Coaster reviews

Theming Smoothness Layout Too short Harness

The ride has a lap bar that's hilariously unaccomodating to larger riders, but unlike Penguin Trek they didn't have to staple me to make me fit. I also like the theming way more, the station is absolutely gorgeous. The ride is short, but it has fun gentle forces. Unlike Penguin Trek this one is far from forceless. If you've ridden Dragonflier, it's a lot like that. I definitely prefer Vekoma's new SFCs a lot more. A decent ride and a worthy replacement for Sand Serpent and Phoenix, better than both and really rounds out the area. If only my enjoyment of the ride hadn't been tainted by mourning of the loss of the coaster across the midway...

Theming Launch Rattle Too short Harness

This ride is definitely a family coaster in that it doesn't feel like it's made for adults. There's a weird rattle in some spots, the lap bar fits weirdly and probably only fits kids and thin people, and the ride is very short for having two launches. The theming is good. It doesn't pull any significant forces. A run ride for kids but it doesn't do anything for me.

Airtimes Pace Layout

A fast paced, intense coaster with plenty of airtime and tight turns. The transitions are zippy, the drop gives airtime in every row, the airtime gets more intense as the ride goes on, and I love the cheetah hunt turns and the outer and overbanks. A flawless ride whose only flaw is not being as fast or long or tall as typical hyper, if you could call that a flaw.

Airtimes Nice surprise! Fun Rattle

I literally got insane standing up airtime on the first airtime hill, and the second two are no slouch either. The rest of the ride doesn't give any notable airtime, but the laterals get more intense as each u-turn gets tighter. The surprise hit of the park and it's still in 3rd place.

First Drop Location Duration Rattle

The best part, or the worst part, is the finale. That fast rush through the woods. Crazy laterals and incredible speed with the cold forest air in your face, if you're in the front. In the back, it's a rough as shit beatdown that slams you around. The rest of the ride has amazing drops in the back with awesome airtime, but in the front it's just okay. Wherever you sit you're trading something off. The front row ride is amazing for the finale alone, but the rest of the ride is just okay.

Airtimes Location Layout

I wish this ride was a little longer, and I wish it had an inversion. There are some rough spots on the last turnaround. That's my only critique. The ride has airtime on every element, is well paced, and has a great terrIn layout. Not my favorite RMC but a damn good one.

Airtimes Pace Duration

Thunderhead is a monster of a GCI. It's unpredictable, long, and has no breaks in pace or dead space. The terrain is used very well, the views of the rest of the park is great, the Millennium Flyers are incredibly comfy, and the ride is smooth, especially for its age. This is my favorite GCI and it beats out Mystic Timbers for its crazy twister layout.

Location Intensity Duration

This one has crazy laterals on all of the turns if you go no brakes. The last helix had me yelling.

Location Layout Duration

A nice long ride in a beautiful location. Some powerful helixes, tiny little airtime pops, and a great sense of speed through the smokey mountain air and the trees.

Theming Launch Smoothness

Aside from not being a very forceful coaster, Big Bear Mountain is an outstanding ride. Well themed, smooth, comfortable, and very long. There's mild airtime all throughout, some fast transitions, and onride audio.

First Drop Fun Smoothness Too short

This ride is short but has a good first drop and overbank. The rest has 2 pretty strong helixes and minor negative g forces that don't give airtime. Fun ride.

Theming Nice surprise! Smoothness Dead spots

A stop and go family coaster with a surprisingly intense backwards section. Well themed and fun.

First Drop Theming Rattle Headbanging Discomfort

Would have been great if the harness didn't bang around my head and shoulders.

First Drop Inversions Location Discomfort

The ride has strange potholes and bumps in some spots, but the first drop is sharp, the inversions are smooth, and the hangtime is exceptional. The view is beautiful and the best part of the ride, plus it's well themed and has nice merchandise. The harness feels tighter on my shoulders and collarbone than on Thunderbird but not enough to ruin the experience, which is ultimately pretty mild but fun.

