Sean R. - Reviews

This is one of the better floorless coasters I've ridden in terms of pace and elements, but the theming and location are dreadful...the concrete, macadam view throughout the ride was one of the least ...

This is one of the better floorless coasters I've ridden in terms of pace and elements, but the theming and location are dreadful...the concrete, macadam view throughout the ride was one of the least inspiring layouts I've come across. Put some grass or turf down and/or move it out of the parking lot and this experience goes up notably.

By far, the most intense stand up I've ridden. It was much bigger and faster than I anticipated...and long too. If not for the most severe head-banging I've ever experienced, I'd say it was a pretty d...

By far, the most intense stand up I've ridden. It was much bigger and faster than I anticipated...and long too. If not for the most severe head-banging I've ever experienced, I'd say it was a pretty darn good ride.

This is my third raptor track RMC and I rate it as my favorite by a notable margin (vs. Jersey Devil and WW SF Fiesta). The first hill, which is not typically the highlight for me on this format, was ...

This is my third raptor track RMC and I rate it as my favorite by a notable margin (vs. Jersey Devil and WW SF Fiesta). The first hill, which is not typically the highlight for me on this format, was the best drop of any coaster at Magic Mountain (X2 was closed.) And the pacing and intensity were fantastic and relentless throughout. I didn't feel anything resembling the wear and tear of other raptor track rides...which tells me you really need to ride these coasters when they're young. My unexpected star of the day among the 12 coasters we were able to ride. The only gripe was the wait - slow operations, a couple downtime moments, and a single train in play made for a much longer wait than necessary.

I really, really liked Full Throttle. It was bigger than I expected it to be. The launch is really good, but not quite next level. The first inversion/loop is especially sinister given its deliberate ...

I really, really liked Full Throttle. It was bigger than I expected it to be. The launch is really good, but not quite next level. The first inversion/loop is especially sinister given its deliberate slow roll. I was not ready for the backward launch at the mid-point which added a nice extra degree of intensity. The last hill has great promise, but ends a bit abruptly. 100 more meters and this could have been a spectacular element. Full Throttle is not without its flaws or missed opportunities, but they certainly don't outweigh all that's good in the ride.

Flying coasters can be a hit/miss format for me personally. I wasn't a huge fan until hitting Manta earlier this year where the heightened intensity made it more enjoyable than my experience on SFOG S...

Flying coasters can be a hit/miss format for me personally. I wasn't a huge fan until hitting Manta earlier this year where the heightened intensity made it more enjoyable than my experience on SFOG Superman coaster. Tatsu furthered the appeal of the format - it was even more intense than Manta (at least the pretzel roll aspect was). And the setting and aesthetics of the coaster added further to the allure. It is a beautiful looking ride with beautiful views particularly when the sun is hitting it just right. Its still not my favorite format, but I found Tatsu to be a wicked coaster nonetheless.

I’d been growing a bit tired of B&M inverts as a format and had minimal expectations for this one going in…but it was a really pleasant surprise. I don’t think its ranking is representative of its qua...

I’d been growing a bit tired of B&M inverts as a format and had minimal expectations for this one going in…but it was a really pleasant surprise. I don’t think its ranking is representative of its quality. It’s a top rate invert with a lot of familiar elements that somehow felt unique. And they were certainly powerful! The night time ride only added to its appeal. I’m a big fan of Silver Bullet.

For an oldie, Scorpion was fine if not pretty good. It can't hold up to other coasters at BGT, but I enjoyed the drop, inversion and sustained helix elements. I can imagine its capacity is a real chal...

For an oldie, Scorpion was fine if not pretty good. It can't hold up to other coasters at BGT, but I enjoyed the drop, inversion and sustained helix elements. I can imagine its capacity is a real challenge on busy days as it was pretty brutal during an off-season visit. It's a bit of an eye-sore too. I wonder about its purpose in the park looking ahead. It doesn't seem to the same level of nostalgia behind it like a Loch Ness Monster at BGW. I'd say it's worth a ride if lines are short and you're swinging by, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it as there are so many other options at the park.

Icebreaker had all the pieces to be a remarkable ride, and all those pieces add up to a really good ride, but it felt like Premiere pulled their punches to broaden it's appeal. I wanted something alon...

