2007 Golden Ticket Awards

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Acoustic Viscosity said:And Swoosh...Dollywood has better food.

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That's WHY it's called DollyFood! ;)
Either way, Busch and Herschend are the "chain" parks you go to hungry...

I vow to fill out my ballot this year, I've been slacking the last couple years...and I'm not *completely* sure that Voyage would make it without my vote! ;)

I can only judge based on MY experiences...not sure how anyone could do it any *other* way, LOL.

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Swoosh said:

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coasterqueenTRN said:

Dollywood still has THEE best food IMHO.

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You have never been to SDC have you, Tina?

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Actually yes I have many times but not since I was a kid. I don't remember the food but I have heard awesome things about it. ;)

-Tina

^Coaster Christmas Regional ACE Event is Dec. 1st. Maybe you should come and give the park another spin. :)

Is Thunderhead really as good as people seem to think it is? I've never ridden, but compared to the GCI coasters that I've ridden (both Roars, Wildcat, LR, Gwazi), Voyage blows them out of the water. Don't get me wrong, GCIs are great rides (for the most part), but none of them can touch Voyage, at least IMO.

Is Thunderhead leaps-and-bounds better than most of the other GCIs, or is there something I'm missing?

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rablat5 said:
Is Thunderhead leaps-and-bounds better than most of the other GCIs, or is there something I'm missing?

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http://www.ushsho.com/bestrollercoasterpoll.htm

has all the answers. You know, the one that isn't just a clever way to sell ads.

Many people prefer re-ride-ability over intensity. I'm a combination of both. And The GCI's are probably the most rerideable coasters while still being fast and fun. Plus the Millenium Flyer trains which are currently only on GCI coasters, are the most comfortable trains I've ever been on. (steel or wood) At the Kentucky Rumbler construction tour where we were suprised with getting to ride, I got about 30 cycles in just the few hours they gave us, and I had no bumbs, bruises or any ill effects of any kind. Except this smile I couldn't get off my face. ;)

^^^Yes, I would take Thunderhead over Voyage anyday, if nothing else because I ride it more than once a visit. Like jason said, most GCII have rerideability while Voyage does not.

Voyage...not reridable? Really? Thanks to the lower-than-usual attendance at Holiwood Nights this year I had no problem riding Voyage non-stop for the last 2 hrs on both nights of ERT. I didn't have a single ache, pain, or bruise after the weekend.

^ If that's the case, you'd probably fall asleep on a GCI. I havn't been bruised from Voyage, but I find it to be an exausting ride. I love Voyage and named it my #1 wood, but I can't ride it more than a few times in a row.

LOL Jason. I never said I wasn't exhausted at the end of the night :-)

geez, lots happens up in here in a day and a half.

New members and kids get ballots? Then who knows how the heck they pick them. And that special section of the mag they put out with the awards - yeah, lots & lots of ads in it. Mostly from parks & manufacturers who were winners.

Mean Streak just placed in a top ten last year - it was Theme Parks Magazine.

And yeah, Thunderhead is as good as you think it is. It is certainly as good as I think it is.

So pehaps it would have been better to say that GCI's are effortless. The way they transition from element to element, you don't need to brace yourself like you do on most wood coasters.

Thunderhead definitely comes the closest to being a GCII that takes some effort to ride. The first few times I rode it in 2004, it kept me guessing and stressing out over the changes in direction, but soon I "got the layout down" and started relaxing, kinda like Voyage, but to a lesser degree. It's still an exhilarating ride. :)

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Mamoosh said:
I never said I wasn't exhausted at the end of the night :-)

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Nah, too easy. :)

LOL...touche'!

I would have to agree Acoustic. IMO the GCI that is the most effortless has got to be Kentucky Rumbler. But maybe I think that because it's the only one I've ridden brand new.

I've ridden The Voyage 32 times in a row before, and I still wanted more! :)

Also, I would defenitely take Voyage over Thunderhead. On Thunderhead, if you are not sitting in the very front or back the ride doesn't deliver much. Plus, the first drop isn't an awesome airtime provider either, completely unlike The Voyage. ;) *** Edited 6/18/2007 9:13:48 PM UTC by DantheCoasterman***

Voyage had some rougher spots during the first HWN's that it lost later in the season. Those who just rode it early its first season should try it again. I am speaking of the entry to the tunnel that exits the turnaround and the hop that approaches the final 90 degree bank. Both were very uncomfortable early the first season but are not any more. Aside from that, if you have issues with Voyage's rerideability you just need to suck it up and stop being such a nancy boy. ;)

1. The Voyage

2. El Toro

3. Phoenix

4. Thunderhead

5. Hades/Avalanche (Tie)

Jason, I actually consider Rumbler one of the more "intense" GCI's. It's got some punchy airtime and lateral moments, but just not constantly, one after another. Effortless would definitely go to Roar West in my opinion, unless you count the slight roughness to the ride.