First Drop Theming

A fun dark ride with some moving figures and a handful of cool special effects. The drops are excellent. A big surprise for me.

First Drop Inversions Harness Too short

There's some shuffling but none to cause any sort of headbanging. The first drop gives incredible airtime, great hangtime on Dolly's Iron Butterfly, and very powerful positive gs on the last two inversions. The ride is unfortunately very short but is great start to finish.

Airtimes Pace Lap Bar

These timberliners seem tiny and hard to fit into. Made the airtime painful. Good ride but I dislike the lap bar.

Theming Fun Smoothness Too short

A smooth and fun ride with nice theming. The curves are smooth and twisty, the first one being fast and powerful the first time and giving slow sideways hangtime the second. There's a curve before the spike that gives great positives. There's an airtime hill that gives good airtime the first time and weird backwards floater the second. The spikes are great, especially midway through giving great floater air.

Location Comfort Ejectors Too short

A fun little ride with a couple crazy airtime pops. It's short but very comfy and fun, not very rough especially for its age.

Airtimes Pace Layout Too short

Orion's only weakness is its length. If it had a couple more elements it would be a contendor for my favorite coaster, but Fury's final hills eek it out. Orion is an outstanding coaster. Ride in the front row near the end of the day and you'll see what I mean. The speed is incredible, the airtime is excellent, and every element brings something unique. The scale of the ride is enormous and every element feels huge. And it has the huge benefit of being a B&M hyper model, with its high capacity and very comfortable restraints. The giga speed and size make this one absolutely world class and somehow my new favorite coaster at Kings Island, beating out the truly incredible Beast, Diamondback, and Mystic Timbers in dramatic fashion and becoming my second favorite Giga, somehow beating out Millennium Force and 305 somewhat effortlessly.

Theming Location Fun Discomfort

Though not that comfortable, it's a well paced and well themed mine train with a cool setting and ending.

Inversions Layout Rattle Disappointing! Intensity

Banshee is my least favorite invert. It has no whip in its inversions, and the moments of intensity are ruined by stange jackhammering that I've never experienced on any other invert. The beautiful paint, theming, and layout make this such a shame.

Airtimes Pace Intensity

My first ride on Diamondback in 7 years and my first ride in the front row has provided me with a new perspective, as now with the knowledge that I prefer front row on most coasters I can confidently say this is no longer my least favorite B&M hyper, and one of my favorites at Kings Island. Every hill gives great airtime, there are impressive moments of positive gs, and the setting and theme further elevate the experience. As always the ride is very comfy and accommodating. No complaints, but the second half's airtime is noticeably less intense.

Rattle Headbanging Harness

Slow, rough, boring. Not as bad as the average SLC.

Comfort Fun Dead spots

Hurler is an unremarkable coaster. Regardless it fills a valuable niche in the Carowinds lineup. It's smooth, boring, inoffensive. Probably really good first wooden coaster for a kid. I find the minimal theming almost charming.

Location Capacity Harness Discomfort

The only good thing about this coaster is the needlessly gorgeous landscape, and its status as the first proper flying coaster. The line moves slow, the loading is slow, the capacity sucks, and it's the most uncomfortable I've ever been on a coaster. Crappy ride.

Discomfort

This ride is not comfortable. Really powerful G forces, really unkind to the legs and groin somewhere as hot as North Carolina.

Pace Layout Rattle

Great layout. Unfortunately despite all the work that's been done on this ride it is rough as shit. Completely unpleasant and hardly bearable.

Inversions Discomfort

Great layout. Unfortunately this park already has a good floorless coaster so this ride won't get converted. I can't handle the power of early B&M while standing up on a coaster this long after the long walk to the back of the park. Arduous and not for me.

Theming Headbanging Harness Discomfort

I don't remember this ride being enjoyable. It banged my head and legs around, the transitions were jarring, and the sound wasn't working. But at least the flame effects and the station music was cool.