shivtim

^Yeah, I thought I remembered hearing about a kiddie coaster, but it's not listed on RCDB and I didn't see it in this thread. Must have missed it! Anyway, should be a great addition for the kiddies.

Fun Spot just announced on their Facebook page that they will be adding a third coaster - a kiddie coaster. No specific details, but they say it will be "similar to the one at our Kissimmee park," which is Miler family coaster.

Fuji-Q would take the whole day, but Tobu Zoo would not. If you have just one free day, you could easily do Tobu Zoo, Aqua Stadium, and Hanayashiki. That way you'd ride Japan's oldest coaster, Japan's best coaster, and an indoor launched looper with lapbars.

Yeah I wonder about Shambhala too. 48 people put it on their ballots, but of those, only 22 of them had been on at least 50 coasters. So there were a lot of inexperienced riders who put it as their number 1 or 2. On the other hand, there were several very experienced riders who had it in their top 5, and there were only 3 people that didn't put it in their top 10 (they had it at #18, #20, and #26). So I'd guess it's probably the best B&M hypercoaster to date, but also got a boost from being #1 or #2 on 25 people's ballots, most of whom have very limited track records. Anyone who has ridden Shambhala want to chime-in?

I'll be interested to see how Superman at Six Flags Mexico ranks next year, assuming enough people on the TPR Mexico trip fill out the ballot. I thought it was awesome and ranked it in my top 15, but the only other person to ride it put it pretty far down on his list (behind Mamba, Steel Force, Steel Dragon 2000, Steel Eel, and Wild Thing). Same with Montana Infinitum, which only had 3 riders and was ranked #4, #32, and #152.

^Yep

^Gipfelstürmer at Freizeitpark Ruhpolding, Germany. Next:

^^ Neil, you and your weird sex parties.

Thanks for the TR. Neat that you got to see a real space shuttle. When I went there several years ago they had Enterprise, which was a "real" space shuttle that never had an engine. Now it's in New York City.

David, I'm in the same boat (ha!) as you with Atlantis Adventure. It was a good coaster, but wasn't a great coaster. I also rode it in November when the water was off, so maybe your theory is right. And same for I-305. It was OK, but pretty rough and with no airtime. That was just my experience, and I completely respect the people who love it. That's what's so great about Mitch's poll. You get to see the average ranking of a ride, with everyone's opinions taken into account.

You could always go to Gyeongju World on the way from Seoul to Busan. There is frequent bus/train service between the three cities. So you could leave Seoul in the morning, go to Gyeongju World during the day, and then on to Busan that evening before taking the ferry to Japan the next morning. More info here: wikitravel.org/en/Gyeongju#Get_in But if you've got a lot of luggage that could be difficult. I'm not sure if the bus/train stations in Gyeongju have luggage storage. You could always spend one night in Gyeongju, it's a very worthwhile tourist stop (one of the most historic cities in South Korea).

I did this and it's very easy. You just take a train (hi-speed KTX, takes 3 hours) or bus from Seoul to Busan, then take the ferry ("The Beetle") over to Fukuoka. I went to Korea in early November and all of the coasters were open, but Elissa is absolutely right. The weather is unpredictable at that time of year, so if it's snowing, you're out of luck. Fukuoka is a lot further South, so it should be warmer. Snow is rare. PS, my list is: South Korea > Japan > China > Hong Kong But I've never been to Singapore.

Speaking of IPAs, had a Deep Ellum IPA while visiting Dallas last weekend.

And oddly enough, Regina at Tobu Zoo is pretty good.

I agree! The vests on Great Nor'Easter at Morey's Pier do not help at all. In fact, it's the most painful SLC I've been on. Sounds like the "seatbelt" style straps are much more comfortable. The lab-bar only design on the newer Jr. suspendeds (like Jimmy Neutron at Movie Park Germany) are very comfortable, I wonder if it's possible to adapt those to an SLC?

^Unfortunately SFoG will not be open on a Monday that early in the season. It's open weekends-only until about the end of May. But, if you visit on a Sunday in April, I wouldn't expect the lines to be bad at all. Make sure to ride Superman early in the day; it gets the longest lines in the park. Easter is actually a very good un-crowded day to visit (March 31st this year). The Wingate by Wyndham is the closest hotel to the park, and it is highly recommended. It's easy enough to exit the park for lunch (just get a handstamp), but you will have to drive - there aren't really any restaurants close by and most of the stuff in the area is fast food.

