Where's your favorite roller coaster?
 

We visited Busch Gardens in Williamsburg this week and their new roller coaster - the Griffin (sp?) was a blast! (I think this is the same roller coaster that is in their Tampa park). I also liked the Apollo. My younger son loved the Alpengeist - but I was too chicken - I can't handle the corkscrews!

My older son like the Hulk in Universal - I had to lie down after riding that one!

So - where are best drops, funnest rides, scariest coasters you've been on?

I can't stomach them myself, so I asked my 17 year old: Big Dipper in Santa Cruz, CA, California Screamin at California Adventure and Rock N Rollercoaster at Disney World.

I haven't done rollercoasters for ages, but the DRAGONCOASTER in Playland; Rye NY is a classic wooden roller coaster built by Fred Church in 1929. A sign over the entrance said "Smooth and Comfortable". At the coaster climbed up it's first ascent, you entered a Dragon's open mouth and it was pitch black. You raced around a left turn and then dropped downnnnnnnn. The rest wasn't bad, but that first drop was a doozie.

Length: 3400'
Height: 80'
Inversions: 0
Duration: 2:00 minutes {THAT ALL???}

For picutres:

www.rcdb.com/ig231.htm

and

www.ridezone.com/parks/ny/rye/playland20.htm

I think it was even designated a National Historic site or something.

Used to ride it over and over again.. long ago.

Debi

Sheikra and Montu in Busch Gardens

Superman at Six Flags

Xcelerator at Knotts Berry Farm CA is a ride I'll never do again

I know it's an oldie but I still love Space Mountain. Nothing like a roller coaster in the dark.

Okay, speaking of Disneyland, would you call Big Thunder and the Matterhorn roller coasters? If yes, I can stomach those two. And without Dramamine!

The old Big Dipper in Santa Cruz will always be my favorite.

My personal favorite is Space Mountain, because it's great being in the dark, and it's "just enough" coaster. But my family thinks I'm a wimp, and they love Magnum and The Raptor at Cedar Point, and Top Gun and Great America.

What about the Brooklyn Cyclone??? I remember being quite scared by it...much moreso than any modern coaster has ever done to me!

Jayna
travels at www.ususbaby.com

I love Xcelerator at Knott's! My favorites include: Goliath and Riddler's Revenge at Six Flags Magic Mountain and GhostRider at Knott's Berry Farm...especially around Halloween when you ride it backwards!

Almost anything at Cedar Point in Sandusky Ohio!! They still have like 5 of the top 10 coasters.

My husband wants to do a "pilgrimage" to Sandusky. One of these days!

Hawiaan - I think Sheikra at Busch Gardens/Tampa is the same as the Griffon in Busch Gardens/Williamsburg.

And I wanted to add to my list the NYNY roller coaster in Las Vegas - what a ride!

Superman sounds great - are there a lot of corkscrews? My older son did that one when he went with friends to Great Adventure...I keep saying we have to all get there - sometimes we overlook the things closest to home.

Love the superman at six flags lots of corkscrews etc. the ride ends too quickly though.

Either Kracken at Sea World or Hulk at IOA Universal Studios.

Another vote for the Giant Dipper in Santa Cruz :)

I am really glad you asked that question. I have been wondering where I could go to have the most fun on a roller coaster without feeling like I have wasted my money. I watched a showed called "Build it Bigger" on the Discovery Channel and they featured a few coasters that were mentioned here. I plan to visit Six Flags Fl. as soon as possible. Also Cedar Point.

Another vote for Kracken at Sea World.

Big Dipper in Santa Cruz. You also can't beat the view!

Most fun I've had on a roller coaster was on Phoenix at Knoebel's in Elysburg, Pa. GREAT family run park, no admission fee, and reasonable prices on rides and food.

Another favorite ride is Raven at Holiday World in Santa Claus, Ind. HW has three really great wooden coasters and it's another family-friendly park.

My favorite woodie at the moment is Thunderhead at Dollywood. And their new Mystery Mine themed coaster is excellent.

Shiekra at Busch Gardens in Tampa is a lot of fun. As was mentioned before, Gryffon at BG in Williamsburg is a sister coaster and should also be excellent. I love the fact that the skyride goes right through the middle of the coaster!

