Coaster reviews

First Drop Fun Layout

During its first year, the harness crushed my chest. On numerous rides since then, the harness has been much more comfortable, and I enjoy this coaster more each time I ride it. It's not overly intense, but it's a smooth and fun experience. The "near miss" maneuvers through the keyholes are an awesome element, and they always manage to scare me (but just a little!).

Airtimes Layout Duration Rattle Discomfort

This is a good classic woodie with a nice long ride and a creative layout. The front was a lot of fun with solid airtimes and laterals and only a slight rattle. The middle was good but not as fun as the front. The back, however, was awful. It rattled horribly, especially in the valleys where it jackhammered and slammed me into the lap bar and the side of the car. My rating is for the front and middle, which provide a good time.

Airtimes Lap Bar Fun Capacity

This feels a bit overrated. The only part that felt "elite" was the end. The final airtime hills are outstanding, and they are easily my favorite airtime moments of any coaster. That sustained floater is so cool, thanks to having just the buzz bar. Before that, though, I was a little bored. The first airtime hills were just OK and kind of clunky. The second hills were smooth and fun, but nothing exceptional. Capacity was horrible with one train running on a busy August weekend. Same for every coaster in the park. Why??

First Drop Pace Smoothness Airtimes Dead spots

MForce will always be one of my favorites, but it's definitely lost of some of its thrill factor over the years. That's simply because other coasters have surpassed it when it comes to getting your adrenaline pumping. On my most recent ride, I realized I was just "along for the ride" between the first banked curve and the last airtime hill. Everything in the middle felt rather forceless compared to newer coasters. At the same time, a night ride in the front is still awesome for that sheer feeling of speed.

Pace Intensity Duration Layout

I always look forward to riding GCIs, but this one disappointed me a bit. While I enjoyed the pacing and intensity, the layout didn't give me the adrenaline pump I get from my favorite GCIs (Mystic T, Renegade, Prowler). I enjoyed it enough to ride it multiple times, but I was expecting a little more.

Launch Layout Discomfort

Beat my expectations. Years ago, this left me underwhelmed. This time around, I enjoyed the intensity and the surprises in the dark. On the down side, some of the quick transitions can slam you against the lap bar and the side of the car.

First Drop Pace Smoothness Too short Dead spots

My first rides in daylight had noticeable dead spots, and the ride left me underwhelmed. However, Orion redeemed itself with two night rides in the front where I could feel the speed better, and the airtimes and laterals had much better intensity. The ending is an unwelcome surprise, leaving you thinking that the coaster should have added a few more elements.

Launch Fun Smoothness Too short

A solid coaster for this small park. The launch has a surprising kick and really catches you off guard. Good intensity overall. There's intense whip on one turn, reminding me of Maverick and I305. Hangtime at the end is fun. It's just over too quickly -- 30 seconds from launch to brake. I wanted more of this smooth and fun ride!

Layout Rattle Headbanging Discomfort

This SLC has a good first drop, but every element after that rattles a lot. Each transition comes with a headbanging jolt. I spent most of the ride grasping the OTSR and saying "ow" "uh" "aah." The layout appears to be fun, but I was getting smacked around too much to enjoy it. It was a slow day, so I was the only person on board for both of my rides. Front - bad. Back - really bad.

Location Rattle Discomfort Tear it down!

I didn't think it was possible for such a slow ride to be so painful. It rattles your bones throughout, and every transition delivers a jolt. I know this ride has history, but CP should start demolition immediately and create something awesome to put in its place.

First Drop Smoothness Disappointing!

I had high hopes for Talon, but my three rides left me feeling underwhelmed. It's an enjoyable invert and very smooth, but I didn't experience any of the whip or intensity that others have praised. My rides were in the morning, so maybe I would have liked it better later in the day after it warmed up?

Layout Rattle Discomfort

I'm a GCI fanboy, and I look forward to their rides. Well, Roar lands solidly at the bottom of my GCI list. Good grief, this thing rattles from start to finish. The layout has potential, but the constant shaking ruins what could be a fun coaster.

First Drop Pace Intensity

"Gentlemen! Start your ENGINES!!" My favorite coaster start -- I get an adrenaline rush every time. This was my #1 for years until RMCs crashed the party. As for the grey-out on the first turn, do the "fighter pilot clench." Clench major muscles - glutes, thighs, abs, biceps. It works - my grey-outs were either non-existent or mild. Anyway, I love the speed and intensity, especially on the snap turns. The best experience is after dark in front. The first drop feels twice as big, and the whole ride feels faster. I just wish they could get rid of the trim on the last airtime hill.

First Drop Fun Too short Capacity

My favorite first drop on a mouse. After that, it's a typical mousy layout.

