What's the best rollercoaster in Florida? Vote for your favorite among these Elite 8!
Dave OsbornThere were a few surprises in the first round of voting for Florida's top roller coasters.
Some big names fell just short in advancing to the second round of our quest to find readers' favorite Florida roller coaster this summer.
Remember to cast your votes in our Elite Eight bracket. Coasters still in the running stand tall at Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens.
Elite Eight voting guide
Voting for the first round begins today and closes at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, July 9. Subsequent rounds will restart weekly each Friday through Tuesday, culminating in The Finals from July 19 to 23. The champion will be announced July 26.
Best roller coaster in Florida championship dates
- Sweet 16: June 28-July 2
- Elite Eight: July 5-9
- Final Four: July 12-16
- The Finals: July 19-23
Jurassic World VelociCoaster vs. Cheetah Hunt
The runaway winner in the first round was Jurassic World VelociCoaster at Universal Islands of Adventure, snaring nearly 98% of the vote over nearby Trolls Trollercoaster. Next up is Busch Gardens' Cheetah Hunt, which squeezed out a 52-48% win over its Busch counterpart, SheiKra.
Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit vs. Space Mountain
Universal Orlando's Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit was popular among voters, snaring about 60% of the vote over Disney World's Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. But it faces out-of-this world competition against Disney's Space Mountain, which easily defeated SeaWorld Orlando's Mako ride.
Expedition Everest vs. Kraken
Another Disney favorite, Expedition Everest, ran away with an easy win. The mountain-themed ride won with 53% over Busch Garden's Iron Gwazi. Facing steeper competition, Expedition Everest now battles SeaWorld Orlando's Kraken that easily ousted Disney's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
The Incredible Hulk Coaster vs. Montu
The Incredible Hulk Coaster towers at Universal Orlando, and also overshadowed Busch Gardens' Kumba by grabbing 73% of the vote in round one. Now Hulk faces another Busch Gardens challenger, Montu, which eked out a one-point win over Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Universal.
Dave Osborn is the regional features editor of the Naples Daily News and News-Press. Follow him on Instagram and Threads @lacrossewriter and on X (formerly Twitter) @NDN_dosborn.