Although this is the only new addition to Universal Orlando Resort that we can expect this year, that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty for us hens to gab about. It’s a given that what’s sure to be a star ride already has us wild-eyed and nipping at the heel, so what better way to satiate some of our anticipation than to talk about what’s exciting us most?

Hold onto your butts, readers.

1. Jurassic World theming and representation

One could state that the first step towards representing Jurassic World began with the popular Raptor Encounter at Islands of Adventure, and I would agree. When it was relocated during VelociCoaster’s construction, the theming that matched the original franchise was retired and updated so the meet-and-greet’s marquee now sports stylings of blue-and-white font on a slate-colored habitat cage – the signature of the Jurassic World sub-series. (And a few years before this, the generic raptor was switched out with the World pack leader herself, Blue.) But as exciting as the minor renovation was, this small taste left fans like myself wanting more, and the powers that be knew they’d have to deliver. Fortunately, just like life, they found a way.

In preparation for the ride, its creators teamed up with the Jurassic World filmmakers to match with the source material down to the finest detail, sparing no expense. We can see this from the attraction’s marquee and housing, what’s visible of the raptor paddock, and the coaster vehicles’ stylings, as well as the surrounding horticulture and signage. Considering what information about the experience has been released, we can not only expect some fun dangers along the way (seriously, we’re racing with fully grown raptors here – have you seen the movies?), but to cross paths with Owen Grady and others from the cinematic hit – the attraction has been given its own original story set within the characters’ world. This provides us with a well-deserved, dino-sized step towards proper Jurassic World representation on the East Coast.

2. The best features of two roller coasters built into one

Jurassic World VelociCoaster’s tagline, “A new species of coaster,” is a simple and nearly perfect description of what to expect. This attraction is essentially a hybrid of two different types of roller coasters, and one thing’s for sure: there isn’t much like it. During the guests’ journey, they’ll be subjected to two intense launches, with the first racing from zero to 50 miles per hour in three seconds (at the beginning of the ride), and a later boost launching the vehicles from 40 to 70 miles per hour in just 2.4 seconds. They’ll also be subjected to four inversions, multiple zero-gravity stalls that promise a total of 12 seconds’ worth of air time, a one-of-a-kind 360-degree barrel roll, and that already-infamous 155-foot-tall top hat containing an 80-degree, 152-foot drop!

Wow! My heart’s pounding just typing all of that out. The possibility of catching a view of Islands of Adventure from 155 feet above the park’s lagoon already had me sold, but as a fan of thrill rides, I’m psyched to experience the transitions of everything Universal has packed into this “frankencoaster.” Can you imagine how exhilarating it’ll be to catch that much air time and spin that close to the water? I know I’ll do everything in my power to be a part of any soft openings we may be graced with. And if you weren’t already sold, VelociCoaster’s features should most certainly have everyone’s ears perked, at the least.

3. A record-setting attraction

Universal Orlando’s newest coaster is set to break some records, and not just in the resort’s book – but let’s not jump ahead here.

Focusing solely on Universal itself, VelociCoaster is set to have the steepest coaster drop in either theme park due to the aforementioned top hat’s 80-degree descent. For those crunching the numbers with me, that title is currently held by Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit in Universal Studios Florida. By comparison, the new Jurassic World attraction’s 155-foot peak may not be as high, but it is still 10 degrees steeper than Rockit’s own 90-degree descent. And shifting over to the top-speed category, VelociCoaster’s latter launch reaches the ride’s maximum pace of 70 miles per hour. This feat crowns it as king of this realm and dethrones The Incredible Hulk Coaster, which maxes out at 67 mph.

Jurassic World VelociCoaster’s domination over its peers doesn’t stop there, either. Broadening our scope to the state level, the prehistoric thriller’s maximum velocity will simultaneously make it both the king of top speed at Universal Orlando and the fastest launch-type coaster in all of Florida. Cheetah Hunt in Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has held that reign proudly since 2011, with launches of zero to 30 miles per hour in 1.8 seconds, and a subsequent boost of 38 to 60 mph in two seconds.

4. Night rides and trailblazing possibilities

While it may seem that everything’s been talked about, there’s arguably still more yet to salivate over.

