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The 5 Tops

MakoMania said:
Wild Arctic is great though! What's not to love about an unoriginal, outdated and poor quality simulator that's falling to bits!?
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[sarcasm]If you need your bones readjusted after a ride on Colossus or Rattlesnake, then the perfect cure is a flight to Orlando to ride Wild Arctic! And maybe ride the 3 B&Ms while you're there, if you have time.[/sarcasm]

On a serious note, Wild Arctic is the worst dark ride at SeaWorld in my opinion. It didn't even stack up to Antarctica, which I thought was a, um,... rather strange attraction. The exhibits are good on both though.
 
Matt N said:
[sarcasm]If you need your bones readjusted after a ride on Colossus or Rattlesnake, then the perfect cure is a flight to Orlando to ride Wild Arctic! And maybe ride the 3 B&Ms while you're there, if you have time.[/sarcasm]

On a serious note, Wild Arctic is the worst dark ride at SeaWorld in my opinion. It didn't even stack up to Antarctica, which I thought was a, um,... rather strange attraction. The exhibits are good on both though.
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This!!! The exhibits on both are great, the Antarctica ride is alright, Wild Arctic ride is just abysmal. If they ever want to do a dark ride again, they should work with Sally Corp, they've done a fantastic job with Six Flags!

Anyway, this was quite off topic.
 
Sorry for bumping this thread, but I just wanted to update my top 5 worst coasters and my top 5 wooden coasters. The worst coaster and wooden coaster I added are in italics, along with some other updates.

Bear in mind that I haven't done much outside of the UK Merlin parks and Florida, so some of the rides in these lists might look like I'm clutching at straws a bit.

Top 5 - Steel Coasters
1. Mako (SeaWorld Orlando) - Wow! This was the ride I was most excited for when we went to Florida last August, and it didn't disappoint! There is so much airtime and so many elements that chuck you out of your seat (not literally, of course!), the ride is themed brilliantly, it's smooth, it's fast; the list of positives goes on. Everyone in my family came off Mako with huge smiles on their faces. Even my Mum who isn't really a fan of big, intense coasters adored Mako. A wonderful first dip into the world of hyper coasters.
2. Montu (Busch Gardens Tampa) - Montu provides a similar sensation to Nemesis, but it's longer and faster. What's not to like?
3. SheiKra (Busch Gardens Tampa) - SheiKra is a truly brilliant coaster. The drops, the Immelmann, the water splash; they all add up to make for an unforgettable ride experience. SheiKra feels rather akin to a more modern, more substantial version of Oblivion.
4. The Swarm (Thorpe Park) - I know this is quite a controversial opinion, but I personally prefer The Swarm to Nemesis. "Why?" I hear you ask. Well, I prefer the Swarm because in my opinion, it packs a good punch, it has good near misses with theming and the unique seating position really adds to the ride in my opinion. Bear in mind I haven't been to Thorpe since 2015, so it may have changed since then. A reride in May 2018 did not change my opinion. This was actually my top coaster before visiting BGT and revisiting SeaWorld in August 2016.
5. Nemesis (Alton Towers) - What a brilliant ride. It's very intense, it's still really smooth at 23 years old and it is just a stunning feat of engineering. The ride also provides excellent near misses with the rocks and when I first became an enthusiast, it was one of very few rides that made me come off feeling a tad dizzy (I don't feel dizzy anymore, as loads of riding has sort of made me impervious to the dizziness.) Another good ride that made me feel dizzy was The Smiler.

Top 5 - Wooden Coasters
1. Wicker Man (Alton Towers) - Wicker Man really surprised me when I rode it in March 2018! While it was being built, I was expecting a ride similar in thrill level to Thirteen, but I remained cautiously optimistic. And I was right to, as Wicker Man is fantastic! It's a speedy coaster, and it's actually quite intense; despite only hitting 44mph, it felt much faster! The ride also has great transitions, and it flows really nicely, much better than Megafobia! Furthermore, it's really smooth, and has a couple of good pops of airtime! Overall, Wicker Man is fantastic! The only things I would do to improve it are add a couple more potential airtime moments and make the ride slightly more intense.
2. Megafobia (Oakwood) - This is currently the only wooden coaster I have ridden, and what a brilliant ride it is. It's packed with airtime, it's reasonably intense and it just provides that feeling that only a wooden coaster can provide. One slight flaw with the ride that prevents me from ranking it higher in my combined Top 10 is that many of the ride's turns are unbanked, therefore making for a very unpleasant jolt each time the ride turns, not dissimilar to a Wild Mouse coaster.


Top 5 - Dark Rides
1. Gringotts (Universal Studios Florida) - I know it isn't technically a dark ride, but Gringotts is the best dark ride I have done because the 3D is stunning, the queue is stunning and the special effects, such as the water, are brilliantly timed, making for an outstanding overall experience. It probably helps that I'm a huge Harry Potter fan, so I know everything that's going on.
2. Forbidden Journey (Islands of Adventure) - This ride is stunning in very similar ways to its sister dark ride next door at Universal Studios, but it made me feel on edge in a way that no other dark ride ever has before due to an excellent combination of screens and physical theming. It was a very close decision between Gringotts and Forbidden Journey because they're both brilliant dark rides.
3. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man (Islands of Adventure) - Spider-Man employs some excellent technology to really immerse you into the ride, such as the stunning 3D and the free fall technology (it still baffles me how that's done!) Also, the ride is an excellent combination of screens and physical theming, similar to Forbidden Journey. I loved this attraction even though I'm not a huge fan of Marvel.
4. Hex (Alton Towers) - Hex is the definition of the phrase "hidden gem". This is an attraction that looks fairly insignificant from the outside, but on the inside, it's a brilliant attraction, especially after the 2017 refurbishment. You can tell that every little detail has been thought of inside Hex, from the smells to the lighting. I also adore the way that the story gradually unravels itself with a real sense of drama as the experience goes on. This is a must-do if you ever visit Alton Towers!
5. Transformers: The Ride (Universal Studios Florida) - Transformers is a very similar ride to Spider-Man, except it doesn't have as good of a balance between screens and physical theming as Spider-Man and it also feels less action-packed. It's still a good ride though!

Top 5 - Flat Rides
1. Falcon's Fury (Busch Gardens Tampa) - Falcon's Fury has to be one of the most insane things I've ever done! It's the drop tower taken to a whole new level, and I love it!
2. Detonator (Thorpe Park) - Detonator is a ride that proves a drop tower doesn't need height to be an insane ride. It still packs brilliant forces even though it's only 115ft tall. I was utterly blown away by this ride!
3. Doctor Doom's FearFall (Islands of Adventure) - Even though it doesn't quite stack up to Falcon's Fury in Tampa, it was still a really fun ride. This is the only shot'n'drop tower I've done, so if they're all like this, then I think they are very underrated among enthusiasts.
4. The Blade (Alton Towers) - The Blade is one of Alton Towers' classic rides that still packs a punch. It provides a peculiar sensation in your stomach every time you ride.
5. Sizzler (Folly Farm) - This ride is actually quite forceful for a ride built in the 1930's! It is an asset to Folly Farm's collection of vintage rides.

Top 5 - Water Rides
1. Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges (Islands of Adventure) - A word I would use to describe Bilge-Rats is wet. Very, very wet. I don't think I've ever had so much water poured on me in such a short space of time in my entire life! The ride also has some good rapids sections and excellent theming.
2. Jurassic Park River Adventure (Islands of Adventure) - This ride is a really good water ride, but where it shines most is as an experience. The animatronics are good considering their age, the moment where the gates to Jurassic Park open always sends a tingle down your spine and the little touches throughout the ride really make the whole experience.
3. Kali River Rapids (Disney's Animal Kingdom) - Again, Kali River Rapids is a ride that shines as an experience. The theming is stunning and the drop is a real soaker!
4. Logger's Leap (Thorpe Park) - I personally think that this is a very underrated water ride. Both the times we rode (July 2014 and May 2015) we got absolutely soaked! It makes me sad that the ride is most likely dead and buried, but if its replacement turns out to be a B&M Hyper in 2020, I'm not complaining!
5. Congo River Rapids (Alton Towers) (pre-waterfall removal) - The Congo River Rapids strike the perfect balance between dryness and wetness, in my opinion. It may not be the best water ride in the world, but it sure is a fun ride that never fails to please. It could do with a bit more theming around its course, but this is just me being petty.

