chickenbowl

Robb and co., would you mind explaining which method the team intends to use to determine the order of the final ranking? Will it be similar to Mitch Hawker's method or something different? I know there's quite a few ways to tally polls, but I liked Mitch's method because "less-ridden" coasters could still be ranked with the big boys from Cedar Point, etc. Ranking on quality vs popularity, you know?

Woah, this looks cool

https://timesofsandiego.com/business/2018/03/29/seaworlds-electric-eel-roller-coaster-set-to-open-may-12/ Electric Eel set to open May 12th

I think you're right, thanks for showing me this.

Guys, I think they may have built the ceiling too low...

http://www.amusement-rides.com/en/product/suspended-boomerang-coaster Seems like they're trying to sell it

Wow, this is great - I've been hoping to see an updated list from you guys. Robb, you're next! I'm going to Europe for the first time this summer, and it thrills me to see three of the scheduled coasters make it into your top 6... I agree on everything else (esp. LRod), but I apparently need to ride Storm Chaser again - I heard it's warmed up a bit since 2016. Here's my mine: 1. Lightning Rod RMC at Dollywood. 2. Intimidator 305 Intamin at KD. 3. Maverick Intamin at CP. 4. Outlaw Run RMC at SDC. 5. Skyrush Intamin at Hersheypark. 6. El Toro Intamin at SFGAdv. 7. Medusa Steel Coaster RMC at SFM. 8. Phoenix PTC at Knoebels. 9. Mega-Lite Intamin at HVSH. 10. Coaster CarlPhare at Playland.

Lol, what chain do you think La Ronde is in?

The overhead layout they had to work with is essentially that of a paperclip

http://screamscape.com/html/knott-s_berry_farm.htm Screamscape is posting rumors that HangTime may be open by next weekend. Anyone hear anything about this? Anyone get any media day invites?

Glad they improved the trains, Wicked Cyclone and Twisted Colossus were making horrible grinding noises opening year. The new chassis wheel assemblies have like 30%+ more wheels than gen 1 RMC trains. In theory, this means more force distributed between the wheels and a smoother ride overall. I also believe their running entirely polyurethane on here.

I really hope this post is satire

Wait, let me get this right... Firechaser Express has a slow lift hill in the middle of the ride... Followed by a mid-course brake run that greatly slows down the train... and then the train comes to a complete stop in the show building before the launch backwards. But Verbolten has terrible pacing?? Anyways, enough Verbolten talk from me... Really looking forward to my visit back to the park next month! Lol, yeah the lift is in the middle of the ride... I don't even like Firechaser that much - It's pretty stop-and-go, but I feel like it accomplishes what Verbolten tried to (even with a much lower height requirement). I also just think it's coaster-y bits are much more fun and zippy than Verbolten's coaster-y bits (everything after the second launch is SO weak). To be honest, I still haven't really been impressed with any of Zierer's submissions into the large coaster department. Wicked has a great first section, but dies out shortly after. Impulse felt like a worse Eurofighter to me, pretty forgettable sadly. And Verbolten... I wish them luck in the future though.

I will totally give you the exposed show building thing, but I just don't understand what makes Verbolten weak, boring, and uncomfortable. The station and queue are very well-themed (as they should be) and the indoor section is dark and mysterious (as it should be). The launches have good kicks, and the indoor section is typical large Zierer, having tight curves and spirals that are intense but not gray-out-inducing. The drop track is the best example of its kind. The drop toward the river is just as iconic as Big Bad Wolf's was and is still one of the most beautiful settings for a coaster element in the United States. Uncomfortable: I didn't like the restraints or seats very much. Not a big deal, but noticeably uncomfortable for me. The coaster also had some shuffling/tracking problems in Aug, 2012. Weak: I thought the launches were ok. And the helix in the building is fun, but all other coaster-y bits are forceless - Esp. after the second launch. I really wanted to like it, but the entire second half did nothing for me. Boring: The numerous brakeruns, slow sections, and full stops really kill the pacing throughout this ride. When you compare this ride to other family multi-launch-style coasters, (Manta, Cheetah Hunt, Firechaser, even the backlot coasters) I find them all more fun than Verbolten. I'm apparently in the minority here, but that's fine. I'm glad you all like it so much. I appreciate most of the theming that went into it and I'm glad they incorporated some of the beautiful river/trees setting from BBW, but it still never met my expectations.

Time to update the old bucket list, wow! I hope they keep this design, intensity, and pacing closer to Maverick than Cheetah Hunt, but either way this will be awesome

Yeah, it's weird. The coaster simply isn't very good.

Have you guys seen this thing? It's the newest credit debate ride to open - Mountain Glider at Rowdy Bear in Gatlinburg! Personally, I don't see how this ride is any different than Pteranodon Flyers at IoA, Roller Soaker from Hershey, or any Caripro Batflyer. The seats may be more like a zipline, but the coaster-like functions are the same, no? What do you think?

Well, the shaping looks Intamin to me But also: If it was Gerst and they're using NL2, why not go with the Gerstlauer-licensed Infinity or Eurofighter track model?

I thought the indoor part was the only good part of the ride I mean, except for that bridge/tunnel facade that still looks goofy as hell. I just wish most of Verbolten wasn't weak, boring, and slightly uncomfortable. I really wish I could see what Intamin or Mack could've done in that space. I'd even give Verbolten up in a heartbeat to experience BBW one time.

I have a feeling we might be reading some harsh reviews on this thread this weekend. I hope riders can reserve their complete judgement for a month or two until some generally warmer weather can provide an undoubtedly faster, better, broken-in ride.

Wow, they really didn't hold back with chopping trees down... That whole in-the-forest vibe on Thunderhead is definitely different... I'll definitely miss this look. It would've been nice to keep most of those mature trees to incorporate into the new development. They really just razed it all

The track crosstie pattern perfectly matches pre-Taron Intamin triangle lattice track. Not Gerstlauer.

The supports don't look the same to me

^Apparantly yesterday they were only operating two trains, and when you don’t have all three running, the unload platform actually decreases capacity

Any reviews from people that have actually ridden it yet?