Guests looking to add some oomph to their ride experience could take VelociCoaster for a spin at night, as you would Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit or The Incredible Hulk Coaster. The aesthetics of the vehicles’ blue lighting already beckon you to do so, and this could potentially enhance your Jurassic enjoyment. Doubling up on the attraction in this way could intensify not only the characteristics of the ride’s track, but any possible raptor encounters, as well. I’ll surely be doing this, as it would make for some truly great memories.

As much as riding this in any fashion should excite you, what has us most hyped is its potential influence on the future. If you’re raising an eyebrow or tilting your head, allow me to elaborate: it’s the industry’s consensus that theme-park history should have its eye on VelociCoaster. This hair-raising adventure into the realm of Jurassic World is set to incorporate some heavy theming into the attraction’s overall experience. Exactly how cohesive the ride portion will be has yet to be seen, but Universal has already successfully dipped its proverbial toes into the deeply themed waters of “story coasters” with Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure and, technically, Revenge of the Mummy. If the past is any indication here, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Universal’s designers use what they’ve learned thus far to revolutionize the industry yet again by weaving an intricate, original tale – similar in depth to attractions such as E.T. Adventure or The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man – into VelociCoaster’s already-innovative and intense nature.

Even if this doesn’t come to pass, Jurassic World VelociCoaster still gives us a lot to look forward to, and I’m sure it’ll have the Orlando Informer – and Owen Grady – Seal of Approval.

What are your most anticipated parts of VelociCoaster? Share your thoughts – and help build the hype up – with 150,000+ other Universal Orlando lovers in our Orlando Informer Community on Facebook.

Finally, be sure to follow Orlando Informer on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest news, tips, and more at Universal Orlando, Walt Disney World, and other Orlando attractions.

The post Jurassic World VelociCoaster: 4 things we’re most excited about appeared first on Orlando Informer.

I became a Parrothead over time. (Parrothead is a term lovingly bestowed on fans of Jimmy Buffett’s music.) As I got older and took more ownership of being a Florida Native, I grew into my feathers. I can say without question that my full fledged Parrothead flight would not have happened without two things: first, the Margaritaville Café at Universal CityWalk, and second, Radio Margaritaville, channel 24 on SiriusXM. And there is only one Radio Margaritaville DJ who broadcasts five days a week from a Margaritaville Café, and that’s JD Spradlin.

You’ll be hard pressed to find a “radio personality” or DJ more friendly and approachable than JD. He is very welcoming to anyone, especially Parrotheads, and he is a true asset to the Margaritaville organization. I can’t imagine Radio Margaritaville without him. But what may surprise you, as I found out when I sat down with him for our Orlando Informer interview, is that he has deep roots at Walt Disney World.

The JD Spradlin interview

Before JD and I pulled up a chair at the Lone Palm Airport tiki bar outside of Margaritaville, he invited me into his Parrot Perch inside the restaurant. As he began to wrap up his broadcast, some Parrotheads seated near the Perch asked their server if JD would mind signing a few souvenir glasses. JD could have easily obliged and signed the glassware as requested. Instead, he asked the server to point out the diners, and he immediately made his way to their table.

He kindly sat down, chatting away, smiles and laughs all around. When he finished with his fans and wrapped up his broadcast, we headed back out to the Lone Palm Airport, found our spot in the shade of the magnificent Hemisphere Dancer (Jimmy Buffett’s real life airplane), and the conversation began.

Like me, you’re a Florida Native. So what brought you from your hometown of Tallahassee to Orlando?

“Well, I loved entertaining kids, and I thought I would go into recreation or have some sort of involvement in child development. As I got into college, I soon realized that adults who have had a few drinks become a lot like children in that they need to be entertained. I thought maybe of being a bartender. So I went to this cool fifties diner / club concept called Studebakers, and after some time as a runner, became an MC. I loved entertaining, and it was less about being a DJ and more about being an interactive entertainer. After a while I became the corporate trainer. I was sent to Central Florida to help open some new locations and get the new teams trained.”

After being in Orlando, you somehow found your way to Walt Disney World, specifically Pleasure Island. How did you end up at PI?

“It was just before Pleasure Island (PI) opened, and they still had the construction walls up. I walked by one day and on the wall they had artist renderings of what it was going to be like. One was of a DJ, showing his silhouette in the foreground with the crowd in front of him, his arms outstretched before them. I thought, “that’s gonna be me!” Initially I didn’t get the gig, but four months after PI opened they decided to add a stage with live music and entertainment, and that’s when I got in as their first “on air” radio personality.”

