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Your Top Ten Coasters

Currently:

10) Space Mountain- a classic. Had to be on this list considering it was one of the very first roller coasters I ever rode. The blue light tunnel at the beginning just hypes you up, and the fact that it's almost entirely in the dark makes things even the smallest of drops completely unexpected.

9) Infusion- ...and here come the 'but this ride is so uncomfortable' comments. Well, yeah, you're not wrong. The restraints aren't the best. But you only get your head sucker punched into orbit if you put your head forward. Keep your head back...you're looking at an awesome blue beast, suspended over water. The fact that this used to be in Southport baffles me...

8) Oblivion- the one roller coaster that I was literally shaking from head to toe before my first ever ride on it. Little to say, I was terrified of this thing. I'd always loved the way it looked, it's theming etc, but wouldn't dream of riding it. But when I did...holy crap, this coaster's a rush. A damn rush. Short, but sweet. Just dropping into that hole at that speed took my breath away. Iconic ride.

7) Saw- talk about expectations being blown out of the water...I loved this ride. Now, I'm quite a big horror fan and I like my Chuckys, Pennywises, Freddys, Conjurings etc in that genre, but will not even think about laying an eye on the Saw films. I watched the first 10-20 mins of the latest one and walked out. I do not like seeing people tortured. So, needless to say, when I went to Thorpe, I wanted to stay well out the way of this one. But after riding The Swarm and having a thirst for thrills, I decided, screw it, why not give it a try. And when I did...damn. It's like being in some sort of abandoned factory with Billy The Puppet, no footage from the films, and the drops inside were unexpected as all hell. The 100° drop? It was mental. If you think Oblivion's the most vertical, ride this coaster.

6) Galactica- like most people, I wasn't particuarly pleased when I found out Air was getting a re-theme with VR. But when I actually rode it, I found myself really enjoying the update. As for the VR, controversial opinion, but I think it works very well and a nice little addition to the coaster. Do I think it should stay an option on whether you have to wear it or not. Absolutely. There's nothing quite like the feeling of flight without tech. The portal's a really neat touch, too.

5) ICON- the best ride in Blackpool. Hands down, without a question. The world's first ever double-launch coaster was so much better than I thought it would be. I had to ride it twice when I went, because the feeling you get when you're on it is another level. POV's on YouTube don't do it justice. This ride may look slow, but in reality, it's rapid.

4) Colossus- I'm going to get a lot of weird looks for this one. It was the first ever ride I went on at Thorpe, and you know what? It's not as uncomfortable as people are claiming it to be. The coaster overall is just a fun, extremely loopy experience. Like seriously...the ten inversion bit really makes you feel like you're about to drop out your seat. Loads of airtime. I do not think that the park should ever remove this ride. It may need a repaint and new trains, but for what it is, it really impressed me. The reason it's so high? It's definitely a personal favourite, and one that I'd go back to do again.

3) Wicker Man- the pre-show. The theming. The coaster. This ride is, quite frankly, world-class. It's by far one of the best quality rides that the UK has ever produced, it's almost Universal level great. In fact, I'd say it is. It's also based on a film...there's no reason why a park like USF couldn't do something like this. But even if they did, they wouldn't match the sheer brilliance (and speed) of Alton's new coaster. This isn't just my favourite woodie. It's one of the best theme park attractions worldwide. The fusion of wood and fire could have ended terribly, but it worked so beautifully. An absolute wonder of a ride.

2) Rock N Roller Coaster- this was the first EVER inverted ride I went on. Everything about this coaster just makes me happy. The fact that it's whole queue is based in a recording studio? The fact that the trains are designed like limos? The fact that Aerosmith plays through the whole thing? So cool. That launch though, that launch. It really comes quick, and like a rocket, you're sent blasting down the track. I loved the highway-like theming inside too. Belting job, Disney.

1) The Swarm- just like Oblivion, I was pretty nervous before riding this coaster. But when I did, I had the desire to ride it again. So I did. And again. Well, I didn't a third time as the park was about to close but SWEET MOTHER OF CHRIST was this coaster an absolute joy to ride. Everything about this ride just works: the apocalyptic/sci-fi theming elements (including that near-miss billboard fly though), the fire effects, the station, the soundtrack...it would be blasphemy not to call it my favourite coaster, because nothing has ever made me feel as energised as when I came off the ride for the first time, and also the second. If I had to pick a one ride that I'd go on from day til night non-stop, it'd be this one. Best coaster so far.
 
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Felt inspired to do one of these for the first time after last nights ride on a coaster which I think blows all others out of the water.