Pace Layout Rattle Discomfort

Five years ago, I left disappointed because it was a great layout but with a really rough ride. GCI makes my favorite traditional woodies, so I was anxious to try Thunderhead again this year, especially after its retracking. I was so frustrated to discover it was closed both days I was at Dollywood. Maybe next year.

Nice surprise! Fun Layout Too short

Easily the best mouse I've ridden. It's very smooth. Nice layout with a mix of flat and banked curves. The spinning was mild, and I thought it worked really well. This is the first mouse where I wanted to get back on for a second go-around! (A long line deterred me.) The ride ops are efficient, and they keep the line moving as best they can with only four people to a car.

Fun Rattle

I rode this in 1979 when it was brand new and was one of the biggest and fastest coasters in the world. I bragged to all of my childhood friends about "surviving" it. It still holds up well four decades later. (Am I really that old?) Yeah, it's gotten a bit more shaky, but I still enjoy this classic.

Fun Layout Rattle

This was my first "big" coaster when I rode it as a kid. It scared me to death. After all these years, it still holds up pretty well. The helix at the end has gotten pretty rough, though.

Layout Rattle Tear it down!

The first half is pretty good and fairly smooth. But then... whoo boy. My main memory of this coaster will always be my view from the rear seat during the really rough second half, watching the people in front of me being tossed around like rag dolls, up and down, side to side. (I was holding on for dear life to the lap bar.) The helix at the end was torture. I thought maybe it would be better in a different seat, but there was no way I was getting back on for round 2.

Pace Intensity Ejectors Discomfort Lap Bar

The lap bar isn't overly painful like several years ago, but it's still too tight. It takes away from the enjoyment because you're thinking, "How much will this next element make the lap bar dig into my thighs?" I really like the pace and intensity, but Skyrush would be SO much better with decent restraints.

Airtimes Intensity Ejectors

Five stars in the middle and back. My favorite rides were near the back, and they were perfectly smooth with incredible airtimes and ejectors. What a crazy layout! My two rides near the front were surprisingly rough on a couple of the transitions, especially right at the end. My elbow and hip slammed hard against the side of the car. Top 10 coaster for me... just not in the front!

First Drop Smoothness Too short Disappointing! Layout

The first drop is awesome and is in my top 10 drops. But after that it just doesn't have the creative combination of elements found on other RMCs. It's also over too quickly. After each ride, I thought, "That's it??" So, out of 19 RMCs I've ridden, this comes in at #19. It's still fun and it's my favorite coaster at SFGAm, but it's a ride that always leaves me wanting more.

Airtimes Fun Rattle

For some reason, this side had a bit of rattle while the right side was really smooth. The airtimes on this are fun.

Airtimes Pace Layout

Last time I rode this was 5 years ago, and I'd forgotten just how insane it is. The airtime is incredible, and your behind is off the seat for most of the ride. It's amazing how many thrills RMC can pack into a small coaster footprint. In the front cars, airtimes near the end can be a little jarring. However, middle and back seats were smooth throughout.

First Drop Inversions Fun Capacity

One of the better eurofighter-style coasters I've ridden. The first drop is good, and there are some decent forces on the inversions and curves. Big negative - Knoebels was packed, and they were only running one train on every coaster in the park. Glad I got on this early before the line got really long.

Airtimes Fun Hangtime Disappointing! Dead spots

Start with a bang, end with a thud. Intamin created a great part 1, but part 2 feels like an afterthought. The first segment is really fun with the swing launch, backward airtime and the spike. But from the tophat to finish, it feels slow and lacks intensity. I was actually bored. As a result, this ride feels somewhat overrated because of the weak ending.

Location Duration Rattle Discomfort

I loved this when I first rode it in 1990. Unfortunately, it's gotten to be very painful. We rode every coaster in the park yesterday, and this is the only one that we gave a thumbs down. The constant rattling made us anxious for it to be done. I got a nice bruise on my thigh from being smacked against the lap bar numerous times. The only time the ride didn't shake was on the lift hills.

Nice surprise! Comfort Fun

I was surprised by how much fun this ride was. This is by far my favorite suspended coaster. Who would have expected such good pacing and smoothness from an old Arrow? The twists and turns had some good intensity and made this a nice surprise.

Airtimes Fun Smoothness

What an underrated woodie! This is a really fun, old-style wooden coaster that focuses on smooth and gentle airtimes. It's just such a pleasurable ride. I hadn't ridden this in years, and I was really surprised by how much more I liked it this time around.

Pace Headbanging

Like most floorless models, the headbanging is frequent. If they insist on using OTSRs, why not use shoulder straps instead of those bulky and annoying head-slappers?