Em McMahon - Reviews

This, to me, is the perfect family thrill ride. It's an absolute blast to experience. The theming is super well done (even if Pratt is phoning it in harder than anyone in history). The spinning cars a...

This, to me, is the perfect family thrill ride. It's an absolute blast to experience. The theming is super well done (even if Pratt is phoning it in harder than anyone in history). The spinning cars and the music are delightful, especially if you're lucky enough to get September. Cosmic Rewind might still be an odd fit for EPCOT, but as a coaster, I absolutely love it.

Hiccup's is a nearly perfect family coaster. I'm dinging a half star for one bad sightline into a backstage area and another for being just a little too short, but everything else is great! The animat...

Hiccup's is a nearly perfect family coaster. I'm dinging a half star for one bad sightline into a backstage area and another for being just a little too short, but everything else is great! The animatronics are impressive, the original story is coherent, the voice performance is a reasonable sound alike. Great family coaster!

I'm giving both sides 5 stars. SR is my #2 in the world right now, and while I slightly prefer yellow, green has some stellar moments. I particularly like the double up before the second launch. What ...

I'm giving both sides 5 stars. SR is my #2 in the world right now, and while I slightly prefer yellow, green has some stellar moments. I particularly like the double up before the second launch. What a coaster.

It's a perfect ride and a world-class coaster. Both sides are incredible, but I prefer the Celestial Spin on yellow. The front and back are both amazing, and middle rows offer a ton of nice floater ai...

It's a perfect ride and a world-class coaster. Both sides are incredible, but I prefer the Celestial Spin on yellow. The front and back are both amazing, and middle rows offer a ton of nice floater air. Stardust Racers is phenomenal.

Star Wars, as a theme, is wildly at odds with both the ride's and the land's steampunk aesthetic. It doesn't fit at all. And, as if that's not enough, it replaced a truly wonderful attraction in Space...

Star Wars, as a theme, is wildly at odds with both the ride's and the land's steampunk aesthetic. It doesn't fit at all. And, as if that's not enough, it replaced a truly wonderful attraction in Space Mountain: De la terre a la lune (from the Earth to the moon). Bring back the original, Disneyland Paris. Do us all a favor.

I really enjoy Mummy! The ride was dead (heh) when I was there, but ride ops wouldn't let us stay in place, which was a bummer. I think it's a fun time and I will definitely try to get on it every tim...

I really enjoy Mummy! The ride was dead (heh) when I was there, but ride ops wouldn't let us stay in place, which was a bummer. I think it's a fun time and I will definitely try to get on it every time I'm here.

I wish I could ride the fun version of this that so many people seem to have ridden. What I got was an incredibly janky mess that jackhammered me until I ended my park day a little earlier than planne...

I wish I could ride the fun version of this that so many people seem to have ridden. What I got was an incredibly janky mess that jackhammered me until I ended my park day a little earlier than planned. I am happy to see this go.

Look, between its length, the one insane hill, and the ride along the water, this is easily one of the best mine trains for my money. I think it's a great little ride, and I've personally never found ...

Look, between its length, the one insane hill, and the ride along the water, this is easily one of the best mine trains for my money. I think it's a great little ride, and I've personally never found it uncomfortable.

I'm choosing to review Dark Knight at its peak. I loved what this ride was when the pre-show and ride effects were all working. It was a blast! It's such a shame that the ride is always busted in one ...

I'm choosing to review Dark Knight at its peak. I loved what this ride was when the pre-show and ride effects were all working. It was a blast! It's such a shame that the ride is always busted in one way or another these days. If they got this back up to it's full potential, I think folks would really enjoy it. It's still a wild mouse in a box, so the layout and forces are nothing special, but it's a really fun experience altogether.

For a little while, I was only able to ride Medusa in the larger rider seats in row 5. This year, I got my first back row ride in years, and I remembered why I used to love it. Medusa is just a really...

For a little while, I was only able to ride Medusa in the larger rider seats in row 5. This year, I got my first back row ride in years, and I remembered why I used to love it. Medusa is just a really good time. It puts a smile on my face. (And I'll always be glad they changed the theme back from Bizarro).

I can feel my thoosie card getting ripped from my pocket, but it's my honest take: I do not like batclones. I've never enjoyed a single one. The relentlessness of the positive Gs on these things tips ...

I can feel my thoosie card getting ripped from my pocket, but it's my honest take: I do not like batclones. I've never enjoyed a single one. The relentlessness of the positive Gs on these things tips past fun and into uncomfortable for me. For a long time, I thought I didn't like inverts altogether, just because of how much I didn't love Batman. I don't get it. I'm glad everyone else seems to.

