I have a couple
Anubis at Plopsaland De Panne
I attribute much of this to the fact that I was around shortly after the ride opened, but didn’t actually get around to riding it until some time later (ironic really given the fact you have little choice but to drive right by it when visiting many European parks!).
Upon opening the ride seemed to be bandied around as this truly awesome coaster. It seemed to attract a lot of praise and I can remember getting quite hyped about it with some other people. However, when I came to ride it a couple of years ago I was really quite underwhelmed. It isn’t unpleasant, rough or anything like that. It’s just a bit boring.
I guess back in 2009 the whole rolling launch and small, nippy cars with tight inversions was quite uncommon. However, by the time I came to ride it there were many more Eurofighters and similar rides out there that I’d already done (Heck, I’d already ridden The Smiler!).
Troy - Toverland
Wholly expect to be torn apart for this one, just like I was on the meet when I first rode it! I wouldn’t go so far as to say I “dislike” it, but I certainly don’t hold it in the level of regard I would have expected to.
The same sort of reasons as above with Anubis, really. When new it was something very different that few, if any of us, had really experienced before. It made an incredible impact and was enormously hyped up by a lot of people. However, coming to it after having experienced the likes of Wodan (Wooaaaahhhdan, as opposed to Slodan), I again found myself a little underwhelmed.
Moral of the story, kids? Get on the innovative stuff while new before something bigger and better trumps it!
I dare say with a couple of re-rides I could warm to both, but based on a single ride on each... Meh. Both are rides I place in the “Ok.” category, but that on paper should have been right up my alley.
I can certainly relate to the Olympia comments too. My first ride on it in Düsseldorf was a bit mediocre. However, Alpinabahn sat next door... Ooft! Funny how much hype can influence opinion both ways.