Starflyer, world's tallest spinning ride opens in Orlando

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The world’s tallest spinning ride, the Starflyer, opened Friday in Orlando.

The 450 feet tall ride is on International Drive.

Developer Chuck Whittal has spent a lot of money to swing business into I-Drive. He has invested nearly a billion dollars between the Coca Cola Orlando Eye and the I-Drive 360.

The Starflyer is 50 feet taller than the Orlando Eye.

"To the very top, it's 450 foot. Riders will actually fly at 400 feet; slightly over 400 feet,” said Unicorp president Chuck Whittall. "We just finished the certifications on it, and we're just making sure it's working absolutely perfectly."

Whittal said he’s also working on a second phase of I-Drive 360. He is developing a new hotel and more retail space, and putting several hundred million dollars into building apartments to get people to live on I-Drive.

"I think I-Drive is the go-to destination for conventioneers and for half-day experiences,” Whittal said. "Once you get tired of the theme parks, you still want to have fun and do things. We offer all that here."

Developer Josh Wallack told Channel 9's Jamie Holmes that he's also sinking hundreds of millions into I-Drive.

First came Mango's and the Hollywood Plaza Complex is next. It will be a rooftop restaurant with a 360-degree view of Orlando.

The biggest hurdle remains traffic on I-Drive.

The restaurant is on top of a parking garage with 880 spots.

"This is now the I-Drive entertainment district, and we are looking to make this downtown Orange County,” Wallack said.

Cox Media Group