Repaint Nitro! It's all this baby needs. Nitro was my first ever favorite coaster, and it has barely waned. It's currently still my favorite B&M hyper. The first two drops, the helices, and the last s...

Repaint Nitro! It's all this baby needs. Nitro was my first ever favorite coaster, and it has barely waned. It's currently still my favorite B&M hyper. The first two drops, the helices, and the last several bunny hills are all a total blast. It also gives a delightful night ride. I hope they maintain this thing forever.

Two years ago, I'd have happily given this 4.5 stars. I'd have considered 5! Jersey Devil was my favorite ride in my home park for a hot second. Unfortunately, that track got rough in a hurry. What's ...

Two years ago, I'd have happily given this 4.5 stars. I'd have considered 5! Jersey Devil was my favorite ride in my home park for a hot second. Unfortunately, that track got rough in a hurry. What's worse is that the vest harness, which didn't bother me when it was smoother, is now noticeably uncomfortable during my ride. I hope RMC figures out a maintenance trick with these raptors, because they're amazing when they're new, but they all seem to be feeling old before their time.

El Toro is a 5/5 when it's relatively smooth. Unfortunately, it's been a long time since that was the case. I'm really looking forward to the retracking they're doing over the next few years. I think ...

El Toro is a 5/5 when it's relatively smooth. Unfortunately, it's been a long time since that was the case. I'm really looking forward to the retracking they're doing over the next few years. I think El Toro will once again be a 5-star coaster after some TLC.

"Capacity" stands in for throughout and ops here, as this ride's cycles take just way too long. Happy to say that it's the only flaw GhostRider's got, though. A certified masterpiece, and a nearly per...

"Capacity" stands in for throughout and ops here, as this ride's cycles take just way too long. Happy to say that it's the only flaw GhostRider's got, though. A certified masterpiece, and a nearly perfect coaster.

I'm generally a wild mouse apologist. This thing absolutely sucks. The throughput is awful, the restraints (especially the shin guards) are awful, and it's absolutely trimmed to death. This plot of la...

I'm generally a wild mouse apologist. This thing absolutely sucks. The throughput is awful, the restraints (especially the shin guards) are awful, and it's absolutely trimmed to death. This plot of land would be better if it was occupied by three benches and a flower bed.

Look, if Hulk could stay in mint condition forever, it'd be a half-star higher, easily. Unfortunately, a launched B&M that cycles a million times a year just isn't going to be able to stay glassy smoo...

Look, if Hulk could stay in mint condition forever, it'd be a half-star higher, easily. Unfortunately, a launched B&M that cycles a million times a year just isn't going to be able to stay glassy smooth. The vfx in the tunnel, the initial launch, and the custom audio are all huge plusses for this legendary coaster. I wish the second half was as good as the first, but it's a nitpick. Hulk is an icon.

Velocicoaster is perfect. It's incredibly well-themed, with stunning raptor animatronics. The actual actors from the film in the preshow, rather than someone doing their best impression in a voice ove...

Velocicoaster is perfect. It's incredibly well-themed, with stunning raptor animatronics. The actual actors from the film in the preshow, rather than someone doing their best impression in a voice over. And that's before you even get to its world-class layout. I'd ride this thing a hundred times in a row if my body could handle it. The top hat is a delight. The mozasaurus roll exceeds the hype. Intamin found a new gear here. Long live VC.

This is my honest opinion: Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure™️ is not an elite attraction. You can't have an elite ride based on volume of theming when the themed elements are all of ...

This is my honest opinion: Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure™️ is not an elite attraction. You can't have an elite ride based on volume of theming when the themed elements are all of middling quality. Hagrid's replacement voice actor was noticeably (jarringly) off throughout. Precisely 0 animatronics were impressive. The Devil's Snare doesn't even attempt to present riders with an illusion—merely some fake vines. You can't have an elite ride based on volume of elements when the coaster elements are all of middling quality. Both the backwards section and the drop track were the mildest I'd ever experienced on any coaster. Every launch was rendered anti-climactic by having us slow to a stop mere seconds later to look at some (unimpressive) themed elements. I was never able to lose myself in the joy of the ride’s physical sensations. The budget for this ride, the quality of its manufacturer, and the word of mouth reputation it has made for some high expectations. For me, it didn't come close to meeting them. Instead, it begged the question: How is literally anyone preferring this to Velocicoaster? Taken together, the shortcomings here prevent me from considering Hagrid's to be an elite story ride, an elite coaster, or an elite story coaster. It's a tier below, and I have a hard time understanding anyone's 5-star rating here.