Kentucky Kingdom rehabilitation in full swing

Haha... Don't everyone jump in at once... I don't know what to say about this one. While SFKK is easily the worst SF besides LaRonde, it still sucks to lose a theme park. So hopefully things can be turned around. But with it's 2 best coasters gone, I hope that some fresh improvements can be made. Or else we're just left with SFKK lite.

It's not Six Flags anything.

I don't know that I would consider a forty year old shuttle loop any park's "best coaster." Any word on what the $7 million coaster will be?

And here's another thing....how exactly is every ride going to reopen? You're telling me that a decades old Enterprise that's been rusting in the elements for six years can be saved? Most parks can't even get the parts for the non-rusting ones!

The best two coasters were Thunder Run and Chang. GL would be 3rd IMO. To me, GL was more fun to watch and listen to than it was to ride. It made noises you don't hear often, if ever; especially when the train released from the pull car. And the classic Schwarzkopf train roar. The ride experience got old pretty quickly though.

Hopefully KK will replace it with something of at least El Loco quality (which IMO rules out mice of all types). A $7M coaster could be an EL.
Or I'm sure they could buy Sky Mountain for cheap. :D

$7m could get you a nice GCI woodie as well.

bjames said:

I don't know that I would consider a forty year old shuttle loop any park's "best coaster."

Exactly... that's my point. Sadly, it was the best coaster at the park. 2nd best being Chang, and I hate standups... Chang being mildly tolerable at best.

I've seen a lot of hate for Chang among enthusiasts. I've only ever been on Chang's nearly-identical counterpart Mantis, and I did not care for it. Stand-up coasters are so uncomfortable for me that they prevent me from having any fun or being thrilled at all. There's no part of my body that isn't aching after I step off one.

It's another one of those designs that take a bit to technique to ride. For me, most stand-ups are a "credit and forget it". That being said, if I'm with friends or family and they want to ride on, I go with them. If for no other reason than to give them some advise. I find it much easier if I have a slight bend in my knees when the restraint locks. Also, with the ox-collar restraints, I try to anticipate the turns to avoid head-banging. This is easier if your either familiar with the layout or standing in the front row. I.E. See a turn to the left put your head on the right side of the restraint.

The fact that I have to work to not be hurt takes away from a lot of the fun. That being said, I really enjoy Riddler's Revenge at Magic Mountain. I also enjoy the Togo stand-ups.

Yeah, everything Jason said. However... I've only ridden Chang as Green Lantern at SFGAd, and I honestly, genuinely enjoyed it. The only stand up coaster for which I can say that. I don't know what the difference is between that and Mantis or Iron Wolf, but Green Lantern was definitely smoother and not as jarring. It's still a bit hard on the feet though.

Chang was my second fave b&m standup behind Scorcher. Haven't ridden it as Green Lantern.

Green Lantern, IMO, was definitely a better ride than I ever had on Chang (to be fair, I have only the one lap on GL, in the front).

Scorcher and Riddler are both significantly better rides than any other non-Togo standup (RIP, King Cobra).

rollergator said:

Scorcher and Riddler are both significantly better rides than any other non-Togo standup (RIP, King Cobra).

I believe the list goes:

1. Riddler
2. Scorcher
3-36. nothing, really
37. the other stand-ups in no particular order

Are you suggesting that I remember King Cobra as being significantly better than it really was?

In my defense, I never got to ride The Bat or Drachen Fire... ;~)

No. I'm suggesting you remember Scorcher and Riddler perfectly. :)

I've always preferred the Togos to even the best B&M stand ups (haven't been on Riddler though). Shockwave's ending is so hilariously bad it's actually fun in a masochistic sense.

Kind of like the ending of a Chance Toboggan; the obvious reaction when it's over is to curse the designer for putting hills and turns in a spot that the deathtrap vehicle you're in clearly shouldn't be taking at the speed it reaches at the bottom of the spiral, but you're in such disbelief at the beating you just took that it's funny. It helps to ride with someone so you can laugh and curse together. Otherwise someone might call the authorities.

Anyway...King Cobra was definitely my favorite of the genre. Solid ride.

Yeah, King Cobra was my favorite stand-up as well. It didn't feel like a gimmick to me. Other than some occasional head-banging on the helix, I felt comfortable and like I was naturally standing up. The first hill, loop, trick track, and the hills at the end were all simply fun.

I was so incredibly excited for Mantis when it was announced. I loved Raptor and King Cobra, so I figured it'd be my new favorite coaster. After my first ride, I couldn't have possibly been more disappointed. The unbearable leg pain, the slow feeling, the headbanging...other than the first hill and loop, it seemed like a chore to ride. The stand-up aspect seemed like a gimmick too, because it felt like I was riding while sitting on an uncomfortable bicycle seat.

Fortunately, in the last few years, the leg pain has mostly gone away on Mantis (maybe I've finally figured out how to ride it), and it's not as bad as I once thought it was. But, I'd prefer King Cobra any day. I rode the clone at Canada's Wonderland last year, and it took me back. :-)

Jason Hammond said:

It's another one of those designs that take a bit to technique to ride.

No coaster should require a certain "technique" to enjoy. I'm glad humanity is mostly past building stand-ups lol.

Hence, my other 2 statements.

Jason Hammond said:

For me, most stand-ups are a "credit and forget it"
The fact that I have to work to not be hurt takes away from a lot of the fun.

I'm at the other end of the spectrum. I found Mantis to arguably be the best of the genre and the worst B&M standup, Vortex at Carowinds, to still be in every way better than SkyRider or Shockwave. I often consider Mantis to be one of the best designs B&M ever had for a looping coaster as it had so much going for it beyond the four inversions. It felt like it had a much more complete layout than most of the firms other rides.