Icebreaker had all the pieces to be a remarkable ride, and all those pieces add up to a really good ride, but it felt like Premiere pulled their punches to broaden it's appeal. I wanted something along the lines of Mr. Freeze or Full Throttle thrills...but Icebreaker's intensity fell well short of these (or so I hear). By no means is it devoid of thrill. It's still a really fun ride and a great starter thrill-coaster for young, aspiring enthusiasts. Just manage your expectations going in...a bit more than a family coaster, but a bit less than Premiere's biggest and best.

A pleasant surprise. This was the first ride we went on at SeaWorld Orlando and it set a great tone for the rest of our visit. I'm not a huge B&M floorless fan typically, but I found Kraken to be a b...

A pleasant surprise. This was the first ride we went on at SeaWorld Orlando and it set a great tone for the rest of our visit. I'm not a huge B&M floorless fan typically, but I found Kraken to be a beautiful ride with a great layout. It had much more pop than I was anticipating and no shortage of fun elements - with the multiple inversions (all of which delivered) being particularly noteworthy. Surprisingly, I’d put Kraken well ahead of Superman’s Krypton Coaster at SFSA. I think this ride is seriously underrated and overlooked/lost a bit among a great roster of coasters at the park.

This format seems to get a lot of criticism, which is compounded further by it's status as a clone...but, I love this format and loved my ride on Tigris. I went on Tempesto this summer, so Tigris didn...

This format seems to get a lot of criticism, which is compounded further by it's status as a clone...but, I love this format and loved my ride on Tigris. I went on Tempesto this summer, so Tigris didn't catch me off guard in quite the same way, but I really enjoyed it nonetheless. Capacity is a challenge. We were lucky, it was a slow day at BGT so we didn't have to wait too long for it. The launches are great, the stall/airtime after the backwards launch is a fantastic element, the slow inversion at the top is quite enjoyable, and the shoulder harnesses didn't both me in the slightest. I may be in the minority, but I'm a big fan. Both Tempesto and Tigris are severely underrated in my view...

Pipeline was a solid update to an otherwise fatigued format. I hope it breathes some life back into the stand-up coaster genre, which I feel has been too harshly judged over the years. The theming, la...

Pipeline was a solid update to an otherwise fatigued format. I hope it breathes some life back into the stand-up coaster genre, which I feel has been too harshly judged over the years. The theming, launch, design and layout are all extremely well done and the ride has some really good moments of intensity beyond the launch, which was the highlight of my ride. The only gripe is that it never gets beyond "3rd or 4th gear" in terms of speed or intensity. I was hoping for a little bit more from it, but I recognize my tastes are not that of everyone else. I think it's a smart addition to the park with appeal that should lend nicely to the masses and aspiring enthusiasts. Extreme coaster enthusiasts should give it a shot with tempered expectations and look to Manta to scratch their extreme intensity itch.

Manta completely changed my view on the flying coaster format. I've been on Superman Ultimate Flight (SFOG) and Nighthawk and really didn't enjoy either, but Manta was a stellar experience...bigger, f...

Manta completely changed my view on the flying coaster format. I've been on Superman Ultimate Flight (SFOG) and Nighthawk and really didn't enjoy either, but Manta was a stellar experience...bigger, faster, and much more forceful. I don't know why a more intense combination of the same elements I've experienced before were so much more enjoyable - they just were. And I'm grateful for it. I was not expecting it, but Manta was the best coaster in the park. Great theming, beautiful design and a wicked experience...and the pretzel roll...just wow! Loved it front to back. Only complaint was having to hang for about 90 seconds after our ride finished waiting for the train in front of us to clear. A small gripe in the grand scheme. Bring on Tatsu!

There's nothing to complain about here. Mako is a solid B&M Hyper. I loved the color, layout/location and theme/connection to the park, but these are secondary things for me...as a ride it ranks in th...

There's nothing to complain about here. Mako is a solid B&M Hyper. I loved the color, layout/location and theme/connection to the park, but these are secondary things for me...as a ride it ranks in the middle of my B&M hyper experiences. Really good, but not great...Nitro is still the horse to beat (among those I've ridden.)

Kumba is 30 years old and while past its prime delivered a pretty noteworthy experience. It doesn't compare to Iron Gwazi (not much will), but it had a good amount of intensity throughout the entire r...

