Sean R. - Reviews

The Joker Funhouse coaster was a nice little surprise that gives families an approachable option to get future enthusiasts comfortable with a coaster while still providing a little bit of a thrill for...

The Joker Funhouse coaster was a nice little surprise that gives families an approachable option to get future enthusiasts comfortable with a coaster while still providing a little bit of a thrill for parents along the way. The location is dead center of SFOG so its nicely situated and gives a lot of next ride options as a result. It seems to be down a lot and for days/weeks at a time so I wouldn't count on it as I would other rides at the park. Another con is the single car, short track which is unfortunately a formula ripe for longer lines than the experience justifies. But while I entered skeptical, I felt and saw a value in this coaster beyond my expectations...and those with younger kids are sure to appreciate it for the same reasons.

I went on this a bunch as a kid. The name and concept created a tremendous aura of suspense and intrigue. But I always found the experience to be a tad underwhelming. It was my first hanging coaster a...

I went on this a bunch as a kid. The name and concept created a tremendous aura of suspense and intrigue. But I always found the experience to be a tad underwhelming. It was my first hanging coaster and it had some really cool and fun moments...but when riding it, I always felt like it was holding back from what could have been a truly remarkable coaster, ahead of its time. Good not great was always my review, despite the fond nostalgia I maintain for it.

Went on this in its early days as The Sidewinder. A classic boomerang that I remember more for the lines than the experience. It gave Hershey a little more pop in its lineup, but I felt the park could...

Went on this in its early days as The Sidewinder. A classic boomerang that I remember more for the lines than the experience. It gave Hershey a little more pop in its lineup, but I felt the park could've gone bigger at the time and still trailed SFGA and Busch Gardens by a notable margin as a result. It appears Hersheypark has significantly closed the gap in recent years which is too bad for my childhood, but something I hope to take advantage of on a future visit home.

This is the world's best family-coaster in my view...or at least, the best I've experienced. If you took the tingling sensations of your typical amusement park swings added a dash of extra intensity a...

This is the world's best family-coaster in my view...or at least, the best I've experienced. If you took the tingling sensations of your typical amusement park swings added a dash of extra intensity and turned it into a roller-coaster...you'd have Dragonflier. Quite a pleasant surprise, and so long as the lines can be avoided, it's a ride you can go on again and again.

This was my first stand-up in 20 years...I found it to be pretty enjoyable. Good hills, twists, turns and inversions, but nothing to write home about. I was a bit nauseous after exiting, but recovered...

This was my first stand-up in 20 years...I found it to be pretty enjoyable. Good hills, twists, turns and inversions, but nothing to write home about. I was a bit nauseous after exiting, but recovered quickly (and went back on Twisted Cyclone.) I wouldn't go out of my way to ride it again, but it serves its purpose and my daughter could probably talk me into another ride if she would join me.

A staple of my childhood, The Comet has always been a steady performer and enjoyable experience for me. It was just a bit too small to get me really excited, but just big enough to get me to stand in ...

A staple of my childhood, The Comet has always been a steady performer and enjoyable experience for me. It was just a bit too small to get me really excited, but just big enough to get me to stand in line to give it a go a few times a summer. It was reasonably comfortable for an old, wooden. And it the first hill combined with the formidable length and the closing bunny hills all added up to a good ride from start to finish. It's allure began to fade for me as we made trips to Dorney (Hercules), Six Flags Great Adventure, Busch Gardens and Kings Dominion over the years. But it'll always hold a place in my heart as a solid coaster experience.

This was a really nice surprise and a wonderful family coaster experience. It's relatively smooth, has some modest launch elements that get the tingles and heart-rate going just enough to be entertain...

This was a really nice surprise and a wonderful family coaster experience. It's relatively smooth, has some modest launch elements that get the tingles and heart-rate going just enough to be entertaining...and while it won't rank with my Steel Vengeance and Velocicoaster experiences, it truly is a lovely ride with great theming that is accessible to a wide range or riders. My wife and daughter both loved it too!

It's not often you'll see smoothness as a main pro for an older steel Arrow coaster, but this ride was remarkably smooth and quite efficient in creating some unexpected thrills and fun. The one notabl...

It's not often you'll see smoothness as a main pro for an older steel Arrow coaster, but this ride was remarkably smooth and quite efficient in creating some unexpected thrills and fun. The one notable downside is that it's over before you know it, but it certainly grabs your attention for the limited time it has you. The ride is easily overlooked in a park filled with newer, more interesting concepts, but this ride delivered above expectation for me. If the wait isn't too long, it's definitely worth giving a shot.