Many Disney fans have fantastic memories of Pleasure Island. What are some of your favorite memories?

(JD pauses and leans up again the Hemisphere Dancer, thinking it over.) “There’s just so many. The first New Year’s Eve celebration was pretty crazy, and they pretty much tried to blow us MC’s up! The fireworks were massive, there were burn holes in our tent, and we found shells for a few days afterward.

“Rock n Roll Beach Club eventually became my home, and I don’t know if you remember but the second level had roller skating. Seeing Michael Jackson go around on a pair of skates was pretty damn cool. I just loved Rock n Roll Beach Club, that was definitely my home.”

Sadly, Pleasure Island closed. What was that like for the PI Cast Members?

“It really sucked. I think it all kind of started with the opening of Motion and of course Universal’s CityWalk. Disney got scared and started to turn away from the real theme and history of Pleasure Island. Each club and venue had a story. Then when Motion opened it was totally different than the other clubs. It was the first one where you didn’t enter from the top and then work your way down. Disney originally built the clubs that way so that you would work your way throughout the club and then back out to the Island. With it being Top 40, it was the kind of club you’d build if it was a stand-alone, not part of a complex.

“With RnR Beach Club closing a month before the rest of the clubs, it gave us a chance to sort of bow out gracefully, end on a high note.”

After the sad closing of Pleasure Island you found your way to Radio Margaritaville. How did that come about?

“Well, at Disney I did a lot of DJ and MC work at private events. I began to do the same thing, but at Universal’s events, and eventually found my way to Radio Margaritaville. I much prefer to have an audience, and it just fit my style to not only be on the radio and entertain, but also do so in front of people where I could have fun with them.”

I would imagine you’ve met a lot of cool people because of this gig. Who’s the most fascinating person you’ve met?

“Well people would assume I’d say Jimmy [Buffett] — and don’t get me wrong, it was cool. But I was more excited to meet his daughter Savannah. I had done a paper in college about the song “Little Miss Magic”, which Jimmy wrote about Savannah. When I met her the same night I met Jimmy, she was all grown up and I nearly became a babbling, gushing fan. But I recovered, thankfully.”

“I’ve met a lot of the Coral Reefers (the name given to musicians and singers who have performed with Jimmy’s band). They are all so talented. And I met Ralph [McDonald] a few times before he passed. Such an awesome guy!”

Speaking of awesome, what is your favorite attraction here at Universal Orlando?

“I am more about the atmosphere than the rides. Like at Disney, I could just sit and take it all in. I think Islands of Adventure is more that way than Studios. It’s been said that ‘Islands is the Universal park that Disney built.’ But my favorite big ride here is the Hulk… and Hulk in the back row, not the front!

“I know it’s not there anymore, but the Psycho house from back in the day at Studios was so freaking cool. I heard that it was one of the first things they built while the park was under construction, kinda like the way Disney built the castle first.”

What do you enjoy most about coming to work on Universal Orlando property every day?

“Well, for a while it really had no impact. But now that I’ve been able to go into the parks more, I really dig it. It is cool to meet people from all over the world here on vacation too. I remember the first time someone asked me for an autograph here at the Café, and said that they were a big fan of mine. At first I disagreed with them — they’re not a fan of me, they’re a fan of Jimmy’s — but then I realized that they really were a fan of mine and that just felt cool, and a little humbling.”

After our chat JD headed back into the Café, but on his way he stopped at another table. Earlier that day, Melanie from Cocoa Beach stopped by the Parrot Perch to say “hi” to JD. When she explained that she was the one of the first “Fruitcakes on the Radio” for Radio Margaritaville, he invited her to join him on the air. Now as he headed out, he stopped by to chat some more with Melanie, which came as no surprise to me. That’s just the friendly guy he is, always making you feel welcome.

What you may not know is that JD still loves to MC for private events as well as DJ. Booking him at your next get together not only gives you unbelievable bragging rights for your Parrothead pals, but as you know by now his talents can make an event fun, welcoming, and entertaining.

Here’s how to reach him:

Twitter: @JDSpradlin

Visit JD’s website

Listen to Radio Margaritaville for free on their website — JD is on the air Wednesdays – Sundays 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM Eastern.

The post Tales from the Parrot Perch: An Interview with JD Spradlin of Radio Margaritaville appeared first on Orlando Informer.