The Incredible Hulk roller coaster at Islands of Adventure is one of Orlando, Florida's most thrilling attractions and delights thousands of eager coaster and comic book fans daily.
About The Incredible Hulk Roller Coaster at Islands of Adventure
When it first opened in May 1999, the Incredible Hulk roller coaster instantly became one of the new Islands of Adventure theme park's most popular attractions. The distinctive bright green track, ominous launch tunnel, and highly visible ride layout stretching over the park's central lagoon makes it a focal point of the park. A coaster's popularity cannot last based on looks alone, however, and the Incredible Hulk delivers incredible thrills to those brave enough to take its challenge.
The coaster, built by famed roller coaster designers Bolliger and Mabillard, stretches 3,700 feet long but is only 110 feet high - astonishingly small for a coaster with as intense a ride. In the two minute, fifteen second ride, passengers are flipped through seven different inversions, including a zero-gravity roll maneuver, multiple loops, corkscrews, and a stunning cobra roll over the water.
The Incredible Hulk gets its power from its tire-propelled launch through the lift tunnel. In just two seconds, riders rocket from a standstill to 40 miles per hour, encountering the first inversion as soon as they exit the tunnel. During the ride, passengers experience forces up to four times the force of gravity, feeling the power of the coaster pull them along mercilessly. Along the course of the ride, trains reach speeds greater than 65 miles per hour - faster even than the initial launch speed.
In addition to the intense inversions and fast-paced track layout, the Incredible Hulk also features a second tunnel. After the trains dive out of the cobra roll element, they cross beneath one of the park's main pathways through a fog-filled tunnel before arching back toward the building that houses the ride's queue and station. This quick dip into thick fog is a chilling breath for riders and adds to the ride's amazing disorientation effect.
Importance of a Theme
The entire Islands of Adventure park theme is based on popular characters and motifs that feature an adventurous flair. That theme adds to the rides immeasurably, building up riders' anticipation as they wait through sometimes lengthy lines to ride a roller coaster that only lasts a couple of minutes.The Incredible Hulk's theme - that something has gone drastically wrong with Dr. Bruce Banner's gamma ray accelerator - stretches from the coaster's bright green track with pink and yellow highlights back through the coaster's staging area where riders patiently wait for their opportunity to challenge the legendary roller coaster. Inside the building that houses the queue, intimate details such as neon lighting, flickering lights, and an explanatory video message set the stage for an amazing ride that harnesses the power of the Marvel Comics superhero. Because of that theme, the Incredible Hulk is appropriately located on Marvel Superhero Island, one of several themed areas within the park.
Incredible Hulk Riding Tips
The Incredible Hulk roller coaster at Islands of Adventure is not a ride for the inexperienced, faint of heart, or easily nauseated. Riders must be at least 54 inches tall to ride - one of the most demanding height requirements in the amusement industry and one that is set to ensure riders' maturity as well as their physical readiness for such an extreme ride. Furthermore, individuals with heart, back, or neck problems as well as those who may be pregnant are urged to avoid the roller coaster for health and safety reasons.
The Incredible Hulk uses heavy over-the-shoulder restraints as part of its safety gear, which may be uncomfortable for riders with broad shoulders or who are very tall. Because of the ride's intense twisting, if the harness does not fit easily, riders may find the experience very uncomfortable, even painful. Riders should also remove earrings prior to riding, and any loose items - hats, glasses, etc. - should be securely stowed or left with a non-rider.
The Incredible Hulk roller coaster at Islands of Adventure is one of the park's most distinctive and most popular rides. Located in the front of the park (the entrance is on the left, after passing beneath the coaster's track and over the footbridge by the cobra roll), it is also a popular focal point and highly photogenic attraction. The most attractive part of the ride, however, is the adrenaline rush riders experience by conquering the infamous green monster.