Top 5 - Worst Coasters
1. Colossus (Thorpe Park) - Oh dear. Colossus has to be the roughest, joltiest, most painful ride I have ever ridden. The Intamin OTSR's do not help matters at all, and the ride's layout isn't the best I've ever ridden either.
On the positive side, the ride's landscaping and soundtrack are both great.
2. Rita (Alton Towers) - I dislike Rita for the same reasons I dislike Colossus, but Rita's intense launch makes me prefer Rita slightly.
3. Rattlesnake (Chessington World of Adventures) - Rattlesnake is unappealing in a way quite unlike other unappealing coasters I've ridden. It isn't rough as such, it's more uncomfortable due to its incredibly jerky turns and the cars being incredibly cramped, resulting in a painful experience for every rider. I don't know if this is a general quality of Wild Mouse coasters or whether this is exclusively Rattlesnake, although Primeval Whirl makes me think it may be the latter. I'm also unsure why the ride has a 1.4m height restriction, when I would class both Dragon's Fury and Vampire as better and more intense than it.
4. Dragon Challenge (Islands of Adventure) (both sides) - The Dragon Challenge coasters have not aged very well at all for 18-year-old B&M's. They are both incredibly rough, and jerk you hard around every single turn. The rides' layouts didn't do much for me either. I am glad these rides are being removed because I know that they are iconic for many people, but they aren't great as rides and I'm confident that Universal can conjure up a brilliant replacement. On the positive side, the queue theming is very detailed and really replicates the Potter universe.
5. SAW: The Ride (Thorpe Park) - I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from Saw prior to riding for the first time in May 2018. I'd heard many reports that the ride was very rough, but past Gerstlauer thrill coasters I'd ridden (The Smiler and Speed) had not provided anything more than a slight rattle and the odd jolt here and there. However, Saw turned out to be extremely rough, much more so than The Smiler and Speed. Some of the transitions were also quite jolty, and made for an uncomfortable experience. In its defence, however, I first rode in May 2018, and the ride was nearly 10 years old at this point. Also, some rides are intended to be rough, so maybe Saw is one of those. I'm just not a fan of rougher rides. Overall, Saw isn't the worst coaster I've ever ridden, but it's a bit too rough for my liking.

Top 5 - Worst Rides (Flat/Water/Dark)
1. Wild Arctic (SeaWorld Orlando) - Oh god. This ride is rather atrocious. The doors shake like hell and the ride is incredibly rough for a motion simulator. On the positive side, however, the exhibit is lovely. SeaWorld, if you're reading this, get rid of the simulator, keep the exhibit and put a good new dark ride in that space. We only rode this once out of the 3 days we spent at SeaWorld, the other times we just walked in through the non-riders entrance to see the exhibit.
2. Rumba Rapids (Thorpe Park) - They may as well rename this ride Rumba River, because we didn't get a single wave both times we rode. On the positive side, however, I have heard that the ride is a bit rougher after 2016, so my opinion might change if I go back to Thorpe. A reride in May 2018 did not change my opinion.
3. The Flume (Alton Towers) - The Flume was a ride that wasn't overly wet, but dragged on... and on... and on. I'm glad that Towers have removed it and I'm excited for SW8 Wicker Man, which will almost is certainly be better.
4. Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin (SeaWorld Orlando) - Now, Antarctica isn't bad as such, it's more strange than bad. It seems like a lot of dancing around rooms randomly. On the positive side, however, the scenery is great and really makes you feel like you're in Antarctica. (This might also be helped by the fact that it is incredibly cold in there, especially when you are wearing summer attire.) Also, the exhibit is lovely. Again, we only rode once and walked through the non-riders entrance the other times.
5. Journey to Atlantis (SeaWorld Orlando) - Again, Journey to Atlantis isn't bad as such, in fact the dark ride scenes were actually pretty good when I rode it in August 2016! I just didn't think it was really that good as a water ride. It just wasn't very wet and I found the coaster section mildly rough. I get that it was the prototype water coaster, however, and I think that the layouts of succeeding Mack water coasters look much better. Also, I'm hoping that the ride is smoother now after the March 2017 refurbishment, as that apparently involved some track work (did it @MakoMania?). One thing the March 2017 refurbishment also did, however, is it also looks to have cannibalised most of the ride's immersion, as a POV I watched just after the refurbishment was completed showed the dark ride section as completely static with a nice, but strangely unnerving soundtrack playing in the background. (Just realised I should probably have documented this under coasters... oops.)

Top 5 - Theme/Amusement Parks
1. Alton Towers - The reasons that Alton Towers is my favourite park include that it is the best example of a park that combines a well-rounded ride lineup and good theming that I have visited. Also, the park just provides a sense of magic that no other theme park has really replicated.
2. Islands of Adventure - Islands of Adventure is another stunningly themed park that combines a well-rounded lineup of rides and excellent theming. It doesn't quite clinch the top spot for me because of the connection I have with Alton Towers, but it's a stunning park that's really worth a visit.
3. SeaWorld Orlando - This park was one of the biggest surprises of Orlando for me. It has a lovely, relaxed vibe and just provides a great day out in general, with a good ride lineup and great animals. Theming is good, but not the best theming I've ever seen in a theme park (although this looks set to change with additions like Infinity Falls and Mako). Overall, SeaWorld is a brilliant park, really worth a visit if you're in the Orlando area.
4. Disney's Animal Kingdom - This is another park that has a great, relaxed vibe. The theming is great, Kilimanjaro Safaris is stunning and really worth a ride, Expedition Everest is an excellent family thrill ride; this park is just great. It and SeaWorld could possibly swap places if I ever revisit WDW.
5. Busch Gardens Tampa - Busch Gardens is a great park with an excellent lineup of thrill rides and some good theming. It reminded me a bit of a better landscaped, better themed version of Thorpe Park. It's really worth the drive from Orlando just for the coasters!

P.S. Sorry if some of these reviews seem a bit negative. I like to think of myself as a positive person, but some of these rides don't really have many positives.
EDIT: How do you cross words out? Found out how. Thanks @Stuie!
 
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Hi @Matt N the tag is just [ S ] (without spaces...obvs)

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Surprised by the dislike for Saw: The Ride. Sure, it's a bit rough... but the theming is great and it's got some good thrill elements!
 
