking in the views while you’re on the ride rather than focusing on how high up you are.
The massive swing reaches speeds of 45 miles per hour but can go as fast as 60 miles per hour! I joked that I’d probably be throwing up all over I-Drive as I can’t handle the slightest bit of spinning. That was the only aspect of the ride that had me anxious.
I arrived to the grand opening with my excitement through the roof. I watched intently alongside several other news organizations as the ribbon was officially cut. The Orlando StarFlyer was open for business!
I met with Ritchie Armstrong, the general manager of both the Orlando Slingshot and the Orlando StarFlyer. This guy knows what people are looking for to experience adrenaline, fun and adventure, all things I aspire to discover throughout Orlando! Armstrong led me past the line and to my chair, which had a special GoPro rigged to it so that I could capture the experience. Next thing I knew, I was secured in and off I went, along with the other 23 riders, spinning over the bustling landscape of Orlando. There was just one problem: The GoPro wasn’t in the rig! The production company that was filming forgot to put it in.
I got over the missing camera pretty quickly as it soon hit me that this monument I had watched get built up and repeatedly tested was now a skyscraper, and I was among the first few to experience it. I let out a scream of joy. I was having WAY too much fun as I rotated around, enjoying views for miles. The wind felt amazing! After all, it was the hottest point in the day at 2 p.m., and I was sweating so badly. I threw my arms up in the air. Was it because I was having a blast or to air out my underarms? The world may never know…
As we began to descend back to Earth, I had totally forgotten about my fear of throwing up and feeling sick. I didn’t feel nauseous at any point in the roughly four-and-a-half-minute-long ride. Once my feet touched the ground again, I didn’t want to leave. Luckily for me, I had the pleasure of riding again so I could capture the footage I needed. The second time around was just as fun as the first, but it felt even faster. Pedal to the metal, baby!
I couldn’t help but think about when the best time of day would be to ride the Orlando StarFlyer. Immediately, I thought of nighttime. All of the lights would be mesmerizing. One of the staff members mentioned that during sunset is an ideal time to ride as well.
Lo and behold, Andrew and I ended up back 450 feet in the air later that night, and I hate to say it, but I was right! In my opinion, experiencing the StarFlyer at night was unbeatable! I didn’t think it could get any better on my first two rides, but I was in awe with the swing at dark. All of the lights along I-Drive were so eye-catching, just as I expected they would be. I admired the rainbow which was the Orlando Eye and couldn’t take my eyes off of the ever-changing light show that casted its way up and down the StarFlyer. And on top of all of that, the ride felt longer and I felt like we were spinning much faster than we did during the day. I loved it!
Hey, Ritchie, can I get one of these things in my backyard?! Seriously, I could ride the Orlando StarFlyer all day, every day, and I can’t wait to find myself flying amongst the stars again! Until next time!
Have a suggestion? Send an email to nicole@nonahoodnews.com or fill out our NonaVentures column form at http://nonahood.to/nonaventure. What do you want to see me review next?
