Launch VS Lift Hill?

[DoinItForTheFame]

I've been thinking lately about how many launched roller coasters seem to have been popping up within the past few years, and it really made me wonder, which do you prefer??

 

Do you prefer a launched coaster, or a traditional lift hill coaster (and why)??

 

Personally I prefer launched coasters. There is something about that seemingly instant acceleration, and instant speed that I crave.

 

(Disclaimer: I apologize if this has been discussed before. I did a search, and after going through 98 pages of mostly Dollywood related stuff I came up with nothing similar. So if it has been discussed before feel free to merge the threads.)

[I love pie]

Shouldn't it be launch vs drop?

[boldikus]

^ No.

 

This is interesting because I thought of starting this thread the other day but didn't because of the cable lift variable and whether it should be a third option, which I'd pick for my favorite. I love launches but I really love being yanked up via cable lift and tossed down a drop ala Skyrush or I305. So that's my pick.

 

Also where does Maverick or Lightning Rod fit. They are launched lift hills imo.

[RollingCoasting]

Lift-hills

 

The train gradually gaining speed down the drop is more fun than a sudden acceleration imo

[MrSum1_55]

I much prefer a traditional lift/drop coaster over a launch for a few reasons:

 

1. The lift allows you to build up anticipation at the beginning of the ride

2. I have found that most launches get old after a while (excluding some of the most powerful ones). A good or even okay first drop beats most standard launches.

 

For me, launches are something that is just kind of 'there.' I thought the launches on California Screaming or V2 to be very intense when I first began riding coasters, but now I really see launches as being nothing memorable, excluding some of the most powerful ones. (Like all the Intamin accelerators, and possibly Maverick's second launch)

 

However, I do think that launched lift hills are pretty awesome. They combine the best of both worlds: the initial rush of speed of a launch and the anticipation of starting the ride by going up a "lift hill." I have experienced these on Maverick and Hulk, and I bet Lightning Rod is amazing.

[boldikus]

I've had discussions with a quite a few people about cable vs chain lifts and I always say Id be totally fine with every single coaster that has a chain lift to be retrofitted to a insane 20+ mph cable lift. People have argued slow chain lifts up the sense of anticipation but I'm just impatient and want to get the show on the road. I *hate* slow chain lifts. Snoooooze. And again, I have a big boner for fast cable lifts that just yank you up and dump you over the crest.

[JT325]

I prefer a classic and slow lift hill, but I have enjoyed the speedy/cable/shot lifts as well. I just think they might be a little overrated. Add in the 45 degree B&M and RMC lifts; they don't give you a good opportunity to enjoy the ride up; you're tilted back too far.

 

I like the fast/steep lifts we have, but I hope the trend slows down. Everything being Badass Steep and Fast doesn't always make a ride better.

[Satans Hockey]

Lift Hill for me based simply on the ability to re-ride. I enjoy kindga ka but I can't imagine going on it over and over again like I can with El Toro or Nitro.

[storms555]

It would be hard for me to choose as both are awesome in their own ways. I like traditional lift hill as they built up excitement for the ride and having the drop right after it is awesome. Launch hills are more thrilling though and i enjoy launch coasters. So in a way they both are awesome in their own ways. As long as they arnt dreadfully slow like the ones in Japan lol. Anyone who watches a lot of the TPR POVs will know many Japan lift hills are face pulling slow...lol

[BeansproutMidget]

Oh man, this is hard. Really REALLY hard.

 

I guess I'll go with launches. I love lift hills, but you can tell when the top and the drop is coming. With launches you have no exact time when the car will sudden speed up. It can catch you off guard and provide a good thrill.

 

Of course, so can the sight of the first drop at the top of the lift.

 

Agh, Can't there be a 'both' option?

[robbalvey]

Where does Maverick or Lightning Rod fit. They are launched lift hills imo.

Since there are so few examples (Throw Space Mountain Mission: 2 and maybe California Screamin' and Orlando's Mummy & Hulk into that mix as well) for the sake of this discussion, I would just count them as lift hills. Fast lift hills, yes, but really they are doing the same job as your standard lift hill, they just get you to the top much faster.

 

Either that or, for the sake of this discussion, you just don't count them. There are what, maybe 5 or 6 that I can think of in total?

Edited November 23, 2016 by robbalvey

[TheCoasterKid211]

Agh, Can't there be a 'both' option?

Your profile pic is literally the best example of that.

[rcjp]

It really depends as you have several types of lifts (the speed is what makes a difference for me) and several types of launches. If it is a slow/not forceful launch I'd rather have a lift hill unless it is used in the middle of the ride. I'm thinking about helix, which I really like, but has weak launches. For me it'd be perfect if the first was replaced with a lift.

 

Then you have launches like the intamin accelerator coasters which is the type I'm more familiar with. Those (just like lifts) do create anticipation as you sit there for a while before the car accelerates but I find this feeling a lot more intense and short than that of the lift hills. This is the reason I don't think they'd work in the middle of a ride as opposed to LSMs (or whatever it uses) even if they may be not so forceful (it would be an award break in the pacing).

