Top Ten Roller Coasters - Number 10

[w00dland]

Being that it's the offseason, I think we should try something new here at SFGAmWorld. Every week I'll make a new topic in this forum, and we can all count down our Top Ten Coasters, and then proceed to agree/disagree/flame each other about them. Not really the flame part though, don't need any Alvey's in here.

So this week - your #10 favorite roller coaster that you've ridden.

[w00dland]

w00dland's Top 10 Coasters - Number 10

The Beast - Kings Island

My number 10 coaster is actually quite interesting, because it is easily one of the most unique coasters in the world, even if it isn’t the best. Here’s #10, The Beast.

The Beast is located in Cincinnati, OH at Kings Island. It was built in 1979 and is still one of the longest roller coasters in the world at 7359 feet long. Featuring two lift hills and three tunnels this coaster still lives up to its name, its absolutely huge.

While those stats might be pretty damn impressive for a coaster that is over 30 years old now, my first ride on the Beast was a little disappointing. I had heard some pretty good things about the coaster, so I had been psyched to get on this legend, when I finally did I thought the ride was very drawn out and didn’t feature many elements. Not a bad coaster by any means, but nothing incredible either. It has lots of sections of straight track, which I didn't like much. However, I love wooden roller coasters, so I liked Beast, but it didn’t blow my mind.

…Then it got dark outside. And I rode it again.

The experience on the Beast at night was like no other experience I’ve had on a roller coaster. 30 years of forest growing around this massive structure means a ride where you cannot see ANYTHING. And when you can't see anything, suddenly that huge coaster that was lacking areas becomes one of the fastest most thrilling machines you've been on.



The only light is at the top of the lift hill. Imagine sitting in the front row, (which I was lucky enough to do) peering over the first drop and seeing nothing but this little black hole at the bottom. Having long stretches of straight track never knowing when the train was going to drop, turn, fly into another tunnel. Not to mention this thing feels like it absolutely flies through its course in the chilly Ohio night.
There are quite a few coasters I’ve been on that are physically better than the Beast, have more airtime, a better layout, etc. But no coaster, except perhaps my #1 coaster, has ever delivered a ride experience that Beast did that night in June 2010.

When we got off we got insanely lucky that the next train was the final train of the night and there were two open seats. We worked at Cedar Point at the time, so the ride ops let us and only us on for a reride with the final train of the night. That ride was in the back of the train, and was just as exciting.

I don’t think Beast will ever leave my top ten because of the experience that thing delivered. An experience where I was actually afraid while being on a roller coaster, which very rarely happens today. Incredible.

[tp41190]

As far as #10 goes, I am stuck on 2 so I'll do wood and steel.

#10The Boss at Six Flags St Louis
Being that Six Flags St Louis is nearby many have been able to ride this coaster over the last few years. Like many other wooden coasters, The Boss surely went through many drastic changes in it's overall tracking since the mid 2000s. My first ride on it wasn't until 2007 and at the time I thought it wasn't all that great. Slow pacing, uninteresting layout, and very rough tracking. I re-rode this coaster every year until last year in 2010. I cannot confirm this or not however I am pretty sure that the ride went through some pretty drastic re-tracking as the ride was amazing this past season. The speed and airtime were incredible and despite riding this coaster many times before I was amazed for the first time.

During that year for fright fest I had a chance to ride the coaster at night. It wasn't until I had my first night ride that I truly felt like I underestimated this coaster. I rode in the back seat and the layout drops out into the darkness of the woods far away from the midway. Even though I knew exactly what the layout was I was getting thrown around every which way without being able to see anything and brace myself. If it wasn't for those few night rides last season I would have probably never ranked this coaster so high on my list. I have ridden the Beast at night but I still prefer this coaster because it has what the beast lacks. I also find it strange that I enjoyed the coaster more when my count is over 350, compared to when I first rode it when my count wasn't even over 50 or so. Typically many coasters go down on my list as my count goes up.
________________________________________________________________________________________________

