JJLehto

Wow! Goliath kicks some major ass. In fact, having ridden both at least 7 times today I think Im prepared to say, I will give the (slight) edge to Goliath over Twisted Cyclone! Well...maybe, at the least they're equal which I didn't expect. What a ride. In back there was sustained, pretty strong, air on every drop and....force, alot of it, on a B&M!? That helix is epic, and there were some moments that threw ya around. What a great ride. TC gets put on a lower tier of RMC's but IDK. Its a bit short yeah but packs a punch! Also that wave turn was one of the coolest things I have felt

Superb, thanks!!!

Im not the biggest TR guy, I leave it to the pros, but I will say Coastermania went pretty superbly. Marathoned MForce from 7 to 840, headed over to Maverick to try and beat hotel crowds and did, they let us in a few mins early...got 2 rides before 9. Didn't even get off the train! they let us hop in an open row if there was one. Got 2 more in from 9 to 10 when I started heading in the direction of TTD. By pure luck it started to test literally as I went by, got 2 rides on it. This was all by 10! Did magnum which idk if it was a good day or my memory but it didnt seem nearly as bumpy as I recall, really good ride. Free lunch, then headed over to SV to gamble it'd be open by noon (this was 11:40 and it did start testing). I got one ride in, took an hour despite the line being very short, as I mentioned earlier was running 3 trains, ops were moving, just was crazy slow. It seemed like the hold up wasn't the pouches as I feared but just, the trains? There was some screen the ops had to "clear" and it seemed to really hold things up. Im sure people here will know way more about it. But yeah after that I took it easy. Got rides on most I wanted, took a long break and nap, came back like 8 PM to knock out Raptor, Blue Streak, Valravyn, MaxAir, Skyhawk then night ERT. I got 5 on SV and 3 on Maverick so hard to beat that. Was a helluva day and glad I had all yest to recoop because I needed it! Even with a 5 hour break. Some people I bumped into were there from morning ERT to close straight through. Amazing but, how!?

I rode it 4 times in a day last time I was there, oh trust me, my legs felt is BAD the next day, especially since 2 of those rides were in the back row! I got 6 yesterday, 1 during the day and 5 during ERT (4 in a row!) Yes I am feeling it, wow. But damn what a ride. What a ride. Was concerned ERT would be a bit lackluster but they did end up getting ops under control and down to 15 (10 at the end) min waits which was superb. That thing is a beast and a half.

After a rest day today, I'll be heading to SFoG tomm. I only have a few hours, until prob 4, 4:30. Any idea what crowds will be like? Its Sunday and I assume school out so Im just banking on needing a fast pass. Though I dont need to marathon...anyone think, by being there right at opening, can beat crowds to the RMC and manage to get at least one on each ride fairly wait free before crowds really pile in?

Nothing to say besides RMC has done it again. Yes that roll near the end does look incredible.

Yeah SV is epic but I don't think I can do more than a few rides. I will but I do feel my body already saying I'll regret it tomm. Also Skyhawk is a great night ride. The breeze is glorious and I just love it, simple ride but so good.

Nah not that, I get and expected the demand (and really I just hoped to get one day ride in by good timing, which is what happened) but it physically was moving slow. FL too. It just wasnt going anywhere. Guy I was chatting with said yest it had issues (who knows lol) and was moving like that too. It seemed like theres something on top of its already bad capacity and yes the fact FL line was as long as ours lol I made my goal though so yeah pretty much rest of day is hitting up raptor and the others. In my experience late night, like 8-10 things really empty out. Just the slowness intrigued me bc Ive never seen it so bad, I aint griping this day has gone about as perfectly as possible, I will deff have everything done to my hearts content by the time night ERT is here Your telling me its been opening at noon this season was a huge help, I timed it pretty much perfect

