Top 10 Amusement Park Thrills?!?!?

[DenDen]

For those of you familiar with AOL, (Trust me, I only use it for it's awesome radio service and it's a great spamming device. LOL) their front page today is featuring "Top 10 Theme Park Thrills", based soley on "largest this and first that". And believe me, I think everyone will disagree with this list, and certainly doesn't take into consideration that "bigger isn't better". Their content editors are smoking crack, I swear!

 

10-Drop Zone Stunt Tower (KD-highest drop ride)

9-Borg Assimilator (Carowinds-south's loopiest coaster)

8-Son of Beast (KI-tallest wood coaster)

7-Noah's Ark Family Park (US's largest waterpark)

6-Scream (SFMM-first floorless in So-Cal)

5-Morey's Piers (Largest Seaside Park)

4-Texas Star (Largest Ferris wheel)

3-Lake Compounce (Oldest US park)

2-Top Thrill Dragster (CP-tallest/fastest coaster)

1-Insanity (Strat-world's scariest chair)

 

OK, you can stop laughing now....

 

(EDIT: Darn spelling errors!)

[coaster1]

Think that's the first time the Texas Star has been mentioned, I mean just a Ferris Wheel, but is the biggest in the US well and Western Hemisphere.

[robbeal]

I can see their reasoning behind the list, but it doesn't really fit the 'top thrills' title they've given it does it? I think a better title was in order really.

[bgwfreak]

What you have to remember is that this article would be written for the General public, not enthusiasts.

 

To the GP the world's tallest wooden coaster sounds impressive.

 

Although I think it's funny they mentioned Borg Assimilator (at my home park) as the loopiest coaster in the south (which is not true) and fail to mention that it was the first flying coaster in the world.

[CoasterFanatic]

"Oldest Amusement Park" = Thrilling?

 

// Scratching head

[Guest]

Ted, You just put your resident smart ass title to great use! LMAO!

 

Katie

[robbalvey]

What I can't figure out is what were those coasters they showed in the photos? My guess was Lagoon, but I don't think that's right.

 

--Robb

[Sir Clinksalot]

BGWFreak - I think Carowinds has consciously downplayed the fact that Borg is a hand-me-down coaster. They probably wouldn't want that getting out to the public en masse (I can't imagine why it would bother folks, but they love to play the "a BRAND NEW ROLLERCOASTER" angle.

 

But if I was a member of the GP and was told that Borg Assimilator was one of the top ten thrills...I'd quit riding. If that suck-machine is in the top ten, there's no point in bothering with the rest.

[Homey G.]

BGWfreak, you have to take into account that Vekoma feels that Borg is an 8 inversion coaster, constituting an inversion every time the coaster goes from back to prone. 8 inversions would make it the loopest coaster in the country tied with Xflight and Batwing.

[Spookbaby]

I was just wondering... what's everyone's own list of "Top Ten Theme Park Thrills?"

[Token Yankee Guy]

Ok, the Lake Compounce one is not correct. They say it's the oldest US Park. It opened in 1846. But Riverside originally opened in 1840.

 

Stupid AOL.

[Guest]

BGWfreak, you have to take into account that Vekoma feels that Borg is an 8 inversion coaster, constituting an inversion every time the coaster goes from back to prone. 8 inversions would make it the loopest coaster in the country tied with Xflight and Batwing.

 

All the Vekoma flying Dutchman are 5 inversions. Not 8. At least that is what www.rcdb.com says. X-Flight is 5, Batwing is 5, Borg is 5.

 

Fly to lie and lie to fly are only 180 degree's each, so, 2 would make an inversion. Since you aren't moving through 360 degrees, I wouldn't classify one of those as an inversion.

 

And as far as Vekoma classifying it as 8, I looked on their website and it says nothing about inversions. I emailed them, so when I get a response, I will post it.

 

Katie

[Coasters 4 ever]

I'm surprised they don't have Spidey on the list. Usually on stuff like that they always rave about Spider-man.

[SharkTums]

Actually, I think Brian's right! :shock:

 

I too remember in Vekoma's original PR and a lot of stuff for Stealth/X-Flight/Batwing counting 8 inversions! They did in fact count every 'flip over'.

 

This isn't that surprising though if you remember that they also claimed SLC's had something like 7 inversions!

 

Ahh found it!