Kumba is 30 years old and while past its prime delivered a pretty noteworthy experience. It doesn't compare to Iron Gwazi (not much will), but it had a good amount of intensity throughout the entire ride and I can only imagine how it stacked up to other coasters when it first came out. It must have truly stood out among the top coasters of the time. The foundations you now find in most B&M Hypers are evident in the car and track design. But surprisingly, it had a lot more tricks up its sleeve than the most modern of B&M hypers...inversions, corkscrews, etc. Made me wonder what something like Candymonium, Intimidator, Goliath (SFOG) or Mako would feel like if inversions were added to the equation. I have to imagine B&M has some things to gain if were to add some of Kumba's elements to its newest Hyper designs. One can dream...

I wanted to like this coaster more than I actually did. Don't get me wrong, I really liked it, but I didn't love it as many folks clearly do. I found the first launch to be underwhelming; albeit, the...

I wanted to like this coaster more than I actually did. Don't get me wrong, I really liked it, but I didn't love it as many folks clearly do. I found the first launch to be underwhelming; albeit, the drop that followed was great. From there, it was a bit too herky-jerky for my liking throughout the ride and a bit disorientating as a result. This is me splitting hairs, it's still a top 10-12 coaster and full of proper intensity and fun. But as an experience, its a tier down from my all-time favorites and so I'm being a bit critical to create some separation from those as a result.

A great dive coaster experience, which is a genre of coaster I really enjoy. What Dr. Diabolical lacks in height vs. other dive coasters, it makes up for in the 95 degree vertical drop and fantastic t...

A great dive coaster experience, which is a genre of coaster I really enjoy. What Dr. Diabolical lacks in height vs. other dive coasters, it makes up for in the 95 degree vertical drop and fantastic theming that you might expect from a Disney or Universal ride - not necessarily Six Flags. This is my #2 at the park behind Iron Rattler... It's too short, as are all Dive coasters, but the theming makes the experience feel much longer and immersive. Getting yelled at to "scream" while draped over a 150 foot beyond vertical drop was a really nice touch!

The Dad: This ride is unbelievable and lived up to the hype for me. That it sits 45 minutes from my house at a really (I mean "really") small park with carnival rides as your alternatives is almost to...

The Dad: This ride is unbelievable and lived up to the hype for me. That it sits 45 minutes from my house at a really (I mean "really") small park with carnival rides as your alternatives is almost too odd to be true...but it meant no lines, low cost, and easy access to a top 10 coaster on the planet. I have to imagine Fun Spot is seeing the long view with this investment. I hope they keep this coaster to standard over time as it is truly a gem. We went on 4 rides in 75 minutes and could have done twice as many if we didn't take some breaths in between rides. I have it below Steve and above Twisted Timbers and Lightening Rod as my #2 RMC...we'll see where Iron Gwazi lands in a couple of weeks after a trip to Tampa. The first hill is awesome and the pacing across a plethora of high intensity elements from the first hill to the finish is just brilliant. That a record setting zero G-stall is the most sedate moment after the lift hill should tell you everything. It is packed with fantastic elements from start to finish, it never relents and the outward-banked airtime hill rivals Steve as the #2 moment I've ever had on a roller coaster (behind I305's first drop.) The front was more fun than the back for my daughter and I...it's smooth and silky no matter where you sit. The staff and operations were really top notch as well.96/100 from me. The Daughter: one less hill at the end would have been just fine (5 would do it.) The lap bar had me thinking I would fly out at any moment (she weighs 60 lbs). The first hill and the upside down part were both amazing...the first hill was my favorite part, especially from the front seat. My #1 RMC ahead of Twisted Cyclone (my only other at the time of riding.) It trails Hagrid's as my favorite coaster, but I loved this just the same.

We jumped on Thunderhead to start the day and came back to it for multiple rides towards the end of my first Dollywood experience. While we came to the park with our eyes set on other coasters (that a...