Top 5 - Steel Coasters
1. Nemmy
2. Montu
3. Nitro
4. Kraken
5. Space Mountain (Orlando)

Top 5 - Wooden Coasters
1. El Toro
2. Voyage
3. Wickerman
4. Coney Island Cyclone
5. Grand National (when it wasn't as rough)

Top 5 - Dark Rides
1. Tower of Terror
2. The Mummy (Orlando)
3. Forbidden Journey
4. Alien Encounter
5. Spiderman

Top 5 - Flat Rides (Not a huge admirer of Flat rides)
1. Bling
2. Maelstrom
3. Ripsaw
4. Apocalypse
5. Eagle's Claw / Any KMG Afterburner

Top 5 - Water Rides
1. Splash Mountain (Orlando)
2. Jurassic Park (Orlando)
3. Jaws the ride :(
4. Ripsaw Falls (IOA)
5. Loggers Leap

Top 5 - Worst Coasters
1. Hero (once and never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever again!!!
2. G Force
3. Rock n Rollercoaster (Paris)
4. Infusion / any Vekoma SLC
5. Rita

Top 5 - Worst Rides (Flat/Water/Dark)
1. Impossible - Quite possibly (see what I did there) the most pointless thing in the world
2. Wild Arctic - Sea World
3. Wild West Shootout - Drayton Manor
4. Submission
5. Pandemonium

Top 5 - Theme/Amusement Parks
1. Europa Park
2. Universal Studios IOA
3. Busch Gardens
4. Hershey Park
5. Six Flags GA
 
Top 5 - Steel Coasters
1. Montu
2. Nemesis
3. Kumba
4. Manta (Orlando)
5. SheiKra

Top 5 - Wooden Coasters
1. Will most likely be Wickerman later this year
2. Grand National (when it was less rough)
3. Tomahawk
4. Big Dipper
5. Roller Coaster (Gt. Yarmouth)
(many of these were last ridden over 10 years ago)

Top 5 - Dark Rides
1. Tower of Terror
2. Revenge of the Mummy (Orlando)
3. Spiderman
4. Hex
5. Poseidon's Fury

Top 5 - Flat Rides
1. Air (travelling)
2. Eagle's Claw
3. Any slingshot ride
4. Ripsaw
5. Air Maxx (bit terrifying though)

Top 5 - Water Rides
1. Splash Mountain (Florida)
2. Ripsaw Falls
3. Jurassic Park (Orlando)
4. Jaws (RIP)
5. Popeye's Bilge Rat Barges (wettest ride ever)

Top 5 - Worst Coasters
1. Hero
2. The Ultimate (not sorry)
3. Gwazi Tiger
4. Infusion
5. Grand National (current state)

Top 5 - Worst Rides
1. Phoenix (BGT - worst restraints ever)
2. Impossible
3. Wild Arctic
4. Submission
5. Cat in the Hat

Top 5 - Theme/Amusement Parks
1. Busch Gardens Tampa
2. Universal Studios IOA (last visited before Potter)
3. Alton Towers (mostly sentimental I think)
4. SeaWorld Orlando
5. PortAventura (haven't been since 2007 but remember loving the place. It was Furius Baco's opening year I think. Wasn't tall enough to ride the likes of Khan and Shambhala didn't exist!)

Some of my memories of these rides are pretty hazy as it's been a long time since I've been to places like Universal, Disney and PortAventura.

:)
 
Top 5 - Steel Coasters
1. Millennium Force
2. Maverick
3. Top Thrill Dragster
4. Shambhala
5. Nemesis

Top 5 - Wooden Coasters
1. Troy
2. Wicker Man
3. Joris en de draak
4. Big Dipper
5. Nickelodeon Streak

Top 5 - Dark Rides
1. Symbolica
2. Hex
3. Dreamflight
4. Merlins Magic Castle
5. Wallace and Gromits thrillomatic

Top 5 - Flat Rides
1. Hurrakan Condor
2. Halve Maen
3. Tagada
4. Ripsaw
5. Bling

Top 5 - Water Rides
1. Silver Lake Flume (portaventura)
2. Valhalla
3. Flying Dutchman (efteling)
4. Backstroke (Toverland)
5. Log Flume (BPBs old one)

Top 5 - Theme/Amusement Parks
1. Cedar Point
2. Portaventura
3. Blackpool Pleasure Beach
4. Alton Towers
5. Efteling
 
Stuie said:
Hi @Matt N the tag is just [ S ] (without spaces...obvs)

strikethrough

Surprised by the dislike for Saw: The Ride. Sure, it's a bit rough... but the theming is great and it's got some good thrill elements!
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Thank you very much!

I know I've probably been a bit harsh on Saw, but I personally like my coasters to have a good balance between smoothness and thrill, which I'd say my top coasters all have! I know some rides are intended to be rough and ready, but I'm not personally a fan of rougher rides.
 
Top 5 - Steel Coasters
  1. Saw - The Ride (Thorpe Park)
  2. Shambhala (PortAventura)
  3. Nemesis Inferno (Thorpe Park)
  4. Th13teen (Alton Towers)
  5. Furius Baco (PortAventura)
Top 5 - Wooden Coasters
  1. Stampida Blue (PortAventura)
  2. Tomahawk (PortAventura)
  3. Stampida Red (PortAventura)
Top 5 - Dark Rides
  1. Flying Dreams (Ferrari Land)
  2. I Corsari (Gardaland)
  3. If this counts... Magnum 2 (Movieland)
  4. Bubbleworks (Chessington)
  5. It's a Small World (Disneyland Paris)
Top 5 - Flat Rides
  1. Rush (Thorpe Park)
  2. Detonator (Thorpe Park)
  3. If this counts again... Magnum 2 (Movieland)
  4. Vortex (Thorpe Park)
  5. Hurakan Condor (PortAventura)
Top 5 - Water Rides
  1. Grand Canyon Rapids (PortAventura)
  2. Jungle Rapids (Gardaland)
  3. Pirate Falls Treasure Quest (Legoland)
  4. Silver River Flume (PortAventura)
  5. Colorado River (Gardaland)
Top 5 - Theme/Amusement Parks
  1. Gardaland
  2. Thorpe Park
  3. Legoland
  4. Disneyland Parc (Paris)
  5. Movieland Italy
 
Sorry for bumping this thread, but I just wanted to update my bottom 5 flat/water/dark rides, as I was clearly being a loony because my mum berated me the other day about how we never actually rode Wild Arctic! Must have been confusing it with a different ride! So I've reordered the list and added a new number 5! I also thought of a new number 5 water ride. The changes are in italics.

Bear in mind that I haven't done much outside of the UK Merlin parks and Florida, so some of the rides in these lists might look like I'm clutching at straws a bit.

Top 5 - Steel Coasters
1. Mako (SeaWorld Orlando) - Wow! This was the ride I was most excited for when we went to Florida last August, and it didn't disappoint! There is so much airtime and so many elements that chuck you out of your seat (not literally, of course!), the ride is themed brilliantly, it's smooth, it's fast; the list of positives goes on. Everyone in my family came off Mako with huge smiles on their faces. Even my Mum who isn't really a fan of big, intense coasters adored Mako. A wonderful first dip into the world of hyper coasters.
2. Montu (Busch Gardens Tampa) - Montu provides a similar sensation to Nemesis, but it's longer and faster. What's not to like?
3. SheiKra (Busch Gardens Tampa) - SheiKra is a truly brilliant coaster. The drops, the Immelmann, the water splash; they all add up to make for an unforgettable ride experience. SheiKra feels rather akin to a more modern, more substantial version of Oblivion.
4. The Swarm (Thorpe Park) - I know this is quite a controversial opinion, but I personally prefer The Swarm to Nemesis. "Why?" I hear you ask. Well, I prefer the Swarm because in my opinion, it packs a good punch, it has good near misses with theming and the unique seating position really adds to the ride in my opinion. Bear in mind I haven't been to Thorpe since 2015, so it may have changed since then. A reride in May 2018 did not change my opinion. This was actually my top coaster before visiting BGT and revisiting SeaWorld in August 2016.
5. Nemesis (Alton Towers) - What a brilliant ride. It's very intense, it's still really smooth at 23 years old and it is just a stunning feat of engineering. The ride also provides excellent near misses with the rocks and when I first became an enthusiast, it was one of very few rides that made me come off feeling a tad dizzy (I don't feel dizzy anymore, as loads of riding has sort of made me impervious to the dizziness.) Another good ride that made me feel dizzy was The Smiler.

