Well at least it will still live on. And thankfully, the name will change. Because I've ridden Colossos and Colossus in Europe, and I'll wager that both of them are far superior.
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Well at least it will still live on. And thankfully, the name will change. Because I've ridden Colossos and Colossus in Europe, and I'll wager that both of them are far superior.
2015. I have 3 more parks to hit up before I leave Europe. Holiday Park, Europa Park and Phantasialand. Was at Disneyland Paris this weekend. Smaller, much more compact (especially Walt Disney Studios Park). About the same Disney experience as is at Disney World, but a LOT of stuff was under construction/repair--much to my disappointment. So I didn't get to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (broke down while we were in line, never was fixed before park closed). Sucks, because it actually looked cool. It goes under the lake and then comes out in the island in the middle. Space Mountain 2 was under renovations.
116. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril – Disneyland Park, FR
117. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster – Walt Disney Studios Park, FR
118. Crush’s Coaster – Walt Disney Studios Park, FR
Nothing fantastic here. Can't really recommend these as "must ride" coasters. Indiana Jones and Crush's Coaster were average, and the ride quality was mediocre. Crush's would definitely benefit from being lit in blue, rather than being in pitch black. Rock 'n' Roller Coaster is probably identical to the one at Disney World. Arguably the best part of the visit was seeing Sleeping Beauty's castle--which is actually substantially different from the Cinderella's castle in Florida. This one even has a dragon underneath it.
Looking forward to hopefully hitting #130 by the end of this summer. We would have had 120 this weekend, if Disney had their shit together. I'm moving to Utah this fall, so I'll have a whole new batch of parks I've never been to--that I can hack off the list. We're averaging about 8 new coasters per year right now, and I'm hoping to make it 10.
119. Expedition GeForce Holiday Park, DE
120. Hollys Wilde Autofahrt Holiday Park, DE
121. Sky Scream Holiday Park, DE
122. Blue Fire Europa Park, DE
123. Wodan Europa Park, DE
124. Alpenexpress Europa Park, DE
125. Arthur Europa Park, DE
126. Euro Mir Europa Park, DE
127. Matterhorn Blitz Europa Park, DE
128. Swiss Bob Run Europa Park, DE
129. Pegasus Europa Park, DE
130. Poseidon Europa Park, DE
131. EuroSat Europa Park, DE
132. Silver Star Europa Park, DE
133. Atlantica SuperSplash Europa Park, DE
Expedition GeForce is sublime. In many ways it's a miniature version of Millenium Force, but still a fantastic coaster. Holiday park is TINY. We could have ridden GeForce all day long if we'd wanted to. The other two coasters are meh. Holly's was just painful--I don't recommend it. Sky Scream has a horror-themed cue line, but the ride itself is rather simple; rocks you forward and back, then forward through a complete circuit of the loops--enjoyable, but nothing spectacular.
Europa Park is a must-visit park. If you love coasters, and you plan to go to any parks in Germany, they should be Heide park and Europa park. Period. I'll start from the bottom. Pegasus is a kiddie coaster, nothing fantastic, but enjoyable. Poseidon is an unusual blend of log-flume & roller coaster--but as such it seems to suffer from trying to be a jack of all trades; it's a bit loose on the track, so the car does shift a bit, which isn't entirely comfortable. Atlantic SuperSplash has a much shorter coaster section, and only features one real track element, but it's much smoother--similar splashdown element to Poseidon.
AlpenExpress is a rather short mine-train, but makes two circuits per ride. Matterhorn Blitz is a wild-mouse ride, but MUCH smoother than many other wild-mouse rides, which tend to lurch you uncomfortably from side to side. Swiss Bob Run is a standard-fare bobsled coaster--but if you enjoy riding a coater with your arms wrapped around your significant other, these are the kind of coasters you love. :)
Euro Mir and EuroSat are similar in many ways, only with the former being downhill outdoors, and the latter being entirely indoors. Both feature a rather unique carousel-style lift hill, where the cars revolve around a spinning carousel that pushes them up a spiral track to the top of the hill. Euro Mir would have been more enjoyable without facing backwards on the track, imho. Seats on it spin in a controlled fashion, so your ride varies based on whether you exit the station forward or rear facing. The best rides with rear facing seats are usually the most modern, smoothest coasters which feature faster speeds and more gradual elements (like The Swarm at Thorpe Park). EuroSat suffers from the same fate as many indoor coasters, which is that you can't anticipate turns, which makes bracing for them impossible--and consequently the ride less enjoyable.