Finished mine! I use a grouping method after the top 25. COASTER NAME PARK LOC <-LEAVE Favorite Wood Coaster Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,1 Expedition GeForce Holiday Park DE,y,y,2 Millennium Force Cedar Point OH,y,n,3 Kumba Busch Gardens Tamp FL,y,y,4 Montu Busch Gardens Tamp FL,y,y,5 Storm Runner Hersheypark PA,y,n,6 Blue Fire Megacoaster Europa Park DE,y,y,7 X2 Six Flags Magic Mo CA,y,n,8 Texas Giant Six Flags Over Tex TX,y,n,9 Euro-Mir Europa-Park DE,y,y,10 Mindbender Six Flags Over Geo GA,y,y,11 Bizarro SF New England MA,y,y,12 Superman el Ultimo Six Flags Mexico MX,y,y,13 Incredible Hulk Islands of Adventu FL,y,n,14 Talon Dorney Park PA,y,n,15 Shockwave Six Flags Over Tex TX,y,n,16 Volcano: The Blast Co Kings Dominion VA,y,n,17 Afterburn Carowinds NC,y,n,18 Superman:Krypton Cstr Six Flags Fiesta T TX,y,n,19 Monster Walygator FR,y,y,20 Krake Heide Park DE,y,y,21 Black Mamba Phantasialand DE,y,y,22 Winjas - Force Phantasialand DE,y,y,23 Winjas - Fear Phantasialand DE,y,y,24 Tennessee Tornado Dollywood TN,y,y,25 SheiKra Busch Gardens Tamp FL,y,y,26 Nitro Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,n,26 Goliath Six Flags Over Geo GA,y,y,26 Chinese Fireball Islands of Adventu FL,y,n,26 Superman la Atraccion Parque Warner Madr ES,y,n,26 Top Thrill Dragster Cedar Point OH,y,n,26 Verbolten Busch Gardens Will VA,y,y,27 Kraken SeaWorld Orlando FL,y,n,27 Magnum XL-200 Cedar Point OH,y,n,27 Batman The Ride/Clone SF & Other Parks **,y,y,27 XCelerator Knott's Berry Farm CA,y,n,27 Kawasemi Tobu Zoo JP,y,n,27 Silver Star Europa-Park DE,y,y,27 Manta SeaWorld Orlando FL,y,n,27 X-Flight Six Flags Great Am IL,y,y,27 Fav Schw Shuttle loop Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,28 Riddler's Revenge Six Flags Magic Mo CA,y,n,28 Hungarian Horntail Islands of Adventu FL,y,n,28 Thunder Dolphin (S) LaQua JP,y,n,28 Raptor Cedar Point OH,y,n,28 Wicked Twister Cedar Point OH,y,n,28 Maverick Cedar Point OH,y,n,28 Ride of Steel Darien Lake NY,y,n,29 Apollo's Chariot Busch Gardens Will VA,y,y,29 Superman - Ride of St Six Flags America MD,y,n,29 OzIris Parc Asterix FR,y,y,30 Mamba Worlds of Fun MO,y,n,30 Wild Eagle Dollywood TN,y,y,30 Bizarro Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,n,30 Phaethon Gyeongju World KR,y,n,30 Great Bear Hersheypark PA,y,n,31 Steel Force Dorney Park PA,y,n,31 Atlantis Adventure Lotte World KR,y,n,31 Patriot Worlds of Fun MO,y,n,31 Wild Thing Valleyfair! MN,y,n,32 Vortex Canadas Wonderland ON,y,n,32 Titan Six Flags Over Tex TX,y,n,32 Hydra the Revenge Dorney Park PA,y,n,32 Superman – Ultimate F Six Flags Parks **,y,y,32 Dominator Kings Dominion VA,y,n,32 Cheetah Hunt Busch Gardens Tamp FL,y,y,32 Rock n Roller Coaster Disney's H Studios FL,y,n,32 Montana Infinitum La Feria Chapultep MX,y,y,32 Georgia Scorcher Six Flags Over Geo GA,y,y,32 Raging Bull Six Flags Great Am IL,y,y,33 Goliath Six Flags Magic Mo CA,y,n,33 Galaxy Express 999 Aqua Stadium JP,y,n,33 Speed Nascar Cafe NV,y,n,33 Tarantula Parque de Atraccio ES,y,n,33 Griffon Busch Gardens Will VA,y,y,34 Alpengeist Busch Gardens Will VA,y,y,34 Mr. Freeze Reverse Bl Six Flags Over Tex TX,y,n,34 Mr. Freeze Reverse Bl Six Flags St. Loui MO,y,n,34 Desert Storm Castles N' Coaster AZ,y,n,34 Fahrenheit Hersheypark PA,y,n,34 Steel Eel SeaWorld San Anton TX,y,n,34 Desert Race Heide Park DE,y,n,34 Gemini Cedar Point OH,y,n,34 Dare Devil Dive Six Flags Over Geo GA,y,n,35 Revenge of the Mummy Universal Studios FL,y,n,35 Vertical Velocity Six Flags Great Am IL,y,n,35 Steel Venom Valleyfair! MN,y,n,35 Possessed Dorney Park PA,y,n,35 Fav Loop. Star/S.Arr. Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,35 Silver Bullet Knott's Berry Farm CA,y,n,36 Flight of Fear Kings Dominion VA,y,n,36 Intimidator 305 Kings Dominion VA,y,n,36 Vortex Kings Island OH,y,n,36 Fav Arrow Shuttle Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,36 Intimidator Carowinds NC,y,n,37 Trace Du Hourra Parc Asterix FR,y,n,37 Batman - Dark Knight SF New England MA,y,y,37 Van Helsing's Factory Movie Park DE,y,y,37 Kingda Ka Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,n,37 Avalanche Kings Dominion VA,y,n,37 Big Thunder Mountain Disneyland CA,y,n,37 Shockwave Kings Dominion VA,y,n,37 Backlot Stunt Coaster Kings Dominion VA,y,n,37 Viking