Golden Ticket awards announced at SFFT today

[Coasterkid20]

I personally don't think they got it all wrong. After all they did completely kick off Mega Zeph from the list, which is a very good thing since it is a complete piece of crap....... And it looks so good, but sucks so bad.

[COOOOLkid]

I just don't get why they are only allowing same number of people from each regions to vote for the awards... And most of them probably haven't visited so much, so of course parks in regions with low amount of amusement parks are going to be placed rather higher than they should be...

[crispy]

BAH ON THEM!!!!!!!

 

not very good, looks kinda biased, i think i'll use the Mitch Hawker poll as Robb suggested, i just looked at it, and it is a more accurate poll

 

 

i can't believe that when the Rattler is running better than ever, it slips 6 spots, man i think its location

[Meteornotes]

We were completely amazed that we heard virtually no cussing, saw no spitting, saw little smoking (what was was done where it should have been) and overall an amazing experience. I totally would take kids to the park. I would definatly rather take them there than Disney. Disney is a far cry from the wholesome values of HW and the amazing place they run. THATS for sure.

 

Wow, I have had totally opposite experiences. Aside from the smoking, the crowds I've experienced at HW were full of cursing, spitting and generally obnoxious people. Plenty of line jumping too. The employees might be nice, but the crowd is pretty rough.

 

As far as Disney, I've always found the crowds there to be pretty tolerable. The ones at Disneyland as opposed to WDW seem to be worse, but I've rarely had any sort of people problems there. Of course, all but one of my visits have been at off-peak times, which might make things more tolerable...

 

dt

[Ketchup]

Erm is it me or do I find this poll very pro-Cedar Fair, I mean Steel Force over SROS at SFDL and SFA :? and Millenium Force at #1 there are superior coasters such as the SROS at SFNE and Expedition GeForce.

 

The best-landscaped park and most beautiful park didn't even have Alton Towers in the top 5, I have been to both Epcot and IOA and I think that Alton's natural valley and ancient castle are far more beautiful than a manmade lake.

 

That poll is also very biased to Holiday World i've never been there but I can't imagine it's water park beating Disney's Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon.

 

Very dismal and very biased awards.

[Reon]

My views on the list catagories...

Thunderhead: never ridden it, but I think Cyclops is infinately better (gotta love a compact twister packed with immense airtime throuout the entire ride)

M-Force: Obviously I havent been privellaged enough to ride every steel in america yet, but M-Force is easily one of my faves. Not sure if it's #1 yet, but definately one of my favorites this season (now known as year of the Intamin, since I rode so many of em this year: including M-Force, TTD, SR,WT, and Drop Zone)

CP: *points at sig* need I say it?

Schlitterbahn: Never been there, though I hope to go next time I visit my cousins in Texas.

Best Kids park: never been

Friendliest staff: Never been to HW, but CP staff was pretty friendly, so I can agree with them being on the list...

The rest of the list, I didnt look at...

[MagnumForce]

Cyclops has two spots of really really good air, but it's only half a ride, and it's not even a twister, Cyclops may have a couple better elements, but in no way shape or form does it throw it together in a package like Thunderhead.

[Reon]

...

1) I only way about 110, and Im old enough to ride in the back. I'm basically bouncing in and out of my seat the entire ride. As for the 2 spots of air, I get so much air coming off the lift, I actually go over the seat divider, and spend the rest of the ride there. I almost get enough air to float back over on the drop infront of the station.

2) Even though its only a figure-8 layout (approximately), the way it weaves in and out of the other coasters there makes it seem like a twister.

 

I guess its all a matter of perspective...

[robbalvey]

At the end of the day the poll "is what it is." IMO, people who weren't invited to partake in it have every right to complain, beacuse their opinion wasn't heard.

 

That's why I prefer Mitch Hawker's poll because everyone has a chance to give their input and there really isn't any room for complaints, just differeing opinions.

