Reviews • thomas stanley

This is an excellent B&M invert: the best I have ridden to date. I love the pacing, duration, and flow from one element to the next. It is not as inte...

This is an excellent B&M invert: the best I have ridden to date. I love the pacing, duration, and flow from one element to the next. It is not as intense as the Batman clones, Montu, or Afterburn. But I found Talon's level of forces to be just right. The lack of a midcourse brake run keeps the ride's pace flowing. I found it to have a near perfect balance of fun and intensity. This was my favorite ride in the park. I would happily marathon this coaster! (3×)

The Batman layout is now 33 years old, and it is always a blast. This model has a neat paint scheme and 7 car trains (instead of the usual 8). I love ...

The Batman layout is now 33 years old, and it is always a blast. This model has a neat paint scheme and 7 car trains (instead of the usual 8). I love the zero-g roll and the high g upward helix after the third inversion. Even after scores of rides on various Batman clones, I am always amazed at the residual speed of the train entering the brake run. There is so much action packed in these awesome machines. Fast, smooth, intense, and relentless fun!

Wow! This is the RMC I had been waiting for. The trains are more comfy than the other RMCs I have ridden. I suspect that I enjoy IRAT more than Outlaw...

Wow! This is the RMC I had been waiting for. The trains are more comfy than the other RMCs I have ridden. I suspect that I enjoy IRAT more than Outlaw Run, Lightning Rod, and Wind-Chaser is that IRAT is a bit less intense than most of the new RMCs. The decreased intensity combined with the roomier trains allowed me to enjoy all the tricks that IRAT threw at me. This has an excellent first drop and an awesome double up. Then there was a swooping left hand dive into a wonderful inversion. I had read that the cliff section was slow and broke the ride's rhythm, but I found it to be fun and enjoyable. The inversion was elite, and the drop into the tunnel was incredible. Could IRAT have had another 400-500 feet of track before the brakes? What if the layout continued south with toward the Gully Washer? There is room for a big drop before the service road and a turn above Gully Washer. Then maybe one more dip before the brakes. It would give two more drops and another 6-8 seconds of ride time. But Iron Rattler is nearly perfect as it is. I wish all the RMC coasters had trains like these. This is a top 5 ride for me!

The iconic Superman standing atop the vertical loop looks great. The quarry wall interaction is awesome too. Smooth, old-school B and M goodness. I en...

The iconic Superman standing atop the vertical loop looks great. The quarry wall interaction is awesome too. Smooth, old-school B and M goodness. I enjoyed this layout more than Great Adventure's Medusa or Hydra at Dorney Park. This is a great floorless coaster!

Well themed Premier launch coaster... I wish the trains were a bit more open and comfortable, but it was a decent ride. I am 5'9" and 175, and I felt ...

Well themed Premier launch coaster... I wish the trains were a bit more open and comfortable, but it was a decent ride. I am 5'9" and 175, and I felt cramped in the low, light seat.

Hmmm. The larger B&M inverts just aren'tas enjoyable to me as the mid-sized models. I enjoyed Talon and Great Bear more than Banshee or Alpengiest. Ba...

Hmmm. The larger B&M inverts just aren'tas enjoyable to me as the mid-sized models. I enjoyed Talon and Great Bear more than Banshee or Alpengiest. Banshee is a giant, length ride with breakneck pacing. There are no dead spots in its layout But I prefer the mid-size and slightly tamer versions of the classic B&M invert.

Wow! What an excellent B&M hyper coaster! Diamondback just edges out Nitro at SFGA as my favorite B&M hyper coaster. What a beautiful setting in the w...

Wow! What an excellent B&M hyper coaster! Diamondback just edges out Nitro at SFGA as my favorite B&M hyper coaster. What a beautiful setting in the woods, and the large camelbacks just hit a bit harder than those on similar rides. I could ride Diamondback 10-15 times without fatigue or boredom. It is easily a top 10 ride for me!

Orion is five years newer than the best B&M giga coaster: Fury 325. And as good as Orion is, I found myself wishing for another 10-15 seconds of ride ...

