Reviews • David

It was a fun family coaster ride that spent most of its time inside the dark mountain. There wasn’t much going on in there that I could see but the ri...

It was a fun family coaster ride that spent most of its time inside the dark mountain. There wasn’t much going on in there that I could see but the ride itself was fun and low intensity.

I found this super comfortable (love the trains and wish every wood coaster could get trains with this level of comfort that blows the PTC trains away...

I found this super comfortable (love the trains and wish every wood coaster could get trains with this level of comfort that blows the PTC trains away!) and the ride itself was a smooth and fun ride that I would recommend to anyone just to take a break from the intense stuff. The problem with this ride is going to be the slow single-train operations but if you come back here late in the evening then the little monsters are much fewer in number ;-)

This is just an okay ride with a short launch at the beginning and then I just sort of brace myself to get to the end. It doesn’t help that the themin...

This is just an okay ride with a short launch at the beginning and then I just sort of brace myself to get to the end. It doesn’t help that the theming elements are all turned off but the ride itself is not great.

This Arrow suspended coaster felt the most out of control when compared to the ones at Cedar Point, Kings Island, and Magic Mountain. They each have a...

This Arrow suspended coaster felt the most out of control when compared to the ones at Cedar Point, Kings Island, and Magic Mountain. They each have a unique layout and integration with the terrain so they really are such wonderful works of roller coaster art that everyone loves. It’s baffling to me why these coasters haven’t been improved upon and continued to be installed in more parks but maybe Arrow’s patents prevent something similar from their competitors. Anyway, this one really swings you fully from side to side with a frightening amount of energy and speed and it’s really a smooth and exhilarating experience.

I did not like this at all, it was just way too forceful and gave me a headache. Griffon at BGW is the best B&M dive and this is the overly intense ve...

I did not like this at all, it was just way too forceful and gave me a headache. Griffon at BGW is the best B&M dive and this is the overly intense version of a dive.

Until riding Leviathan I didn’t think B&M could execute a good giga but it turns out they actually could and I love this one. For whatever reason, I n...

Until riding Leviathan I didn’t think B&M could execute a good giga but it turns out they actually could and I love this one. For whatever reason, I never could get into Fury or Orion much beyond a couple rides but this one I just spent the evening riding over and over and over and it puts a huge smile on my face every time. The rush of speed, the massive amounts of airtime, the super long weightless 300 ft first drop, it all just works. I was riding it thinking that it makes me feel like the first time I rode Millenium Force back in 2003. It’s just pure bliss and I never want it to stop.

It was the usual Vekoma Boomerang clone, so I was quite dizzy afterwards. One interesting thing, the second lift chain seemed to really move fast com...

It was the usual Vekoma Boomerang clone, so I was quite dizzy afterwards. One interesting thing, the second lift chain seemed to really move fast compared to the couple other boomerangs I’ve ridden recently.

I actually enjoyed this SLC, though at this point I always brace my body and head to avoid the dreaded ear banging. This brought back memories since i...

I actually enjoyed this SLC, though at this point I always brace my body and head to avoid the dreaded ear banging. This brought back memories since it seems like it has original style SLC trains with the ear bashers.

It’s a standard wild mouse, mercifully with no spinning. The one thing going for it is the unique international themed cars from different countries s...

It’s a standard wild mouse, mercifully with no spinning. The one thing going for it is the unique international themed cars from different countries shaped a little like toboggans.

Since La Ronde has so many clones of rides from other parks, the real two unique rides are the wood coaster Monster and this Dragon indoor dark ride a...

Since La Ronde has so many clones of rides from other parks, the real two unique rides are the wood coaster Monster and this Dragon indoor dark ride and I definitely enjoyed this ride. Like most indoor coasters, the track has to weave around inside a building but within the constraints it’s a wonderful family coaster that is smooth and has fun dragon theming inside. I definitely prefer this to any other indoor coaster I’ve ridden, including the new Intamin indoor DarKoaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

Monster is another 5 star wood coaster that is brought down by the park management’s refusal to properly maintain it in like new condition with fresh ...

Monster is another 5 star wood coaster that is brought down by the park management’s refusal to properly maintain it in like new condition with fresh lumber and partial rebuilds it needs every year. As it is now, it’s barely enjoyable because you just spend the entire time bracing your body for each rough bang and jolt. Waiting in the queue you are surrounded by rotting ancient wood supports that look unsafe. It’s a shame and it’s unfortunately all too common at amusement parks consumed by shortsighted greed.

I usually really enjoy the Batman clones but this one just seemed a bit more forceful and crazy than previous ones, which many folks here would love I...

