• ℹ️ Heads up...

    This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks.

Small coasters that make the most of their size and large coasters that waste their size

Matt N

Matt N

TS Member
Favourite Ride
Mako (SeaWorld Orlando)
Hi guys. Size is often used as a marketing tool by parks, but many enthusiasts (myself included) believe that size isn't everything. For my money, it's not the size that matters, it's what you do with it. So my question to you today is; are there some coasters that work against that traditional assumption that "bigger is better"? Can you think of small coasters that you think make the most of the size that they have, and also some larger coasters that you think squander their size somewhat?


I'll get the ball rolling with my suggestions.


For a smaller coaster that makes smashing use of its size, I'm going to nominate Mine Blower at Fun Spot Kissimmee. They crammed a fair few airtime hills and a fairly large inversion into a coaster that is only 80ft tall and a little over 2,000ft long, and takes up a very compact footprint little larger than some backyards; I find that a hugely impressive use of size, personally! It's an absolute whippet of a coaster, and I think Gravity Group deserve huge applause for the sheer amount of thrill they crammed into Mine Blower's somewhat diminutive size and stature!


On the other end of the spectrum, for a larger coaster that squanders its size somewhat; I loathe to say this slightly, as it's an older ride now and I do think its layout doesn't entirely deserve the hate it often gets, and it also wasn't really built for airtime, but the first coaster that came to mind for me here was The Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. While I digress that the Big One wasn't built for airtime, and was also only the world's 2nd hyper coaster, I don't think it does a huge amount with its sheer size, and I'll admit that the ride was one of my biggest coaster disappointments when I first came off it in 2018. I don't think I've ever had a single hint of airtime on the Big One, and while I'll admit that the ride does have its moments in terms of speed and intensity, a fair amount of it is spent meandering around not doing a huge amount. I'm probably being unfair given BPB's tight footprint and the Big One's age, as well as BPB's design focus on visual impact over thrill, but it was sadly the first coaster that came to mind in this category for me.


But what are some coasters that you feel make the most of or waste their size?
 
Matt878787 said:
Makes the most - Boadwalk Bullet at Kemah Boadwalk, Texas.



Makes the least - Am I allowed to say Project Exodus?
Click to expand...

I was going to say Project Exodus too actually. :p
Will definitely be a contender if it's anything like the initial concept art, but hopefully it'll be a fair bit better as it is early days yet. :)
 
I find Silver Star lacking. Theres a fair bit of it but the best bit is just after the MCBR. The rest is...eh. nowhere near as bad as PMBO for being a waste but still a bit dull.

Lech isn't massively tall but packs a punch, very very good ride.
 
Original Eurosat wasn't particularly tiny but boy did it make an amazing use out of the space. Relatively small for such a quality coaster.

Hyperion the opposite - absolutely huge but without delivering many memorable elements.
 
Not sure the big one can be classed as a waste of space seeing how it was built and designed meant the only real footprint the ride takes up in the park is the station building. For when it was designed how it fits through so many existing rides was amazing.
 
John_P said:
Not sure the big one can be classed as a waste of space seeing how it was built and designed meant the only real footprint the ride takes up in the park is the station building. For when it was designed how it fits through so many existing rides was amazing.
Click to expand...

Lots of length and does little. Footprint less so but 5500ft and nothing.
 
John_P said:
Not sure the big one can be classed as a waste of space seeing how it was built and designed meant the only real footprint the ride takes up in the park is the station building. For when it was designed how it fits through so many existing rides was amazing.
Click to expand...
I think anyone citing it in this thread is more referring to it being a waste of its size layout-wise rather than its footprint.

I’ll admit that I do find it quite awe-inspiring how the Big One fitted into Blackpool, however!
 
Last edited:
Poisson said:
Lech isn't massively tall but packs a punch, very very good ride.
Click to expand...
I second Lech. I haven't ridden it yet but it's apparently one of the most intense coasters in the world. A real shame that there aren't more Bermuda Blitz models around. :(
 
Last edited:
Not sure it counts but I'd say Maverick at Cedar Point. It is truly incredible given its dwarfed by many of the other coasters at the park. Only 100ft tall but my word does it make use of the landscape and the Launch it has.

Easily the most re-rideable coaster on park for me even though I preferred SteVe overall....I'd sooner ride Maverick all day than SteVe.

The Big One is definitely high up on my list of let downs these days. Don't get me wrong the drop is still great but the rest of the ride is just painful and doesn't deliver any airtime at all. Since riding Magnum it's slipped even further down my list.
 
I think it’s tough to class small to big but for Small I say Troublesome trucks it’s quite fast for kids as a 1st coaster as a big coaster I have to say buffalo as I been on other versions of theses coasters but Drayton’s needs to go not been re-themed.
 
Twister at Grönalund (for rides that make the most of their smaller size). One of the best compact woodies around. For rides that are huge and don't, I'm going for Riddler's Revenge at SFMM. Massive but incredibly uncomfortable and boring. I imagine (though I haven't ridden them all) that most of the B&M standups are the same.
 
Alastair said:
For rides that are huge and don't, I'm going for Riddler's Revenge at SFMM. Massive but incredibly uncomfortable and boring. I imagine (though I haven't ridden them all) that most of the B&M standups are the same.
Click to expand...
Woder if it will eventually get the floorless treatment, like Mantis at Cedar point (now Rougarou)?
 
Skyscraper said:
Woder if it will eventually get the floorless treatment, like Mantis at Cedar point (now Rougarou)?
Click to expand...

It won’t as they already have a B&M
Floorless coaster- Scream (aka the car park coaster). I actually like riddlers revenge and not had a bad ride on it on the few times I have ridden it. But can see it being a love it or hate it ride. I don’t like X2 at the same park where loads of people love it
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top