200-feet tall. Orlando’s tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster has opened at SeaWorld Orlando. I was among one of the first to ride it, both during a soft opening and at the Media Day Event on Thursday, June 9. I got to ride alongside local media outlets who were there to cover the newest attraction that towers above SeaWorld.

I was invited to this event as a “guest rider” to fill the seats of the coaster car so that the media could have a full car during their rides. Basically, I got to ride as many times as I wanted to with no wait, and I did. I got to soar over the park and enjoy the fact that I was among the first to experience Mako, while guests in the park watched jealously as I rode again, and again, and again. I even got a chance to ride front row, where the camera was located, and will potentially be on YouTube. I’ve been checking social media and YouTube constantly since then with hopes of finding myself somewhere online.

This isn’t the first media event that I have gotten to attend, thanks to my dad. I was also in attendance at the Mako Media Day announcement. I got to watch as my dad was interviewed by local media outlets, and later see him on TV. I also had the chance to talk to the PR person of SeaWorld, at the time, and get a glimpse of what my future could look like as a PR person for a theme park. I’ve always loved theme parks, since I was lucky enough to grow up going to them. As I grew up and started figuring out what I wanted to do with my life, I knew it was going to have something to do with working for a theme park. It was just so amazing to see the production of media day, with cameras everywhere, people directing us to where we were needed and when. Everything just moved so smoothly and really reminded me of what I want to do as college graduation draws closer with each passing semester.

Mako is such an amazing roller coaster and was definitely much needed in the Orlando area. We have so many unique coasters, from those found at Disney to much more high speed thrill coasters found at Universal. What we didn’t have was a hyper coaster. Basically, a hyper coaster is any coaster with a height of 200 feet or greater. The twists and turns on Mako are so incredible and are literally breathtaking. The amount of air time, or amount of time spent out of your seat, makes you feel like you are out of your seat more than you are in your seat and it just feels like flying. Ask any coaster enthusiast and they will say that this is the perfect addition to the Orlando coaster family. Don’t believe me? Then next time you find yourself at SeaWorld, go brave Mako. #nothingfaster