Best First Drop on a Wooden Coaster? Which one do you think?

[KnottsDisneyFarm]

Thinking about it again, I now think The Voyage the best first drop....and second...and third.

[Wild 1]

I had a back seat ride on Phoenix once and while the airtime was not as intense as on other parts of the ride it still launched me out of my seat and onto my seat divider! It hurt but was insane in its own right!

[jkwan]

I've only been on 7 wooden roller coasters but the best first drop would be Balder at Liseburg, followed by the Gwazi drops at Busch Gardens Africa, then Cyclone at SFoG.

[pixelated]

El Toro. Close this topic.

[atem122]

^What about T Express?

I don't understand why everyone says El Toro has the best, undisputed first drop when T Express's is steeper, although granted it is 20 feet *gasp* shorter.

[DBru]

20ft can make a huge difference... (Just look at Fahrenheit and Maverick)

[atem122]

but the extra degree should make it an argument at the least, although not many people here (including me) have been or probably will ever go to S. Korea

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

^If you were in a room with a \n air temp. of 60 degrees would you notice a rise to 61? Same thing with angles.

[DC High Heat]

Well one degree would be insignificant...if not for all the other differences that influence the effectiveness of the drop. Note that:

 

-T Express achieves a steeper slope over less distance and what seems like a higher starting speed (than that of El Toro in its current state). Because the shaping is still similar, T Express' drop is likely more intense with stronger and/or a quicker onset of strong negatives.

 

-The transition between negatives and positives is noticeably smaller on T Express than El Toro. That fact also adds to the intensity by decreasing the time between extremes. Consider that the most significant difference between say Millennium Force's S transition between the second and third overbanks, and Maverick's S transition between the first and second turns on the ride is the time of rotation. Now, apply that same concept to the transitions on the drops to see why that difference can be so important. It's not a huge change, as El Toro's transition there is already relatively small, but it's definitely visible in back row POVs.

 

Determining which drop is better is really a matter of personal preference, as some people would prefer an extra 20' or other differences and intangibles in El Toro's drop over the facts I presented. However, based on what I said, I think one can tell why either first drop might be preferred.

[atem122]

^He basically said what I was trying to say...just much smarter

[KnottsDisneyFarm]

^Yeah, I understood about 1/2 of what he said.

I actually forgot about T-Express until now. I agree, I think that is the best wooden drop out there.

[DBru]

Have you ridden it? (Not doubting that you have...just wondering.)

[DC High Heat]

Nope, but you can get a lot of information from videos and pictures, which is just what I did.

[KnottsDisneyFarm]

^^Of course! It's better than The Raven!

[Team Thriller]

Nope, but you can get a lot of information from videos and pictures, which is just what I did.

 

This is something I don't understand, how people can say something about a ride they have never been on. Pictures and video's don't do justice to many coasters. You cannot assume something like that.

Sure, you can predict what the coaster would feel like, but until you actually ride it, you can't ever really know.

 

I'm not saying you where doing this, I've just seen it in this topic.

 

--James

[DC High Heat]

Whatever, I'm not going to get into that argument, especially since I think you only posted based on the one quote, and not what I actually said before. What I wrote are my thoughts based on my personal knowledge and experience. Whether you accept them or not is your business, not mine.

 

I will say, please note that everything I said in the post in question is a fact as opposed to an opinion, and whether you deem it correct or incorrect is another issue which is open to debate if you'd like. I didn't say which drop I preferred, as they are pretty similar, both has its advantages, and I've only ridden one of the two. I was just stating reasons why one might be considered better than another.

[Team Thriller]

^

I'm not saying you where doing this, I've just seen it in this topic.

 

Sorry if I offended you. I was sure to say in my above post that I wasn't referring to you, but others who have made their decision from video's and pictures.

 

--James

[DC High Heat]

We're good man, no worries. Happy coastering : )

[MagicMountainMan]

El Toro in the back. Nothing even comes close.

 

Although I have not ridden T-Express...

[ScoastinGS]

I don't remember who it was that posted something about the Boss at SFSTL, but I am glad it made the list. Flying through coaster structure and then hitting an unexpected drop with a head chopper => pretty awesome first drop.

[DBru]

^I'll take the credit for that. But yes it really is a great drop...that second dip farther down into the structure took me by surprise on my first ride.

[socalMAN123]

Let's see, admitting that I haven't been on more than 5 wooden coasters, I'll have to say that Terminator's drop in the back at night pwns. No other drop on a woodie has beaten it for me yet.

---Brent

[alilstronger]

I have not been to a lot of parks but some of the woodies I have been on have had some awesome first drops.

 

They are:

-El Toro - Six Flags Great Adventure

-The Wildcat - Hersheypark

-Hercules - Dorney Park (Its not closed and Hydra is in its spot)

 

For any coaster I get on I prefer the very back seat so I get all of the first hill. I think that becasue by the time the back is up to the top the front is already partly down the hill not going full speed.

[coastercrazed49]

While its not the biggest drop, or the steepest. I really enjoy Comet at Hershey parks first drop.

It's really cool how you head right for the river below the ride. The drop also has a good pop of air.

[ThatFearless]

The second drop on Beast with the double-helix. It's my favorite part of any ride ever, but it's truly a b****.