coasterbill

By Cedar Fair's standards that's actually a pretty nice station. I'm impressed.

Great photos! I was there for the first time the following day and missed out on Cheetah Hunt... I guess I need to go back now (not that I needed an excuse, Kumba was reason enough).

This thread is going to be divided into 2 groups... people who say Knoebels and people who have never been to Knoebels. I'll give an honorable mention to the Derby Racer at Rye Playland but Knoebels takes the cake.

We rode the 300 foot skycoaster in Kissimmee last week, I was convinced I was going to die. I've never been that scared on any ride in my entire life but it was amazing.

I'm glad to see I'm not alone. I figured I'd get called out for that actually. First of all, I love Goliath. I know a lot of people don't, but being pulled backwards up that spike staring straight at the ground is awesome, and I actually find the ride to be pretty smooth. The fact that people are putting it first doesn't mean Bizarro is a bad ride, Goliath is just really good. That being said, Bizarro isn't what it used to be and I can't believe it still gets voted #1 steel coaster as often as it does. I've been on about 250 coasters (which isn't a lot for this message board) but it's almost out of my top 20 completely. I like the ride, but the lap bars are extremely bulky and the restraint system is really uncomfortable for taller people. I wouldn't call the ride rough, it's developed a rattle but I don't mind that. I just think the "new" trains have awful restraints for taller people and seem slower than the old ones for some reason. I'm not sure if there's any truth to that, it just feels that way. It's also worth noting that none of the effects (including the mist that's been there since the coaster opened) are ever on. This ride used to be my favorite coaster by far, but now I'm putting rides that I always listed behind it in front of it. For me there's no clear cut reason why this ride isn't as good as it used to be, it's a combination of a lot of things. Good for you... this ride doesn't get nearly the respect it deserves. I'd put it behind Goliath and Bizarro but it's a ton of fun. I've probably ridden it hundreds of times over the last 10+ years and loved every ride I've ever had on it. Six Flags takes great care of this coaster.

I know we've had a lot of "best coasters" threads (best wood and steel coasters, best coaster by each manufacturer, best coaster in each park chain) but I don't think anyone has ever done a thread breaking down your favorite coasters by U.S. state (I've searched the forums but please correct me if I'm wrong). I think it would be fun if we listed the states we've ridden coasters in, and what our favorite coaster is in each state since it's the off-season for most of us and we're bored. Some of these states (like New Jersey) will probably be the same answer from everyone but I'm looking forward to see the results for states like Pennsylvania (which will probably turn into Skyrush vs Phoenix) and Ohio which should be very close. Edit: If you want to get technical, here is a friendly cheat sheet for Carowinds since this will come up a lot. Basically everything good is in South Carolina. Intimidator - South Carolina Afterburn - South Carolina Nighthawk - Both, but 99% South Carolina Carolina Cobra - Both, but 99% North Carolina Vortex - North Carolina Carolina Cyclone - North Carolina Hurler - North Carolina Thunder Road - Both Carolina Goldrusher - Both Ricochet - North Carolina All Kids Coasters - South Carolina Here's my list California - Tatsu Connecticut - Boulder Dash Delaware - Blue Diamond Streak (Now Relocated) Florida - Kumba Maryland - Superman Ride of Steel Massachusetts - Goliath (yeah I know... sorry but Bizarro is a shadow of it's former self) New Hampshire - Untamed New Jersey - El Toro New York - Comet North Carolina - Carolina Cobra (wow, that's sad) Ohio - Millennium Force Pennsylavnia - Phoenix South Carolina - Afterburn Tennessee - Mystery Mine (I love Thunderhead and Tennessee Tornado too but for some reason I love this ride) Virginia - Intimidator 305

Steel Supports Steel Supports Steel Supports ... can we stop whining now, PLEASE??? And while the coaster IS a wood coaster, who cares anyway? As long as it's a great ride why does it matter?

Oh another one of these... it sounds great, let's see if it actually gets built.

