Harry Potter No Match for World's Tallest Roller Coaster

Check out the video at the bottom of this post to see Skyscraper in action.

Harry Potter and his band of devoted wizards may have defeated Voldemort, but they’re no match for Skyscraper.

The new attraction coming to the Orlando area’s International Drive received a thumbs up Tuesday from Orange County Commissioners on a zoning request that paves the way for construction. That green light came despite objections from nearby Universal Orlando, which says the monstrous roller coaster will destroy the Harry Potter experience.

“We create an immersive experience and when you’re in an immersive experience you have to feel like you’re being transported to a different place and time and that is critical to how the theme park industry works,” Universal Orlando lobbyist John Reynolds was quoted by the Palm Beach Post as saying.

Universal’s objections fell on deaf ears with commissioners ultimately voting unanimously to approve the proposed Skyplex Orlando development and its towering roller coaster Skyscraper. Once constructed, Skycraper will be the world’s tallest roller coaster at 570 feet. The coaster has also received critical approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

The $300 million Skyplex indoor entertainment complex will also feature a 450-foot drop ride called SkyFall, the complex’s developers noted in a media release. In addition to rides, the complex will be home to a number of shops, simulators and restaurants, including the world’s largest Perkins Restaurant & Bakery.

“From day one, we have been committed to creating a roller coaster experience for Orlando unlike any in the world,” said Bill Kitchen, founder of Orlando-based US Thrill Rides, in the release. “(This) is not only the world’s tallest roller coaster, but the world’s most exciting roller coaster experience ever conceived.”

Once opened, Skyplex will span some 1.5-million square feet and cover 14 acres along International Drive. The attraction will have its own 2,400-car parking garage, as well. Portions of the attraction are expected to open in 2016 with Skyscraper and Skyfall coming online in 2018.

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