Arthur is a rather novel kiddie coaster that features no lift hill, but rather is powered magnetically as the cars move. The cars also articulate side to side in a controlled fashion, corresponding to the ride features. At times the cars move very slowly, only to be sped up greatly when exiting the building, then slowed again upon reentry. Silver Star is a B&M hypercoaster, which has many of the same elements as Apollo's Chariot at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg; it's mainly a hang-time coaster. Thoroughly enjoyed this one. My wife complained that it bounced her head against the headrest. Not the first time she's made this complaint about being buffeted by the restraints, but in this case, it's not something like Vekoma's over-the-shoulder harnesses, but rather I think it's because she was not leaning forward a bit, which is something I always do when I ride coasters. Leaning forward helps to keep the head away from objects/restraints around the seat, which can reduce the "trauma" of a bumpy ride. Incidentally though, even though the ride is very similar to Apollo's Chariot (imho), Apollo's Chariot did not cause my wife any problems.
Finally we come to what I feel are the best coasters in the park. Wodan is a wooden coaster themed off Norse mythology. In my wife's description (which I concur with) it's not the biggest or fastest (and thankfully not the most jolting/roughest), but it is arguably the most intense wooden coaster I've ever been on. While something like Colossos is an amazing ride in its own right, Colossos is a hang-time coaster & feels like a prefab. Wodan is all about twists and turns, extremely high banked turns, and you really cannot see where you are going while on the ride. I've ridden coasters like The Beast many times, and while Beast doesn't let you see the track ahead, the elements are usually longer and more drawn out. Wodan has many more transitions and surprises. I liked it even more than Troy at Toverland. Wodan is very underrated, imho. Easily a top 5 of all woden coasters I've ridden--and I've been to Holiday World. ;)
Last but not least--Blue Flame. It's a launched coaster, but not as jarring of a launch as traditional (read: early built) launch coasters--such as Rock & Roller coaster, Flight of Fear, etc. I think these latest-generation coasters tend to feature non-linear acceleration, so they start slow and gradually increase acceleration, rather than FULLSPEEDNAOW!!!!!--which is typical on older coasters of this type. Many twists/turns/inversions. Very, very smooth. Glorious coaster to ride in the front on. Loved it so much I rode it and Wodan twice.
Next year I'm back in the states. If I'm lucky, I might be able to hit up Magic Mountain next year, and push me over the 150 mark. *crosses fingers*
Apparently forgot to do another update last year. Went to Phantasialand before I left Deutschland last year:
134. Colorado Adventure – Phantasialand, DE
135. Black Mamba – Phantasialand, DE
136. Winja’s Fear & Force – Phantasialand, DE
137. Temple of the Night Hawk – Phantasialand, DE
Colorado Adventure is a mine-train. Dececent & on the more "extreme" side of mine trains--but still a mine-train, so nothing special. Winjas of Fear/Force are spinning coasters. 4 people sit in pairs back to back as it goes through its paces. No way to tell which way you'll end up facing at any given stretch. Fear/Force are different tracks/layouts, but similar in ride. Black Mamba is a B&M invert, so it rides much like other B&M inverts. Fairly well themed, and the station is pitch black...which is cool.
Temple of the Night Hawk is the longest indoor coaster in the world. It's pitch black (except for the load station). It is quite disorenting at first, so I recommend doing what I did, just close your eyes & maintain a neutral body position. It's like riding a motorcycle in the dark--except you're on rails. It's really a shame that such a great coaster is entirely hidden from view of riders. It's also located in the back of the park, so it's a bit hard to find.
This year? Six Flags MM, if I'm lucky.
I love roller coasters, and I may head out to CP (Cedar Point) this June when I'm in Sandusky for an anime convention. CP has the Top Thrill Dragster, a roller coaster that launches you out of the gate at 120+ MPH. If you are lucky enough the train of cars may be slightly too heavy and you won't make it over the hill and will not only roll backwards to where you started, but you can't get off, so they launch you again a bit closer to the hill and you'll make it over but have fun with the 88/89* inclines of the coaster. Front car is the best! Oh I may only ever do it one more time in this lifetime, but it is by far one of the most intense and exciting coasters in the world!
