Reviews • Em McMahon

Sometimes, a coaster is gimmicky in a bad way—it overrelies on a stunt maneuver and ends up a one-trick pony. Siren's Curse seemed so likely to end up...

Sometimes, a coaster is gimmicky in a bad way—it overrelies on a stunt maneuver and ends up a one-trick pony. Siren's Curse seemed so likely to end up in that group, but instead, it's a new top 10 coaster for me. The tilt track is insane in the front and the back, and the rest of the layout absolutely flies. Add in some good theming (particularly the on board audio) and you've got an elite coaster.

I'm not gonna be a contrarian about this elite monstrosity. I'm just gonna complain about RMC trains. The way these lap bars sit on my thighs makes ev...

I'm not gonna be a contrarian about this elite monstrosity. I'm just gonna complain about RMC trains. The way these lap bars sit on my thighs makes every would-be euphoric moment of ejector air a painful interruption instead. I'm dying for a change so I can really enjoy their world-class designs, but until then, the newer RMCs just aren't gonna be my jam.

Pantheon is awesome. It might be higher if it was the first modern Intamin to blow my mind, but it's a notch below Velocicoaster as a ride (and severa...

Pantheon is awesome. It might be higher if it was the first modern Intamin to blow my mind, but it's a notch below Velocicoaster as a ride (and several notches below when it comes to theming). Still, the backwards airtime hill, rear spike, and eventual launch into the top hat are all absolutely incredible. The rest of the ride whips, too.

I chose "harness" as a con because there's no option for "seat belt," and the insanely small belts on this ride suck. That said, Outlaw Run is a lunat...

I chose "harness" as a con because there's no option for "seat belt," and the insanely small belts on this ride suck. That said, Outlaw Run is a lunatic ride that I love with my whole heart. Avoid the wheel seats and the roughness goes away. Ride it in the front at night for the ideal experience. It is an unbelievable night ride—in league with Beast and Voyage.

I only considered giving Time Traveler less than 5 stars for a moment, and that's because I know Ride to Happiness is out there. But, having not ridde...

I only considered giving Time Traveler less than 5 stars for a moment, and that's because I know Ride to Happiness is out there. But, having not ridden RtH myself yet, I can't in good faith handicap this rating. Time Traveler is a top 5 coaster for me, out of the 159 I've ridden so far. Ride it in the back two rows and experience the delirium that is the drop out of the station. What an awesome ode to disorientation this thing is.

What do you want from a coaster if not Maverick? It's relentless without being painful. It's engaging the entire time. It feels impossible that a ride...

What do you want from a coaster if not Maverick? It's relentless without being painful. It's engaging the entire time. It feels impossible that a ride with these stats is this good, but then you ride it, and you ride it again, and you never wanna stop. I didn't think a steel coaster could be elite without being huge. Maverick, true to its name, proved me wrong.

The second drop through Thunderbolt is exhilarating. The minimal restraints are totally wild. The comfy legroom is a huge plus, honestly! PR delivers ...

The second drop through Thunderbolt is exhilarating. The minimal restraints are totally wild. The comfy legroom is a huge plus, honestly! PR delivers everything you want from a hyper, and it honestly felt like it was to steel coasters what Phoenix is to wooden ones—just a perfect execution on a simple idea with a seat experience that doesn't get in your way one bit.

I understand intellectually that it's short for a world-class ride, but it's just too good for me to care. The station theming, the custom on-ride aud...

I understand intellectually that it's short for a world-class ride, but it's just too good for me to care. The station theming, the custom on-ride audio, the first drop, the overbank—it adds up to a perfect ride. Maybe it could be better if it was longer, but I prefer a ride that goes out on top to one that meanders its way into a middling finale.

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 h...

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.

I was warned that Banshee would be rough and rattle. I didn't experience that at all! Maybe riding in the front saved me a headache, but I was mostly ...

I was warned that Banshee would be rough and rattle. I didn't experience that at all! Maybe riding in the front saved me a headache, but I was mostly struck by how much I liked it's graceful, drawn-out layout, and the cool visuals. I'm personally not a fan of the relentless positive Gs found on batclones, so this big-scale invert was way more my speed.

Diamondback is killer! It's also, as of my ride in 2025, the hyper with the worst rattle of those I've ridden. Unfortunately, that knocks it down a pe...

Diamondback is killer! It's also, as of my ride in 2025, the hyper with the worst rattle of those I've ridden. Unfortunately, that knocks it down a peg for me. Still, it's a super fun ride, it's not painful at all, and the splashdown is a really nice touch.

Orion was my first B&M giga, and I rode it before ever riding Diamondback. I think that helped me see it for what it is, rather than what it isn't. Fu...

Orion was my first B&M giga, and I rode it before ever riding Diamondback. I think that helped me see it for what it is, rather than what it isn't. Fury 325 may well blow it out of the water! But even if it does, this is still a lightning-fast delight with an amazing first drop and a smooth-as-butter ride. Love the back row on Orion. I can't wait to come back and ride it again.

Let me be the latest person to rave about the Beast's night rides. During the day, I had a good time and was giggling at the goofy weirdo layout. At n...