Pretty great success thus far. Marathoned MForce most of 7 to 9. Headed to the back corner before 9 to beat crowds and I did get 2 on Maverick before the floodgates opened (then one more, already 15 min wait not bad but wow people pile in fast!) Shockingly TTD opened up, got 2 rides on that by 10. Thanks to yall I figured SV may not open till noon so I gambled and didnt bother till about 1140. Right then when I arrived they started testing so I lucked out. Yeah something must be going with SV? the line was small...it basically was just the steps one kink and a bit down the line. It really was quite a physically short line. Took 1 hour. Was moving so slow I assumed it was 1 train ops, saw they were running 3!!! And the ops were moving normally. What's up? There must be technical difficulties of some kind? Anyway least I got it. Thought about FL+ but held off, I got one ride in and that will suffice till night ERT. But yeah got several rides on Magnum, hit Wicked Twister, Gatekeeper, Skyhawk and Maxair. Gunna prob head back like 8 pm and hit the remaining (or pray to god the non FL line for SV becomes acceptable?) lol I know

Wow. Before noon!? Ya being hyperbolic? Given what it is...that's kind of shocking what's been the issue? Last year it was open 9 am, unless I caught a luck day/something has been going on this season?

Had to duck out early so I can deal with Charlotte airport and get to Cleveland tonight, but honestly by 3 I had done everything I really wanted. Park was indeed quite empty. The operations for CS and Fury were running great, and thank goodness because honestly everything else was slow, often to the point of dreadful. Afterburn had a small wait but was running 1 train, Intimidator running 2 but ouch, it was perpetually stacked and bad. Like sitting on the breaks for 2 mins usually. Most were slow, deff rough for a slow day, waits were a good bit longer than they could've been but oh well. Also nearly every flat wasn't running, I saw 2 or 3, was kind of surprising. Anyway was a good day indeed. That top 4 is quite a lineup. Outside that, I wont lie nothing was really standout. I didn't expect anything from Nighthawk, though it seemed even rougher/worse than Firehawk? I also didnt expect much from Carolina Cyclone and it was what a I expected. Given how small/slower/less intense layout it is Vortex was pretty painful. Hurler was closed all day, though I probably lucked out on that one! As for the big four: All good, will try to rank em. Copperhead Strike. Was fun. Deff a middle ground between Cheetah Hunt and Maverick. The hang time was pretty great and the 2 strong airtime moments were great, 1 or 2 very whippy moments. Was a good blend of intense moments in a fairly moderate ride. Afterburn. Always heard this as one of the (perhaps last) forceful B&M inverted classics, and did not disappoint! It was exactly that, fun and forceful. Intimidator. This was a surprise. I wasnt expecting too much but at least in the back, there was quite a lot of pull. Not just on the hills but that first weird turn and the unique turnaround. Honestly, super fun and more air time than I expected. Fury. Well, what to say? That is epic. The speed on that thing is vicious esp when it fully warmed up. In the back there was some surprising whipy-ness on some of those turns and some crazy pull. In the 2nd to 3rd fast turn section it was hauling so much ass. POVs did not do it justice. I was caught off guard how whippy it was then you fell it pick up MORE speed and just haul it. From the start of that to near the top of the helix I barely had my eyes open from the wind! I will ride MForce tomm and give it a day to really digest but that is likely gunna top it my book, what a ride. Also reminded me that when its done well (strong and sustained) floater air really can be great. There's something about how comfy it feels but still being butt off seat for like 2-3 seconds. Deff top 5 ride. EDIT: And yes, I dont think the wait for Fury ever topped 15 mins. I rode it for 2 hours straight and prob got 10.

Soooo will SV be open for 9am or no, or is it a find out day of situation? Only ask bc I'll duck out of COastermania ERT a bit earlier to beat the 9am crowds for SV. As for FL+ if it really just wont happen well ya cant control the wants of others, but I deff would recommend. When I went last year it was a quiet day (Im talking 15 mins TOPS for MForce, often just 5) really the only lines of any substance all day was Valravyn, Maverick and SV BUT if you want like more than one ride on em OR you want to be able to do everything....I too recommend trying to talk em into FL+ With it SV had 30-45 min waits, normal was at least 2 hours. Mav was as usual packed all day as well. No way I could've done as much as I did and still get so many rides on SV without FL+ I am stoked for Coastermania!

Music to my ears. And yeah, I know some downplay it or even bash it but 1: enthusiasts opinions (overall) never meant much to me 2: the reasons people give it flak are why I expect to love it. It SEEMS to me like a longer, better layout MForce which is still one of the all time favs so yeah, good times ahead.

