I’ve been coming to Universal Orlando Resort for over 25 years. And up until now, I’d experienced every attraction across all three amazing theme parks, except one.
Due to my crippling fear of heights, I’ve avoided this attraction at all costs. Every time I walked by the monolithic towers on my way to The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, I would shudder at the thought of being thrust 185 feet in the air with more force than a 747 jet engine. I would experience the best that Universal Islands of Adventure had to offer, over and over, with the lingering desire to brave the one attraction that had eluded me all of those years.
Honestly, should a man in his mid-thirties be afraid of a perfectly safe, fun ride that thousands children enjoy every day?
After months and months of deliberation, I finally decided to face my fear, ignoring the voice inside of my head that told me it was the craziest idea of all time.
As I made my way through the super cool queue—love me some Doom Bots—beads of sweat rolled down the sides of my face. My stomach proceeded to tie itself into knots, and all I could picture was myself fainting while being shot 200 feet in the air.
Seconds felt like minutes—and the anticipation was about to consume my sanity— when suddenly I was launched into the air like a rocket being blasted into the stratosphere. I reached my peak and felt myself rise out of the seat, creating a sense of weightlessness and producing a feeling that I’ve never felt on an attraction before. My fear of heights was present but quickly overruled by the beautiful view of Islands of Adventure and emerging sense of accomplishment.
It’s an extremely gratifying experience to conquer any fear, but it’s even more so when it’s conquered at the most thrilling place on earth.
Let me know in the comments below what fear that you’re going to conquer on your next visit.