They’re both roughly the same height above the ground. They both provide sweeping views. They’re both world class attractions. They’re both thrilling bucket list items. That’s where the similarities stop.
If you could only visit one more attraction in your lifetime and you could only choose between the London Eye and the Kingda Ka roller coaster, what would it be? One is a 50 second rush at speeds of up to 128 MPH. One is a 30 minute experience in one of the world’s most historic cities at the breakneck speed of 0.6 MPH.
I guess it all comes down to what type of person you really are.
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London Eye
The London Eye opened in 2000 and is 135 metres or 443 feet at its highest point. At one point, it was the highest ferris wheel in the world. It is now the fourth tallest but still holds the title of the highest cantilevered wheel as the A-frame is only on one side while most others have a frame on both sides.
Centrally located in London, England on the south bank of the Thames River in the borough of Lambeth. The most convenient underground station is Waterloo. There are 32 separate capsules, sealed and air-conditioned, that each hold up to 25 people. This works out to around 1,600 passengers per hour.
As mentioned, this wheel rocks at 26 cm or 10 inches per second. This equates to about 0.9 kmh or 0.6 mph. In fact, the speed is so slow that it doesn’t stop to load and unload capsules.
Generally, the London Eye is open daily from 10am to 8:30pm. The hours fluctuate, depending on season and day of the week and there are some closures. If you plan a visit, it is best to plan ahead through the official website. Booking ahead through the website can result in discounts and opportunities to fast track the lengthy lineups. Click on the big Coca-Cola London Eye logo to go to the official website for more information and to book tickets.
Also, as mentioned, the London Eye was the tallest ferris wheel in the world when it opened in 2000. Now, the title goes to the High Roller in Las Vegas, Nevada. The High Roller opened in 2014 and is a staggering 168 metres or 550 feet in height. The Singapore Flyer comes in second at 165 metres or 541 feet and opened in 2008. The Star of Nanchang in Nanchang, China is the third tallest at 160 metres or 525 feet and was opened in 2006.
Standard London Eye Tickets
Fast track tickets are ordered online and allow visitors to show up at a scheduled time and bypass the general lineup. This advantage costs an additional 8 GBP and there are no discounts for age (except those under four, who are always free).
For 37.95 GBP, your visit can be at anytime over a pre-specified one week period and you can bypass the general lineup. This is called the Flexi Fast Track and, again, does not have discounts for age. 37.95 GBP equates to around $71.85 CAD.
Kingda Ka
This ride basically takes you down a short runway before rocketing straight up. After a quick turn at the top, you are then rocketed straight back down to earth, followed by another short runway.
At Kingda Ka’s top speed, the train is travelling at 128 MPH or 206 KMH. The total duration of the ride is listed at 50.6 seconds. I haven’t been on this ride but I’m guessing that it feels much, much longer. The total length is 3,118 feet or 950 metres. Each train has a capacity for 18 riders and the ride can accommodate around 1,400 riders per hour.
Unlike the London Eye, Six Flags Great Adventure is not open year round. The park opens the first weekend in April and stays open until the end of November. From September on, the park is generally only open on weekends with limited hours. Hours are 10:30am to 8pm with extended hours until 10pm in July and August.
Kingda Ka still ranks as the tallest roller coaster in the world, 36 feet taller than Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point in Ohio. Kingda Ka’s design is based on Top Thrill Dragster and was built by the same company. Speed wise, the coaster comes in second behind Formula Rossa in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
General admission into Six Flags Great Adventure is $67.99 per person ($81.58 CAD). Ordering online brings huge discounts, reducing the price to $42.99 on weekdays and $47.99 on weekends. Interestingly, right now you can get a season’s pass for just $67.99, the same price as a single visit.
Which Do I Choose?
Ten years ago, it would have been no contest. I would have hands down decided on Kingda Ka. Now, I’m not so sure. Kingda Ka looks simply frightening. However, I’m sure that the speed is so fast that before you know what happened, the ride would be over. The thing is, I’ve been away from the coaster scene for a few years and my courage is a bit rusty. I’m sure if I could work my way back up, I’d be fine. However, the theme of this article is to choose right away. Therefore, I’m going with the London Eye.
How about you?