Orion is five years newer than the best B&M giga coaster: Fury 325. And as good as Orion is, I found myself wishing for another 10-15 seconds of ride time. The last drop before the brake run stops 20-25 from the terrain bellow. Why didn't KI ask B&M to end the layout with a bit more flash? Or after the 540° helix, extend the layout south toward the far turn around. There is room to add a couple of bunny hills and a ground level turnaround leading to the brakes. Orion could have been a masterpiece with another 600-800 feet of track. But even with my nitpicking, Orion is a top 10 ride for me. My front row ride was outstanding! 2X

Mystic Timbers is a top-tier GCI wooden coaster. I rode Texas Stingray about 10 weeks ago, and I liked it slightly more than this one. Mystic Timbers'...

Mystic Timbers is a top-tier GCI wooden coaster. I rode Texas Stingray about 10 weeks ago, and I liked it slightly more than this one. Mystic Timbers' out and back trip though the woods was awesome, and I was surprised by the variety and intensity of the forces of this excellentcoaster. This is a top 20-25 ride for me.

Wow! I finally rode the iconic Beast! It was intense and fairly smooth. I could see lots of new track in the first third of the layout. The tunnels we...

Wow! I finally rode the iconic Beast! It was intense and fairly smooth. I could see lots of new track in the first third of the layout. The tunnels were loud and enhanced the sense of the coasters speed. The double helix finale is super intense. After 40+ years of anticipation, I got my ride on the Beast.

I have never been a huge fan of Arrow Suspended Coasters. I rode Big Bad Wolf years ago, and it was good. I have never liked the over the shoulder res...

I have never been a huge fan of Arrow Suspended Coasters. I rode Big Bad Wolf years ago, and it was good. I have never liked the over the shoulder restraints on these non loop rides. They feel cumbersome and unnecessary

The Flight of Fear coasters pack alot of track in a compact, indoor setting. The Premier trains are just poorly designed for even average sized riders...

The Flight of Fear coasters pack alot of track in a compact, indoor setting. The Premier trains are just poorly designed for even average sized riders. I am 5'9, 180, and I felt crowded in the cramped seat The seat is low, and the sidewalls are fairly tall. The dark setting of the ride makes it tough to brace for the snappy, turns and inversion. I enjoyed the outdoor version of this ride "Poltergeist, at six flags Fiesta Texas.

This is a surprisingly punchy little Premier Rides launch coaster. The launch and ascending helix were more forceful than I expected they would be. Th...

This is a surprisingly punchy little Premier Rides launch coaster. The launch and ascending helix were more forceful than I expected they would be. The Premier trains are a bit low and seat just 12 riders per train. Fun but mild thrill coaster!

This is a very good racing coaster. Many of the hills had nice, floater airtime. The right and left side were virtually identical to me. Solid interme...

This is a very good racing coaster. Many of the hills had nice, floater airtime. The right and left side were virtually identical to me. Solid intermediate level roller coaster

This was a nice surprise. I rode Kings Dominion's racing coaster nearly 30 years ago, and it was pretty good. This ride seemed smooth and had nice flo...

This was a nice surprise. I rode Kings Dominion's racing coaster nearly 30 years ago, and it was pretty good. This ride seemed smooth and had nice floater air over its classically profiled hills. This would be a great next step coaster for younger riders.

This is a larger than average Arrow Mine Train. It has a nice setting in the woods, and the theming elements are nice. The ride features some rough tr...

This is a larger than average Arrow Mine Train. It has a nice setting in the woods, and the theming elements are nice. The ride features some rough transitions that can lead to some unpleasant lateral forces. There were a couple of unbanked turns taken at speed that really slammed me into the side of the lap bar.

IN-VERTI-NO!!! This was my first ride on the Vekoma inverted boomerang. The intensity combined with the snappy, tight inversions and old-school over t...

IN-VERTI-NO!!! This was my first ride on the Vekoma inverted boomerang. The intensity combined with the snappy, tight inversions and old-school over the shoulder restraints can lead to some serious headbanging. Yikes! I was eager to try this one, but I now know why this model is nearly extinct.

This is the first of new Vekoma family boomerang rides that have appear during the past few seasons. The single, 20 passenger train limits the capacit...