1. Steel Vengeance, one word- relentless
2. Nemesis, you’re still the one
3. Goliath SFOG
4. Hulk Universal IOA
5. Lightning Rod Dollywood
6. Oblivion (it’s all about the hole)
7. The Mummy Universal
8. Wild Mouse (RIP)
9. Top Thrill Dragster
10. Blue Hawk (Surprisingly smooth Vekoma)
 
Time for a bit of a shake-up after my recent visit to Liseberg!

Overall
1. The Big One
2. Wild Mouse
3. Grand National
4. Megafobia
5. Big Dipper
6. Icon
7. Helix
8. Balder
9. Nemesis
10. Wicker Man

Steel Coasters
1. The Big One
2. Icon
3. Helix
4. Nemesis
5. The Ultimate
6. The Smiler
7. Nemesis Inferno
8. Speed
9. Odyssey
10. Steeplechase

Wooden Coasters
1. Wild Mouse
2. Grand National
3. Megafobia
4. Big Dipper
5. Balder
6. Wicker Man
7. Roller Coaster (Great Yarmouth PB)
8. Nickelodeon Streak
9. Scenic Railway (Margate)
10. Blue Flyer
 
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Icon over Helix is an interesting one, unless Helix has got consiberably worse since 2014 then there's just no contest for me. But then you've got The Big One at number one, which is quite simply a bad coaster!

And please, Wild Mouse has gone, get over it.

:)
 
To be fair to @Coaster, I can see why someone would rate Big One as their number 1 if they have a high roughness tolerance. The first drop is brilliant and while I'm not a fan of the layout after that, it does the whole speed thing quite well.

Also, what's the matter with putting defunct coasters in a top 10?
 
After the first drop the Big One just lumbers around with some awful profiling! It's objectively a bad design, that's not to say someone can't enjoy it and rate it highly though.

I don't agree with defunct coasters in rankings, but each to their own.

:)
 
Rob said:
After the first drop the Big One just lumbers around with some awful profiling! It's objectively a bad design, that's not to say someone can't enjoy it and rate it highly though.
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I agree with you there @Rob! I'm not personally a huge fan of the Big One at all, but I personally really like the first drop, and I almost feel bad criticising it in a way because it's one of the older hyper coasters!

It's certainly no Mako in my eyes, though! That ride is still my number 1 now!
 
Don't feel bad criticising the Big One. Magnum XL-200 at Cedar Point opened 5 years before the Big One and is actually fun and provides plenty of old school airtime. It's a pity that the Big One is not more like it.

:)
 
Well...well....well......currently at JFK airport waiting for connecting flight back to Manchester after an amazing 3 days at Cedar Point. My top 10 has been blown apart as I imagined it might :)

Steel Vengeance obviously the highlight of the trip. Words can't express how good this thing is. Sell a kidney or your Gran to get over to ride it if you have to. It's absolutely incredible. I dont think it will be bettered for a long long time. Had 7 rides across 3 days including 2 night rides. Perfection.

My new top 10:

1. Steel Vengeance (miles ahead)
2. Maverick
3. El Toro
4. Top Thrill Dragster
5. Millennium Force
6. Helix
7. Shambhala
8. Taron
9. Nemmy
10. Wodan
 
1] Helix - Liseberg
2] Lech Coaster - Legendia
3] Manta - SeaWorld Orlando
4] Nemesis - Alton Towers
5] Blue Fire - Europa Park
6] Wildfire - Kolmarden
7] Shambhala - PortAventura
8] Expedition Everest - Disney Animal Kingdom
9] Wodan Timburcoaster - Europa Park
10] Troy - Toverland
 
Rob said:
I don't agree with defunct coasters in rankings, but each to their own.

:)
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Why? Seems a bit of an odd one to me.

In many ways it seems fairer to rank defunct coasters than, for example, a coaster you haven't ridden for several years which may have become significantly rougher / less pleasant in that time. Bit harsh to tell someone to "get over it" just for including a coaster in their rankings.

That said, The Big One at number one... Icon ahead of Helix... Big Dipper ahead of Balder... that's insanity!
 
D4n said:
Why? Seems a bit of an odd one to me.

In many ways it seems fairer to rank defunct coasters than, for example, a coaster you haven't ridden for several years which may have become significantly rougher / less pleasant in that time. Bit harsh to tell someone to "get over it" just for including a coaster in their rankings.

That said, The Big One at number one... Icon ahead of Helix... Big Dipper ahead of Balder... that's insanity!
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Said person mentions the damn thing in every other post they make, hence my comment! :p

You do make a good point, I've just never thought about defunct coasters in my rankings but maybe that's because none of my top coasters have ever become defunct. Depends how we each define our top 10s, and bit like we all have different definitions of what a coaster is. Some say Ghost Train at Blackpool is a coaster, for me it simply is not!