Let me be the latest person to rave about the Beast's night rides. During the day, I had a good time and was giggling at the goofy weirdo layout. At night? It's a religious experience. It's transcendent. Make sure you get in line by 9:59 and wait as long as it takes. It's an unforgettable ride.

Oh man. It's hard not to ding Mystic Timbers for the totally unfair fact of it not being The Voyage. Unfortunately, that is what keeps me from giving ...

Oh man. It's hard not to ding Mystic Timbers for the totally unfair fact of it not being The Voyage. Unfortunately, that is what keeps me from giving it that last half star. Well, that, and the fact that (spoilers ahead) the shed is a letdown. For me, I wish they'd just gone 100% practical with the effects. I found it spookier before the screens turned on. The video snakes are just not eerie the way this foreboding, haunted, space-out-of-time was when it was mysterious. Nonetheless, it's an amazing coaster and my favorite at Kings Island!

Man, I wanna sing Raven's praises, but it was the lone ride in the park that was straight-up rough. Even in a front row seat, there was a section that...

Man, I wanna sing Raven's praises, but it was the lone ride in the park that was straight-up rough. Even in a front row seat, there was a section that jolted me right into a headache. If the next retracking smoothes out the rattle, I'll run back for another lap. But for now, it's a one and done.

For a 25 year old CCI, I can't believe how comfortable my ride on Legend was. The ending laterals are totally unhinged. It's not the Voyage, but it's ...

For a 25 year old CCI, I can't believe how comfortable my ride on Legend was. The ending laterals are totally unhinged. It's not the Voyage, but it's not trying to be. Loved it.

By far my favorite B&M wing coaster so far. Love the launch and the views in the front. Short, but ultimately in a good way for my money. Instead of m...

By far my favorite B&M wing coaster so far. Love the launch and the views in the front. Short, but ultimately in a good way for my money. Instead of meandering and wearing out its welcome, it leaves you wanting to get back in line. Great ride.

I was left totally speechless. It's unreal that this thing lives up to the hype when it has *so much* hype. I got 7 rides in one day easily. The front...

I was left totally speechless. It's unreal that this thing lives up to the hype when it has *so much* hype. I got 7 rides in one day easily. The front was actually my favorite—just stunning sense of speed and visuals to go with an elite layout. Ride it at night if you can. Even without the MCBR turned off, it still hauled. Amazing ride.

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 volu...

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.

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 unti...

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.

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 relen...

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.

I'm glad a coaster with this much history is still up and running. And I think the refurb they gave it for its 100th last year is beautiful! But it's ...

I'm glad a coaster with this much history is still up and running. And I think the refurb they gave it for its 100th last year is beautiful! But it's just a little too rough. I rode it in the front row, and I had to ride it pretty defensively. There's one bad pothole in particular. And (probably to compensate for the roughness) it's trimmed to death.

I sat front center on IM, so take this with a grain of salt, but I really enjoyed it! I'm not huge on Dives, but I loved the first drop and the loop o...

I sat front center on IM, so take this with a grain of salt, but I really enjoyed it! I'm not huge on Dives, but I loved the first drop and the loop on this one. It for sure would've scored higher if not for the insanely shuffley moments in each transition. It almost feels like a zigzag was built into the track itself. Wild for any B&M, let alone one this new.

Impulses are maybe just not for me! The holding brake might've made a difference if it worked? But generally, this felt like a worse drop tower and no...

Impulses are maybe just not for me! The holding brake might've made a difference if it worked? But generally, this felt like a worse drop tower and not a coaster.

Maybe I'm spoiled by how much I love Medusa at SFGAd but this was the second floorless that I thought was boring and pointless. The Jojo roll was... f...

Maybe I'm spoiled by how much I love Medusa at SFGAd but this was the second floorless that I thought was boring and pointless. The Jojo roll was... fine? The first drop and next inversion were a blast, but everything else felt pointless.

I was kinda let down by Steel Force! It didn't feel like much to me. It was comfortable and pleasant, but I just didn't feel like it did much. The air...

I was kinda let down by Steel Force! It didn't feel like much to me. It was comfortable and pleasant, but I just didn't feel like it did much. The airtime was weak, and the trims hit pretty hard.

I'm on record not loving inverts because they're usually a little too heavy on the positive Gs for me, but I loved Talon! It's a killer front row ride...

I'm on record not loving inverts because they're usually a little too heavy on the positive Gs for me, but I loved Talon! It's a killer front row ride for sure, and it was a great mix of intensity and glide-y moments.

Flying Turns is more of a cool achievement and a novel experience than a killer coaster. It is a lot of fun for a low-force, family-thrill kind of rid...

Flying Turns is more of a cool achievement and a novel experience than a killer coaster. It is a lot of fun for a low-force, family-thrill kind of ride, though!

Phoenix entirely lives up to the hype. So many absolutely lunatic airtime pops. The absolute peak of buzzbar joy. In the front row, it basically force...

Phoenix entirely lives up to the hype. So many absolutely lunatic airtime pops. The absolute peak of buzzbar joy. In the front row, it basically forces you to stand up to ride out the flow of the bunny hills. I love this thing.