I don't think I could pick between these and traditional lifts as they both offer very distinct and unique feelings. And even though I find cable lifts pretty fun I'd prefer to have normal ones and launches if I had to choose only two as they almost feel like a bit of a mix and having only the two "opposites" would create more variety.

 

So, all in all, I can't answer and I hope we continue to get the two.

[RaceBoarder]

This is hard for me to answer... It's like asking what's better: Steak or Pizza? Completely different things that can both be orgasmically awesome or absolutely horrid depending on how they're done.

 

How do you compare the lift/drop on Fury or Millennium Force to the launch on V2? Each is fun in their own right. I guess I'd vote lift hill just cause I like being able to look around on a Giga and get a sense of the scale. You can't "sightsee" on Dragster or KA cause you're only up top for a few moments.

[larrygator]

I don't rate coasters based on the lift hill/launch, just like I don't judge a book based on its' cover.

[boldikus]

Where does Maverick or Lightning Rod fit. They are launched lift hills imo.

Since there are so few examples (Throw Space Mountain Mission: 2 and maybe California Screamin' and Orlando's Mummy & Hulk into that mix as well) for the sake of this discussion, I would just count them as lift hills. Fast lift hills, yes, but really they are doing the same job as your standard lift hill, they just get you to the top much faster.

 

Either that or, for the sake of this discussion, you just don't count them. There are what, maybe 5 or 6 that I can think of in total?

Fair enough. I voted lift due to my obsession w/ cable lifts.

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Cable lifts are awesome. I love just watching the catch come back down the hill. Not sure why, it's just awesome. Launch coasters can be hit or miss. Some like YOLOcoaster or Maverick's second launch, just miss out on a lot of potential by going straight into brakes. A launch coaster with a full layout, though, is an experience like none other. I'm looking at Powder Keg, Thunderbird, Xcelerator, Flight of Fear--those are all spectacular coasters because the launch isn't just a gimmick but is a true lift hill replacement, serving the function of getting the coaster to the required speed for that layout.

[rollin_n_coastin]

Lifts. Chain, cable, tires, LIM, LSM, whatevs. They all lead to awesome first drops for the most part.

[rcjp]

spectacular coasters because the launch isn't just a gimmick but is a true lift hill replacement, serving the function of getting the coaster to the required speed for that layout.

This is a good point. I feel that sometimes parks feel free to "cut" a coaster's layout because it has a launch (and is, therefore, supposedly more exiting and a more complete experience than a lift). For instance, I can't imagine someone building a ride like TTD or Kingda Ka but with the lift instead - sending you straight into the brakes. Ok, to be fair in that case you'd have the lift, drop and then the top hat (for it to be a "true" replacement) but even still..

I also don't really see or don't remember any ride where the first drop ends with heavy trimming like formula rossa after the launch (even though that is a special case due to the limits the park has and their desire to break that record)

[Johnlloyd]

I mostly prefer chain lifts but, I have been on a few coasters which have had an enjoyable launch. It all depends on the coaster really.

[JT325]

This could be getting off topic a bit... but count me as a fan of the almost "stop at the top" lifts that Six Flags seems to love (and many fans seem to complain about). The top of American Eagle, trains racing - now that's a moment!

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Yeah, green side of Twisted Colossus, crawling up the hill, cheering for blue train to catch up so we can duel--so much fun in a way only Six Flags can provide.

[JT325]

^I really wish Colossus got to keep it's double-loading station for Twisted Colossus. Such a missed opportunity. I know I know, ROI and all that. But really... the ride is so much better when racing.

[BigBad]

With a launch, parks seem to build less interesting layouts. Consider Dragster. All it does is shoot up a top hat. It's fun, certainly, but there's not much to the layout. Compare that to Millennium Force, which has a long ride of smooth turns and hills.

 

From situations like this, I have to conclude that a lifted coaster is more likely to appeal to me. Where I start to doubt this is with a ride like Maverick. This coaster is enjoyed because of it's tight turns and strong forces, right? The launch in the tunnel is fun, but we wouldn't feel like something were missing if Intamin had designed it to climb a second lift hill there and then drop down into the rest of the layout. If Intamin's plan for Dragster had been to chain or cable lift a train to the top and then drop down into a brake run, that would be missing something.

 

So I think what I'd like to see is a launch into an interesting layout. I don't particularly care about climbing up a lift hill. Maybe the ideal would be an Intamin cable launch like Dragster/Ka up a hill that leads to a layout like the hypers and gigas that I like. This is part of why Lightning Rod appeals to me so much. (I have yet to ride.) The launch should be fun, but if the lift were made taller so that the drop reached the same speed at the bottom, the rest of the ride would be fun and still contend for the top wooden coaster in the world. And maybe the launch is really forceful. I'd be pretty happy to feel Dragster-style acceleration before going into an awesome layout.

[laqueefa]

I say, lift hill launch!