Golden Ticket Awards 2014

I'm sure it's an interesting ride, but there's no universe where it's better than Banshee unless you're an unapologetic nostalgia freak with a soft spot for Knoebels. It's all good if you are one of those people, but I wouldn't travel with you.

Could the grading for Flying Turns be higher due to uniqueness and family-friendly ridership? I'm not saying I agree with the vote either (I haven't ridden Banshee, but I can pretty safely assume it is a much better ride for my preferences), but Flying Turns has some factors to it that perhaps Banshee just doesn't.

If that's the case, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Firechaser Express should've blown it out of the water. Besides, is Flying Turns any better than any of the Mack Bobsleds anyway? Other than the fact that it's wooden (which, given the style of ride, doesn't seem like it would matter as much as it would if it ran on rails), how has it in any way improved on the concept of a bobsled coaster?

Good point about Seven Dwarfs. I finally got a lap last weekend, and it's a really fun little family ride. Plus the queue is awesome and you can get Dolewhip just across the park. Oh, and impossible as it might seem, SDMT actually took *less* time to build.

I was also highly impressed with it. The queue was indeed awesome, although as quickly as they moved people through it, I barely got to even mess around with some of the activities.

I have to say, both it and Firechaser Express were fantastic. 2014 has seen some nice family installations.

No other coaster installation pandered to the enthusiast sensibilities more.

Bonus points for existing at one of the "darling" parks.

In hindsight it was a lock to lead a poll like the GT's - made for enthusiasts by enthusiasts.

Fun said:

Is there anything they do that particularly stands out?

Re: Europa?

Why yes!!!

-The theming is reminiscent of BGW. It doesn't have the hilly topography but they way they theme each country is immersive. Plus its bigger :-)

-The rides are awesome. Silverstar is so hella underrated

-Colosseo is one of my favorite hotels EVAR!!!1 The food was awesome, the rooms were well themed. And I loved the courtyard that lit up at night.

-Raclette (get in ma belly)

-Food Loop

The just have the full package.

I realised yesterday what the one obvious omission is.

The fact that the best new coaster in Europe in years didn't even appear in the top coasters tells you all you need to know about this poll.

Wow! I had not seen any POV of that before. I usually find POV uninteresting, but that ride is relentless.

Wow, that thing is insane. It's like the best parts of Maverick, Cheetah Hunt, and probably a few other rides got together and were built by Mack. :)

And it's less likely to chuck someone.

The two significant airtime hills at 0:38 and 1:06 are enough to make me love the ride. Many say you really can't tell from a POV, but I think you can kinda tell when the video is being PULLED upward. Seems like Anton/Intamin air to me.

Still can't vote for anything I haven't personally ridden though... ;~)

It's a phenomenal ride. You can't really see it from the video, but it shares a hillside with several other attractions, not least Lisebergbanan, a terrain Schwarzkopf that typically operates with five trains.

Liseberg is on my bucket list.

That hillside was good enough, then Helix came along to out do everything. And that, folks, is how to effectively pack rides into your park.

Strange; every year right after the golden ticket awards, I see Gary Slade driving around Dallas in his new car. Must be coincidence...