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Rank Alton's coasters in terms of ride experience

Matt N said:
Given how attracted I once was to this thread, I surprisingly haven’t updated my Alton Towers coaster ranking in a good while; my last post in here was in June 2022!

Today, I decided to sit down and rejig my coaster rankings a tad following my most recent visit to Alton Towers last weekend. Do bear in mind that I only rode 6 of the 10 coasters on my most recent visit; I have not ridden Thirteen and The Smiler since March 2023, I have not ridden Spinball Whizzer since August 2022, and for obvious reasons, I have not ridden Octonauts Rollercoaster Adventure since June 2019.

I should preface this ranking by saying that I like my coasters to be fun, thrilling and rerideable. Intensity is not necessarily everything for me; don't get me wrong, there are many intense rides that I absolutely love, but I sometimes find that too much intensity can be counterintuitive and make me enjoy the ride less. I definitely have things I enjoy that enhance these, but my general criteria for a good coaster are simply that it's fun, thrilling and rerideable.

My current ranking of Alton Towers’ coasters, as of 28th March 2024, is as follows:
  1. Wicker Man - I know it's not a typical choice, but this one just had to sit on top for me, particularly after having what were possibly two of my best ever rides on it last weekend! There are so many things I love about it; the first drop is brilliant, there's tons of excellent airtime, it's fast, it's got some really fun twists and turns, it's smooth, and overall, I just find it a phenomenal amount of fun and always hit the brake run with a huge grin on my face! Yes, it's not the most intense coaster on the planet, but it's just so incredibly fun and has so much brilliant airtime and speed that it has to be top for me! And after my recent brilliant rides leaving me in absolute hysterics and making me realise just how much I love it, I have to say that I'd controversially declare Wicker Man not only my favourite coaster at Alton Towers, but my favourite coaster in the entire UK! 10/10, #8/111 overall
  2. Oblivion - Oblivion may be a one-trick pony, but I think it does that one trick phenomenally well, personally! In my early years of riding, I wasn't initially that huge on it, but it's grown on me massively over the years and I now absolutely love it! The sustained airtime on the first drop is absolutely sublime, and I love how you just seem to float out of your seat for seconds and seconds! I also love the absolutely awesome sense of speed you get through the tunnel; I know that Oblivion isn't the fastest coaster I've ridden, but based on the raw sensation of speed in that tunnel, I could firmly believe that it was if I didn't know any better! On the whole, I absolutely love Oblivion; it may be a one-trick pony, but it delivers that one trick impeccably! 9/10, #11/111 overall
  3. Nemesis Reborn - Nemesis is the typical enthusiast favourite, and while it's not quite my favourite, I have to say that it is still an absolutely cracking coaster, and it is great to have it back in the lineup! The same great ride has returned with a vengeance, with the ride riding smoother, faster and quite possibly better than ever for me! The retrack has not drastically changed my opinion of Nemesis, but it has definitely given me a newfound appreciation for it in numerous ways, most notably for some of the more unique aspects of its layout design. For instance, that opening sequence where the speed suddenly just builds and builds out of seemingly nowhere is just awesome, and I generally love the way that the ride keeps up the excitement right to the end, with that whippy final corkscrew ensuring that the ride ends on a high! While I may not rate Nemesis quite as highly as most do, I have to say that I still find it to be an absolutely fantastic coaster! 9/10, #14/111 overall
  4. Rita - Rita is often maligned by enthusiasts, but I have to say that I don't quite agree with the hate. I always love the punchy launches on these hydraulic launch coasters, and while it's no Stealth, Rita's still doesn't disappoint in this regard! The ride also has some surprisingly excellent ejector airtime, and it maintains a fast pace throughout its layout! However, I do have to concede that the layout is a little bit more on the basic side by modern standards, and that the rattle and restraints do very minorly take away from it. I don't find it hideously rough and uncomfortable like some seem to (and indeed, like I used to), but those OTSRs and cars definitely aren't the most comfortable on Rita's twisted layout. Nonetheless, I don't find it overly rough or uncomfortable by any stretch of the imagination (the rattle and restraints are definitely a minor niggle rather than a deal breaker), and the launch and airtime moments are always good fun! 8/10, #25/111 overall
