Fun Spot: New Sky Sled a feat for feet
COMMENTARY — and they go feet first from a height of 300 feet.
“The free fall was unreal,” Arie says. “I thought I was going to die.”
Of course, he didn’t really believe that because he runs a safety-oriented operation. Remember, this is the man on Fun Spot’s TV ads with Orlando’s catchiest catchphrase, “It’s huuuuuuuuuuuuge.”
The freefall is about 100 feet “before the cables actually tighten up,” he says. “You’re just sort of falling toward the ground.”
No biggie, right? Arie also recalls having time to check out the view, whereas I’m sure I’d be screaming enough to force my eyes shut.
“The view of Orlando was absolutely incredible,” Arie says. “It was truly amazing. Before you had to kind of try to break your neck to see what’s going on. That was worth every penny of the ride.”
That would be $40 for a single rider taking a single ride. It’s $35 apiece for doubled-up riders and $30 each for triple riders. There are discounts for folks holding a Fun Spot singleday fun pass, and one Sky Sled drop is included in what they call the singleday mega fun pass.
Waitaminute, triple riders? That seems … snug, but there’s not exactly a weight limit for Sky Sled.
“Each cable is rated for 9,800 pounds,” Arie says. There are two cables.
“When it comes to safety of the ride, it’s way overengineered,” he says. ”It’s incredible how safe it is.”
But you must be at least 48 inches tall to ride Sky Sled, per manufacturer’s recommendation. That’s 6 inches taller than the regular SkyCoaster requires. (There’s an upper height limit of 78 inches, a.k.a. 6-foot-6, so, better luck next ride, Nikola Vucevic.)
And here’s your chance to say “only in Kissimmee.” The Fun Spot there is currently the home of the only Sky Sled. Other attractions are in the process of purchasing them.
A few Fun Spot customers have done both SkyCoaster and Sky Sled, with the latter getting most of the thrill votes.
“I think once the word gets out there it’s going to be quite busy with repeat flyers and die-hard thrill seekers,” Arie says. “They don’t care if the line is an hour or two wait, they’re going to do it.”
For more information, go to fun-spot.com.