 

I really have a feeling that if the exact same questions that are asked on AT's ballot were asked of Mitch Hawker's worldwide group of participants, the outcome would be a lot more realistic.

 

But like Ted said, the only "poll" that really matters to me is the one I plan my personal trips around!

 

--Robb

[Meteornotes]

I guess the problem I have with it is these awards are supposed to be the highest ones in the theme park industry. You'd think they'd want to get an accurate survey of what's really the best of the best, not just poll people that have never ventured out of Ohio. Like Robb said, the Hawker poll is probably the most realistic one out there. Perhaps he should add a few more categories.

 

Then again, polls/awards in other industries rarely get it right either (Oscar and Emmy awards) or just totally ignore reality (Grammy awards) so I guess I should not be surprised that theme park awards are also skewed in a strange manner...

 

dt

[robbalvey]

^ It's like the Oscars. How many times does a film/director/actor actually WIN that most of the movie-going audience actually wants to see win?

 

--Robb

[cgodsey]

Congrats to all of the winners!

 

My baby Thunderhead is all grows up! Last year when it broke the poll at number 6, the park was expecting it to go higher. I told them to wait a year and it will be number 1. Well, good things come to those who wait!

 

 

Maybe this will help those riding the fence about Night of Thunder on Sept 17th. Come ride the number one wooden coaster in complete darkness! Deadline for entries is Sept 5th. See my signature for more details.

 

Chris

[tinhead]

Blackpool at number 3 in best parks, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, what a pile of crap.

[ChrisZer0]

Golden Ticket is alot like the College BCS Poll: Unscientific,untrustworthy, and certainly full of nepatistic people. ACE'ers are a notorious crowd for griping and complaining when their experience isnt up to "snuff". I have to agree that holiday world only got the votes because they put up with all the fat ACE'ers that mill through their park like lost, overfed,whiney cattle.

[robbalvey]

I agree with Cedar Points souveniers... I couldnt decide what to buy when I was there... the merchandise was amazing..

 

OK, I'm going to go on a rant here because I finally just looked at all the winners....

 

See this is what makes me reazlie that the Golden Tickets are being voted by the wrong people. I mean, Cedar Point best park merchandise? What do they have that sets them apart? It's pretty much your average amusement park stuff, and sure they have a lot of it, and it IS good stuff (I have plenty of CP merch!) but there is nothing that stands out.

 

How is it that Disney doesn't win this category? There is so much park related merchandise at Walt Disney World that it doesn't fit in the parks! They built a special mall for it all!

 

Between the normal shirts and stuff, all the pins, snow globes, custom made christmas ornaments, miniature theme park play sets, CDs, DVDs, etc, etc... they win hands down! They have catalogs upon catalogs of park stuff to buy! Cedar Point has T-shirts, pennants, and patches.

 

I'm sure the reason why they don't win is because they are a merchandising muscle that no one can compete with. I almost get the feeling that when people vote, they don't take Disney or Universal into consideration, because that would be unfair to the other parks.

 

Same thing with the Dark Ride section. I'm sorry, but I just do NOT understand how the Knoebel's Haunted House has ranked #2 for all those years in a row. #2?!??! Ok, maybe it's the BEST of the 'county fair' style dark ride, but quite honestly, that thing is NOTHING compared to Tower of Terror, Indy, and most of Disney or Universal's other dark rides!

 

I give them credit for doing a lot with very little budget, but let's face it, it's your backyard haunted house tricks (buzzer going off, truck horn and lights, etc) and THAT is the #2 dark ride? You have GOT to be kidding me!!!

 

Maybe to the 'aficionados' who are giving props to the 'little guy' but I guarantee you put your average member of the GP on Knoebel's Haunted House, then on Indy or Tower of Terror and you ask them which one they think is cooler? They'll laugh their assess off at Knoebel's Haunted House! I like Knoebel's Haunted House as much as the next dark ride enthusiast, but I'm also a realist. Knoebel's Haunted House doesn't hold a dark ride candle to some of those big-budget dark rides like Indy, Tower, Mummy, etc.

