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People rubbishing Wickerman as inferior to ICON

I wasn't here in 1994. And retrospectively I would say it was unfair to compare the two back then too.

Besides... This is a Alton Towers Fansite so... What do you expect I guess
 
Everyone has their preferences, in my opinion Icon as a ride is better, so if its a top quality coaster you look for, then that would probably win. If its the thematic experience, it's Wickerman.

To me, out of all my coasters I have a clear favourite or two in most parks, and these are the ones I define as my top coasters. The rest I couldn't rank if I tried.
 
Alton Towers forums 1994-2017 - "Alton Towers won the coaster battle of '94. Nemesis is clearly the better coaster despite the two being intrinsically different"

Alton Towers forums 2018 - [Blackpool builds a better coaster] - "It's unfair to compare the two really"

It’s not unfair to compare them, it’s the morons who can’t seem to see past needing to piss on one coaster as though it somehow elivates the other one higher. I don’t care which camp folk sit in the idea is stupid.

Whiffs of needing to get out more.....
 
After having some time to think about it, and this will be an unpopular opinion, I’ve been on Wicker Man 3 times and Icon 4 times, for me Wicker Man is the better ride. Maybe it’s because I was not expecting a lot from Wicker Man and got more from it whereas is expected a lot from Icon and I have to admit whilst it’s a good ride, me and my friend both came off of it and she said to me ‘it’s not on the level of The Smiler’ which again will be unpopular but I have to admit o do agree.

Both rides are great having had a lot of time to consider, but Wicker Man is the one I’d rush to get back on. :D:eek:;)
 
I'm will be going on wicker man in the next week and really looking forward to it. The two coasters are completely different so hard to compare other than the enjoyment factor of the ride. I loved icon great ride so smooth, great double launch. overall great ride where as wicker man looks a great woodie and themeing really makes a rollercoaster for me so can't wait. Everyone has there own favourites and if we all liked the same it would be a boring world.
 
The notion that there is, or ever was, some sort of "coaster battle" going on is stupid.
Having stood in a lot of coaster queues this year, I have yet to hear anyone rubbishing wickerman as inferior to icon.
Most have said both coasters are really good.
Suprised the Icon queue hasn't been longer though.
Not complaining.
 
If I had to rank my coasters from 1-596, Wicker Man would be higher than Icon.

I think this is partly due to the fact that I expected WM to be a bit lame, but actually I really like it - and the theming is top class. Whereas with Icon, I expected more and whilst it's perfectly fun, it's not really got the grunt I was hoping for. Then again, that's the case with most Mack launches.

One thing I would say, though, is that Icon's queue length is far more tolerable!!!

:)
 
If I had to rank my coasters from 1-596, Wicker Man would be higher than Icon.

I think this is partly due to the fact that I expected WM to be a bit lame, but actually I really like it - and the theming is top class. Whereas with Icon, I expected more and whilst it's perfectly fun, it's not really got the grunt I was hoping for. Then again, that's the case with most Mack launches.

One thing I would say, though, is that Icon's queue length is far more tolerable!!!

:)
To be fair, WM's queue is and probably always will be longer due to the popularity of the park and I don't think anyone expected it not to be, but with the views you get from it of the coaster it certainly makes the experience more fun and now that it's stopping less it moves quite quickly too.

I'm sure if someone better at maths than me did some calculations, I wouldn't be surprised if both queue lines are similar in length/time waiting when compared to the physical length of the queue path and number of people on park etc

I've not ridden Icon yet - is the view from Icon's queue line as photogenic as Wicker Man's?
 
No. Definitely not. But Icon has a very short queue line. Saying that, the Icon queue has a good view of sheer mass of steel and wood in that area of BPB. It's quite something.
 
I've not ridden Icon yet - is the view from Icon's queue line as photogenic as Wicker Man's?

It’s a decent view in that you get to watch the second half of the ride as you queue, for a while anyway. Then for a few mins you’re alongside the station building so all you can see is a station wall one way and the Avalanche ride and Grand Prix ride the other way. Then you’re in the station and on the ride in no time at all
 
People may say this, but the reality is that both rides are QUALITY.