This is the first of new Vekoma family boomerang rides that have appear during the past few seasons. The single, 20 passenger train limits the capacity, but it is a smooth, solid ride. I would love to see more of these models at smaller family parks.

This is the third of the PTC junior coasters I have ridden (also at Carowinds and Kings Dominion), and this one is the best. The Junior PTC trains are...

This is the third of the PTC junior coasters I have ridden (also at Carowinds and Kings Dominion), and this one is the best. The Junior PTC trains are comfy for my 5'9, 180 lb frame. The buzz bar and lack of seat dividers make for a fun family coaster.

Candymonium is the newest B&M hyper that I have ridden. It has a wonderful first drop and camelbacks. I like the variety offered by the speed hill on ...

Candymonium is the newest B&M hyper that I have ridden. It has a wonderful first drop and camelbacks. I like the variety offered by the speed hill on the return leg of the layout. The helix and off-axis drop provide even more variety and excitement. The helix around the fountain and hop up to the brakes complete an excellent hyper coaster. Could it be 400-500 feet longer and ditch the trim brakes? Yes, and it would be a top five ride for me. But Candymonium is still my favorite ride in the park. It is a perfect contrast to Skyrush and its high intensity layout.

What a great B&M hyper! It's hard to believe B&M designed Nitro in 2001. This is now my favorite of the five I have experienced, and it is my favorite...

What a great B&M hyper! It's hard to believe B&M designed Nitro in 2001. This is now my favorite of the five I have experienced, and it is my favorite ride in the park. The floater air hits on every hill. The left twisting drop of the second hill is whippy. The helix is intense, and the last four hills really pop! The layout also takes riders on a journey out of the park, through the woods, and back again. The ride's balance of intensity and fun is nearly perfect on Nitro. Awesome work, B&M; Nitro is is a top-tier ride for me!

I was fortunate enough to ride Superman during its first season. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced. The first drop, tunnel, and camelback ...

I was fortunate enough to ride Superman during its first season. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced. The first drop, tunnel, and camelback were phenomenal. The overbooked turnaround was solid, and the two camelbacks that followed were sublime. Then came the forceful clockwise helix that flowed seamlessly into a counter-clockwise helix. Next was a dive into a mist filled tunnel and three speedy airtime hills. The ride ends with a 90° right turn into the brake run. I was blown away by Superman. I am so glad I got to experience it with its minimalistic restraints and debut year smoothness.

I had read that this was one of the weaker Intamin launch coasters. I think it is a solid tire driven launch coaster. I enjoyed the low switchbacks an...

I had read that this was one of the weaker Intamin launch coasters. I think it is a solid tire driven launch coaster. I enjoyed the low switchbacks and quick changes of direction. It would make a great next step ride for kids who have ridden jr coasters. Wave Breaker is a family coaster. With short 16-passenger trains, two (or three) train operations are essential.

This is a solid 3/4 scale hyper coaster. I think it is as strong as its larger cousins Mamba and Steel Force. I had an early morning ride, and I wish...

This is a solid 3/4 scale hyper coaster. I think it is as strong as its larger cousins Mamba and Steel Force. I had an early morning ride, and I wish it had been a bit running just a bit faster through its course. I can imagine ranking it a notch higher with a bit more speed through the camelbacks.

What a nice surprise! I love the way the ride kicks into high gear during the second half. The low, high speed maneuvers leading to the finale are bot...

What a nice surprise! I love the way the ride kicks into high gear during the second half. The low, high speed maneuvers leading to the finale are both thrilling and intense. Compared to some of the other GCIs I have ridden (Kentucky Rumbler, Thunderhead, and Lighting Racer), Texas Stingray has the strongest finale. The tunnel was a nice touch too. Very solid ride!

I rode Iron Menace at Dorney Park 6 months ago. This has a slightly better layout, excellent theming, and a smooth ride. This is my favorite of the th...

I rode Iron Menace at Dorney Park 6 months ago. This has a slightly better layout, excellent theming, and a smooth ride. This is my favorite of the three dive machines (also Iron Menace and Sheikra) I have experienced.