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Get To Know The World's New Tallest Roller Coaster

by Abby Johnston

Adrenaline junkies, unite. On Monday, plans for the world's tallest roller coaster in Florida were unveiled in a four-minute simulation that plummets animated thrill-seekers through twists sharper than 90 degrees down a 570-foot drop. It looks to be both terrifying and completely awesome. The Skyscraper, which is set to open in 2017 as part of Orlando, Florida's Skyplex entertainment center, straps those brave enough to face it in for a four-minute ride.

For those of you not masochistic enough to put yourself in the harness, there is a 534-foot observation deck, so you can point and laugh at the idiots who waited in line to be scared out of their wits.

US Thrill Rides, the company behind the giant roller coaster, promise that Skyscraper will deliver an unparalleled experience. Bill Kitchen, founder of US Thrill Rides, told the Orlando Sentinel:

The unique design of the coaster means more incredible, heart-pounding inside and outside loops, dives, spirals and inversions in a vertical area than riders have ever before experienced.

US Thrill Rides President Michael Kitchen told the Sentinel Skyscraper will keep riders on the edge of their seats the entire time.

Skyscraper will not only take riders higher than ever before, but also introduce one thrill right after the next – there’s no ‘down time’ on this four-minute coaster experience. It is an absolute cutting-edge engineering marvel that will deliver pure adrenaline unlike any roller coaster in the world today.

Skyplex, which will house the coaster, is designed to include arcade-style experiences, simulators, shopping, and dining. It's nice to have all of those options before voluntarily strapping yourself in to careen toward imminent death!

The opening of Skyscraper will break the previous record for highest roller coaster, currently awarded to Six Flags' Kingda Ka that stands at 456 feet.

Me? I don't really mess with roller coasters anymore. A girl threw up funnel cake from the row in front of me as we were blasting down a hill, and I don't think that I need to spell out what happened next. Probably unsurprisingly, I have been scarred for life. If someone wants to take a trip to Orlando and report back, I'll be fine living vicariously through you. I suggest bringing a splash guard of some sort.

For now, here is a point-of-view simulation of the monster. Watch if you dare:

Images: YouTube/Theme Park Review (5)