If you or your kids like coasters, I encourage you to get out and visit the smaller more local places instead of the huge destination parks. You'll find some real gems there.

I agree, xrae. The Phoenix was great - and Knoebels is a gem of a park.

I also like the Steel Force roller coaster at Dorney Park - they also had a great wooden roller coaster, but I didn't care much for their newest one - it scrambled my brains a bit too much.

Another vote for the Hulk at Islands of Adventure...we rode it three times in a row and loved every second!

Cedar point the really high one where youcan see Canada, wow it is a rush!

my life - not even kidding LOL!

These are my favorite all-around thrill rides:

Six Flags Over Texas -- Runaway Mine Train, Judge Roy Scream

Universal Studios Islands of Adventure -- Jurassic Park River Adventure, Spiderman

Lakeside Amusement Park, Denver -- Cyclone

One of my favorites is the Yankee Clipper at Canobie Lake Park in Salem NH. It won't top anybody's list of the top 10 or even top 100 but I love it. Its old, wooden, rattles you to the bones and has one heck of a first drop. I love it because it doesn't scare the begeebers out of me - its just a lot of fun.

I love the Magnum at Cedar Point and the Thunderbolt at Kennywood.

Some of the most fun - Space Mountain and Rock'n'Roller Coaster at Disney, Kracken at Sea World, Loch Nest Monster and Big Bad Wolf at Busch Gardens - Williamsburg, and California Screamin' at Disneyland. I just rode the Cyclone at Coney Island last week, and that was the most jarring experience I have ever had on a coaster. I was holding on with one hand and was alone in the car, so that probably made it even worse. My neck didn't feel right for 3 hours.

My family just returned from a SoCal road trip with stops at Six Flags Magic Mtn, Universal, and Disney. The consensus pick for best coaster was easily the new Tatsu at Magic Mtn. Waayyyy cool! X and Goliath, in the same park, are also great. But I might like Batman best, even though it's been around for years.

California Screamin was pretty neat too, especially the start. And Space Mountain is much improved over when we last rode it six years ago.

California Screamin' at Disney's California Adventure is my very favorite...it has thrills, but is absolutely SMOOOOTH....no jerks or bumps. It's the bumps I can't take anymore.

Big Thunder Mountain at Disneyland Paris is also cool...quite similar to the other BTMRRs, but you go under water and most of the ride is on an island.

Agree with the coaster's at Cedar Point. Millennium Force reaches heights of 310 ft and speeds of 93. The Maverick, new this year, is supposed to be great but I've never been on it.

i second what alise007 has said,.Ohio is quite spoiled with having some of the best coasters in the nation.

Another vote for Knoebel's in central Pennsylvania. A wonderful, clean, safe, old-timey amusement park with some educational elements (old steam engines, exhibits on coal mining) thrown in. Their wood coaster is excellent.

Love the old wooden roller coaster on the beach in Mission Beach at Belmont Park..has a kick to it and you get some great views of SD and the ocean/Bay.

belmontpark.com

Another vote for Magnum and the Raptor at Cedar Point!

THE COMET!...back in the day when it was located on the shore of Lake Erie, in the now defunt Crystal Beach Park, Canada. As a kid from Buffalo, I lived for the moment we crossed over the Peace Bridge, Loblaws tickets in hand waiting for the THRILL of the summer. I will never forget the first time I rode this big wooden monster & have loved coasters since. The thrill was, as it zoomed down the first drop, it looked & felt,like you were going into the lake...http://www.rcdb.com/ig261.htm?picture=6 .Years later the park, closed, and the coaster went elsewhere..Now it can be found at its new home in Lake George NY. Have not been there, not sure the thrill will be the same without the lake & my dad!

I loved The Comet! I loved Crystal Beach. The Big Dipper in Santa Cruz is similar - also over the water.

The Magnum at Cedar Point!

Haven't yet this summer but anyone ride Cedar Point's newest (#17) coaster, The Maverick?

http://www.rcdb.com/id3570.htm

Whoops, here's the link:

http://www.rcdb.com/ig3570.htm

Ah, what a great thread. Makes me want to plan a coaster road trip. Some of these older parks sound fabulous!

topping for more ideas!