2000 Golden Ticket Awards announced
Posted
Amusement Today announces the 2000 Golden Ticket Award recipients. Among the winners are Cedar Point for best park, best capacity and the two top steel coasters, Magnum and Millennium Force. Best wood coaster goes to The Raven at Holiday World. See all the winners on the Amuesement Today's website.
I have a feeling that alot of coaster enthusiasts will disagree with these lists. For instance, "Beast" at #6? GhostRider at #8? MF at #2? GOLIATH AT 18? All of these have been ranked higher consistantly in other polls. I know that this is going to turn into another "You can't really give a definitive top ten" conversation, and I agree, but I think that the golden tickets have come off a little odd for the past couple of years. Maybe there is a better way for them to do their surveys, I don't know. Anyone agree?
Magnum number 1? I know how many people think this is the best coaster in the world but I think it is incredibley painful and boring. When I went to Cedar Point this year, everyone in my group said they hated Magnum.
I can't see how they put Mean Streak on the list because coasters like jackabbit (a okay ride) are much better than the non thrilling and boring ride on Mean Streak.
Why is Steel Phantom so low on the list. It is the most thrilling and intesne ride I ever rode and I think it is way better than Millennium Force.
Space Shots and Turbo Drops above Giant Drops? Giant drops offer a more thrilling and better ride.
Fastest moving lines Cedar Point! Cedar Point is the only park I have gone to were I only got to ride 4 rides in a whole day because of the VERY long lines. They didnt seem to move that fast either.
The people who wrote the list must not know were Williamsburg is. Under best shows they have Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Pa. Last time I checked I though it was in Virginia.
How is Raptor aboce Incredible Hulk? And why is dueling dragons so high on the list? Dueling Dragons is the worst inverted coaster I have rode and that includes Vekoma SLC's.
That is just my two cents on the list.
*** This post was edited by GRL on 8/3/2000. ***
I can't see how they put Mean Streak on the list because coasters like jackabbit (a okay ride) are much better than the non thrilling and boring ride on Mean Streak.
Why is Steel Phantom so low on the list. It is the most thrilling and intesne ride I ever rode and I think it is way better than Millennium Force.
Space Shots and Turbo Drops above Giant Drops? Giant drops offer a more thrilling and better ride.
Fastest moving lines Cedar Point! Cedar Point is the only park I have gone to were I only got to ride 4 rides in a whole day because of the VERY long lines. They didnt seem to move that fast either.
The people who wrote the list must not know were Williamsburg is. Under best shows they have Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Pa. Last time I checked I though it was in Virginia.
How is Raptor aboce Incredible Hulk? And why is dueling dragons so high on the list? Dueling Dragons is the worst inverted coaster I have rode and that includes Vekoma SLC's.
That is just my two cents on the list.
*** This post was edited by GRL on 8/3/2000. ***
Look at what park has the most rankings,in ALL categories and only 2nd to CP for best park my home park Knoebels! :) They only have 4 coasters but 2 world class woodies Phoenix #5 and Twister #15. I feel Knoebels is one of the most underated parks on the planet. They also won for best food :)
-------------
Parks hit for 2000!
PKD,BGW,Knoebels,DP,HP,PKI,HW,SFKK,SFA,SFNE,LC,GE,QP, Camden, SFO,CP,WL,IW,KW *** This post was edited by coasterpunk on 8/3/2000. ***
-------------
Parks hit for 2000!
PKD,BGW,Knoebels,DP,HP,PKI,HW,SFKK,SFA,SFNE,LC,GE,QP, Camden, SFO,CP,WL,IW,KW *** This post was edited by coasterpunk on 8/3/2000. ***
Wow, I'm surprised SFDL's Superman beat SFNE's. SFNE's looks more exciting.
-------------
-Szymo
Six Flags Darien Lake Online
http://szymo.tripod.com/darienlake/
-------------
-Szymo
Six Flags Darien Lake Online
http://szymo.tripod.com/darienlake/
Two things... not all coasters were out long enough to make the list, and if they were they weren't publicized enough to have an impact. Millennium Force was seen by around 30 million people the week of media day, and it can be argued that it has stronger recognition than every other new coaster this year (again, I'm speaking non-enthusiasts here). Most people in the general public don't know anything about Villain, Boss, or even Goliath. This poll has a lot to do with the public, less with enthusiasts. If it was the other way around would Mean Streak even be on that list?
-------------
Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
-------------
Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
I completely 100% agree with GRL's comments about the magnum. It is ten times rougher than it was, even 2 years ago. My uncle said that after riding the magnum he felt like he had been in a train wreck. Having rode raging bull the same weekend i rode magnum this year, i can tell you that the magnum is not a shell of the coaster the bull is. I get the feeling that the reason people are so high on the magnum has something to do with nostalgia, and not the actual quality of the ride.
I have only recently joined coasterbuzz, but I have always loved roller coasters. I flew to Cincinnati recently from New York City to ride the Beast for the first time and, of course, Son of Beast. What I want to know is this: barring the long lines, the fact that only ONE train is running on SOB, and the other "techincal" problems SOB is experiencing, how do you [experts] rate it against the other woodies? I can't imagine the others coming close. Was it excluded simply because of it's too-recent release?
