Mille Miglia – Ferrari World’s latest ride
Viaggio in Italia takes you on an aerial journey inspired by the classic road rally
By Shahzad Sheikh
In the 18 months since it opened, and despite having done a video on the place when it was still a construction site, I’ve never actually visited Ferrari World. So when an invite for me and fam turned up for the latest ride – the Viaggio Italia, we packed the kids in the Lexus LS and headed over.
It always looks closed from the outside. I’ve driven past it loads of times on the way to Yas Marina Circuit, and there never seems to be much life. Truth be told, for a Thursday night, it wasn’t exactly packed inside either, but there were a fair few numbers of families and tourists hopping on and off the rides.
Inevitably it was kids first so whilst they were having a go on the kiddy rides, including riding those beautifully-made classic mini Ferrari California Spyder replicas around the sights of Italy, the driving school for small children (which is free of course like most rides, but you have to pay AED75 for the ‘driving licence’ if you want it as a memento) and the race simulators, although the really cool big hydraulics stuff will set you back AED85 extra.
Viaggio in Italia
At least the live show with acrobats, stunt performers and dancers was completely free and actually highly entertaining – it’s called the La Gara and it’s definitely one of the attractions you don’t want to miss. The water ride inside the V12 engine was a little scary for the little one, and a bit pointless for the rest, it was too dark, not anatomically correct (can you use that term for an engine?) and you got splashed by water at the end of it.
Unfortunately we ran out of time to try the Roller Coasters and more annoyingly for me personally I didn’t get a chance to check out the museums.
Anyway, to the new ride then. Loosely inspired by the Mille Miglia, the legendary 1000-mile road rally through Italy, the ride suspends visitors between 11 and 14.2 metres in the air – raising the three rows of seats (supposedly mimicking Ferrari GT seats) to stack them one on top of each other (be sure to leave you belongings in a box on the floor, and remove your shoes if they’re slip-ons – if they go they might end up in the bowels of Yas Marina island), in front of a giant tilted hemispheric dome screen.
La Gara
You’re then ‘flown’ (as if you were hanging under a plane rather than sitting in it) from the Fiorano Circuit in Maranello, through Venic, Tuscany, Lago Maggiore, Passo della Futa, Florence, Portofino, Rome, Dolomite Mountains, Costa Amalfitana and Capri.
Viaggio in Italia
The multi-sensory simulator throws in some aromas, and water mists to add to the experience and even the temperature is lowered when your in the snow-capped mountains. There’s about half a metre movement in each direction to keep the sense of momentum during the five and half minute ride – which is impressive considering that 90 other people are experiencing the same thing.
Andy Keeling, Ferrari World, Park Manager
‘If you close your eyes, breathe in the pine-scented air and feel the cool mist float over you can almost imagine you are driving through the Italian countryside – Viaggio in Italia is a ride that really brings the Ferrari sensation to life,’ said Andy Keeling, Park Manager of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, although if you close your eyes you’ll miss the visuals we reckon.
Beauty and the beast? Well Italy can be quite romantic!
“This is a unique family ride where every member of the family can immerse themselves in the beauty of their surroundings from a truly exciting vantage point,” he confirms.
Actually it’s not the most exciting of rides (although if you’re scared of heights you might want to skip it), and images aren’t quite 3D real, but the sheer magnitude of the visuals combined with the sense of floating along in the air, is more than sufficient to transport you away from the desert and into the lush hills and vibrant coastlines of Ferrari’s home country.
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
This latest ride joins more than 20 other rides and attractions already available at the theme park – the world’s largest indoor park – where there’s plenty to see, do and spend your money on.
You can be cynical all you like about this place and how it represents an exploitation of a legendary automotive brand, but you’ll have to concede that it represents a great day out. Just make sure to take plenty of cash!
