ORLANDO, Fla. – The tallest swing ride in the world will be coming to the tourist district of Orlando within the next year and a half, Orlando-based developer Chuck Whittall announced on Tuesday.
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"It's a thrilling thrill ride that is going to be one of a kind, the first in the world," said Whittall.
A giant swing ride, called the Starflyer, will be built on International Drive next to The Orlando Eye, an observation wheel that will be one of the tallest in the world when it opens in 2015.
Whittall, President of Unicorp National Developments, said the swing ride will be 420 feet tall, making it the world's tallest, 20 feet taller than any existing Starflyer. The ride will be about 4 minutes long for a cost of around $10 per ride.
"We wanted to make sure we targeted all the audiences and locals," said Whittall, who grep up in Winter Park. "With Madam Tussauds and the Sea Life Aquarium [both being built in the same plaza], it's great for tourists, it's a half day day experience, this is an experience tourists can do that they don't have to be part of the theme parks."
The Starflyer is expected to be open in the next 18 months.
"The point of this is to continue to make International Drive a world class destination," said Whittall, whose Unicorp is also building the Eye. "To give people a reason to come to International Drive. To give conventioners and tourists a reason to come to I-Drive."
The Orange County Commission first must approve the attraction, which will take a few months, but Whittall said they are not expecting any delays.
The announcement comes a day after details emerged about The Skyscraper, the world's tallest roller coaster, which is scheduled to open nearby on I-Drive in 2017.
Whittall also promised another upcoming major announcement on a less high-profile but more high-tech attraction.