I've only ever ridden The Eagle, Viper, Whizzer, and the Raging Bull at this park. I've always been hesitant to ride anything that goes upside down, but this year I've decided to get over my fear and try some of the roller coasters I've never been on. I'd like a decent gauge on what are the most to least intense roller coasters at the park. That way I can slowly ease out of my fears without crapping my pants in the process.
Welcome to the boards! Nice thread too. I know everyone has different tastes when it comes to coasters but in my opinion, here's the most intense coasters at the park from highest to lowest.
1. American Eagle 2. Batman The Ride 3. V2 4. Raging Bull 5. Viper 6. X-Flight 7. Superman Ultimate Flight 8. Demon 9. Whizzer 10. The Dark Knight Coaster 11. Little Dipper & Spacely's Sprocket Rockets
Goliath will be towards the top (if not #1) after I ride it in a couple weeks when it opens. I included LD and Spacely's as #11 because I haven't been on Spacely's in forever and only rode LD once during its first season at the park in 2010. I don't really remember either one that much but they're definitely the least intense for the young ones to enjoy.
Founder of http://www.sfgamnation.com Favorite Steel: 1. Maverick 2. The Incredible Hulk 3. Millennium Force Favorite Wood: 1. Outlaw Run 2. The Beast 3. American Eagle
Hopefully I'll come back to edit this, but I'd say you could make 2 separate lists. Most intense in terms of broad forces, and most intense when you also consider jitter and the actual pain you might experience from age and such. For example, I find Eagle is not too intense force wise, but when you add the rough 1980s woodwork in the mix and the ride layout, it becomes much more intense or "scary", as in when you're barreling down the helix into the cramped exit.
In my opinion and of course it will vary from person to person and what scares someone but my list goes like this-
1. Superman 2. Raging Bull 3. V2 4. Demon 5. American Eagle 6. Viper 7. Batman 8. X-Flight 9. Whizzer 10. Dark Knight 11. Whizzer 12. Little Dipper
What scares me isn't inversions but sometimes height and speed and the anticipation of a launch. Probably the biggest fear is the restraint. Superman always freaks me out a little bit because of the restraint and no real backup precaution. I know that it is safe but always a little scary with your body completely resting on the restraint and staring at the ground below. Raging Bull freaks me out for that reason too but it would only be the moments of airtime and the drop not the entire ride like Superman.
Honestly, If you are trying to get over a fear of going upside down, you should just attack that fear head on by riding X-Flight. I'm pretty sure it has the most inversions in the park (its either that or Batman). I got both my little brother and big sister over their fear of rollercoasters in general by getting them on that ride. The combination of how smooth the ride is with how snug the restraints feel make it very easy to enjoy the inversions. Also, the wing design really swings you through each inversion which allows you to fully enjoy an experience you thought you were afraid of not 10 seconds ago. It is definitely one of the most fun rides in the park.
That being said, I came here to rate, not to talk. So here it goes:
*Mega Wedgie **Goliath 1. American Eagle (Red Side) 2. V2 (In the back) 3. Batman 4. Superman: Ultimate Flight 5. X-Flight 6. Raging Bull 7. Viper 8. The Dark Knight 9. Whizzer 10. Demon
*The mega wedgie is in honorary first place because while it is not a rollercoaster, I'm pretty sure its the only ride in the park whose line is consistently and significantly shorter because of how intense it is. I'm pretty much a thrill junkie and this ride still scares the poop outa me even thinking about it.
**We all know Goliath will take over that number one spot once it opens
Also just wanted to point out that I don't think Superman is that great of a ride, but that loop is one of the most intense features I have ever experienced on a rollercoaster. Too bad its such a short ride and the loop is really all it has to offer. Oh, and Viper had lost some of its speed and luster in its old age (Tho running backwards its towards the top of this list)
As you can see, there's no one right answer, but here's my input. This was harder than I thought it would be, so many variables for some of these rides!
1. Vertical Velocity- especially near either of the ends. This ride has pushed more people's buttons than any other coaster in the park in my experience. 2. American Eagle- another one that pushes a lot of people's buttons, especially if they haven't done Viper first. 3. Raging Bull- though I feel like alot of this is just because of how intimidating the height is to many people. Not as bad as it looks. 4. Superman- overall tamer than Batman, but the position and the Pretzel loop move it up on the list. Once you get over the position and you're past the loop, the rest of the ride is very tame. 5.Batman- Other than V2 probably the ride with the most sustained intensity. BUT it is short, sweet, smooth, and over before you know it. 6. Demon- Higher than it will be for many other people I'm sure, but again up here for intensity. Demon has an untamed, maybe imprecise? quality to it that feels completely unlike any of the other coasters, in my opinion. The actual layout is very basic and the forces inconsistent. Not as scary as I'm probably making it sound, but more forceful than many give it credit for. 7. X-Flight- It kind of feels wrong to put Demon above this, but it's pretty smooth, and the inversions are repetitive. 8. Viper- fun and exciting without being scary. 9. Dark Knight- Mostly intense because of laterals. only a few drops. 10. Whizzer 11. Spacely's- pretty tame, moderate forces in the back. 12. Little Dipper- a little bumpy but otherwise easily the tamest of the lot.
Goliath will be somewhere near the top if not THE top.
It seems like the other side always wins on American Eagle Also, I've ridden Goliath 23 times in one day. HBU? (Sorry in advance for unnecessary commas and parenthesis every where)
Here's how I rank the GA coasters I have ridden. 1. Batman 2. Raging bull 3. X-Flight 4. Goliath 5. Superman 6.V2 7. Viper 8. Demon 9. Dark Knight 10.Whizzer 11. American Eagle I haven't ridden Little Dipper or Spacely's Sprocket Rockets.