This was a treat for a Disney coaster...it didn't significantly change my heart-rate, but it was a really unique ride with a nice shot of adrenaline out of the gates and a cool experience onward from ...

This was a treat for a Disney coaster...it didn't significantly change my heart-rate, but it was a really unique ride with a nice shot of adrenaline out of the gates and a cool experience onward from there. Great theming, location and visuals surround this ride. I'm not sure how much allure the TRON franchise has left in it so it felt an odd choice to bring to life, but as a launch coaster, it works. Not surprisingly, it was really hard to get on it, but we made the last queue of the day and ended up enjoying Magic Kingdom in a way we had not previously considered while we waited (gave us a chance to see fireworks, sit down for dinner, etc.) My wife and daughter went on it with me - they both loved it. From my daughter's pov (she's 9): "I really liked the speed. The scenery was cool and made me feel like I was in the game especially as we went back inside and the special effects kicked in. The drops were fun because you couldn't always see where you were going. The design of the seats/cars was also very cool - unlike anything I've done before."

This was a truly unique riding experience for me...I generally liked it and found it quite exhilarating and innovative. Its how I imagine a ride would represent a drunk superman flight. I would've rat...

This was a truly unique riding experience for me...I generally liked it and found it quite exhilarating and innovative. Its how I imagine a ride would represent a drunk superman flight. I would've rated it higher, but for the 60 minute wait on a day when nothing else was more than 5 minutes - which indicates a very fixable challenge. And, while the experience was unique, the heat coupled with the odd ride positioning, seating angle and blind views left me a bit queasy for a good 30 minutes after my ride. It was the only coaster I didn't go back for seconds on at Carowinds. Nonetheless, I'm glad I got on it at least once as rumors have begun to swirl about its future (can the end be that far behind Firehawk's?)

Copperhead Strike was good, not great for me, but I could see how it would be great for others. This comes down to personal taste and preference. I think the coaster delivers everything it was designe...

Copperhead Strike was good, not great for me, but I could see how it would be great for others. This comes down to personal taste and preference. I think the coaster delivers everything it was designed to do. The jojo roll was a really nice touch on the front end...sadly, it picked my pocket during my second ride (my favorite $2 sunglasses were lost.) Both launches are solid and the hangtimes are great throughout the ride - albeit, hangtimes are not a component on coasters I necessarily love. There's a hard whip about two-thirds into the ride that I really felt (and liked), but from that point through to the finish I found the ride less enjoyable. I just did't love all the herky-jerky twists and turns piled on at the end. This ride reminded me a lot of Maverick after it's first launch and drop...lots of disorienting twists and turns that left me a bit dizzy. I rode 2x, once in the front seat, once in the back - I found the back to be the better ride despite a rattle that was more evident from this position. My seat security was on my mind throughout both rides, which added to the thrill more than I would have liked. There's a lot packed into this ride...and not all of it was for me, but again, I could see how this ride would be a favorite for others. It's certainly a great effort from Mack and a nice contrast to the other coasters at Carowinds.

I loved this ride. It was everything I was hoping Goliath SFOG would be, just a 3-hour longer drive to get on it. It is big and fast! I rode it twice - once towards the front, once in the back and the...

I loved this ride. It was everything I was hoping Goliath SFOG would be, just a 3-hour longer drive to get on it. It is big and fast! I rode it twice - once towards the front, once in the back and there was a notable benefit to sitting in the back - as one might expect with a train this long with hills and speeds this high. Fantastic first drop, great whip from the back seat through the many floaters throughout the ride. A single dead spot that is so far into the ride, I considered everything at that point gravy. Good theming, great length and a really nice layout with views of the park and the surrounding Carolinas. I suspect Intimidator is underestimated and/or under-appreciated because it falls in the shadow of a bigger coaster at the same park (Fury) and a bigger coaster with the same name (Intimidator 305). But it's a top 10 for me and kept my day at Carowinds lively with Fury out of action.

This, like many Disney "coasters" I've rated, is more an experience than a coaster - so it's almost impossible to rate alongside proper coasters. I enjoyed the ride quite a bit and more than Forbidden...

This, like many Disney "coasters" I've rated, is more an experience than a coaster - so it's almost impossible to rate alongside proper coasters. I enjoyed the ride quite a bit and more than Forbidden Journey. It is the perfect fit for the Harry Potter world created at Universal. The concept, storyline and ride itself are all fun. The theming is absolutely fantastic...as good as any ride I've encountered. But without hills, launches, twists or turns of consequence, it can only get up to three stars from me.