  5. Thirteen - Again, Thirteen is often maligned by enthusiasts, but I don't think I dislike it quite as much as most. The drop track and backwards section are always a good laugh, and on the back, the first drop is surprisingly excellent, with a really good bit of airtime to be had! However, that initial outdoor section definitely lacks... something. It's very good fun, and has some fun twists and turns, but feels like it could do a little bit more. Aside from the first drop (and that only really does anything on the back), there's very little airtime, and there's not a huge amount of force or much of a sensation of speed either. Like I say, it's perfectly good fun, but feels like it could do more; I've often heard people say that the outdoor section mostly feels like filler to get you to the drop track, and I do understand that criticism. Nonetheless, it's still a good, fun family thrill coaster; the outdoor section is good fun, and that drop track and backwards section are definitely big highlights! 7/10, #31/111 overall
  6. Runaway Mine Train - Runaway Mine Train is a definite guilty pleasure of mine! Yes, it may "only" be a powered coaster, but I think it definitely punches above its weight in terms of fun factor! The ride has a nice speed to it for a powered coaster, and that helix in particular is surprisingly intense for a coaster that only goes 22mph! And in general, I just think it's a very feel-good ride that has an overall fun and cheery feel. Choo Choo! 6/10, #40/111 overall
  7. The Smiler - The Smiler is a tough one for me. I really want to rate it highly, and it does have numerous good attributes, but it never quite gels with me. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad ride by any means; the layout is very creative, it's fast, and I do love the two airtime moments, with the second in particular providing an awesome bit of ejector airtime! However... it's not quite consistently good enough for me to rate it especially highly on this list. It's very, very inconsistent, and from my experience, even two rides in the same trip can provide quite different experiences. It can provide a decent ride; my best ride ever on Smiler, in March 2023, was a very good front row ride, that was fast, floaty, not too nauseating and reasonably smooth. If based on that ride alone, the ride would probably sit somewhere in the 20s overall and possibly as high as 4th in this list. However, it doesn't show its best side nearly often enough. It can sometimes be pretty rough and rather on the nauseating side; sometimes, the ride's inversion-heavy layout provides a spinning flat ride-style sensation that I'm not the most keen on. At its worst, I'd possibly say it would rank as low as the 60s or 70s overall. To be fair, my last experience on it wasn't too bad at all, so it is currently ranking a little bit higher, but it was still a little bit rough and a little bit nauseating, and less roughness and nausea would definitely have improved it. So overall then, I find The Smiler a tough one to place, as it can vary a lot between visits. It can provide a really decent ride, but I just don't think it shows its best side nearly often enough for me to rank it any higher. 6/10, #44/111 overall
  8. Galactica - While Galactica is smooth, has reasonable speed and has some interesting elements, I'm sorry to say that I'm not massively keen on it. And that entirely comes down to that flying position and the fact that I simply find it, by its inherent nature, pretty uncomfortable. Simply put, I'm just not a massive fan of being led on my front and having all my weight rested on a restraint while I ride a roller coaster. I felt very similarly about Manta at SeaWorld Orlando on my return to that park last June. I'm also not huge on the fly-to-lie element on Galactica; while I find it less unbearable than the horribly intense pretzel loop on Manta, I still don't find the flow of g-forces to my head massively pleasant. Overall, then, I appreciate the novelty of Galactica, but it's just not really my thing. 4/10, #78/111 overall
  9. Spinball Whizzer - I can see why people like Spinball, but it's not really my thing. Really spinny rides aren't my favourite, and Spinball can spin a lot. I also found it horribly jolty and jerky last time I rode it. It really banged and bashed you around, to the point where I'd consider nominating it as Alton's roughest coaster... overall, I'm sorry to say that I'm not a huge fan of Spinball at all. 3/10, #90/111 overall
  10. Octonauts Rollercoaster Adventure - It is what it is, really. It's not a bad first coaster for the kids by any means, but that's all it will ever be, and I think its appeal is pretty limited outside of the young children's demographic. 3/10, #95/111 overall
Click to expand...
I’m in a ranking kind of mood this morning, and I realised that I haven’t updated this particular thread in more than 2 years!

