Angle O. Descent

In my experience (which as a young, not very well traveled enthusiast isn't much), most people in a park don't care about forces. Airtime means nothing to them. What they look for is loops and the "cool" factor. Why would John and Jane Doe want to ride a small ride that just has hills when they could ride the roller coaster that goes upside down and has seats to the side? They don't think like we do. If it has loops and looks cool, they'll ride it. We're also not really the target audience for an amusement park. Two enthusiasts coming to visit is good, but a family of 5 is even better. That family probably goes to one park a year. They don't travel to visit coasters like we do. They just know what's at the park, and if there's a multi-looper that has a gimmick going for it, then they'll eat it up.Would I rather ride an Intamin airtime machine? Hell yeah. But does the average park goer even know what the ride type is called? Probably not. Also, as Robb has mentioned before, Americans nowadays are kind of sissies. Airtime? Trying to throw them out and its unsafe. Forces in inversions? It's uncomfortable and not fun. Americans want to feel as comfortable on a roller coaster as they do on a couch. TL;DR- The GP will ride whatever looks the coolest, and if a mediocre wingrider will draw crowds, then that's what the park will install. Totally agree, most park-goers are your average folks who appreciate the newest awe-inspiring eye-candy without even wondering who built it or what it's stats are. It's easy to give one's two cents on a new B&M winger going inside a park already jacked with world class coasters, but I'll bet anyone that if a 20+ million Gatekeeper or X-Flight debuted in a different, smaller park, there'd be far fewer complaints. I suppose it's all about frame of reference

Top 5: 1. Kingda Ka 2. Top Thrill Dragster 3. Superman Escape From Krypton 4. Millenium Force 5. Leviathan

I like how Dragon Mountain at Marineland blends in with its terrain.

^^^ Thank you, understood. A recent pleasant surprise: Wildcat at Hershey Park A recent unpleasant surprise: Rolling Thunder at SFGA

^ I believe that was me. Take a look at my post. Who was I "arguing" with? Nobody. I was commenting on the topic. That is the purpose of the thread. Please don't bash other people's opinions... it will not make you many friends here.

So far: - Santa Monica Pier - Six Slags MM - Disney California Adventure - Knott's Berry Farm - Hershey Park - Six Flags NJ - Canada's Wonderland Planned: - Cedar Point - Darien Lake - Waldameer - Knoebels - Dorney Park - Six Flags NE - Lake Compounce

^ Behemoth or Leviathan - if you had to keep one, which one would it be?

^ Randy Carlyle is more likely to get Jack Adams recognition this year... Q-Ville with president's trophy is impressive, but bringing the most expensive/notorious team in the league into the playoffs after missing them for nine consecutive years must mean something!

I find it a bit unnecessary that you have to go up a set of stairs and across a bridge - over the path you were just on - to get to X2. Did they really need it?

I always envisioned it as steel-grey with black supports. Hence, Ride of Steel

^^^^^ - Silver Bullet : definitely underrated vs. Alpengeist, Raptor etc (but still better in my opinion - LOVE the helix) - Apocalypse : arguably the best ride at SFMM - Ride of Steel : agreed, R.O.S. should be much higher rated (on Amusement Today's list anyways) - Viper and Predator are also both underrated for what they are - Vortex at Canada's Wonderland : best suspended on the planet, can easily hang with the big boys

Shockwave at Canada's Wonderland (a.k.a. the Happy-Go-Pukey)

Restraints have been an issue for me. It's the reason why I can't stand Vekoma inverts or any stand up, also the only thing stopping Skyrush from being my runaway favorite. Such a shame

I just saw Wonderland testing windseeker, looks like at least it's a go up here.

Dark Knight (NJ) on Apr 7th. Not a thriller but they let us ride twice in a row

My money is on Batman at SFMM (assuming it's not a relocation). It's by far the roughest B&M invert I've been on, plus it seems to get overshadowed by the more popular giants like X2, Tatsu, Superman, Goliath, Riddler's, etc.

- Launch / top hat on Xcelerator - Double down on Jack Rabbit - Helix on Apollos Chariot - Track drop on Verbolten - Pretzel loop on Tatsu - First drop on Behemoth (back seat)

Cedar Point - The Thirsty Pony... They serve burger/sandwich meals with a FRIED pickle, and the sweet potato fries come with cinnamon mayo *Homer Simpson drool*... And the wing sauce is home made, a must visit for your next CP visit!

^ Montezooma's for me as well

I'd have Xcelerator. Probably the best ride in the world squareyard-for-squareyard of footprint

For accommodations, I recommend staying at the Best Western Valencia. It's a 20 minute walk from MM, (so no parking lot madness to deal with) and there's a Wendy's and convenience store on the way there

So far: - Pacific Park - Magic Mountain - Disneyland - Knott's Planned: - Canada's Wonderland - Cedar Point - Darien Lake - Waldameer - Knoebels - Hershey Park - Dorney Park - SF America - SF Great Adventure (maybe) - SF New England (maybe) - Lake Compounce (maybe)

Pretzel dogs and brew at Busch Gardens VA. Yum!

^ I visited MM for the first time last weekend, I didn't have any problems with Revolution, it was surprisingly fun if anything. For me, Riddler's Revenge was the worst for 'head-banginess".

^^ "Or you could just park close to an exit" Yeah that's what I meant Or even better, if possible, don't park in the parking lot. Best Western at SFMM - 20 min walk