The name Trailblazer always suggested something more intense in my mind, but alas, this is not an intense coaster. With that said, it is a serviceable family coaster that is a great starter ride for y...

The name Trailblazer always suggested something more intense in my mind, but alas, this is not an intense coaster. With that said, it is a serviceable family coaster that is a great starter ride for young, aspiring coaster enthusiasts. It's so tame, even my mom would go on it...and so it gets an extra half point from me just for that.

A really nice family coaster and a nice way to start the day and warm-up the coaster muscles. It has just enough thrill to add some tingles throughout the experience. Fast Pass lines move quickly (mor...

A really nice family coaster and a nice way to start the day and warm-up the coaster muscles. It has just enough thrill to add some tingles throughout the experience. Fast Pass lines move quickly (more so than most rides at Universal.) We've been on this ride a dozen times and never experienced the waits others have noted. (From my daughter, Ashley) - She would give it 3 stars. Her thoughts: Me and my family enjoyed it .The theming was a fun and exciting part of the ride.The first drop was a thrilling part of the ride and overall it was just really fun!

I've been on Space Mountain a dozen times over 30 years... and I never liked it (which I'm reminded of each time.) It's not aggressive enough from a thrills vantage, it's really uncomfortable, the con...

I've been on Space Mountain a dozen times over 30 years... and I never liked it (which I'm reminded of each time.) It's not aggressive enough from a thrills vantage, it's really uncomfortable, the concept is dated and feels better placed at EPCOT, and the darkness muddles a pretty grueling experience even further. I'd suggest that it was past its prime, but I'm not sure Space Mountain ever had a prime...for me, its reputation has always far outpaced it's reality.

A historically important coaster, but one the has more than served its purpose and is way past its prime at this point. It might be kind to take it out behind the shed...it is underwhelming and unrema...

A historically important coaster, but one the has more than served its purpose and is way past its prime at this point. It might be kind to take it out behind the shed...it is underwhelming and unremarkable. Cedar Point only needs one nostalgic coaster, not two (or three if you count Iron Dragon.)

I've always considered myself a brave coaster rider...but this was a humbling experience that quickly showed I was not quite as brave a coaster rider as I envisioned. This was not my first intense RMC...

I've always considered myself a brave coaster rider...but this was a humbling experience that quickly showed I was not quite as brave a coaster rider as I envisioned. This was not my first intense RMC coaster (Lightening Rod), but it was unlike anything I've ever ridden. It's just in a different league. The 200' / 90 degree first drop put me on notice, but it was actually the ejector and outward banked turn after the first hill that sealed the deal. Everything after this was a blur of speed, airtime, hangtime, inversions/barrel rolls and lord knows what else. Steel Vengeance is a fantastic, high-thrill, heart-through-your-chest joy ride from start to finish. Every second was intense - a near perfect experience with the exception of a 5-minute delay exiting (sensors triggered while we came into boarding)...and this did nothing to diminish my feelings towards the ride. In a day of big coasters, this stood out - I'd do it again, but I only had the courage for one ride on my first CP visit.

I don't remember all the details of my one and only ride, but I do recall really enjoying it. It was bigger than anything else I had ridden at that point of my life and the multiple inversions were re...

I don't remember all the details of my one and only ride, but I do recall really enjoying it. It was bigger than anything else I had ridden at that point of my life and the multiple inversions were really dynamic for the time. It was intense front to finish and helped fuel my personal quest to ride bigger, faster and more intense coasters.

This ride was awful. The layout is prime for a good family coaster, but the experience is just brutal...I blamed the Great American Scream Machine for a strained oblique, but I think that was simply t...

This ride was awful. The layout is prime for a good family coaster, but the experience is just brutal...I blamed the Great American Scream Machine for a strained oblique, but I think that was simply the final blow after two trips around the Dahlonega Mine Train.

This ride could stand to be smoothed over a fair bit. If it was, it could be a pretty fun ride. It has all the components of an enjoyable wooden classic, but its unbelievably rough and while I can usu...

This ride could stand to be smoothed over a fair bit. If it was, it could be a pretty fun ride. It has all the components of an enjoyable wooden classic, but its unbelievably rough and while I can usually handle getting banged around a bit, this was just too much. Someone noted that it had recently been re-tracked, but I couldn't tell. The discomfort unfortunately took away any joy I had during the ride and the jarring finish left me with an oblique strain for the better part of 2 weeks.

I really like this ride. It was filled with thrill from the first climb right on through to the end. It is a meaty, proper length roller-coaster and the first combination of events that get it started...