Top 5 - Wooden Coasters
1. Wicker Man (Alton Towers) - Wicker Man really surprised me when I rode it in March 2018! While it was being built, I was expecting a ride similar in thrill level to Thirteen, but I remained cautiously optimistic. And I was right to, as Wicker Man is fantastic! It's a speedy coaster, and it's actually quite intense; despite only hitting 44mph, it felt much faster! The ride also has great transitions, and it flows really nicely, much better than Megafobia! Furthermore, it's really smooth, and has a couple of good pops of airtime! Overall, Wicker Man is fantastic! The only things I would do to improve it are add a couple more potential airtime moments and make the ride slightly more intense.
2. Megafobia (Oakwood) - This is currently the only wooden coaster I have ridden, and what a brilliant ride it is. It's packed with airtime, it's reasonably intense and it just provides that feeling that only a wooden coaster can provide. One slight flaw with the ride that prevents me from ranking it higher in my combined Top 10 is that many of the ride's turns are unbanked, therefore making for a very unpleasant jolt each time the ride turns, not dissimilar to a Wild Mouse coaster.


Top 5 - Dark Rides
1. Gringotts (Universal Studios Florida) - I know it isn't technically a dark ride, but Gringotts is the best dark ride I have done because the 3D is stunning, the queue is stunning and the special effects, such as the water, are brilliantly timed, making for an outstanding overall experience. It probably helps that I'm a huge Harry Potter fan, so I know everything that's going on.
2. Forbidden Journey (Islands of Adventure) - This ride is stunning in very similar ways to its sister dark ride next door at Universal Studios, but it made me feel on edge in a way that no other dark ride ever has before due to an excellent combination of screens and physical theming. It was a very close decision between Gringotts and Forbidden Journey because they're both brilliant dark rides.
3. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man (Islands of Adventure) - Spider-Man employs some excellent technology to really immerse you into the ride, such as the stunning 3D and the free fall technology (it still baffles me how that's done!) Also, the ride is an excellent combination of screens and physical theming, similar to Forbidden Journey. I loved this attraction even though I'm not a huge fan of Marvel.
4. Hex (Alton Towers) - Hex is the definition of the phrase "hidden gem". This is an attraction that looks fairly insignificant from the outside, but on the inside, it's a brilliant attraction, especially after the 2017 refurbishment. You can tell that every little detail has been thought of inside Hex, from the smells to the lighting. I also adore the way that the story gradually unravels itself with a real sense of drama as the experience goes on. This is a must-do if you ever visit Alton Towers!
5. Transformers: The Ride (Universal Studios Florida) - Transformers is a very similar ride to Spider-Man, except it doesn't have as good of a balance between screens and physical theming as Spider-Man and it also feels less action-packed. It's still a good ride though!

Top 5 - Flat Rides
1. Falcon's Fury (Busch Gardens Tampa) - Falcon's Fury has to be one of the most insane things I've ever done! It's the drop tower taken to a whole new level, and I love it!
2. Detonator (Thorpe Park) - Detonator is a ride that proves a drop tower doesn't need height to be an insane ride. It still packs brilliant forces even though it's only 115ft tall. I was utterly blown away by this ride!
3. Doctor Doom's FearFall (Islands of Adventure) - Even though it doesn't quite stack up to Falcon's Fury in Tampa, it was still a really fun ride. This is the only shot'n'drop tower I've done, so if they're all like this, then I think they are very underrated among enthusiasts.
4. The Blade (Alton Towers) - The Blade is one of Alton Towers' classic rides that still packs a punch. It provides a peculiar sensation in your stomach every time you ride.
5. Sizzler (Folly Farm) - This ride is actually quite forceful for a ride built in the 1930's! It is an asset to Folly Farm's collection of vintage rides.

Top 5 - Water Rides
1. Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges (Islands of Adventure) - A word I would use to describe Bilge-Rats is wet. Very, very wet. I don't think I've ever had so much water poured on me in such a short space of time in my entire life! The ride also has some good rapids sections and excellent theming.
2. Jurassic Park River Adventure (Islands of Adventure) - This ride is a really good water ride, but where it shines most is as an experience. The animatronics are good considering their age, the moment where the gates to Jurassic Park open always sends a tingle down your spine and the little touches throughout the ride really make the whole experience.
3. Kali River Rapids (Disney's Animal Kingdom) - Again, Kali River Rapids is a ride that shines as an experience. The theming is stunning and the drop is a real soaker!
4. Logger's Leap (Thorpe Park) - I personally think that this is a very underrated water ride. Both the times we rode (July 2014 and May 2015) we got absolutely soaked! It makes me sad that the ride is most likely dead and buried, but if its replacement turns out to be a B&M Hyper in 2020, I'm not complaining!
5. Congo River Rapids (Busch Gardens Tampa) - Come to think of it, this was actually pretty good! There was a giant waterfall at the end that got us all soaked, and the rapids themselves weren't bad! All in all, this was a pretty good rapids!

Top 5 - Worst Coasters
1. Colossus (Thorpe Park) - Oh dear. Colossus has to be the roughest, joltiest, most painful ride I have ever ridden. The Intamin OTSR's do not help matters at all, and the ride's layout isn't the best I've ever ridden either.
On the positive side, the ride's landscaping and soundtrack are both great.
2. Rita (Alton Towers) - I dislike Rita for the same reasons I dislike Colossus, but Rita's intense launch makes me prefer Rita slightly.
3. Rattlesnake (Chessington World of Adventures) - Rattlesnake is unappealing in a way quite unlike other unappealing coasters I've ridden. It isn't rough as such, it's more uncomfortable due to its incredibly jerky turns and the cars being incredibly cramped, resulting in a painful experience for every rider. I don't know if this is a general quality of Wild Mouse coasters or whether this is exclusively Rattlesnake, although Primeval Whirl makes me think it may be the latter. I'm also unsure why the ride has a 1.4m height restriction, when I would class both Dragon's Fury and Vampire as better and more intense than it.
4. Dragon Challenge (Islands of Adventure) (both sides) - The Dragon Challenge coasters have not aged very well at all for 18-year-old B&M's. They are both incredibly rough, and jerk you hard around every single turn. The rides' layouts didn't do much for me either. I am glad these rides are being removed because I know that they are iconic for many people, but they aren't great as rides and I'm confident that Universal can conjure up a brilliant replacement. On the positive side, the queue theming is very detailed and really replicates the Potter universe.
5. SAW: The Ride (Thorpe Park) - I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from Saw prior to riding for the first time in May 2018. I'd heard many reports that the ride was very rough, but past Gerstlauer thrill coasters I'd ridden (The Smiler and Speed) had not provided anything more than a slight rattle and the odd jolt here and there. However, Saw turned out to be extremely rough, much more so than The Smiler and Speed. Some of the transitions were also quite jolty, and made for an uncomfortable experience. In its defence, however, I first rode in May 2018, and the ride was nearly 10 years old at this point. Also, some rides are intended to be rough, so maybe Saw is one of those. I'm just not a fan of rougher rides. Overall, Saw isn't the worst coaster I've ever ridden, but it's a bit too rough for my liking.

Top 5 - Worst Rides (Flat/Water/Dark)
1. Rumba Rapids (Thorpe Park) - They may as well rename this ride Rumba River, because we didn't get a single wave both times we rode. On the positive side, however, I have heard that the ride is a bit rougher after 2016, so my opinion might change if I go back to Thorpe. A reride in May 2018 did not change my opinion.
2. The Flume (Alton Towers) - The Flume was a ride that wasn't overly wet, but dragged on... and on... and on. I'm glad that Towers have removed it and I'm excited for SW8 Wicker Man, which will almost is certainly be better.
3. Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin (SeaWorld Orlando) - Now, Antarctica isn't bad as such, it's more strange than bad. It seems like a lot of dancing around rooms randomly. On the positive side, however, the scenery is great and really makes you feel like you're in Antarctica. (This might also be helped by the fact that it is incredibly cold in there, especially when you are wearing summer attire.) Also, the exhibit is lovely. Again, we only rode once and walked through the non-riders entrance the other times.
4. Journey to Atlantis (SeaWorld Orlando) - Again, Journey to Atlantis isn't bad as such, in fact the dark ride scenes were actually pretty good when I rode it in August 2016! I just didn't think it was really that good as a water ride. It just wasn't very wet and I found the coaster section mildly rough. I get that it was the prototype water coaster, however, and I think that the layouts of succeeding Mack water coasters look much better. Also, I'm hoping that the ride is smoother now after the March 2017 refurbishment, as that apparently involved some track work (did it @MakoMania?). One thing the March 2017 refurbishment also did, however, is it also looks to have cannibalised most of the ride's immersion, as a POV I watched just after the refurbishment was completed showed the dark ride section as completely static with a nice, but strangely unnerving soundtrack playing in the background. (Just realised I should probably have documented this under coasters... oops.)
5. The Simpsons Ride (Universal Studios Florida) - Again, The Simpsons Ride is not necessarily bad. It just pales in comparison to Universal's newer dark rides. I think it's not quite as convincing of a themed ride as something like Gringotts or SpiderMan, for example. Personally, I'd like it if they put 3D on Simpsons, but I'm not sure if it would work with the ride system. Springfield USA is stunning, though!