 

I can't believe Mummy is NO WHERE on that list! Think about how many people have been raving about Florida's Mummy for the past nearly two years, and Knoebel's ride is #2? Wow.

 

Ok, let's talk about the food. I admit Knoebel's has some of the best pizza (I always look forward to Cesari's...yum yum,) best perogies, best again, county fair style goodies, and I love to eat my way through that park, but again let's be realistic, they have better food than *EPCOT*?!?!? WHAT?!?!?! *blink* *blink*

 

I just don't even know how to respond to that. Have these people EATEN at Epcot? Or Mythos? Put a family at the walk-up counter at Cesari's Pizza, then sit them down to dinner in the Japan Pavillion and let them tell you who did a better dinner!

 

And Six Flags Fiesta Texas has the Best Shows? Which one? Have they not seen that new show at Busch Gardens Tampa that has been winning all those awards?

 

And Best Kids Area goes to King's Island!?!? Over DISNEYLAND?!?! So wait, hang on here....because I just want to make sure that, if I only visited theme parks based on these awards, they are telling me I should take my kids to King's Island over Disneyland? Are you fucking kidding me???

 

I'm not even going to get into the Knott's/Universal Halloween thing. As like with most of my other gripes, these two are just on a totally different level. It's like comparing Knoebel's Haunted House to Tower of Terror. Knott's uses cheap backyard effects like shaker cans, Universal uses big-budget hollywood effects like flame throwers, air cannons, and stunt towers. Knott's puts on a kick ass event, the best in it's class, but Univesal's is in a different class all together.

 

If you were to exclude Disney & Universal from the list, then yeah, I can see how this list would be accurate. But all things being equal, IMO, if they are going to include Disney and Universal they should give credit where it's due. It seems like each year, Disney and Universal all win one award, and IMO, it's like the "courtesy award" but if all things were equal, those parks would sweep up most of the Golden Tickets. And I guess the magazine wouldn't get all those ads from all those other parks.

 

/end rant.

 

--Robb "Knoebel's Haunted House better than Tower of Terror...that right there should clue you in that this is totally wrong." Alvey

[Jew]

And I guess the magazine wouldn't get all those ads from all those other parks.

 

That's exactly it...it's just a cheap ploy to sell ad's. It's basically, "they just gave us an award, so we'll be nice and give them a full page ad." KBF's marketing department thought so highly of this award all they did was rehash an add from a Haunt 4 or 5 years ago and change what was an admission ticket to a golden ticket and change "ticket" with "award".

 

Though I think the problem lies in the voters. Like any other poll, it is all subjective. Not only that, not many people can say they have visited as many parks as you, Elissa, and some of the other more well traveled enthusiasts have. It's hard to make an accurate poll when the people you are polling aren't the most qualified people to be participating in the poll!

 

For example: Having only been to USH's version of HHN, Fright Fest, some local haunts, and Haunt...bias aside, Haunt *is* really the best of those, so I would vote for Haunt irregardless of the fact I work there. I wouldn't be wrong in voting it the best one because it really was the best one I have been to, but at the same time I wouldn't be entirely right in voting it the best one until I have been to every Halloween event in the world.

 

-Joey "certainly don't agree with most of the results...but I see why they turned out that way" Mandel

[Sir Clinksalot]

^ Joey makes a good point.

 

But again, this is what is so good about Mitch's poll. You only vote on what you have personally ridden. It doesn't matter that I have only ridden like 15 or so woodies, I only vote on those.

 

This poll, because it's a multiple choice poll, you have to vote for 'something' even if you haven't experienced that.

 

With multiple choice, people will still vote something because someone else told them it's "The Best" even though they have not personally ridden it.

 

For example, Robb and Elissa have both said that after our Knoebels trip Phoenix will be our #1 woodie.