We jumped on Thunderhead to start the day and came back to it for multiple rides towards the end of my first Dollywood experience. While we came to the park with our eyes set on other coasters (that also delivered), Thunderhead really brought a unique intensity and fun factor. It's fantastic modern wooden coaster that's easily overlooked in a park with many other enjoyable rides. But don't miss this one...simply too much fun and the only coaster whose capacity and appeal enabled 4+ rides in the same day. UPDATE after recent visit - Thunderhead was even better than I remembered. I've yet to hit Mystic Timbers, which sound like stands in a class of its own - for the moment, Thunderhead is my favorite CGI by a distance. Love the pacing and intensity. Night ride added to the experience.

This was my 4th B&M Invert of the summer after Raptor, Afterburn, and a Batman clone. I must say, I really liked it despite the novelty being a bit worn out. The setting, theming and views were much b...

This was my 4th B&M Invert of the summer after Raptor, Afterburn, and a Batman clone. I must say, I really liked it despite the novelty being a bit worn out. The setting, theming and views were much better than the other rides (2 of 3 look out over a parking lot) and Alpengeist had just a little bit more speed, height, intensity. Yes, it runs out of energy at the very end, but I don't need a coaster to come flying into the station to be considered a good ride. Unlike the other B&M invert rides, where I ironically preferred the front despite the poor views, I found the back to be where it was at on Alpengeist.

A really strong effort for a family coaster with solid theming, some nice twists and turns including multiple helixes (I think), and an extended duration that weaves into the quarry setting and keeps ...

A really strong effort for a family coaster with solid theming, some nice twists and turns including multiple helixes (I think), and an extended duration that weaves into the quarry setting and keeps you engaged throughout.

Amazing theming and a pretty solid launch get this ride experience out of the gates in a very strong way. Unfortunately, I found the rest of the ride to be quite forgettable. Lots of twists and turns,...

Amazing theming and a pretty solid launch get this ride experience out of the gates in a very strong way. Unfortunately, I found the rest of the ride to be quite forgettable. Lots of twists and turns, but nothing that spikes the heart rate as I would've hoped. Its a fun ride but not fantastic.

This was my first floorless B&M and I didn't enjoy it very much. For whatever reason, I found myself a bit woozy and disoriented coming away from the ride. That could've been my fault as we were reall...

This was my first floorless B&M and I didn't enjoy it very much. For whatever reason, I found myself a bit woozy and disoriented coming away from the ride. That could've been my fault as we were really pushing the limits throughout the day with Seaworld and SFFT stops. In terms of the ride itself, there are a lot of intense elements included throughout the layout, but I didn't find that any brought the kind of peak intensity that separates the best coasters from the rest. "The volume never got any higher than a 5-6" and for a top tier ride, I want at least one or two elements that hit a volume intensity of a 9 or 10. There was also a high degree of headbanging on the restraints, which didn't help...

I'm not sure the Raptor-track RMCs are for me. I enjoyed Golden Lasso and Jersey Devil before it, but I don't love the experiences. There is a lot of intensity packed into a short ride and small frame...

I'm not sure the Raptor-track RMCs are for me. I enjoyed Golden Lasso and Jersey Devil before it, but I don't love the experiences. There is a lot of intensity packed into a short ride and small frame, but there's little-to-no build-up or even ability to anticipate what's around the next corner as a result of the design. I'm also seriously concerned with how long these coasters will hold up as there are notable rattles and visible track wear-and-tear already evident. The right bend and first drop are a really enjoyable way to start the ride and Golden Lasso is distinct from just about anything else I've been on, including Jersey Devil. But it's a "good not great" from my view.

Steel Eel is highly under-appreciated in my view. I quite liked it. I haven't been on other Morgan rides, but I get the sense they all get an unfair wrap. Granted, the lap bars, train comfort and airt...

Steel Eel is highly under-appreciated in my view. I quite liked it. I haven't been on other Morgan rides, but I get the sense they all get an unfair wrap. Granted, the lap bars, train comfort and airtime hills are not as smooth as similarly sized B&M's. But I was ready for pronounced dead spots and back-breaking transitions based on what I'd read - and neither of these things occurred on any meaningful level. The first drop is great, the third air-time hill is really great, the turnaround/right-banking drop was solid and the rolling camelbacks are good. There is a slight "stutter" consistently felt in the air-time transitions, but the airtimes themselves were really enjoyable. Friendly operators, high re-ridability, a pleasant setting, and a striking color palate are added pluses. Steel Eel won't win any awards, per se (and I don't believe it has), but it's a really solid, steel coaster nonetheless.