#10 Desperado at Buffalo Bills Casino
This coaster seems to be a love/hate kind of ride for many people. It is an old school Arrow hyper so the track work has a lot of kinks to it. But that is what gives it it's personality and character. What makes this ride great is the location. It is located in the middle of desert with nothing around for at least 30 miles. The fact that you can look out to what seems like eternity makes this coaster seems higher then it really is. Combine this with the slow lift hill paralleling the adjacent hotel, and together you have a great illusion of height. The first part of the ride is wild as all hell. The drop into the tunnel is great, but when you get into the bent, triangular, coat hanger transitions your spine start to get bent in every which way and you experience a few bizare moments of lateral, jackhammering, airtime. For the first time rider, the thoughts that race through your mind as your approach the high speed turn are just fear...not because it's scary, but because you are on a jank arrow train sustaining a good 70-80mph. After that ordeal, you head into the bunny hills which are the sharpest and most abrupt hills a coaster can offer. If you have ever ridden Magnum trimless in 1:3, you know this feeling. However you can feel this sensation no matter where you sit on the ride.

The rest of the ride cruises around the hotel giving some good head choppers around the tram tracks and the helix inside of a cave thing. This coaster is good any time of day, however the best views are found at night. As you head up the lift hill, you can look back and see Las Vegas from about 30 miles away all lit up. Despite the rough and aggressive nature of this ride, it really is a one of a kind coaster.

[BP317]

Nick, glad to see someone else loves the Beast. Beast at night might just be my favorite coaster, ripping through the forest at 50mph on an old school wooden coaster and not being able to see anything is just a remarkable experience.

Ben, I gotta disagree with you . Desperado is my undisputed least favorite hyper coaster, I hated it probably for all the reasons you liked it. And thats coming from someone that loved Shockwave and Great American Sceam Machine.
As far as Boss goes its been hit or miss for me, some visits its been a really solid fast and wild wooden coaster and other visits I only rode once and never went near it again.


Here are mine

Steel 10 - Manta at Sea World Orlando
This ride is pure class. Not only one of the best of the B&M flyers, but the queue is a series of wonderful aquariums leading up to a neat light tunnel before the station and the soundtrack is very nice. Also the manta ray exhibit right next to the ride is an attraction itself and a much better alternative than just putting benches for people to wait at while their group is on the ride.

Also the ride is designed to visually enhance the area that it's in considering the lift and drop go right over the midway, and the turn after the MCBR goes right to the entrance of the park and has a splash effect. The ride itself has the pretzel loop of course and a nice set of supplimental inversions and elements, also there is a great facechopper with a waterfall near the end of the ride.



Wood 10 - Lightning Racer at Hersheypark
Can't really say anything bad about Lightning Racer. Fast, smooth, millennium flyer trains, and I believe it has synchronized lifts and the races are always close. Just an overall solid effort and awesome coaster.

[tribar]

#10
Milennium Force at Cedar Point

Milennium Force is a very overrated ride but overrated does not mean boring. As one walks through the queue they cant help but imagine "What if this were a full queue" Getting up to station you hear the very familiar station music. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7qpQFF5fh4&feature=youtube_gdataYou get on the ride and wait. Once you hear the train that dispatched before you zoom past the station you know that in seconds you will be whisked up the 310 ft tall hill. The train creeps foward to the cable and once it catches on you're off. The lift hill is probaly one of the best parts of the ride espically if you sit on the left side as there is no railing and Lake Erie right there. Then you go over the first drop where you are delivered with several seconds wonderful floater airtime. The rest of the ride isn't that exciting but the ride never seems to lose it's speed.

[monsterfan99]

10. Steel - Big Thunder Mountain Railroad @ Magic Kingdom

Before I moved to Orlando, this would have been in the 50's range for me. However, it has become a ride I've grown to love. While not a thrill ride, it has airtime, nice lateral forces and great theming (depending on what effects are working.) The fact it's in the favorite part of the park for me (sorry Tomorrowland) so that gets extra points as well. A great ride for kids and adults that never disappoints.




10. Wood - Outlaw @ Adventureland

One of the forgotten parks of the country, Adventureland is a wonderful little park in Iowa. It's home to the worst coaster I've ever been on (Dragon) but also my number 10 pick in Outlaw. A fun little CCI that packe a decent punch. Fast pace, quick turns and nice airtime make this an easy top 10 pick. Ironically, it matches the theme of my number 10 pick and is also in the best themed land of the park. Well worth a stop at Adventureland to ride the Outlaw.