 

Now, I'm inclined to believe them, especially based on the wood we have ridden. But, if Mitch's poll came out today, I would have to put GASM (SFOG) as my #1 woodie.

[robbalvey]

And I guess the magazine wouldn't get all those ads from all those other parks.

Though I think the problem lies in the voters. Like any other poll, it is all subjective. Not only that, not many people can say they have visited as many parks as you, Elissa, and some of the other more well traveled enthusiasts have. It's hard to make an accurate poll when the people you are polling aren't the most qualified people to be participating in the poll!

But I guarentee you that most of the voters have at least been to Knoebel's, Universal/Islands of Adventure, and Disney.

 

I don't know many ACEr's/Enthusaists/Industry members who haven't.

 

All the other traveling and parks Elissa and I have visited aside, I find the biggest discrepency with Disney and Universal basically getting 'shunned' by these awards to give the 'other guys' a chance.

 

There really isn't anything right or wrong about my rant, it's just a rant. These are industry awards for industry reasons, and I understand that. Just like in my video games industry. There are a lot of awards given that if it were up to the hardcore gamers, would be totally different. So I understand why the awards are they way they are, it just bothers me a bit, that's all.

 

--Robb

Edited September 1, 2005 by robbalvey

[robbalvey]

^ Joey makes a good point.

 

But again, this is what is so good about Mitch's poll. You only vote on what you have personally ridden. It doesn't matter that I have only ridden like 15 or so woodies, I only vote on those.

 

This poll, because it's a multiple choice poll, you have to vote for 'something' even if you haven't experienced that.

 

With multiple choice, people will still vote something because someone else told them it's "The Best" even though they have not personally ridden it. .

It's not multiple choice. You write in your answer.

 

--Robb

[maliboomer]

Well that was awful... stupid polls.

[SteveC]

After taking our trip to Europe, it seems the parks there don't get a fair shake in these awards. Balder is not even in the top ten wood coaster list? Or Colossus? Um, OK...

dt

 

Well AT is mainly read by Americans and most of the voters are from the States. Americans aren't renowned for travelling far afield (not that there is anything wrong with that as there is so much to do and so many different cultures already in the States- if I was an American I could see the attraction of not needing to 'go long-haul' when from North East to South West is a fairly mega trip in its own right -okay enough diplomatic creeping about you 'stay at homes' from me on that issue!! ), so AT need to attract a few voters from outside.

 

They do occasionally canvas voters from say Europe - just email and ask and you can probably get on the list (subscribing to AT would be essential though)

 

As for BPB being No3 - note the voting system is on a points basis and you rank say your favourite 5 parks in order for example, the 1st getting 20 points and the next getting 10 points and so on. So it is possible that a park not necessarily the best on anyones list, but appearing somewhere on everyones list can aggregate enough points to move them to the top (or much higher than anyone thought)

 

Finally sorry to be ignorant but what is Mitch's poll and where do I find it?

 

Steve - always wanting to have his opinion counted however worthless- C

[robbalvey]

Mitch's Poll can be found here:

 

http://www.geocities.com/wcoasterpoll/

 

--Robb "And it really is the best!" Alvey

[robbalvey]

It's interesting to compare the AT top ten steel versus Mitch Hawker's.

 

Here's Mitch Hawker's. Check out where Magnum ranks.... #33!!!