Someone is going to complain about this since it doesn't look like a traditional wood coaster lift. Let's take bets on how long it takes for that to happen.

It looks like a mirror image of Batman the Dark Knight with a helix, a screwed up looking first drop and shorter trains. Not that that's a bad thing though.

That looks awesome... I'm thinking that lift structure has to be steel right?

Honestly, you don't need an excuse to go to Knoebels. Seriously... just go, you won't regret it. Especially since you're such a big Dollywood fan, if you're a Dollywood fan I'm sure Knoebels will be right up your alley as it has a very similar feel to it.

In the case of Tennessee Tornado, baby A$$ smooth. I refuse to believe arrow built that ride.

The cobra roll is pretty unique for a Euro Fighter type ride (I'm really not including Farenheit since it's an Intamin and feels totally different than the Euro Fighters or their Zierer equivalents. The lap bar is unique too since the Gerstlauer versions generally have over the shoulder restraints (though I believe Dare Devil Dive has lap bars and some other coasters may as well). Wicked (which is also a Zierer model) has lap bars too. Euro Fighters are slightly bumpy. I'm not sure if that should even be brought up here since it's not a Gerstlauer but I would think lap bars would provide a better experience regardless. I think this is going to be a fun ride. Because they're idiots. The Bumper Boats aren't historically significant, you can ride them at a lot of miniature golf courses and they're a pretty terrible ride. If you're going to whine about anything whine about boat tag which is far more unique. Personally I don't care about that either but if it's between bitching about that or bumper boats, bitch about boat tag. But preferably they should just shut up and enjoy the new coaster. If you want to get wet ride the awesome log flume or Skloosh. If you want to bump into stuff walk 30 seconds and ride the best bumper cars in the world.

A B&M would be out of place, I fail to see what's out of place about a small looping coaster of a very modest size. The park needs a coaster like this to draw in new people that currently might head to Dorney or another competing park because of the appeal of looping coasters. And as far as Startosfear, it's a very modest size as well. I think it fits in perfectly, and interestingly enough it's the best drop tower I've ever ridden even though I've ridden huge Intamin drop towers like Lex Luthor and the drop tower at Kings Dominion. Sorry, but you're in the minority here. It's not like the park is forgetting it's roots (aren't they currently refurbishing 2 antique kiddie rides for the 2014 season?), but they need to mix in a few modern rides here and there like this new coaster, Fandango and Startosfear.

My understanding (which is VERY limited) is that Sun Pass, EZ Pass and similar devices work because the toll booth itself emits energy that powers the transponders. I would imagine this could work the same way if they wanted it to but again, I'm no expert.

I love everything except for the layout of the Skyride. It would look a million times better if it were straight.

Those people have clearly never ridden them...

I always thought they did a mediocre job with Volcano but I kept that to myself since nobody else ever has an issue with it. I hate the way the tracks for the boat ride are still there, the concrete pools clearly visible from the line for the front seat look awful and the inside of the volcano is wide open (though that doesn't bother me too much since you travel through it so quickly). I know the ride has great theming by Paramount's standards and especially by Cedar Fair's standards but I feel like a minimal amount of effort could have made it look a million times better.

I enjoyed that way more than I should.

It does... which we should have figured because Knoebels does everything right. By the way I love whoever is in charge of their Facebook page.

Superman Ride of Steel was repainted purple for some dumb reason.

This is why they need a press release, because normally they'd say something like "the company that gave us "Verbolten and "Wicked" to make it sounds really impressive, but the media had to go all "Blackbeard's lost Treasure Train" on us.

Boat tag is a bit of a loss because it's unique, but the bumper boats probably only had a line because they had a low capacity and nobody knew how (or wanted to) drive them back to the dock properly. They were terrible, and nothing at Knoebels should be terrible.

I really don't think it was humanly possible to get wet on the bumper boats without falling off of the dock. My girlfriend and I went to opposite ends of the pool and went at each other head on and nobody got as much of a splash. Was it just me?