Jason Cochran
North America / USA / Florida / Orlando / Universal Orlando Resort / Universal Epic Universe / Best Attractions

Mine-Cart Madness

Donkey Kong Country's ride is a rollicking indoor/outdoor roller coaster that's as known for its comic theming as it is for roughhousing its passengers. The conceit is novel: Your 2-row, 4-passenger "mine cart" travels along a false set of tracks that have been ravaged by Donkey Kong and his minions, so they occasionally vanish from beneath you, repeatedly tricking your senses into thinking you're about to go flying. The illusion works best in the front row; the back row can't see far enough ahead for the gag to work fully.

The runaway mine cart story of the coaster governs your vehicle's movements, and the motions evoke the sensations of jerking into evasive maneuvers, rolling over bumpy surfaces, and suddenly dropping. All that adds up to a rough ride according to some guests (if you have back or nerve issues, skip it). Even if the jostling is all part of the fantasy, some people feel slightly banged up afterward.

The line, much of which is air-conditioned, is much better than it has a right to be, with full-scale animatronic characters en route, which is fortunate since there's often a substantial wait for this one. There is a Single Rider line, but because the cart seats are two across and people tend to visit theme parks in even numbers, the line may not move very fast. Ride duration: 2:30.