:)
 
As an old git, I can honestly say that about half of my lifetime favourite coasters are deceased. More to do with the people I rode them with and halcyon days memories, and thinking back to when my knees and back didnt hurt.
Oh, and the fact that they all used to cost 5p or 10p to ride!
I'm "over it" completely, though I do still cry myself gently to sleep every night about The Reel being pulled down, without my permission, in the closed season, with no notice or warning. Wasn't bitter at the time, or since, things happen and we move on. They are funfairs, not museums.

And a last point to that nice Mr Osborne, I agree about the Big One not being at the top of my own personal tree, but I will happily rank Icon over Helix, or the Dipper over Balder, because I haven't ridden them, simple as that.
I don't do long distance travel, (the longest trip has been to Thorpe), for two reasons, ecologically it is a bit naughty, you burn up a year's hydrocarbons in a couple of trips you know, and because of my height/dodgy knees. I'm Mr Uncomfortable after an hours sitting.
Good luck to all of you who do travel, and I enjoy all the trip reports, but I gave up on holidays abroad when my passport ran out a decade ago.
 
rob666 said:
As an old git, I can honestly say that about half of my lifetime favourite coasters are deceased. More to do with the people I rode them with and halcyon days memories, and thinking back to when my knees and back didnt hurt.
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Thunderlooper and Black Hole, along with nemmy, are arguably my fav rollercoasters of all time for that very reason. Not the best coasters purely being geeks and looking at layout, stats, technology etc......but rather focusing on the memories I have on them. Only have happy times on both of those classics.
 
Rob said:
Icon over Helix is an interesting one, unless Helix has got consiberably worse since 2014 then there's just no contest for me. But then you've got The Big One at number one, which is quite simply a bad coaster!

And please, Wild Mouse has gone, get over it.

:)
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I don't doubt that Helix is the "better" coaster, but I don't care as much for inversions and really like rides that throw you around/provide lots of moments of airtime; that said, I do need to ride Icon again to see if it's as good now that I've ridden Helix.

Again with The Big One I completely disagree, it's all well and good saying "it's simply a bad coaster" but ultimately everyone prefers different rides.

Regarding Wild Mouse, I don't see any issue in including it in my top 10, it's a ride I've ridden so can therefore rate, and I don't see the correlation between how highly I rate the coaster experience and whether the coaster in question is still operating.

Rob said:
I don't agree with defunct coasters in rankings, but each to their own.
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Why? And if it's "each to their own" as you say, why the need to be so rude about it?

Rob said:
And please, Wild Mouse has gone, get over it.
Click to expand...

You say "get over it" as if I've gone on and on about it in this topic (as this is the one you're replying to), but all I've done is included it in my top 10?

D4n said:
Why? Seems a bit of an odd one to me.

In many ways it seems fairer to rank defunct coasters than, for example, a coaster you haven't ridden for several years which may have become significantly rougher / less pleasant in that time. Bit harsh to tell someone to "get over it" just for including a coaster in their rankings.

That said, The Big One at number one... Icon ahead of Helix... Big Dipper ahead of Balder... that's personal opinion!
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Fixed that for you.

Big One is my favourite coaster because it's the one I enjoy the most. I appreciate that it's not a common opinion, but I get more enjoyment from PMBO than I do from the other rides listed.

The first drop is obscenely good (especially in the back), I love the arrow-ness of the whole thing, the sensation of speed, the rattle of the catwalks as you hit each dip, the sound of the lift and the headchoppers/tunnel all add to it. Of course, I'm not claiming it's an airtime machine and many coasters do airtime better than PMBO, but then again, that isn't really what it was built for.

Balder is excellent, but it doesn't feel like a wooden coaster to me - it's much too smooth and feels very formulaic - hills, turn, hills, turn, hills, turn etc. Dipper on the other hand has much more character to it IMO, and still has some very good moments of airtime.
 
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Updated top ten:

1) Eejanaika - Fuji-Q Highland
2) Formula Rossa - Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
3) Hyperion - Energylandia
4) Dinoconda - China Dinosaurs Park
5) Lech Coaster - Legendia
6) Wodan - Europa-Park
7) Flying Aces - Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
8) Dodonpa - Fuji-Q Highland
9) Tonnerre De Zeus - Parc Asterix
10) Troy - Toverland
 
My top 10 changes constantly and I find it pretty hard to keep updating it the more coasters I ride and the more I forget ones which I went on 5+ years ago but haven’t ridden since.

In any case, here’s my attempt at a top 10:

1. Monster (Walygator)
2. Wodan (Europa)
3. PMBO (Blackpool)
4. Stampida (PortAventura)
5. Helix (Liseberg)
6. Furius Baco (PortAventura)
7. Taron (Phantasialand)
8. Medusa (Six Flags Mexico)
9. The Bandit (Yomiuriland)
10. Steel Dragon 2000 (Nagashima Spaland)
 
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