 

First flying roller coaster ever opened to the public. Opened on April 1st, 2000 at Paramount's Great America Amusement Park riders found themselves in a lay-down position at departure from the station and a hanging then flying position after the lift hill: an amazing feeling. Stealth runs 2 lay-down trains with 6 cars per train. Stealth lasts 1:50, is 115 feet tall, runs at a maximum speed of 51 mph, and has a maximum G force of 4.3. Stealth includes 8 inversions in the form of one 66' vertical loop, a 110-degree horseshoe, four 180-degree inversions, and a twin corkscrew. Stealth was built by Vekoma at a cost of $17,000,000. Stealth is dark gray, light gray, and red painted with a total of 275 gallons of paint.

 

 

Elissa "stupid vekoma!" Alvey

[Homey G.]

Katie, read exactly what I said and infer that the multiple means that I think the idea that they're 8 inversions is stupid... however, Batwing's announcement said it had 8 inversions.

 

http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/news/archives/february01/stories/021501_01.shtml

 

also note here under Paramounts legal information page :

 

http://www.paramountparks.com/corpinfo_legal_info.jsp

 

If you know of any other Dutchman's that Elissa or I haven't pointed out, please let us know, and be sure to let us all know how that email response from Vekoma turns out

[Guest]

Katie, read exactly what I said and infer that the multiple means that I think the idea that they're 8 inversions is stupid... however, Batwing's announcement said it had 8 inversions.

 

Well, as I am waiting for a reply from Vekoma, I just want to clear things up.

 

Now I am looking at this straight from a GP point of view so bare with me.

 

I agree with you Brian about the 8 inversions I think it is ridiculous. I think a 180* flip is not an inversion. An inversion to me is a full 360* element. From the GP stand point, anything that makes you go upside down.

 

I looked at the official sites of SFA, Carowinds, and Geauga Lake. Now I know that X-Flight and Batwing are clones. I know Borg (Stealth) is a prototype, and it is a bit different then the other two.

 

But what gets me is each site has their own take on the rides as well as RCDB.com

 

For example:

 

SFA has a description of the ride, but no inversion count.

 

Geauga Lake- described the ride with 7 inversions.

 

Carowinds- described the ride with 8.

 

www.rcdb.com describes them at 5.

 

Well I am totally confused to what people think inversions are.

Are they are 360* element or a 180* element?

 

That is why I decided to ask Vekoma themselves as to what they considered the inversions to be.

If I were to GP and wanted to hit these coasters and looked them up, I would think they would be completely different rides and not (for practical sakes) clones. But I as the GP, would feel cheated after going on all three of the rides and saying "didn't I just ride this at ______ insert a park name. I hope though that Vekoma does respond and I will post what they send me. I just want to clear up confusion. Because this doesn't look right to me.

 

Katie

[PhishyBrewer]

What about Paddle Wheel Excursions?

[Homey G.]

^^ Is that your version of an apology for calling me out as though I have no idea what I'm talking about?

[Guest]

^^ Is that your version of an apology for calling me out as though I have no idea what I'm talking about?

 

I said I agreed with you but still confused about the inversion count. Does it look like the word SORRY was in that post? I think not. I will not post more on this thread until I hear from Vekoma.

 

Katie

[robbalvey]

Kids....play nice.

 

It's only roller coasters we're talking about here...not important stuff...like death metal or cowbells.

 

--Robb "Don't make me have to come there and slap you with Elissa's penis...although I'm sure Brian would like that!" Alvey

[PhishyBrewer]

Kids....play nice.

 

--Robb "Don't make me have to come there and slap you with Elissa's penis...although I'm sure Brian would like that!" Alvey

 

OH... MY... GOD! :shock:

[Meteornotes]

It's only roller coasters we're talking about here...not important stuff...like death metal or cowbells.

 

Woot! Robb recognizes the importance of death metal! About time...

 

Dave "looking forward to a segment using an Opeth tune" Thomas

[Guest]

Just got the email from Vekoma. I took out their phone number they also sent me a .pdf about their rides, but it is totally huge for me to down load on dial-up. If anyone wants it, I can try to email it.

 

Dear Katie,

 

Our Flying Dutchman (1018 meters) has 7 inversions.

 

Kind regards

Charlotte van Etten

Account Manager

Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V.

 

www.vekoma.com

[shepp]

Woot! Robb recognizes the importance of death metal! About time...

 

Having just seen Mudvayne in concert (it's a long story), I've come to realize there is indeed something worse than multiple rerides on Psyclone.