Top 5 - Theme/Amusement Parks
1. Alton Towers - The reasons that Alton Towers is my favourite park include that it is the best example of a park that combines a well-rounded ride lineup and good theming that I have visited. Also, the park just provides a sense of magic that no other theme park has really replicated.
2. Islands of Adventure - Islands of Adventure is another stunningly themed park that combines a well-rounded lineup of rides and excellent theming. It doesn't quite clinch the top spot for me because of the connection I have with Alton Towers, but it's a stunning park that's really worth a visit.
3. SeaWorld Orlando - This park was one of the biggest surprises of Orlando for me. It has a lovely, relaxed vibe and just provides a great day out in general, with a good ride lineup and great animals. Theming is good, but not the best theming I've ever seen in a theme park (although this looks set to change with additions like Infinity Falls and Mako). Overall, SeaWorld is a brilliant park, really worth a visit if you're in the Orlando area.
4. Disney's Animal Kingdom - This is another park that has a great, relaxed vibe. The theming is great, Kilimanjaro Safaris is stunning and really worth a ride, Expedition Everest is an excellent family thrill ride; this park is just great. It and SeaWorld could possibly swap places if I ever revisit WDW.
5. Busch Gardens Tampa - Busch Gardens is a great park with an excellent lineup of thrill rides and some good theming. It reminded me a bit of a better landscaped, better themed version of Thorpe Park. It's really worth the drive from Orlando just for the coasters!

P.S. Sorry if some of these reviews seem a bit negative. I like to think of myself as a positive person, but some of these rides don't really have many positives.
 
This is going to be tricky! I have ignored any rides the are SBNO or defunct. To include them would change this list.

Top 5 - Steel Coasters
1. Mako (SW)
2. Dragon Khan (PA)
3. Furius Baco (PA)
4. Montu (BG)
5. Icon (BPB)

Top 5 - Wooden Coasters
1. Grand National (BPB)
2. Megaphobia (OW)
3. White Lightening (FS)
4. Nickelodeon Streak (BPB)
5. Big Dipper (BPB)

Top 5 - Dark Rides
1. The Mummy (Orlando)
2. Escape from Gingots (Uni)
3. Forbidden Journey (Uni)
4. Tower of Terror (HS)
5. Pirates of the Caribbean (MK)

Top 5 - Flat Rides
1. Falcon's Furry (BG)
2. Hurrican Condor (PA)
3. Detonater (TP)
4. Sky force (BPB)
5. Apocalypse (DMP)

Top 5 - Water Rides
1. Popeye (Uni)
2. Splash Mountain (MK)
3. Ripsaw Falls (Uni)
4. Reo Bravo (PW)
5.Log Flume (BG) (Stanley?)


Top 5 - Worst Coasters
1. Hero (FL)
2. Galactica (AT)
3. Rita (AT)
4. Mumbo Jumbo (FL)
5. G-Force (DMP)

Top 5 - Worst Rides (Flat/Water/Dark)
1. Impossible (BPB)
2. Thrill O Matic (BPB)
3. Space themed simulator in Hollywood Studios who's name escapes me
4. Rapids (TP)
5. Grand Prix (BPB)

Top 5 - Theme/Amusement Parks
1. Port Aventura
2. Universal IoA
3. Universal Studios
4. Blackpool Pleasure Beach
5. Magic Kingdom


And a added bit from me:

Most missed rides you have been on
1. Wild Mouse (BPB)
2. Dragon Challenge (IoA)
3. Log Flume (BPB)
4. Great Movie Ride (HS)
5. Trauma Towers (BPB)

(Others include Vikingar, Noahs Ark, Loggers Leap, Corkscrew, Texas Tornado, Magnum Force and the Bullet)
 
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@Ash84 I think the space themed simulator at DHS you were looking for might be Star Tours.

Also, we have the same top steel coaster! Mako buddies! Yay! Is it your favourite coaster overall, or does Grand National clinch it overall, for you?
 
I'd have to say it's a very close thing, but I am a wooden coaster man at heart so my loyalty is with the Nash. That said, the trains do make it tough to love it these days. Plenty of times I leave BPB having had more enjoyable rides on the Streak and Dipper (near the front after a 12 hour day the Streak is like a different ride, hence why I rate it so high) but if you know how to hold the bar in place it is possible to still enjoy the Nash, it's just a shame that those terrible trains are spoiling such a great ride.
 
Ash84 said:
I'd have to say it's a very close thing, but I am a wooden coaster man at heart so my loyalty is with the Nash. That said, the trains do make it tough to love it these days. Plenty of times I leave BPB having had more enjoyable rides on the Streak and Dipper (near the front after a 12 hour day the Streak is like a different ride, hence why I rate it so high) but if you know how to hold the bar in place it is possible to still enjoy the Nash, it's just a shame that those terrible trains are spoiling such a great ride.
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Brill! I look forward to experiencing Nash in August, which is probably when my list will next see an update!
 
Sorry for double posting, but my list needs an update after my visits to Drayton Manor, Thorpe Park and Blackpool Pleasure Beach, so here goes!:


Top 5 - Steel Coasters
1. Mako (SeaWorld Orlando) - Wow! This was the ride I was most excited for when we went to Florida last August, and it didn't disappoint! There is so much airtime and so many elements that chuck you out of your seat (not literally, of course!), the ride is themed brilliantly, it's smooth, it's fast; the list of positives goes on. Everyone in my family came off Mako with huge smiles on their faces. Even my Mum who isn't really a fan of big, intense coasters adored Mako. A wonderful first dip into the world of hyper coasters.
2. Icon (Blackpool Pleasure Beach) - In my opinion, Icon is just stunning! The ride packs in quite a few airtime moments, it's super smooth, it carries a decent pace to it and is just a fantastic overall package! BPB and Mack knocked it out of the park here in my opinion!
3.Montu (Busch Gardens Tampa) - Montu provides a similar sensation to Nemesis, but it's longer and faster. What's not to like?
4.SheiKra (Busch Gardens Tampa) - SheiKra is a truly brilliant coaster. The drops, the Immelmann, the water splash; they all add up to make for an unforgettable ride experience. SheiKra feels rather akin to a more modern, more substantial version of Oblivion.
5.The Swarm (Thorpe Park) - I know this is quite a controversial opinion, but I personally prefer The Swarm to Nemesis. "Why?" I hear you ask. Well, I prefer the Swarm because in my opinion, it packs a good punch, it has good near misses with theming and the unique seating position really adds to the ride in my opinion. Bear in mind I haven't been to Thorpe since 2015, so it may have changed since then. A reride in May 2018 did not change my opinion. This was actually my top coaster before visiting BGT and revisiting SeaWorld in August 2016.