138. Cannibal Lagoon, UT
139. Jet Star 2 Lagoon, UT
140. The Bat Lagoon, UT
141. Bombora Lagoon, UT
142. Puff the Little Fire Dragon - Lagoon, UT
143. Roller Coaster Lagoon, UT
144. Wild Mouse Lagoon, UT
145. The Spider Lagoon, UT
146. Wicked Lagoon, UT
147. Fire Dragon Lagoon, UT
148. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Magic Kingdom, CA
149. The Matterhorn Magic Kingdom, CA
150. Space Mountain Magic Kingdom, CA
151. Gadgets Go Coaster Magic Kingdom, CA
152. Goofys Sky School California Adventure, CA
153. California Screamin California Adventure, CA
154. Apocalypse Six Flags Magic Mountain, CA
155. Batman - Six Flags Magic Mountain, CA
156. Full Throttle - Six Flags Magic Mountain, CA
157. Gold Rusher - Six Flags Magic Mountain, CA
158. Goliath - Six Flags Magic Mountain, CA
159. Green Lantern - Six Flags Magic Mountain, CA
160. Ninja - Six Flags Magic Mountain, CA
161. New Revolution - Six Flags Magic Mountain, CA
162. Riddlers Revenge - Six Flags Magic Mountain, CA
163. Scream! - Six Flags Magic Mountain, CA
164. Tatsu - Six Flags Magic Mountain, CA
165. Twisted Colossus - Six Flags Magic Mountain, CA
166. Viper - Six Flags Magic Mountain, CA
167. X2 - Six Flags Magic Mountain, CA
Hit 3 parks this year. LOTS of new experience for me (and the missus). Many types I've not ridden before and/or elements I'd never experienced. Here's the high points:
-Cannibal features a 116 degree drop. Yes, you CANNOT see the track when you exit the lift. Also features clockwise & counter-clockwise heartline rolls back to back (they call it a "Lagoon Roll")--only coaster in the world with this feature. Went on it twice. Amazingly suspenseful from the front row. Also has a unique lift, with 2 elevators operating on separate tracks inside the lift tower. Easily the best coaster the park.
-Roller Coaster is currently the oldest coaster I've ridden. Originally built in 1921, it is 95 years old as of this year. Sections of the structure are regularly replaced, allowing it to stay mostly refurbished. Lots of rumble on this one.
-Matterhorn at Disneyland (newly refurbished) is a lot rougher than it should be, IMHO. Good to check off my list, but not really worth a 2nd ride. Expedition Everest at Disney World is far superior.
-California Screamin' is very smooth. Fantastic & long ride, I'm only sad I was in the 2nd row...and that I didn't get to ride it more than once. Easily the best coaster at all of Disneyland.
-Tatsu is an entirely different ride experience than Manta, Air or any other flying coasters I've been on. Lift hill gives you a LOT more sense of height. Sensory experience may be slightly better than Air (probably not quite as good as Manta), but Manta still takes the cake on theming.
-Full Throttle is the only coaster in the world with a top-hat over a loop (track goes over the inside & outside of a loop). Fast, smooth--but imho pales in comparison to the likes of Blue Fire & Silver Star (both at Europa Park).
-Riddler's Revenge is easily the best stand-up coaster I've ever ridden. As opposed to Chang or Mantis--this one doesn't make you feel like all your blood is pooling in your feet & become painful. Arguably the gold-standard for stand-up coasters.
-Green Lantern First Flight is the first Zac Spin coaster I've been on. Track only moves in 2 dimensions, and the seats freely spin on the track. Not a true 4D coaster as a result. Can be fairly intense, and the restraints aren't the most comfortable, especially depending on your alignment to the track when dropping through an element. I recommend holding your restraints and/or pressing against them to minimize any shocks to your body.
-New Revolution is an old Arrow looper coaster that has been retrofitted with VR goggles. You don't see the track or any elements in the real world--only scenes in your VR goggles. I wasn't overly impressed with it. New, interesting--but I'd rather take a more thrilling coaster & the real world...over a mediocre coaster & VR.
-Twisted Colossus is a complete overhaul & re-imagining of Colossus. Now a steel/wood hybrid, it features helix inversions & a mobius/racer layout--where each train goes through both sides of the track. I was quite impressed. Hopefully it doesn't get unbearably rough as it ages. I found it to be a remarkably well-executed design.
-X2. What can I say about this insane coaster? I rode the front. I rode the back. It's nearly as intense in the back as it is up front. A true 4D coaster (And the only one of it's type in the USA, iirc) this is a gem of a coaster. Imagine restraints like a flying coaster, but with the ability to point you straight at the ground during any track element. That's essentially what this sucker is like. Scared the crap out of the missus during the first ride--and this is a woman who (had) over 150 coasters under her belt. Nothing quite comes close to this level of intensity.
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Park reviews?
-Lagoon was nice. Nothing really stand-out in the way of their coasters (apart from what I mentioned above) but there's 10 of them, and I found the park to be pleasant if a bit dis-jointed in traffic layout. I was able to ride all 10 coasters in <3 hours or so--which is insanely good. I had a good experience.
-Disneyland--as par for Disney parks--shows they put a lot of time into theming, traffic flow, etc. Really only needed 2 days (1 for each park) even though I had 3 day park-hopper passes. There's only a few rides that have an atrocious wait-time (Radiator Springs Racers...for example). Not a lot in the way of "turn it to 11" thrill rides though.