[Ace]

I want to preface this with the fact that I have not been on nearly as many coasters as some of you on here, but here is my #10...

Raging Bull

While not as forceful as other coasters Bull does have some good airtime and gives a solid ride every time. I really wish there wasn't the mid course break prior to the station pass, but still a good ride.

[DejaVu2001]

I really wish there wasn't the mid course break

You really want to wait in a full queue with only 2 trains? Have fun with that.

[w00dland]

Nice to see The Boss and Desperado getting some love here. Both high up there for me as well but not top 10. Rode Desperado for the first time this summer and it surprised the hell out of me. I expected an old janky Arrow, but you're right about the 2nd hill. I was pretty damn scared for my life. Boss is hit or miss, but usually hit.

And if you haven't been on many coasters, don't worry about it!

[Ace]

I really wish there wasn't the mid course break

You really want to wait in a full queue with only 2 trains? Have fun with that.

Not the block brake the mid course one that is on the hill after the first turn around.

[DejaVu2001]

^ Coaster terminology 101. Mid course brake refers to the Block Brake unless otherwise stated. You are referring to the trim brake.

[FParker185]

I can play along.... My #1 steel falls somewhere around probably 20-30 overall, so all mine will be wood.

Start with #10, The Legend at Holiday World

A former #1 coaster back in the day that's suffered from being built by CCI, then years of just not running up to par, it's again running in it's prime form and has squeaked back into my top 10. It's a good mix of an awesome setting, airtime and extreme laterals with a pretty long and very intense ride, though with the introduction of the PTC's, it doesn't track quite as well, and it lost quite a lot of it's original intensity along with it's original station but on the flip side it's become an extremely re-ridable ride which is always a lot of fun.

[tp41190]

While I was very young, I agree that the legend was a lot better with the old trains...but then again, that could have just been because it was the opening year. But the three times I've been to the park it's gotten bumped around a bit. FIrst time I rode it it was one of my favorites, second time it dropped below Raven, then after my last visit it went back above the Raven.

[monsterfan99]

The Legend surprised me when i went to Holiday World again in 2010. Great ride at night with nice pacing. Ended up enjoying it more than Voyage or Raven.

The Boss does not get enough love after it's 2008 off season work. Went from being a painful machine of doom to a great coaster. Did a world of difference for it and makes an appearance later in my top 10

[BLADE]

10. steel is Powderkeg at SDC.
Wood I haven't ranked that low.

[tp41190]

In the mean time, anyone have any coaster that dropped out of their top ten?

For me, Lost Coaster at Indiana Beach was in my top ten in 2008. Crazy, out of control, unique ride, but after riding it in terrible condition last year it dropped out.

Ravine Flyer II also dropped out of my top ten after this summer. I can't say it's a bad ride, it's actually amazing, but for some reason whenever I ride it just doesn't do anything for me and I don't know what it is.

Another one was Timber Terror and Silverwood. It was shortly lived at #10 until I rode the Boss at night last season and Silver Comet.

Timber Terror is an awesome ride with crazy buzz bar airtime, smooth tracking, and very fast pacing.

[FParker185]

I've had dozens and dozens of rides fall out of my top 10, weather it be the ride doesn't perform like it used to, it's been modified, my tastes have changed or I've simply ridden something better knocking rides out of my top 10 which is the most common way for it to happen. In fact just this year Balder at Liesberg and Twister at Grona Lund kicked both Heide Park's Colossos and Prowler at WOF out of my top 10.

[tp41190]

Prowler never even made it to my top ten. It was a good ride, but it doesn't really do all that much. The airtime is in short bursts, opposed to sustained, and it just wasn't that impressive. I didn't ride it at night, which apparently is what really makes the ride awesome. I was having more fun on Timber Wolf then Prowler.

[BP317]

Hades at Mt Olympus was my #1 wooden when I first rode it in 2006. Its gotten so rough that now I couldn't even tell you where it places on my list, probably closer to the bottom then the top.