New Entries in the CoasterBuzz Top 100

Yeah, I think I mentioned before that Leviathan kicks all other giga coasters to the curb. 3 snaps in a Z formation.

A passport lasts ten years. That's $13.5o a year. Suck it up. :)

Yeah, I got mine in 2008 thinking I'd be going to Canada's Wonderland, and still have yet to use it. :) I have 4 more seasons to get my money's worth.

What I didn't know is that, also in 2008, they introduced the Passport Card, which is good for North American land border crossings and only costs $55 instead of $110. Renewals are only $30.

I learned at one point it can make you slightly more employable too, in the event that your employer wants to send you somewhere across various ponds.

Although El Toro is still my #1, I'm delighted to see Leviathan up there. Yesterday I added 5 coasters to my track record and began trying to rank everything that's on there, eventually giving up b/c it was too mind-boggling a task, but not before moving Leviathan way up on the list. I decided that this is the best steel coaster I've ever ridden and it surprises me to pick a B&M b/c my preference has always been for Intamin.

Jeff said:

But there are some pretty easy and low-impact uses too, namely Canada, Mexico and cruises out of FL and TX.

You don't need them for cruises as long as your initial embarkation and final disembarkation are on US soil.

My wife's and mine both expired before we went, and it was never an issue even when entering or exiting foreign countries. A driver's license was sufficient everywhere with the exception of US customs in Miami at the end.

I'd still recommend having one though, in this day of last minute email blast cheapo travel deals.

You sure do need a passport. Disney won't let you on the boat without one, and you need to show it at customs when you get back. This is on the Bahamian itineraries that stop at Nassau and Castaway Cay.

A couple things to keep in mind about passports. Adult passports are good for ten years but children's are only good for five. I knew a couple that assumed they were the same and had to change plans when they discovered their kid's had expired and it was too late to do anything about it.
Also, even though it's good ten years, it (for all intents and purposes) expires in 9.5. Travel may be denied if you have six months or less left on your current passport.

I never had one until a couple of years ago when we wanted to drive from Seattle to Vancouver. I took care of the whole thing, photo included, at the post office and it came fairly quickly. I'm not an international traveler (yet) but when we went to New York state this past summer we thought to take em with us in case we found ourselves heading to Niagra.

Now I agree everyone should have one. Not only might it benefit your employer but if you should want to try out for Amazing Race or America's Next Top Model you'll be all set.

I went on Norwegian Cruise last year with stops in Nassau without a passport, but I did have to show my birth certificate prior to boarding.

I know the Bahamas probably doesn't care. :)

I did the application at my local library, meaning I didn't have to deal with the incompetent post office. As long as you bring everything the State Department asks for, it doesn't take very long. I think they the feds turned it around in like two weeks.

We were in the Bahamas and St Maarten three weeks ago, didn't need a passport there, or with customs when we returned.

The foreign countries will accept a driver's license and US customs will also, provided you have a birth certificate. They didn't even give it a second thought, which makes me believe it is a common occurrence.

Maybe Disney won't let you on one of their ships without it, but that would be their rule. I'm sure the government isn't making an exception for Norwegian Cruise Lines.

Meh, I couldn't tell you anything beyond that the customs dude wanted our passports.

On cruise ships coming from certain countries, BC and Drivers License is all that's required to get back in the country.

Flying, however, is different. Driving can be too.

Riddler's Revenge creeped on to the bottom of the chart. That surprises me. Am I right that it's the only stand-up on the list?

The only other one that could (should?) make the list would be Scorcher. Only wooden coasters should make you stand (RIP Screechin' Eagle).

Scorcher is really the only B&M standup I care for. And even then, I can't remember the last time I rode it.

Yeah, as far as stand-ups go there's Riddler & Scorcher and then there's everything else.

I haven't ridden Georgia Scorcher yet but I agree that Riddler's Revenge is pretty awesome (and not just "for a stand-up")... My understanding is RR & GS are pretty much polar opposites; RR with the huge, swooping elements while GS is much more compact? Is that accurate?

Yep. Totally accurate. RR has these big slow elements with decent hang time which is are accentuated by the standing position. Scorcher has some crazy fast transitions and a straight drop which give it a punch without punching your nuts or your head.

I really liked Riddler, never heard of Scorcher before now, and am unimpressed with all other standing rides besides the Round Up.