Interesting things on the Golden Ticket...

Okay, I know, Golden Tickets. Being discussed at least 2 other places. But the reason I started a new thread is because this doesn't really go with the others.

Upon looking at the top 50 wood and steel, I'm personally not suprised to see Thunderhead at #1. It deserves it. However...

31. Son of Beast
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.
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33(tie). Mean Streak

I thought no one liked these coasters? I hear it all the time. Enthusiast complain about them. Enthusiasts say the GP complains about them (although I've only heard the opposite from the GP). They're supposed to be so bad. TAER THEM DOWN!!1!!11!

Apparently someone likes them. Now, I know, this is a poll. The more respected Mitch's poll ranks both of them much lower. But apparently, the 'official' Amusement Today poll, the one that parks probably look at (and take out ads in the magazine toting their 'accomplishments) is the Golden Ticket Awards. Maybe, just maybe, this is why those coasters aren't being torched.

It also has Desperado in the top 50. Now, I personally loved Despy. But I hear lots of complaints about it being rough on here as well.

Perhaps some, if not all of us, are not as 'expert' as we think when it comes to how the GP and parks feel about some rides?

Discuss.:)

Well you said it yourself in another thread. It is based on opinions, and maybe not everyone thinks Mean Streak and Sonny are treacherous torture devices of death. Magnum is up there in the top 5, while I think it was the roughest piece a **** I ever laid my ass on. Oh well, my opinion and no one really cares.

Golden Ticket also isn't a survey of GP folks Tekno, it's mostly just enthusiasses like us... apparently some of which enjoy SoB and MS much more than the rest of the folks.

And yes, it is just a poll, but it's also a poll that offers awards that are legitimate grounds for advertising for the next year, so I think at some level, that makes it open to attacks and questions. I personally feel that Cedar Point doesn't deserve half the votes they got this year, it was definitely not their year, but they'll get to advertise next year that they're Best Park for the 8th year in a row, even though this past year basically sucked.

I guess there ARE people who enjoy pain, headaches, discomfort, bruises, internal bleeding, and hours of agony afterwards. ;-)

-Tina

I loved SOB, it's my #1, but I'm assuming that that was a really good day for that ride, and I was smaller back then. It was a really intense ride for me.

But those trains SUCK. They alone almost make me want to bump up Thunderhead and Raven to my #1.

It's the same reason that MF beats SFNE's S:ROS. out of the number of people participating, More people have ridden MF than S:ROS so it wins.

There poll is sound in users chosen but a pure numbers game sucks for results.

Chuck, who liked both Hades and Avalanche better than Thunderhead.

All i can say is that at least the smaller parks were much better represented this year, maybe not with the best rides, but in other things that matter. So what if a ride is Considered better than another. You have that right to think that way.

I havent been to all those parks, but seeing how well certain things faired seriously makes me want to.

Tina,

I don't think you should talk about Moosh that way.

LOL! I wouldn't know, Skittlebrau. I have never (and obviously never will) add M:TR to my track record. :-D

-Tina

Although I don't particularly care for Mean Streak - to ride. It's still a very impressive structure to look at which is the only reason I would even rank it in the top 100. SOB is a rough ride too and the restraints and trains are awful - but like Mean Streak I really like it's look. Riding a coaster may be the best way to experience it, but it's not the only way.

I've not been on Thunderhead - but not surprised to see it on top - I was surprised to see Hades debut in the position it has.

Probably not well-traveled enough to qualify as a voter, so I can't argue much about the list. But I still found it interesting what coasters made the list from the parks I know. For example, Steel Force makes the list at #14, but Talon doesn't make the Top 50.

What I find weird is how Curse of DarKastle hasn't got a mention at all in the Best Dark Ride category, or New for 2005 category. What's up with that?

The thing that some people forget about regarding these awards is the fact that most of the people that vote in this poll are from the larger metro regions. That is why you will see some very bizare positions for different coasters regarding their location to the major metro regions. Case in point Steel Force is ranked higher than Mamba, yet anyone who has ridden both constantly rank Mamba higher.

This is also why SDC is ranked lower than DW in most of the other categories. If SDC was near NYC I gurantee the rankings would be much different and PowderKeg would have been a top 10 ride.

Sad, honestly. but with so much "meaning" put on these awards we have to suffer having it rammed down our throats for many seasons to come.

Agreed, Swoosh. My point though was that you'd assume that the same people would have ridden both Steel Force and Talon, since they're in the same park. If someone told me one Dorney coaster was ranked #14 and no others made the list, I'd guess the ranked coaster would be Talon. I think a lot of other people would think the same.