Wicker Man, while it may not be the most thrilling coaster, is an incredible experience. Combined with a coaster? That's next level.
Icon, even though it's got less theming, is an exhilarating thrill coaster, and POV's on YouTube don't do it any justice. It looks slower than it is.

If you're looking for rubbish, head to Drayton Manor for G-Force.
 
Unpopular opinion time I've not been on Icon yet so can't compare but I wasn't all that impressed with the Wickerman queue. It's good when you can see the ride but most of the time the queue was as boring as any other queue. Apart from the excitement of the new ride I find The Smiler queue much more exciting.
 
Unpopular opinion time I've not been on Icon yet so can't compare but I wasn't all that impressed with the Wickerman queue. It's good when you can see the ride but most of the time the queue was as boring as any other queue. Apart from the excitement of the new ride I find The Smiler queue much more exciting.
I like The Smiler queue too. Particularly when a train whizzes over your head and you can feel the breeze. I'm not that keen on the inside bit though, with the strobe. I'm not epiletic, but do hate the strobe.
 
Going back to Towers for my 4th visit of the year next week. Can't wait to get back on Wickerman. Be interesting to see how the queue line is holding up after a full summer holiday season. I hope it's not full of graffiti.

I actually think both coasters are amazing though and can't be compared as they are different types of coasters for slightly different demographics. Also.....both were EXACTLY what each park needed in terms of a new coaster.
 
My personal take on this whole thing is that while I personally prefer Icon out of the two, it's completely a matter of personal opinion, and I can totally see why someone would prefer Wicker Man.

Also, as much as I do rank coasters and I do have a top 10 list, I always try and see coasters for what they are. When viewed solely for what they are, both rides are top notch additions to their respective parks, in my opinion! BPB now has a world class (in my opinion) full circuit launch coaster in Icon and Alton now has a world class (in my opinion) experience coaster for the whole family to enjoy in Wicker Man, as well as a brilliant wooden coaster (my current favourite woodie, in fact!)! Just to clarify, I would still love Wicker Man just as much if it didn't have any theming; it has a brilliant layout, and has excellent pacing, in my opinion!

I personally think that both rides have been large-scale winners for their respective parks, as I have mentioned. Despite my personal preference lying with Icon, I personally like to view both coasters with their positive attributes in mind, as I like to think I do with most rides! I reckon I'd have a much more negative outlook if I compared WM to Icon every time I rode it, if you get what I mean. Everyone's free to do what they want with regards to comparison of these rides, but I personally think it would make me enjoy the hobby a lot less if my first instinct upon entering the brake run was to compare every ride I ride with something else.

For example, my current number 1 roller coaster is Mako at SeaWorld Orlando. I adore just about everything about that ride; the airtime, the speed, the smoothness, the rush you get from it, the pacing, the first drop etc, which is why I personally prefer it to every other roller coaster I've ever ridden, out of the 56 coasters I've currently done. But if I was to come off every ride I ride that I have ranked below Mako with the attitude of "It's not Mako", I would be completely disregarding many outstanding rides like Icon, Nemesis, The Swarm, Montu, SheiKra and The Smiler, amongst multiple others. Each and every coaster has many redeeming features that make it stand out, in my opinion, which is why I personally try and review these rides with the most positive possible outlook. I don't know whether or not I'm successful in doing this, but I personally try and look for the positives in every single ride I ride; even the ones I don't like at all!

Before I go off on a huge tangent, what I'm basically trying to say is that while I personally prefer Icon to Wicker Man, I would be completely disregarding Wicker Man's many positive attributes. Both rides have many positive qualities and are both stunning coasters, in my opinion.
P.S. Sorry for the long post. Also, sorry if this comes across as me being slightly hypocritical, as I do rank coasters. However, what I'm basically trying to say is that while I do rank coasters, it isn't my only consideration when reviewing a ride, if you get what I mean. Also, I apologise if I have offended anyone who does rank coasters; I'm completely fine with people who compare rides all the time, who says what you can and can't do in this hobby?
 
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