As with the theming thread, I’ll just offer thoughts on things where the ranking has changed or my thoughts have changed…
  1. Wicker Man - 10/10, #10/137
  2. Oblivion - My thoughts on this haven’t majorly changed, but if anything, Oblivion only grows on me with time. One thing that has changed on this for me now is that while I said I preferred SheiKra for years, I’ve increasingly realised that the original Dive Coaster is absolutely the best one for me! While SheiKra is taller and longer, the sense of speed of Oblivion’s tunnel is absolutely unrivalled, in my view! 9/10, #12/137
  3. Nemesis Reborn - 9/10, #15/137
  4. Thirteen - This has grown on me slightly since my last post in here. A lot of my thoughts from the time still apply, but I’ve been getting some slightly better air in that outdoor section on recent rides, and I have grown to realise that for all its flaws, I do find Thirteen very good fun and very enjoyable to ride, which make it deserve a higher spot! 8/10, #29/137
  5. Rita - Again, my thoughts on this haven’t majorly changed. I think it’s a decent coaster… but I do think the lack of anything much beyond the second airtime hill does impede how highly it can rank, no matter how brilliant the launch is and how great the first half to two thirds of the ride is. I also decided to switch it and Thirteen around because although Rita is more forceful, I think I find Thirteen slightly more fun. I do really like Rita, though, and with these awesome hydraulic launches becoming ever rarer, it’ll be a sad day when it leaves the park! 8/10, #33/137
  6. The Smiler - The Smiler is never going to be an absolute favourite of mine at this point, but I have to concede that it wasn’t running badly on my most recent ride. It was a bit rough, but not hugely terrible by any means. Roughness notwithstanding, though, I’m now not sure I’d hugely rate Smiler even if glass smooth, which I wouldn’t have said in the past; the layout is creative, but there’s something about the way it rides that I don’t find as appetising as I’d hope. There are some good forces and speed, but I find areas of it oddly have aspects of that repetitive motion feeling you’d associate with a flat ride, and the bits I’d say are my two highlights are interestingly the two airtime hills; the second one in particular is my favourite bit! 6/10, #59/137
  7. Runaway Mine Train - 5/10, #66/137
  8. Spinball Whizzer - I haven’t recently rated Spinball very highly at all, but I have to say that I enjoyed it a lot more than I have in years on my most recent ride! It wasn’t too rough at all, there was enough spinning to make the ride fun without being overbearing, and the experience overall put a definite smile on my face! The ride definitely went up in my estimations; I’ve stuck to 8th, but on a good day, I could be compelled to put it at 7th! 5/10, #68/137
  9. Galactica - I used to like this, but with time, I’ve just gone off it. The ride is smooth, admittedly, but I just find the whole dynamic of the flying position quite uncomfortable. Regardless of what position you’re in, whether you’re led down in the fly to lie or in the prone position, I just do not find the seating setup overly comfortable, and that really ruins the ride for me. 4/10, #89/137
  10. Octonauts Rollercoaster Adventure - 3/10, #114/137
So how does everyone else rank the coasters in 2026?
 
Matt N said:
I’m in a ranking kind of mood this morning, and I realised that I haven’t updated this particular thread in more than 2 years!