-Magic Mountain. Never again. This is the fifth 6-flags park I've been to (Kentucky Kingdom, Over Texas, Over Georgia, America)--and they all belay that they're a 6-flags property...even if you never saw one single sign saying so. The rides are safe...but poorly maintained. Tracks & supports have faded paint. Traffic flow is an oxymoron. Bathrooms that feature 1 urinal & 2 stalls (yes, your average gas-station bathroom may have more capacity). Food stalls that back up their queue lines into the traffic walkways, causing chokepoints. Food service that is stunningly slow. And if I hadn't spent 3x the price of admission--on buying their top-tier "Flash Pass", I would not have been able to ride nearly as many coasters as I did (14). Compare that to Cedar Point, where I've previously been able to ride every coaster in the park w/o any such pass.
Six Flags uses the same formula at every park. Have some type of "claim to fame" coaster in the park, to entice people to it--and proceed to offer bottom-shelf quality on everything else. Don't get me wrong, MM has some AMAZING coasters. However, it also needs serious modification to bring the park up to quality standards. Did I mention that my $130 flash-pass doo-hicky failed twice...both times at the back of the park, causing me to have to circumnavigate most of the park to make my way back to the ONLY booth in the park where this could be addressed? The only good thing that came of this is that I was comp'd flash-pass to X2 (normally $15 per rider, per ride). Yeah, that's another thing. 1-time, 1-rider flash-pass on X2, and you pay through the nose for it. Even Smiler--brand new--had one time flash-pass of like 8 euro. X2's is double that. And I don't even particularly like Merlin Amusement's overcrowded parks--but (currency conversion equivalent) $106 for Alton Towers' Fast-Pass, vs. $130 for Magic Mountains. $25 difference. Multiplied by however many people in your party. There were people at MM who probably only got a total of 3 coasters THE ENTIRE DAY--because they didn't have the flash pass. It's highway robbery.
Six-Flags would have far better customer reception if it doubled the gated ticked price, and eliminated flash-pass entirely. I know the park could be much better, because I've SEEN parks that are better. Trust me, Six-Flags (any of them) may have a token amount of coasters that you really want to go on...but Cedar Point (even with less than a record-holding 19 coasters) is still where you want to go for a coaster fix. Oh, and did I mention that I didn't get to ride any of the kiddie coasters at MM, because by the time I'd finished everything else (minus Superman), those were all closed for their bullshit halloween event, where they turned off most of the pathway lighting in the park, thereby creating legions of trip hazards, traffic jams, and the like? So, rather than stick around and ride the other coasters again (or ride Superman--which I wasn't really too keen on), we left.
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So in summation folks, if you ever have to decide between a Six-Flags park, or some other park to visit...DON'T GO WITH SIX-FLAGS.
Carlos = God of Roller Coasters and Amusement Parks. :D
Hardly. I don't belong to ACE & some of those guys have ridden over 500-600. I am blessed to have gotten around a bit though. I plan to head back to Long Beach next year to visit Knott's Berry Farm & Universal Studios Hollywood.
hmmm...must have overlooked posting up in 2017. No worries, not like anyone is really following this thread anyways...
2017: Dollywood
168. Thunderhead
169. Mystery Mine
170. FireChaser Express
171. Wild Eagle
172. Tennessee Tornado
173. Blazing Fury
174. Lightning Rod
Thunderhead, Wild Eagle and Lightning Rod are the highlights. Mystery Mine is a generic Eurofighter coaster and I recall being bounced around a bit. Blazing Fury is ancient and stupid and should be demolished to make room for something newer...but we rode it for the sake of completion. Firechaser Express is more of a kiddie coaster. Wild Eagle is the USA's first winged coaster. Neither the best nor the worst winged coaster I've been on (probably The Swarm & Flug Der Demonen respectively). Lightning Rod is the world's first launched wooden coaster. It features the same rails system that Rocky Mountain Construction has been using on many retrofitted wooden coasters--and the ride is commensurately smoother. Thunderhead is well rated, but I don't remember much about it. It didn't stand out to me as much as the likes of Wodan (one of my all time favorite twister coasters). Unfortunately, Great Costers International seems to have worse luck with their coasters over the long-term, so I have no doubt that Thunderhead will probably outlive Wodan--even as epic as Wodan is for a twister (Seriously, you cannot see the track layout even when you're up next to it--it's just a vicious intertwined mixture of track that is mind blowing). I don't remember much about Tennessee Tornado. It's one of the last Arrow loopers built...so worth a ride, and I'm glad I got to experience it--as Drachen Fire was demolished before I was able to ride it.
I'm following :p