I really like this ride. It was filled with thrill from the first climb right on through to the end. It is a meaty, proper length roller-coaster and the first combination of events that get it started are really, really fun. A bit of a rattly-ride particularly when compared to Hulk, Velocicoaster and Hagrid's, but I had low expectations and high reward from this one.

For years, the lines and heat conspired against us to make this ride inaccessible over many visits to Magic Kingdom. But on our last visit, we got lucky and found our way on in relative short-order. F...

For years, the lines and heat conspired against us to make this ride inaccessible over many visits to Magic Kingdom. But on our last visit, we got lucky and found our way on in relative short-order. For Disney, this was a really good coaster. Family-friendly with a modest degree of thrill. As good a ride as you'll find at Magic Kingdom.

I was ready for something more intense than I experienced. The Aerosmith theming is also an odd and dated choice. The launch is a nice start, but this ride is way too short and too mild from an intens...

I was ready for something more intense than I experienced. The Aerosmith theming is also an odd and dated choice. The launch is a nice start, but this ride is way too short and too mild from an intensity standpoint for my taste.

This was my first and remains my only wing coaster to date (due to the weather at CP.) Said simply, I really enjoyed it. The marketing materials suggested this was as close to flying as you'll feel on...

This was my first and remains my only wing coaster to date (due to the weather at CP.) Said simply, I really enjoyed it. The marketing materials suggested this was as close to flying as you'll feel on a coaster and while I was skeptical, this turned out to be pretty accurate. The first hill and multiple inversions create plenty of intensity. Some people complain about the restraints, but I didn't have any issue (and you are basically flying at 60+ mph.) The setting and views are great...not the biggest, best or craziest coaster I've come across, but it's a smooth ride that provides a unique, innovative experience. All in all, a remarkably enjoyable coaster.

This ride was really under-appreciated, if not underrated .We went on it multiple times the day before Thanksgiving in 2021 and we enjoyed each ride. I'm very much looking forward to giving Wildcat's ...

This ride was really under-appreciated, if not underrated .We went on it multiple times the day before Thanksgiving in 2021 and we enjoyed each ride. I'm very much looking forward to giving Wildcat's Revenge a go as I love RMC's, but I thought this version of the Wildcat delivered. The first banking drop gave a lot more intensity than appearances suggested and while it got a little bumpy for the next few seconds, I never found myself uncomfortable and the pacing was maintained all the way to the finish. In hindsight, it was not quite to the level, but yet was a very similar experience to Thunderhead at Dollywood - another coaster I really enjoy that seems to be appreciated more so by coaster aficionados. Not the best coaster in the world by any means, but I think it was a much better coaster than reviews suggested.

What a firecracker of a ride! I jumped on Raptor thinking I would burn some time while my wife and daughter were hitting Iron Dragon for the 3rd or 4th time. I figured it would be a cool ride, but I w...

What a firecracker of a ride! I jumped on Raptor thinking I would burn some time while my wife and daughter were hitting Iron Dragon for the 3rd or 4th time. I figured it would be a cool ride, but I was actually caught off guard how intense and enjoyable it ended up being. Sitting in the back absolutely killed my ability to spot what was coming next...I'm not sure if this hurt or helped my experience to be honest. I was bit nauseous after riding, but that might have been the hangover from Corkscrew. I know this - the intensity kicked in early and didn't relent...a really nice surprise and a solid experience from start to finish.

While I've been on much bigger coasters and more intense RMC's, I love this ride. It is small by comparison but packs a mighty punch. The ability this coaster has in creating so much intensity in such...

While I've been on much bigger coasters and more intense RMC's, I love this ride. It is small by comparison but packs a mighty punch. The ability this coaster has in creating so much intensity in such a small package really adds to it's allure for me. I guess bigger doesn't always mean better...this ride brings it.

I have ridden this coaster 3x in my life...once in March of 2022 and twice on the same day in May 2023 - with one of the rides on my latest visit finding me in the front seat, and ultimately deliverin...

I have ridden this coaster 3x in my life...once in March of 2022 and twice on the same day in May 2023 - with one of the rides on my latest visit finding me in the front seat, and ultimately delivering my #1 all-time coaster ride. Said simply, this is a perfect roller coaster. Everything about it is amazing. The theming is "Hollywood-quality Jurassic Park" with some nice celebrity cameos and amazing (seemingly) real-life raptors that help make any wait time go by quickly. The ride itself is just bananas! From the first launch to the last barrel roll over the water, this ride delivers. The second launch into a climb and zero-G stall (something I didn't know existed until I experienced it on this ride) is the apex moment of all my roller coaster experiences. I love this ride...I can't wait for my daughter to get a little bigger and braver so we can go on it together.