I usually really enjoy the Batman clones but this one just seemed a bit more forceful and crazy than previous ones, which many folks here would love I guess but to me was not great. It’s not very re-rideable for me.

I got a chance to ride a brand new wood coaster with green lumber and it was super smooth and fun. The ride itself is a small family wood coaster. The...

I got a chance to ride a brand new wood coaster with green lumber and it was super smooth and fun. The ride itself is a small family wood coaster. The park did a wonderful job integrating the landscaping including a wonderful water cascade and gardens around the ride. The queue is located in the center of the lift hill and first drop giving a wonderful view while waiting. There’s a great visual scare head-chopper moment after the first drop and then you’re sort of racing through bunny hops and curves. There’s not much intensity but it’s a lot of fun and can be re-ridden with no fear of pain. The restraints and trains are very comfortable too. Big kudos to Great Escape for building a new wooden coaster at this park.

I’ve ridden too many of these boomerangs by now but this one was not bad and almost made me want to re-ride it. It’s a fairly standard version of the ...

I’ve ridden too many of these boomerangs by now but this one was not bad and almost made me want to re-ride it. It’s a fairly standard version of the ride with the old horse collar restraints but it didn’t hurt my head like usual, just made me dizzy.

Steaming Demon is another older Arrow coaster originally built in 1978 and then moved to Great Escape in 1984. I’m usually a huge fan of Arrow Custom ...

Steaming Demon is another older Arrow coaster originally built in 1978 and then moved to Great Escape in 1984. I’m usually a huge fan of Arrow Custom Looping Coasters (CLCs) and so I saved it and rode it as my 250th credit. Unfortunately it was as rough as any Arrow coaster and gave me a pretty bad snap in my neck entering the corkscrew.

This ride originally from 1972 and refurbished and moved to SFGE in 2003 is an interesting piece of history and is still pretty fun and smooth all thi...

This ride originally from 1972 and refurbished and moved to SFGE in 2003 is an interesting piece of history and is still pretty fun and smooth all things considered. Most Arrow mine trains are pretty rough at this point but this didn’t seem too rough and had a fun first section after a quick lift hill and then a second larger lift hill with a dramatic triple helix finish. It’s a great introduction for kids and it’s great that the park was able to save it from the scrap heap and keep it going.

Comet isn’t the most intense coaster but I found it to be the most interesting ride at Great Escape with its old school steel structure and airtime hi...

Comet isn’t the most intense coaster but I found it to be the most interesting ride at Great Escape with its old school steel structure and airtime hills. It’s a bit rough on my back on the low point of each drop so I just brace myself but it’s fairly minor for a wooden coaster. I noticed the lift hill had fresh lumber so I’m giving props to the park for maintaining this well.

Just like the other old Vekoma SLC at the park, this wasn’t bad for a standard Boomerang clone. If I sustain minimal brain injuries then it’s mission ...

Just like the other old Vekoma SLC at the park, this wasn’t bad for a standard Boomerang clone. If I sustain minimal brain injuries then it’s mission accomplished.

This wasn’t really terrible for an SLC lol. I haven’t ridden one of these in many years so it was fun to revisit a clone type everyone loves to hate. ...

This wasn’t really terrible for an SLC lol. I haven’t ridden one of these in many years so it was fun to revisit a clone type everyone loves to hate. My advice to SFNE is replace this with a new generation Vekoma like Big Bear Mountain at Dollywood which is buttery smooth and fun for everyone.

This was a fun older ride that had a few pot holes/rough spots that hurt my neck. It needs some TLC from the park to really shine but it’s a great rid...

This was a fun older ride that had a few pot holes/rough spots that hurt my neck. It needs some TLC from the park to really shine but it’s a great ride nonetheless.

Superman has excellent theming and I love the narrow-gauge Intamin track that sort of makes the ride more visually impressive than the wide B&M track....

Superman has excellent theming and I love the narrow-gauge Intamin track that sort of makes the ride more visually impressive than the wide B&M track. It has lots of airtime hills and swoops around quite a bit with two well placed tunnels. The river view is amazing going up that slow lift hill. For comparisons, this is like a slightly smaller Millenium Force with the overbanked turn after the first drop and the big airtime hills at high speed. The problem is that Millenium Force (and I305) is much longer and taller and absolutely blows this thing out of the water with its epic scale. I like Superman but there’s just no way it’s in the same league as the Intamin gigas. This was on my bucket list since it was built in 2000 and I’m so glad to finally ride it a bunch of times.