Top 5 - Wooden Coasters
1. Wicker Man (Alton Towers) - Wicker Man really surprised me when I rode it in March 2018! While it was being built, I was expecting a ride similar in thrill level to Thirteen, but I remained cautiously optimistic. And I was right to, as Wicker Man is fantastic! It's a speedy coaster, and it's actually quite intense; despite only hitting 44mph, it felt much faster! The ride also has great transitions, and it flows really nicely, much better than Megafobia! Furthermore, it's really smooth, and has a couple of good pops of airtime! Overall, Wicker Man is fantastic! The only things I would do to improve it are add a couple more potential airtime moments and make the ride slightly more intense.
2. Megafobia (Oakwood) - This is currently the only wooden coaster I have ridden, and what a brilliant ride it is. It's packed with airtime, it's reasonably intense and it just provides that feeling that only a wooden coaster can provide. One slight flaw with the ride that prevents me from ranking it higher in my combined <s>Top 10</s> top coasters is that many of the ride's turns are unbanked, making for a very unpleasant jolt every time the ride turns, not dissimilar to a Wild Mouse coaster.
3. Nickelodeon Streak (Blackpool Pleasure Beach) - The Streak was one of many pleasant surprises of Blackpool for me! I found it to keep its pace reasonably well, it was actually relatively smooth considering it's 85 years old and I found it to have some good, enjoyable forces! Overall, Nick Streak was my personal favourite Blackpool wooden coaster, and while it isn't my favourite wooden coaster I've ridden, I still really liked it!
4. Big Dipper (Blackpool Pleasure Beach) - Again, Big Dipper was a really pleasant surprise of Blackpool for me! The ride was very long and had some nice little pops of airtime, in my opinion! The ride was a little rougher and didn't seem to keep its pace quite as well as the Streak, but I still enjoyed it!​
5. Blue Flyer (Blackpool Pleasure Beach) - Blue Flyer is quite different to the rest of the wooden coasters I've ridden in that it is more of a junior coaster. And I personally thought it was great fun! I found the ride to have a nice length to it for a junior coaster and it is overall a wonderful step-up coaster for young kids, in my opinion! One minor downside is that the cars are quite small, making it a bit uncomfortable on the knees, but this is only me being petty, as the ride is aimed at young kids, after all!​


Top 5 - Dark Rides
1. Gringotts (Universal Studios Florida) - I know it isn't technically a dark ride, but Gringotts is the best dark ride I have done because the 3D is stunning, the queue is stunning and the special effects, such as the water, are brilliantly timed, making for an outstanding overall experience. It probably helps that I'm a huge Harry Potter fan, so I know everything that's going on.
2. Forbidden Journey (Islands of Adventure) - This ride is stunning in very similar ways to its sister dark ride next door at Universal Studios, but it made me feel on edge in a way that no other dark ride ever has before due to an excellent combination of screens and physical theming. It was a very close decision between Gringotts and Forbidden Journey because they're both brilliant dark rides.
3. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man (Islands of Adventure) - Spider-Man employs some excellent technology to really immerse you into the ride, such as the stunning 3D and the free fall technology (it still baffles me how that's done!) Also, the ride is an excellent combination of screens and physical theming, similar to Forbidden Journey. I loved this attraction even though I'm not a huge fan of Marvel.
4. Hex (Alton Towers) - Hex is the definition of the phrase "hidden gem". This is an attraction that looks fairly insignificant from the outside, but on the inside, it's a brilliant attraction, especially after the 2017 refurbishment. You can tell that every little detail has been thought of inside Hex, from the smells to the lighting. I also adore the way that the story gradually unravels itself with a real sense of drama as the experience goes on. This is a must-do if you ever visit Alton Towers!
5. Transformers: The Ride (Universal Studios Florida) - Transformers is a very similar ride to Spider-Man, except it doesn't have as good of a balance between screens and physical theming as Spider-Man and it also feels less action-packed. It's still a good ride though!

Top 5 - Flat Rides
1. Falcon's Fury (Busch Gardens Tampa) - Falcon's Fury has to be one of the most insane things I've ever done! It's the drop tower taken to a whole new level, and I love it!
2. Apocalypse (Drayton Manor) - Apocalypse was stunning! So much force down that drop; I only did the regular sit down side, but it was still amazing!
3. Detonator (Thorpe Park) - Detonator is a ride that proves a drop tower doesn't need height to be an insane ride. It still packs brilliant forces even though it's only 115ft tall. I was utterly blown away by this ride!
4. Samurai (Thorpe Park) - Samurai was awesome, in my opinion; loads of inverting action, with reasonable intensity, too! I liked Samurai because it chucked me around in a smooth way, if you get what I mean; the cycle I rode on was really intense!
5. Doctor Doom's FearFall (Islands of Adventure) - Even though it doesn't quite stack up to Falcon's Fury in Tampa, it was still a really fun ride. This <s>is</s> was the only shot'n'drop tower <s>I've</s>I'd done until August 2018 I think they are very underrated among enthusiasts. Ice Blast at BPB didn't have quite the same level of vigor as Dr Doom, in my opinion, but I still enjoyed it!

Top 5 - Water Rides
1. Popeye and Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges (Islands of Adventure) - A word I would use to describe Bilge-Rats is wet. Very, very wet. I don't think I've ever had so much water poured on me in such a short space of time in my entire life! The ride also has some good rapids sections and excellent theming.
2. Jurassic Park River Adventure (Islands of Adventure) - This ride is a really good water ride, but where it shines most is as an experience. The animatronics are good considering their age, the moment where the gates to Jurassic Park open always sends a tingle down your spine and the little touches throughout the ride really make the whole experience.
3. Kali River Rapids (Disney's Animal Kingdom) - Again, Kali River Rapids is a ride that shines as an experience. The theming is stunning and the drop is a real soaker!
4. Logger's Leap (Thorpe Park) - I personally think that this is a very underrated water ride. Both the times we rode (July 2014 and May 2015) we got absolutely soaked! It makes me sad that the ride is most likely dead and buried, but if its replacement turns out to be a B&M Hyper in 2020, I'm not complaining!
5. Congo River Rapids (Busch Gardens Tampa) - Come to think of it, this was actually pretty good! There was a giant waterfall at the end that got us all soaked, and the rapids themselves weren't bad! All in all, this was a pretty good rapids!

Top 5 - Worst Coasters
1. Infusion (Blackpool Pleasure Beach) - Colossus has finally been dethroned. Even though Infusion looks very pretty, situated above a lake with waterfalls spraying up at the riders, almost akin to SeaWorld Orlando's Manta, the ride experience is unfortunately not quite so pretty, in my opinion. For the one ride I had on this coaster, I was seated in row 2, so I was hopeful that it might not be too rough. However, as soon as we descended the first drop, my head instantly began bashing madly against the restraint. This bashing got progressively worse as the ride went on, meaning that my ears were aching by the time we exited. Even though I'm glad I rode it for the experience, Infusion is nowhere near the top of my priority list when I return to BPB!
2. Colossus (Thorpe Park) - Oh dear. Colossus <s>has to be</s> was prior to August 2018 the roughest, joltiest, most painful ride I have ever ridden. The Intamin OTSR's do not help matters at all, and the ride's layout isn't the best I've ever ridden either.
On the positive side, the ride's landscaping and soundtrack are both great.
3. Rita (Alton Towers) - I dislike Rita for the same reasons I dislike Colossus, but Rita's intense launch makes me prefer Rita slightly.
4. Rattlesnake (Chessington World of Adventures) - Rattlesnake is unappealing in a way quite unlike other unappealing coasters I've ridden. It isn't rough as such, it's more uncomfortable due to its incredibly jerky turns and the cars being incredibly cramped, resulting in a painful experience for every rider. I don't know if this is a general quality of Wild Mouse coasters or whether this is exclusively Rattlesnake, although Primeval Whirl makes me think it may be the latter. I'm also unsure why the ride has a 1.4m height restriction, when I would class both Dragon's Fury and Vampire as better and more intense than it.
5. Steeplechase (Right) (Blackpool Pleasure Beach) - Umm... a word I would use to describe Steeplechase is strange. Very strange. For starters, the track and car design are very different to those I've seen on any other roller coaster I've ever ridden, reminding me more of one of those powered pony rides at parks like PortAventura and Paultons Park. As for the ride itself, a word I would use to sum it up is uncomfortable. The ride has many tight turns, which whack you into the side of the car. It reminded me of a slightly less uncomfortable version of Rattlesnake at Chessington. So overall, I wasn't a fan of Steeplechase. But I'm still glad I went on it, as it is the only one of its kind, after all! Also, it is a truly unique experience that Blackpool should be proud to operate, in my opinion!