Voyage Wild Adventures GA,y,n,37 Sooperdooperlooper Hersheypark PA,y,n,37 Loch Ness Monster Busch Gardens Will VA,y,n,37 Batwing Six Flags America MD,y,n,37 Fav X SC2000 Any Park Anywhere **,y,y,37 Tornado Parque de Atraccio ES,y,n,37 Skull Mountain Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,n,37 Spongebob Squarepants Nickelodeon Univ MN,y,n,37 Whizzer Six Flags Great Am IL,y,n,37 Flight of Fear Kings Island OH,y,n,37 Poltergeist Six Flags Fiesta T TX,y,n,37 Joker's Jinx Six Flags America MD,y,n,37 Fav Windstorm Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,38 Matterhorn Bobsleds Disneyland CA,y,n,38 Fav Gerstlauer Spinn. Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,38 Superman The Escape Six Flags Magic Mo CA,y,n,38 Schweizer Bobbahn Europa-Park DE,y,y,39 Schweizer Bobbahn Heide Park DE,y,y,39 Colorado Adventure Phantasialand DE,y,y,39 Fav Vekoma Invertigo Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,39 SkyRider Canadas Wonderland ON,y,n,39 Dragon Mountain Marineland Theme P ON,y,y,39 Matterhorn Blitz Europa-Park DE,y,y,39 Mystery Mine Dollywood TN,y,n,39 Ice Mountain Bobsled Enchanted Forest OR,y,n,39 Bobsled Seabreeze NY,y,y,39 California Screamin' Disney CA Adventur CA,y,n,39 Abismo Parque de Atraccio ES,y,n,39 Desperado Buffalo Bill's Res NV,y,n,39 Fav Ultratwister Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,39 Flight Deck Kings Island OH,y,n,39 Poseidon Europa-Park DE,y,y,39 Euro-Sat Europa-Park DE,y,y,39 Excalibur Valleyfair! MN,y,n,39 Sierra Sidewnder Knott's Berry Farm CA,y,n,39 Canyon Blaster Adventuredome NV,y,n,39 Fav Powered `Coaster' Any Park Anywhere **,y,y,39 Mantis Cedar Point OH,y,n,40 Nighthawk Carowinds NC,y,n,40 Space Mountain Disneyland CA,y,n,40 Big Timber Log Ride Enchanted Forest OR,y,n,40 Goliath SF New England MA,y,y,40 Fav Mack Supersplash Any Park Anywhere **,y,y,40 Viper Six Flags Magic Mo CA,y,n,40 Fav Jet Star Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,40 Dark Knight Six Flags Great Am IL,y,y,41 Dark Knight Six Flags Mexico MX,y,y,41 Dark Knight Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,n,41 Viper Darien Lake NY,y,y,41 Space Mountain WDW Magic Kingdom FL,y,n,41 Iron Dragon Cedar Point OH,y,n,41 Great American Scream Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,n,41 Fav Intamin Bobsled Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,41 Anaconda Kings Dominion VA,y,n,42 Fav Half Pipe Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,42 Fav Vek Susp Family Any Park Anywhere **,y,y,42 Fav Arrow Mine Train Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,43 Big Thunder Mountain WDW Magic Kingdom FL,y,n,43 Fav Wildcat Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,43 Demon Six Flags Great Am IL,y,n,43 Fav City Jet/Jumbo V Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,43 Fav JS III/Jumbo Jet Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,43 Revolution Six Flags Magic Mo CA,y,n,43 Fav Mack YoungStar Any Park Anywhere **,y,y,43 Fav Wild Mouse Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,45 Journey to Atlantis SeaWorld Orlando FL,y,n,45 Fav Motocoaster Any Park Anywhere **,y,y,45 Fav Flitzer Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,46 Fav Galaxi Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,46 Fav Loop-Screw Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,47 Fav Tivoli Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,47 Temple of Nighthawk Phantasialand DE,y,y,48 Fav Arrow Corkscrew Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,48 Fav Zyklon Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,48 Patriot Castles N' Coaster AZ,y,n,48 Fav Zyklon Loop Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,48 Vortex Carowinds NC,y,n,49 Fav Spinning Mouse Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,49 Ninja Six Flags St. Loui MO,y,n,49 Ninja Six Flags Over Geo GA,y,y,49 Fav Vekoma Boomerang Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,50 Fav Vek Susp Loop SLC Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,51 Fav Vekoma Corkscrew Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,52 Fav Chance Toboggan Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,53 Roller Coaster New York New York NV,y,n,54 Goudurix Parc Asterix FR,y,y,55