 

+------------------------------------------------------------ 2004 Rank

| +------------------------------------------------------- 2003 Rank

| | +-------------------------------------------------- 2002 Rank

| | | +--------------------------------------------- 2001 Rank

| | | | +---------------------------------------- 1999 Rank

| | | | | '04 POLL

V V V V V COASTER PARK LOC RIDERS

1 1 1 2# - Expedition GeForce Holiday Park DE 48

2 2 2 1 - Superman - Ride of St SF New England MA 71

3 11 6 8 - Superman - Ride of St Six Flags America MD 55

4 3 3 3 - Millennium Force Cedar Point OH 116

5 5 4 4 - Nitro Six Flags Great Ad NJ 81

6 8 - - - Top Thrill Dragster Cedar Point OH 82

7 9 5 7 1 Superman - Ride of St Six Flags Darien L NY 41

8 13 8 6 4 Apollo's Chariot Busch Gardens Will VA 58

9 6 9 5 5 Nemesis Alton Towers UK 40

10 - - - - Storm Runner Hersheypark PA 44

11 15 18 9 2 Montu Busch Gardens Tamp FL 82

12 7 13 18 52* Phantom's Revenge Kennywood Park PA 68 *1999=Steel Phantom

13 10 16 - - Goliath Six Flags Holland NL 38

14 14 7 - - X Six Flags Magic Mo CA 49

15 18 11 10 9 Dueling Dragons-Fire Islands of Adventu FL 93

16 22 10 12 - Kraken SeaWorld Orlando FL 60

17 23 20 20 - Superman:Krypton Cstr Fiesta Texas:SF TX 36

18 19 14 11 3 Incredible Hulk Islands of Adventu FL 93

19 17 12 17 6 Raging Bull Six Flags Great Am IL 63

20 21 33 33 12 Top Gun - The Jet Coa Paramount's Carowi NC 33

21 16 21 - - XCelerator Knott's Berry Farm CA 56

22 25 28# # # Katun Mirabilandia IT 11

23 12 37 # 13 Dragon Khan Port Aventura ES 23

24# 4 15 26# 8 Mindbender Galaxyland Amuseme AB 8

25 30 17 36 - Goliath Six Flags Magic Mo CA 80

26 31 24 29 16 Alpengeist Busch Gardens Will VA 64

27 32 35 27 - Talon Dorney Park PA 67

28 96 # - - Stunt Fall Warner Bros. Movie ES 16

29 44 23# - - Superman la Atraccion Warner Bros. Movie ES 20

30 29 26 25 18 Dueling Dragons-Ice Islands of Adventu FL 93

31 40 45 24 - Titan Six Flags Over Tex TX 34

32 34 30 23 19 Volcano: The Blast Co Paramount's Kings VA 55

33 24 19 13 11 Magnum XL-200 Cedar Point OH 124

34 20 25 14 20 Raptor Cedar Point OH 122

35 45 56# # # Lisebergbanan Liseberg SE 18

36 37 31 15 15 Mamba Worlds of Fun MO 27

37 46 40 37 38 Top Gun Paramount's Great CA 42

38 33 29 28 10 Steel Force Dorney Park PA 73

39 26 27 21 7 Kumba Busch Gardens Tamp FL 86

40 35 39 30 21 Batman The Ride/Clone SF & Other Parks ** 139

 

While again I don't agree with everything on that list, but it's a *LOT* closer to what I would consider the top coasters in the world.

 

Same thing with the wood coaster list:

 