Top 5 - Worst Rides (Flat/Water/Dark)
1. Rumba Rapids (Thorpe Park) - They may as well rename this ride Rumba River, because we didn't get a single wave both times we rode. On the positive side, however, I have heard that the ride is a bit rougher after 2016, so my opinion might change if I go back to Thorpe. A reride in May 2018 did not change my opinion.
2. The Flume (Alton Towers) - The Flume was a ride that wasn't overly wet, but dragged on... and on... and on. I'm glad that Towers have removed it and I'm excited for SW8 Wicker Man, which will almost is certainly be better.
3. Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin (SeaWorld Orlando) - Now, Antarctica isn't bad as such, it's more strange than bad. It seems like a lot of dancing around rooms randomly. On the positive side, however, the scenery is great and really makes you feel like you're in Antarctica. (This might also be helped by the fact that it is incredibly cold in there, especially when you are wearing summer attire.) Also, the exhibit is lovely. Again, we only rode once and walked through the non-riders entrance the other times.
4. Journey to Atlantis (SeaWorld Orlando) - Again, Journey to Atlantis isn't bad as such, in fact the dark ride scenes were actually pretty good when I rode it in August 2016! I just didn't think it was really that good as a water ride. It just wasn't very wet and I found the coaster section mildly rough. I get that it was the prototype water coaster, however, and I think that the layouts of succeeding Mack water coasters look much better. Also, I'm hoping that the ride is smoother now after the March 2017 refurbishment, as that apparently involved some track work (did it @MakoMania?). One thing the March 2017 refurbishment also did, however, is it also looks to have cannibalised most of the ride's immersion, as a POV I watched just after the refurbishment was completed showed the dark ride section as completely static with a nice, but strangely unnerving soundtrack playing in the background. (Just realised I should probably have documented this under coasters... oops.)
5. Air Race (Drayton Manor) - Again, Air Race isn't necessarily a bad ride, I just found it... a bit much. The ride starts off well, with some nicely executed inversions and cool flips! However, the ride got a bit nauseating as it tried to do more and starting going backwards and such, to the point where everyone else in my family felt ill upon exiting.

Top 5 - Theme/Amusement Parks
1. Alton Towers - The reasons that Alton Towers is my favourite park include that it is the best example of a park that combines a well-rounded ride lineup and good theming that I have visited. Also, the park just provides a sense of magic that no other theme park has really replicated.
2. Islands of Adventure - Islands of Adventure is another stunningly themed park that combines a well-rounded lineup of rides and excellent theming. It doesn't quite clinch the top spot for me because of the connection I have with Alton Towers, but it's a stunning park that's really worth a visit.
3. Disney's Animal Kingdom - This is another park that has a great, relaxed vibe. The theming is great, Kilimanjaro Safaris is stunning and really worth a ride, Expedition Everest is an excellent family thrill ride; this park is just great.
4. Blackpool Pleasure Beach - Blackpool really surprised me when I visited for the first time in August 2018! The place is simply mesmerising, in my opinion; the whole time I was there, I was looking up and down in awe at how they had crammed so much into such a small space! The place also has a lovely atmosphere, in my opinion, and I like how it's so different to anywhere else I've visited!
5. SeaWorld Orlando - This park was one of the biggest surprises of Orlando for me. It has a lovely, relaxed vibe and just provides a great day out in general, with a good ride lineup and great animals. Theming is good, but not the best theming I've ever seen in a theme park (although this looks set to change with additions like Infinity Falls and Mako). Overall, SeaWorld is a brilliant park, really worth a visit if you're in the Orlando area.

P.S. Sorry if some of these reviews seem a bit negative. I like to think of myself as a positive person, but some of these rides don't really have many positives.​
 
Top 5 - Steel Coasters
1. Helix - Mack multilaunchers are awesome, not too intense, although has a couple of intense moments but one of them rides you are never bored on. Views, good elements and beautiful style!
2. Icon - best coaster in the UK by a large stretch, the more I ride it the more the gap edges. Same as helix really, but it first hill great, the immelmann is my favourite version of that inversion. Also does the roll better than helix. Just needed one extra inversion to beat helix in my opinion.
3. Nemesis - classic, balls to the wall intensity and still one of two coasters which made my vision completely grey for a second.
4. The smiler - Nostalgic for me as the first coaster I followed start to finish, and I usually get lucky with a smooth train. A bad train and anywhere but the front row on a bad train would be beaten by the swarm
5. The swarm, great theming, comfy ride and not too intense, but it has its moments and is just enjoyable.

Top 5 - Wooden Coasters
1. Wildfire - as said above, insane from start to finish
2. Balder - better airtime than wildfire but a couple of bland moments
3. Wickerman - much better than I expected, great experience but wouldn't be here if it was just the coaster with no theming
4. Cu Chulainn - it was relatively comfy, airtime filled and didn't have bland moments. The park need to stop calling an overbank an inversion though.
5. Twister (Grona Lund) /Grand National
Inseparable almost, both sit inside my top 30 but twister is fun from start to finish, with half decent airtime, Grand national is out of control crazy and good airtime. If Wild mouse was still at Blackpool neither twister or Nash would be battling for 5th.

Top 5 - Dark Rides
1. Tower of Terror (Paris) best ride on park by a mile, everything else is beautiful but as individual rides I'd not be too bothered, rate the park though
2. Hex - a classic, most authentic dark ride I've ridden and entertaining.
3. Pirates Of The Caribbean (Paris) I've never actually seen the films but it was a great dark ride, and only beaten by ToT on park
4. Ratatouille - a ride based on my 2nd favourite Disney movie, that is finished fantastically, loved it from start to finish
5. The Haunting - another madhouse and probably the most underrated dark ride in the UK, the room with the uneven floorboards and smoke is very atmospheric.

Coming close is Wallace and Gromit, if it wasn't for Duels soundtrack changing that would be in there, still a ride I have to do at Towers, even though I prefer Hex I could happily do duel two times a visit and it still remains as one of three "ever presents" for me at Towers, (along with Nemesis once I was tall enough and Wickerman) that's in over 30 visits since 2007. I was tall enough for nemesis in 2012 but somehow got on in 2011. Pirates Adventure was also great

Top 5 - Flat Rides
1. Skyforce - I like going upside down, and I like the concept of controlling your own ride, and this is perfect. Shame you can't see high scores anymore though.
2. Uppswinget - Wow - the view from it is insane, and the cycle was much better than Rush. Loved it!
3. Fritt Fall tilt - Apocalypse on steroids and crazy intense, loved it
4. Vertigo (Tivoli Gardens) was very intense but I couldn't stop laughing on it, great fun
5. Apocalypse stand up floorless - only big ride in UK I cried on, still makes me nervous to this day but I love it.

Coming close is the starflyer at Grona Lund, most beautiful view on that type of ride, also placed in a great location near the water. Ripsaw and slammer would have made the list. Was sadder losing Ripsaw than Wild mouse.

Top 5 - Water Rides
1. Valhalla - vikings, water and better theming than a most dark rides. Would've come second in that list but I class it as a water ride.
2. Kallerado Rapids - you don't get too wet from the river but the theming is great and effects are what soaked me.
3. FlumeRide (Liseberg) an arrow classic incorporated into the landscape brilliantly with a few drops
4. Viking River Splash - themed very well when I rode it, but apparent there isn't as much nowadays. The bucket got me twice on 4 rides
5. Monkey Swinger - yes, I classify it as a water ride, I go on it for a soaking and that's what I get. Its not a will you/won't you like Ripsaw was.