If that's true, and, considering the fact that these awards are based on the "general public's" opinion, then, frankly, I don't think I can give much credence to these so-called "awards". It seems to be similar to Car and Driver magazine giving the most publicized (and, therefore, most lobbied and money-generated) parks/coasters get good ratings based on just that -- $$$. And worse, if it's based on general public, then it can only carry the weight of awards such as the People's Choice Awards. (Actually, worse -- at least the general public has easy access to movies and TV shows). I don't mean to sound like a snob, but then again, would you ask someone who has only eaten at fast food restaurants to rate the best restaurants in New York?
On another note, my brother, who has been going to Cedar Point since childhood, cannot stop raving about Millenium Force. Yet Magnum XL-200, its predecessor by over a decade, managed to beat it out in the ratings, the reason for which I can only imagine is because not enough people voting actually rode the MF.
Cleanliness and good food are one thing: frankly, I don't think that's where the real competition exists. (My feeling is that most parks feel that once you get people in the park with the high-profile, new ride, who cares? Or, as Marie Antoinette purportedly said, "Let them eat cake!")
But as far as rating roller coasters? Well, I'd sooner put my faith in what the experienced aficionado has to say.
I'd also like to add that I would love to ride Shivering Timbers. For one thing, it's beautiful. The kind of roller coasters little boys dream of. But I hear the park itself has little else to offer and the trip would be a huge trek. Again, what do you experts think?
If that's true, and, considering the fact that these awards are based on the "general public's" opinion, then, frankly, I don't think I can give much credence to these so-called "awards". It seems to be similar to Car and Driver magazine giving the most publicized (and, therefore, most lobbied and money-generated) parks/coasters get good ratings based on just that -- $$$. And worse, if it's based on general public, then it can only carry the weight of awards such as the People's Choice Awards. (Actually, worse -- at least the general public has easy access to movies and TV shows). I don't mean to sound like a snob, but then again, would you ask someone who has only eaten at fast food restaurants to rate the best restaurants in New York?
On another note, my brother, who has been going to Cedar Point since childhood, cannot stop raving about Millenium Force. Yet Magnum XL-200, its predecessor by over a decade, managed to beat it out in the ratings, the reason for which I can only imagine is because not enough people voting actually rode the MF.
Cleanliness and good food are one thing: frankly, I don't think that's where the real competition exists. (My feeling is that most parks feel that once you get people in the park with the high-profile, new ride, who cares? Or, as Marie Antoinette purportedly said, "Let them eat cake!")
But as far as rating roller coasters? Well, I'd sooner put my faith in what the experienced aficionado has to say.
I'd also like to add that I would love to ride Shivering Timbers. For one thing, it's beautiful. The kind of roller coasters little boys dream of. But I hear the park itself has little else to offer and the trip would be a huge trek. Again, what do you experts think?
I have ridden SOB and there are a lot of wooden coasters which are much better than it. I don't know where these people are coming from bad mouthing magnum, in my opinion it is still the greatest ride in the world, and NOT because of nostalgia, com on its only ten years old. Also the person who said Magnum is nothing compared to raging bull is just dillusional. Raging Bull is my hometown coaster and i've ridden many times but is in no way shape or form superior to magnum. Also, where's viper??
I give the awards a lot of credibility, especially when you consider Raven at the top of the wood list. Let's face it, most people don't even know Holiday World exists, let alone has two of the best woodies (so I'm told) on the planet. That goes a long way in proving to me how balanced the survey really is.
All that aside, no survey will jive with any one person's opinion. I don't disagree with everything on there, but I can certainly see why some things are what they are.
-------------
Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
All that aside, no survey will jive with any one person's opinion. I don't disagree with everything on there, but I can certainly see why some things are what they are.
-------------
Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
Now, I'm really glad to see that Timber Wolf and Mamba are still hangin' in there.
I was, however, surprised to see that The Boss wasn't in there. This is truely a great coaster and everytime I've been to St. Louis this summer, the wait has been about two hours. So, others must think it's a great coaster.
To respond to the rides not being publicized (Boss), I've seen more commercials this summer for Boss than I have my home park, Worlds of Fun. (I'm in KC just so you know.) WOF ususally publicizes quite a bit and have done so this year as well, but St. Louis has 'em beat I think in the commercial department.
Anywho, I'm still quite satisfied with the lists. It is good to see Raven up there as well as Shockwave @ SFOT and Mind Bender @ SFOG.
MambaMatt
-------------
Top Steel - Mamba
Top Wood - The Boss
I was, however, surprised to see that The Boss wasn't in there. This is truely a great coaster and everytime I've been to St. Louis this summer, the wait has been about two hours. So, others must think it's a great coaster.
To respond to the rides not being publicized (Boss), I've seen more commercials this summer for Boss than I have my home park, Worlds of Fun. (I'm in KC just so you know.) WOF ususally publicizes quite a bit and have done so this year as well, but St. Louis has 'em beat I think in the commercial department.
Anywho, I'm still quite satisfied with the lists. It is good to see Raven up there as well as Shockwave @ SFOT and Mind Bender @ SFOG.
MambaMatt
-------------
Top Steel - Mamba
Top Wood - The Boss
You must be logged in to post
