2004 Coasters' Choice Awards announced

PKI made huge jumps in the polls this year in both Best Capacity and Park of the Year. The Beast won by a much bigger margin than I could have imagined if you look at the results since 2001. At some of the unofficial PKI sites, there have been some advertising for the polls here asking them to vote for PKI, so I imagine they rounded up some votes through that.

PKI became my "best" and "favorite" park last year for the first year since I became a real enthusiast in '99. My "best" was held by BGW since '99, but with adding Delirium and Scooby Doo (and SpongeBob, Bubba Gump's, and several other improvements), I'm overly impressed with the park. With the addion of Boomerang Bay, I think that enhances the overall park theming even more for 2004 plus theming The Beast and adding various "Hollywood" things this year. I don't think the Best Theme win is too far off although I think Universal and Disney has clearly done it more and better. Maybe a lot of people were just so impressed with Scooby, Tomb Raider, and the kiddie areas, so that had an impact. IOA hasn't done much of anything new since '99 and 2000, so maybe a lot of people were like, "we know they rule at theming, but PKI is trying their best at it right now". (???)

The Beast has been running really well since the turn at the bottom of the first drop was redone and I only imagine it being enhanced this year for the anniversary.

I'm sure there are a lot of PKI fanboys, but CP has a lot too. And they're fans... They like what the parks are doing and can't wait to hear what they're going to announce every year and have to offer. It's not like they hate the park but still vote for it just to piss people off. That would be really strange. Is it possible that CP and PKI may really be the favorite park for thousands of people... at least their favorite nominee.

I don't know what PKI is missing besides a large non-looping steelie. If they haven't been this year, I guess they could improve their shows and food a little bit. The rest is solid.

Needless to stay, popularity contests don't always show what's truly greatest out there and it all varies by taste anyways (just look at some of the People's Choice Awards noms and winners over the past few years). Like Jeff said, not as many people have been to smaller parks like HW, KW, LC, Knoebels, etc. You know what's great to you and no one can change that, so just have fun with this. :)

+Danny*** This post was edited by +Danny 4/1/2004 3:25:41 PM ***

I know it is human nature to complain when "your #1 coaster" is not selected as the #1 coaster in a poll or a coaster you feel is inferior is selected as #1 but it always helps to put things into perspective. Contrary to popular belief, there are people who ride roller coasters out there who are not airtime whores and appreciate other ways of creating a roller coaster (I know - round them up and shoot them dead). At the end of the day, I'll still enjoy riding a certain coaster whether it was the #1 rated coaster in the world or the #100 rated coaster in the world.

I'll give a revised answer to a question I once read asked of a former ACE president. He was asked, "What is your favorite roller coaster?" I would have to respond, "The next one I'm riding." I may have coasters I will not exactly go out of my way to ride (Standard Vekoma Boomerangs) but I still manage to find myself riding them despite my opinions about them (Iron Dragon).

Uh, is anyone else shocked by the overwhelming number that BGW was stomped by Cedar Point in the best food category? Huh?

I thought the numbers for The Beast were rather high, and PKI's best capacity numbers especially.

My only real surprise was seeing SFMM beat out SFGAm for capacity. I've never been to Magic Mountain, but if half the trip reports I've read are true, they're slow as molasses down in southern California. But, hey, I doubt Great America will will deliberately drop capacity to conform with the poll, so, whatever.

Oh, yeah: Raging Bull even in the running for best steel? Sure, it's good, but #5 among Buzzers?

The polling for Site of the Year is clearly biased against so-called "factual" sites that don't "insult" and "mock" their readers.

Shameful.

---

By the way--guess how many times I voted for SV?

---

Enough times to account for 1.6% of the total vote?

I'm surprised so many people consider BGW to have the best food. What about Epcot? Not only do they have a full service restaurant in every country in World Showcase but usually a counter service restaurant as well. Not to mention some of the restaurants in Future World like Living Seas and Garden Grill. I still think the best food court in any park I've visited would be the food court in The Land pavillion. Best Chicken Parmesan I've ever had!

Rotel: I agree with you. Meaning no disrespect to BGW (and its equally as good sister BGT) which does have 'mighty fine vittles', they simply do not compare to Epcot, which rivals some of the better "stand alone" restaurants. My guess is the popularity bit though. Epcot has no coasters, BGW has Alpengeist. So BGW is likely more traveled to by these internet Enthusiasts than Epcot.

Plus, Internet Enthusiasts (aside from Lord Gonchar of course ;)) are notoriously CHEAP. They probably would bail out of WDW and go to Mickey D's instead :)

At least someone reads my posts :)

Thanks, Jeremy.

-Gonch
Also an Aries

Way to go Six Flags Great America. Although we didn't win a single category we were nominated for a lot of them and in some did get very good rating, especially when having to compete with CP. As far as the themeing. I can't believe that IOA didn't win. This is just not right. Way to go TTD and way to go Viper (SFGA) for getting nominated.

Oh yea one more thing. Great America should have easily won the capacity contest, but Raging Bull shouldn't have been nominated for one of the best steel coasters. I truly love Raging Bull, but there are better (MAGNUM XL200 for example). I do understand however that this is a popularity contest and more people like SFMM then SFGA so they are going to vote for it whether its better or not.

w00t my ride did it! Only one more reason to come ride the newly hollywoodized beast!

Jeremy, when you say "equally as good", I do hope you're referring to the FOOD....in that aspect, I'd have to agree. Other than that, BGW wins hands-down, certainly in terms of operations, staffing, hospitality and cleanliness. They are pretty much even in terms of rides (except on the *exceedingly rare* occasion when Gwazi runs BOTH sides, LOL)....;)

bill, voted for ARN&R as "most likly to mock and insult"...:)

Bill, I was indeed only referring to the food and not comparing the parks as a whole. But for the benefit of those playing along at home, I would give the overall award overwhelmingly to Busch Gardens....(wait for it).... TAMPA. I just though that it far outpaced its northern sister in terms of things to do (plus Montu pwnz Alpie :)).

lata, jeremy (who forsees RGW trying to finagle a 'trade' of sorts)