Stormforce 10 comes close but isn't themed too greatly, so does Congo River Rapids and Splash Canyon (the better of the two) and Viking Voyage at Tayto. Loggers would have been there as well

Top 5 - Worst Coasters
1. Insane (Gronalund) fun for a bit, but the ending was way too hard both times, the second time I had bruising were you don't want bruising, and caught my trousers. I was close to tears
2. Hero - ouch, shoulders are not safe on here, neither is any part of you. If you took all four limbs off I'm 99% sure you could fall out.
3. Tsunami (M&Ds) - the only removed ride I'm featuring, makes SLCs feel glass smooth. At least it felt safe at the point I went on it. Maybe not.
4. Jubilee Odyssey. Another I quite liked on the front row but I later realised I'd made a mistake. Add to this I like infusion, so this was very painful. Unlike Infusion I didn't get the chance to appreciate the layout. Also poorly designed.
5. Tornado (M&Ds) another dire Pinfari. Hated it. There's only one large Pinfari I liked ever.

Top 5 - Worst Rides (Flat/Water/Dark)
1. Obliterator type rides pleasure Island (any ride of that type, or Submission style rides) - boring and painful on the privates
2. Impossible (end ride) - seriously. What is the point? I actually enjoy the indoor part
3. Storm Surge - boring, low capacity don't even get wet so they added guns
4. Black Pearl (Lightwater Valley) my parents rode it at Alton and claimed it was worse then so I'm actually kind of lucky :p
5. Most travelling ghost trains. Dire theming and they all have metal cages where your head hits on the drop.

Top 5 - Theme/Amusement Parks
1. Liseberg - beautiful setting, beautiful food, awesome rides. Plus Schwarzkopfts
2. Blackpool Pleasure Beach - best park in UK in terms of variety, also has my favourite UK coaster and water ride
3. Alton Towers - its gone downhill but its still retains a charm and 5 very good coasters
4. Grona Lund - very good rides, cool feel to it and nice lighting, pleasant place to be.
5. Disney parks in Paris, beautiful park but the thrill rides aren't that great and it is massively overhyped

Kolmarden was also very nice but more of a wildlife park, I'd rather go there than Disneyland though.
 
Top 5 - Steel Coasters
1. Helix - Liseberg
2. Manta - Sea World Orlando
3. Nemesis - Alton Towers
4. Blue Fire - Europa Park
5. Shambhala - PortAventura

Top 5 - Wooden Coasters
1. Wildifre - Kolmarden
2. Wodan - Europa Park
3. Troy - Toverland
4. Balder - Liseberg
5. Twister - Grona Lund

Top 5 - Dark Rides
1. Mystery Castle - Phantasialand
2. Tower of Terror - Hollywood Studios
3. Hex - Alton Towers
4. Forbidden Journey - Islands of Adventure
5. Spider-Man - Islands of Adventure

Top 5 - Flat Rides
1. Talocan - Phantasialand
2. Maelstrom - Drayton Manor
3. Jukebox - Liseberg
4. Uppswinget - Liseberg
5. De Glocke - Hansa Park

Top 5 - Water Rides
1. Chiapas - Phantasialand
2. River Quest - Phantasialand
3. Splash Mountain - Magic Kingdom
4. Djengu River - Toverland
5. Pulsar - Walibi Belgium

Top 5 - Worst Coasters
1. Bandit - Movie Park
2. Wild Mouse - Pleasure Beach Blackpool
3. El Condor - Walibi Holland
4. The Ultimate - Lightwater Valley
5. Zooooom! - Flamingo Land

Top 5 - Worst Rides (Flat/Water/Dark)
1. Fairytale Castle - Liseberg
2. Storm Surge - Thorpe Park
3. Bench - Europa Park
4. Kingdom Quest - Any LDC
5. Congo River Rapids - Alton Towers

Top 5 - Theme/Amusement Parks
1. Europa Park
2. Phantasialand
3. Liseberg
4. Islands of Adventure
5. Animal Kingdom
 
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Sorry to resurrect this rather old thread, but I thought that this might be a fun thing to reboot, as my opinions have changed somewhat since my last post in here. There are a few things that I was unsure on a category for, and they are in italics.
Top 5 Steel Coasters
  1. Mako (SeaWorld Orlando)
  2. Icon (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
  3. The Swarm (Thorpe Park)
  4. Stealth (Thorpe Park)
  5. Montu (Busch Gardens Tampa)
Top 5 Wooden Coasters
  1. Wicker Man (Alton Towers)
  2. Mine Blower (Fun Spot Kissimmee)
  3. Megafobia (Oakwood)
  4. Nickelodeon Streak (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
  5. Blue Flyer (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
Top 5 Dark Rides
  1. Tower of Terror (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) (Not really sure if I should count this, but I’d probably say this is my favourite non-coaster attraction for sure!)
  2. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man (Islands of Adventure)
  3. Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts (Universal Studios Florida)
  4. Transformers: The Ride (Universal Studios Florida)
  5. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (Islands of Adventure)
Top 5 Water Rides
  1. Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges (Islands of Adventure)
  2. Jurassic Park River Adventure (Islands of Adventure)
  3. Kali River Rapids (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)
  4. Splash Mountain (Disney’s Magic Kingdom)
  5. Logger’s Leap (Thorpe Park)
Top 5 Flat Rides
  1. Falcon’s Fury (Busch Gardens Tampa)
  2. HangOver (Travelling)
  3. Venom (West Midlands Safari Park)
  4. Detonator (Thorpe Park)
  5. Rush (Thorpe Park)
Top 5 Worst Coasters
  1. Infusion (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
  2. Grand National (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
  3. Rattlesnake (Chessington World of Adventures)
  4. Reverchon spinning mice (Various)
  5. Steeplechase Right (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)
Top 5 Worst Rides (Flat/Water/Dark)
  1. Air Race (Drayton Manor)
  2. The Flume (Alton Towers)
  3. Rumba Rapids (Thorpe Park)
  4. Dinosaur (Disney’s Animal Kingdom)
  5. Journey to Atlantis (SeaWorld Orlando) (I know this is technically a coaster, but the coaster section is quite short, so I’m rating it on its water ride attributes here)
Top 5 Parks
  1. Islands of Adventure
  2. Universal Studios Florida
  3. Alton Towers
  4. SeaWorld Orlando
  5. Blackpool Pleasure Beach
 
Last edited:
Hmm...
Top 5 steel
1. The Smiler
2. Blue Fire
3. Nemesis
4. Silver Star
5. The Swarm

Top 5 wood
1. Wodan
2. Wicker Man
3. Grand National
4. Big Dipper
5. Scenic Railway

Top 5 dark rides
1. London Dungeon
2. Derren Brown's Ghost Train
3. Hex
4. Duel
5. Alice

Top 5 Water Rides
1. Valhalla
2. Stormforce 10
3. Poseidon
4. Tidal Wave
5. Tiger Rock

Top 5 flat rides
1. Time Machine
2. Dragon's Claw
3. Rush
4. Pendulum (Dreamland)
5. Maelstrom

Top 5 Worst
1. Colossus
2. Saw
3. Rattlesnake
4. Infusion
5. Rita

Top 5 Worst rides
1. Red Arrows
2. Air Race (Drayton)
3. Samurai
4. Tomb Blaster
5. Laser Raiders (Legoland)

Top 5 Parks
1. Alton Towers
2. Europa Park
3. Paultons
4. Blackpool
5. Thorpe Park

If any clarifications are needed, please ask
 
Dinosaur is one of the best dark rides in Florida and including it in any kind of "worst rides" list is frankly bizarre. It's twice the ride Duel will ever be that's for sure.

Would love to hear your justification for this latest controversial opinion @Matt N
 
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