So stoked to finally get to Carowinds tomm! I am expecting crowds to be pretty light for an early June weekday? Im gunna hold of on fast pass and hope I can marathon without it, if not I'm guessing one will be available day of? Its a park I never really bothered about, though Afterburn I've long wanted to ride, but with a pretty darn good top 4 I am pretty excited. Keeping realistic expectations about Copperhead and hope Im not overhyping Fury which I kind of expect to rival my #1 spot

Yeah Id be more sad than not if Gemini went and I agree, what would replace it really? Given its historical nature and CP wanting to (I assume) keep their count high yeah it aint going away. I do wonder what crowds will be like. I was shocked how empty the park was (and supposedly this was much of the year) outside of the NW corner. I mean walk on to 15 mins for MForce, walk on to 5 for most else, all day long, and literally 90% of the crowds were just for SV and Mav. I reckon with it open a year this wont be the case so much.

Gemini is good fun, would be sad to see it go but 1 wouldn't super surprise me (would a bit though I Just never imagine CP removing a coaster esp one that's now historical) and 2 I wouldn't exactly be devastated either. I mean it's fun but cmon not anything great, it usually gets 1 ride from me per visit. Unrelated: So beyond stoked for coastermania!

Awesome! Thanks again for the immense amount of work this requires. Tough to argue with the top result This also drives home I realllly need to get on Lightning Rod this year. Agreed with Bill, the results are as expected and while I and many will have our own differences on exact placement within...those top 25s seem very sensible. Like ya said AJ there's prob hair width difference between a lot of em. A 30th ranked coaster for me may still be super fun that I love. And I do agree, if a ride is forceless and boring I don't consider it bad...just meh. 5/10 (maybe 4 if its truly a waste) but for me a ride can only be bad when its detrimental. Not just boring and lame. Superb work yet again yall.

Oh wow that is really great. I'll deff keep tabs on it and get one if they're running low, otherwise will wait till day of. I reckon it'll be helpful though, I will not have a full day (I know LR night rides are epic but time constraints....) and wanna marathon much as possible. Not really a show person no, but still cool to know. Seems like a quality product. Im deff stoked to finally go here.

Decided, going in early June. It was the best time to squeeze it in. Makes no sense for my CA trip which is already packed to the brim, and not convenient for my NJ trip this summer, Atlanta is a far better layover and I can go to SFoG. SO Dollywood in June! Stoked to finally go to this highly regarded park, and ofc Lightning Rod. Are the fast pass unlimiteds available day of or must they be bought online? Just in case crowds are bad, but its a Sunday so I may just get one anyway

Many are saying this is a great, probably best, family coaster, but this looks like a legit good coaster Looks like it carries good speed over the hills, (yeah not real fast but not real big either, all enthusiasts know everything is relative) and just saw a rider POV....there was a pretty good amount of airtime. Given the park has 2 A+ coasters already this is indeed a superb addition.

You can very easily. I did it last year. I did KI all 3 parks in 2 days actually. KI, then to KK which on a weekday we rode everything many many times and were done in a few hours, then off to HW. It was my first time to all 3 as well and it was a wonderful time. I would recommend it! Oh and this ride looks superb. I know its a family coaster but looks to move quickly over those hills. And it looks physically fantastic, like an old school woodie. Love it

Superb pics! Just wonderful! That drop is just bonkers.

I think it looks awesome. There's nothing inherently bad with dive coasters, actually I find them pretty awesome, till the MCBR. They always kill all the speed and the rest of the ride is meh. Finally, they learned it should actually do stuff before hitting the MCBR!

Im kind of excited to ride it solely for the uniqueness. Ya just don't see standers much/anymore and for reasons I get. Only been on two.

Yes I saw that as well. It seemed pretty confirmed. It happens, I get it. That said, an opening by June 9 seems highly unlikely (elsewhere someone seemed to think the park was now aiming for July, at earliest) so I am giving up my KW plans. Which is fine, I can go next year esp after hearing reviews. OR if itll be open late season (the site seems to indicate not all rides are open at later dates) I may just make a trip up there for it