2004 Golden Tickets are out

http://www.amusementtoday.com/2004gta82704.html

Cedar Point has 4 of the top 10 steel coasters...
1) Millennium Force
3) Magnum XL-200
7) Top Thrill Dragster
10) Raptor *** Edited 8/27/2004 5:40:35 PM UTC by StephenG***

Wow, MF won by just a hair! I'm glad Nitro is still up there. WHAT!!!

I will pre-emptively make the following whines:

My coaster isn't in the top 10!

This poll isn't fair because (it's based on ridership/it's midwest heavy/it's CP heavy/my coaster isn't in the top 10).

I can't believe <coaster> beat <coaster2>. This poll is biased.

Thank you. We now return you to your regularly scheduled Coasterbuzz broadcast day.

Yes, Nyquil is a favorite among the "family hypercoaster" genre, 'Tuan....congrats! :)

Anton *still* has 5 of the top fifty steelies....not too shabby! :)

Biggest surprise for me was seeing Cornball that far down on the list...what have those other voters been RIDING for crying out loud! ;)

A-tee hee Gator ;)

I'm trying to figure out how TTD is No. 7 and neither of the other rockets cracked the top 30. TTD isn't even in the same class (as in way below, not above) as most of the top 10 rides (key word: rides, not experiences). So much for Storm Runner getting it's well-earned props (but I won't complain about bias ... )

Congrats to Nitro though, a well-deserved ranking!

And I'm glad to see that Cedar Point's food did not even make honorable mention (still trying to figure out how that gets to be No. 1 on the 'Buzz list every year ... ) *** Edited 8/27/2004 5:48:01 PM UTC by Impulse-ive***

Wow, a huge win for Boulderdash. That's unexpected.

The more I look at this poll the more it becomes a joke.

I've always been one to point out the good and the bad of things but it's just become a bought bragging rights type of thing.

There are several things that just don't add up.

MF over S:ROS? Please speak up if you've ridden both and not chosen SFNE's.

The most beautiful carousel on the planet (Seabreeze) Doesn't even make it in the top five.

The worlds best Kids area?? PCW blows PKI and PKD out of the water but isn't even in the top five.

Im sorry, I respect everyones views and apreciate everyone who voted but the fomula is way to geared to most visited parks.

Chuck, flame bait, Nungester

No specific whining from me - just general whining about all of it.

On the steel list:

MF and S:ROS traded spots. Magnum and EGF did too. Apollo & Nyquil stayed the same as did PR and Raptor.

S:ROS (SFDL) and Nemesis get bumped in favor of TTD and Montu.

Can anyone explain any of those moves to me - any of them?

The more I ride, the less I tend to agree with the Golden Tickets.

Definitely download the PDF for the full lists, articles and a cool piece on Dan Feicht's all time 10 favorite photos. Good stuff.

-Gonch
The next Dan Feicht ;)

"I'm trying to figure out how TTD is No. 7 and neither of the other rockets cracked the top 30. TTD isn't even in the same class (as in way below, not above) as most of the top 10 rides (key word: rides, not experiences). So much for Storm Runner getting it's well-earned props (but I won't complain about bias ... )"

Is it that hard to figure out? It's obviously because CP fanboys vote for their coasters even if they're not the best. Look at MF and S:RoS. I've yet to see one person who has been on both enjoy MF more.

Congrats to THunderhead! #6 isn't too shabby for a newbie, although I personally ranked it higher.

Dragster #7? Hmph. ;-)

Congrats to all the parks! I still think they should add another category for next year.....

BEST PARK SOUNDTRACK (that being Magic Springs..lol).

-Tina

*** Edited 8/27/2004 6:09:27 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

I'm hearing all of you... While I haven't rode most top 10 yet but as I look a little lower on the list Superman:Krypton Coaster over Kraken? I also think Apollo's Chariot is over rated as well.

I'm just pissed that Avalanche didn't even make the top 50 considering it's the best wooden coaster I have ever ridden and I've ridden most of the top ten coasters on the list.

Here goes...

I, for one, am happy that Top Thrill Dragster broke the top ten this year.

And NO...I haven't ridden Storm Runner or Xcelerator to compare. Even so, of the coasters I have ridden, I would easily place it in my Top 5.

Just my opinion,
Stephen

Ive ridden 6 out of the top 10 steel coasters in this list. (Cant wait to get on TTD next year). I got on millenium force when it came out in 2000 and S:ROS-SFNE this year. I cant compare which one is better because of the time difference that i got on the two coasters. I really had an awesome time on both, but i have to pick MF over S:ROS cuz of that heavenly first drop. And MF has been my number 1 since then, until I got on X. I agree that Storm Runner should deserve more props and be in the top 10 in my book. There is a level of bias on that list, eventhough Cedar Point has arguably the best collection of coasters in the planet. Im trying to get a trip goin to Lake Compounce tomorrow to experience why Boulder Dash is Top Wood. Its 90 miles from my house, and this list made me wanna go even more.

Bob - I wouldn't worry about Avalanche not making the list. Thunderhead was the only '04 coaster to make the list, and it's been open for almost 5 months now. Has Avalanche been open a month yet?

Agreed- Avalanche hasn't been open long enough for it to make the list, which was probably decided upon weeks ago. Wait until next year and I have a feeling that both Avalanche and Tsunami will be making the list (going by what I've heard and what I expect to hear).

It looks like AT used a Palm Beach Butterfly Ballot for the wood coaster section since the Raven which is running faster and better than ever gets knocked out of the top spot where it's been for years. I demand a recount! ;-)

Nah... its about time the "Best Wood Coaster" award gets handed to a park back east! ;)

S:KC whooped Kraken's butt all the way back to the briny deep...at least on my ballot...;)

As for Avalanche and Storm Runner, give them time. This particular poll seems to require more RIDERSHIP numbers to get a high ranking, as opposed to Mitch's poll which COULD theoretically have the #1 coaster benig ridden by ONE rider.

Fabio's Chariot got high marks at least in part to the ERT session during Con....by FAR the best rides I've gotten on it.