+------------------------------------------------------------ 2004 Rank

| +------------------------------------------------------- 2003 Rank

| | +-------------------------------------------------- 2002 Rank

| | | +--------------------------------------------- 2001 Rank

| | | | +---------------------------------------- 2000 Rank

| | | | | +----------------------------------- 1999 Rank

| | | | | | +------------------------------ 1998 Rank

| | | | | | | +------------------------- 1997 Rank

| | | | | | | | +-------------------- 1996 Rank

| | | | | | | | | +--------------- 1995 Rank

| | | | | | | | | | +---------- 1994 Rank

| | | | | | | | | | | '04POLL

V V V V V V V V V V V COASTER PARK LOC RIDERS

1 3 1 2 2 2 1 - - - - Shivering Timbers Michigan's Adventure MI 131

2 4 2 3 5 - - - - - - Boulder Dash Lake Compounce CT 125

3 6 6 11 11 9 12 9 9t 6 4 Phoenix Knoebel's PA 159

4 2 3 4 7 4 - - - - - Tremors Silverwood ID 61

5 - - - - - - - - - - Thunderhead Dollywood TN 94

6 5 4 10 8 7 6 4 3 2 - Raven Holiday World IN 164

7 1 - - - - - - - - - Balder Liseberg SE 39

8 11t 7 7 15 - - - - - - The Legend Holiday World IN 159

9 15 12 5 3 3 3 1 1 - - Megafobia Oakwood UK 56

10 7# # 16# 22# 16# - - - - - Aska Nara Dreamland JP 10

11 8 8 6 6 8 4 - - - - Rampage Visionland AL 68

12 - - - - - - - - - - Avalanche Timber Falls WI 20

13 11t 11 8 4 5t 7 - - - - GhostRider Knott's Berry Farm CA 162

14 9 - - - - - - - - - Ozark Wildcat Celebration City MO 46

15 14 9 12 12 12 11 5 4 3 3 Coaster Playland BC 59

16 11t 13 13 - - - - - - - Colossos Heide Park DE 68

17 16 14 15 - - - - - - - Cornball Express Indiana Beach IN 119

18 10 5 9 9 5t 5 3 2 1 1 Comet Great Escape NY 84

19 17 10 1 1 1 2 2 - - - Tonnerre de Zeus Parc Asterix FR 78

20 19 18 29 29 19 15 21 12 12 14 Grand National Blackpool UK 70

21 18 16 14 14 18 26 11 8 - - Timber Terror Silverwood ID 65

22 27 64# - - - - - - - - New Mexico Rattler Cliff's NM 34

23 23 22 24 19 - - - - - - Lightning Racer - L Hersheypark PA 163

24 - - - - - - - - - - Tsunami Clementon Lake NJ 22

25 25 23 27t 21 - - - - - - Lightning Racer - T Hersheypark PA 166

26 21 21 21 23 15 14 12 9t 15 8 Cyclone Astroland NY 107

27 26 25 26 30 20 34 40 24 37 - Viper SFGAm IL 167

28 35 27 40 37 29 22 - - - - Excalibur Funtown USA ME 51

29 29 34 25 28 24 17 15 15 10 7 Serpiente de Fuego La Feria MX 13

30 32 19 19 16 - - - - - - Mega Zeph SF New Orleans LA 52

31 31 28 27t 34 - - - - - - Dania Bch Hurricane Dania Beach FL 47

32 20 15 18 10 10 13 13 7 9 6 Georgia Cyclone SFoG GA 140

33 28 26 107 - - - - - - - Loup Garou SF Belgium BE 74

34 33 32 32 24 13 - - - - - Twister Knoebel's PA 154

35 37 36 34 18 47 23 8 - - - Stampida Port Aventura ES 50

36 39 33 31 25 17 16 22 18 19 9 Giant Dipper Santa Cruz Bch Bdwk CA 105

37 30 31 30 26 22 25 30 21 18 44 Screechin' Eagle(S) LeSourdsville Lake OH 60

38 24 20 20 20 14 10 6 9t 8 2 Texas Giant SFoT TX 97

39 46 49 51 36 23 27 26 27 20 21 Cyclone Lakeside CO 64

40 38 44 45 38 36 21 24 14 4 12 Wild One SF America MD 133

 

--Robb "At least Balder is in the top ten on Mitch's poll!" Alvey

[Coasterlicious]

:shock: That pole gives me a headache.... . to much to read..

[robbalvey]

^ Sorry, trying to copy and paste it killed the formatting. If you want to read it easier, click on the site.

 

But that has been a problem with Mitch's poll in the past. It takes some effort, but that's why, IMO, it's accurate!

 

People want pretty pictures and checkboxes and you actually have to take 10 minutes out of your life, READ something and put about 4 ounces of effort to fill out the ballot.

 

Unfortunatley, that's too much to ask of some people.

 

--Robb "It's not THAT hard to read!" Alvey