I think it's one of my all time favorite IPAs. But I actually like another one from Bell's even better - Oracle. Have you tried that one? As far as IPA's go, I also love Pliny the Elder (haven't had the fortune to try the Younger), Green Flash Imperial, and Hop Whore. And right here in Atlanta, Red Brick's DIPA is surprisingly good!

One option would be to fly to Anchorage, get a rental car and spend a day or two doing stuff in Alaska (like Denali National Park). Then take a one-way cruise South back to Vancouver, with stops in places like Glacier Bay National Park. I took a one-way Holland America cruise, and yes it was FULL of old people, but it was still a lot of fun (and also we got a fantastic price - less than $50 per person per night). I think a more serene, relaxed atmosphere actually works a lot better when you're whale-watching and looking at Glaciers. I wasn't looking for a party cruise.

Well now there's a TPR trip to Mexico!

Contestant in the "powered coaster" category: Source: Chris Belson, rcdb.com

Nice update! The Park Asterix day was interesting. I have NEVER seen a park that busy, although I hear the Orlando and Tokyo parks can get like that during holiday events. I liked Oz Iris, at least better than Silver Bullet and Alpengeist. But it definitely has a case of "looks better than it is." Surprisingly few positive G's, but also a couple of nice pops of air. I loved the zero-G roll - not intense, but it actually felt like a smooth zero-G float. Gouderix on the other hand... holy crap was that AWFUL. I thought I broke my jaw. My least favorite coaster of all time, edging out Space 2000 at Gyeongju World. You picked wisely at lunch. I tried the andouillette, which was just described as pork sausage. Sounds innocent, kind of like andouille, right? WRONG. It's basically scrunched-up pig intestines, shit and all. Delightful. We had a very interesting experience waiting in line for transdemonium. The lady in line in front of us was wearing a garbage bag (basically) and smelled worse than andouillette. Like rotten milk. Again, delightful.

Great list! A few observations: Wooden Warrior is still in the top 25, and ranked above such venerable coasters as Raven and Shivering Timbers. Is Gwazi Lion the lowest ranked GCI? The Phoenix is still in the top 5 after all these years. The "worst" new woodie built in the past 5 years is Mammut. Has never ranked above 60. The SBNO Ozark Wildcat would still be in the top 20 today.

Millennium Force ranked 8th in Mitch's last steel poll. I respect the opinions of people who don't like it, but the most accurate and respected poll suggests it's a top ten ride.

I'm not familiar with the area, so you locals are probably right about the location being bad. But, the concept of a food truck park has worked before - we have one in Atlanta and it's popular: http://atlantafoodtruckpark.com.