As with the theming thread, I’ll just offer thoughts on things where the ranking has changed or my thoughts have changed…
  1. Wicker Man - 10/10, #10/137
  2. Oblivion - My thoughts on this haven’t majorly changed, but if anything, Oblivion only grows on me with time. One thing that has changed on this for me now is that while I said I preferred SheiKra for years, I’ve increasingly realised that the original Dive Coaster is absolutely the best one for me! While SheiKra is taller and longer, the sense of speed of Oblivion’s tunnel is absolutely unrivalled, in my view! 9/10, #12/137
  3. Nemesis Reborn - 9/10, #15/137
  4. Thirteen - This has grown on me slightly since my last post in here. A lot of my thoughts from the time still apply, but I’ve been getting some slightly better air in that outdoor section on recent rides, and I have grown to realise that for all its flaws, I do find Thirteen very good fun and very enjoyable to ride, which make it deserve a higher spot! 8/10, #29/137
  5. Rita - Again, my thoughts on this haven’t majorly changed. I think it’s a decent coaster… but I do think the lack of anything much beyond the second airtime hill does impede how highly it can rank, no matter how brilliant the launch is and how great the first half to two thirds of the ride is. I also decided to switch it and Thirteen around because although Rita is more forceful, I think I find Thirteen slightly more fun. I do really like Rita, though, and with these awesome hydraulic launches becoming ever rarer, it’ll be a sad day when it leaves the park! 8/10, #33/137
  6. The Smiler - The Smiler is never going to be an absolute favourite of mine at this point, but I have to concede that it wasn’t running badly on my most recent ride. It was a bit rough, but not hugely terrible by any means. Roughness notwithstanding, though, I’m now not sure I’d hugely rate Smiler even if glass smooth, which I wouldn’t have said in the past; the layout is creative, but there’s something about the way it rides that I don’t find as appetising as I’d hope. There are some good forces and speed, but I find areas of it oddly have aspects of that repetitive motion feeling you’d associate with a flat ride, and the bits I’d say are my two highlights are interestingly the two airtime hills; the second one in particular is my favourite bit! 6/10, #59/137
  7. Runaway Mine Train - 5/10, #66/137
  8. Spinball Whizzer - I haven’t recently rated Spinball very highly at all, but I have to say that I enjoyed it a lot more than I have in years on my most recent ride! It wasn’t too rough at all, there was enough spinning to make the ride fun without being overbearing, and the experience overall put a definite smile on my face! The ride definitely went up in my estimations; I’ve stuck to 8th, but on a good day, I could be compelled to put it at 7th! 5/10, #68/137
  9. Galactica - I used to like this, but with time, I’ve just gone off it. The ride is smooth, admittedly, but I just find the whole dynamic of the flying position quite uncomfortable. Regardless of what position you’re in, whether you’re led down in the fly to lie or in the prone position, I just do not find the seating setup overly comfortable, and that really ruins the ride for me. 4/10, #89/137
  10. Octonauts Rollercoaster Adventure - 3/10, #114/137
So how does everyone else rank the coasters in 2026?
Click to expand...
For me, these are my rankings as of my last visit in 2025.

HM. (OG Nemesis)
1. Smiler
2. Nemesis Rattleborn 🪇
3. Wickerman
4. Spinball
5. Galactica
6. Runaway Mine Train
7. Thirteen
8. Rita
9. Oblivion

Haven't done Octonauts or Bluey with them being unlikely to change.

Smiler went up in my rankings and Nemesis Rattleborn (Reborn) 🪇 was very disappointing and rattled like a PlayStation controller 😂 Smiler was originally 3rd/4th.

The others stayed static for me ☺️
 
I’m not sure I’ve ever ranked the Towers coasters, but in my head the order definitely shifts around fairly regularly, so this is how it currently stands:

Wicker Man
The Smiler
Thirteen
Nemesis
Rita
Spinball Whizzer
Oblivion
Galactica
Runaway Mine Train
Not ridden - Octanaughts & Bluey.

I’d say in the last year or so, The Smiler and Spinball Whizzer have climbed in my rankings, whilst Oblivion and Galactica have slid down quite considerably. I put this mainly down to poor ops putting me off riding them, more so than the actual ride experience itself.

The Smiler used to be a ride I actively avoided, but at some point last year I realised I actually enjoyed it, and now a ride I look to ride multiple times a visit if possible! But Wicker Man wins out for me as a well themed, always consistent and always fun ride, that I can take anyone on and they’ll enjoy - which is what Alton Towers is (or was!) all about, in my opinion.
 
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