Surprises and disappointments in the amusement world

Biggest surprise: Voyage. I know, I know... I mean, I expected it to be fun. But when it was over, I was jumping up and down like a five year old and begging to go one more time.

Biggest disappointment: Top Thrill Dragster. The speed was amazing, and it's a fun ride. But it's so, so short, and while intense I didn't think it was all that and a bag of chips. I get more thrill from Raging Bull. (don't judge ;) )

Xcellerator is so much better than TTD. It's a complete ride, and more forceful, where, as said above, TTD is more of just a one trick pony. (But it's a heck of a trick!)

Riddler's Revenge is my favorite standup, hands down. It's also the only Standup that I even remotely enjoy.

Scream, (or "Medusa East: West) is a great ride. But it's a major disappointment to me because it represents yet another instance of Six Flags just being lazy and installing clone after clone after clone in parking lot after parking lot after parking lot. To your average coaster rider, though, or if I could toss my prejudices out, it's a great ride.

Banshee was my biggest surprise so far. I thought it was going to be just another swoopy, intensity-deprived new-era B&M, but my face sure is red on that one... :)

You beat me to it, Raven-Phile. I was going to post something like that. I expected just another B&M inverted coasters, but Banshee was much better than I expected.

As far as surprises, X's first drop, hands down. It was the only "what the...." moment that I have experienced on a coaster in my life. Biggest disappointment had to be Son of Beast. We rode it in 2000, and other than the visuals it was nothing special. The loop was, well a loop.

My biggest surprise was Tower of Terror at Disney World. When I rode it, I didn't know anything about it other than that it was a drop ride. There was SO MUCH attention to detail on that ride, it truly felt like a building that was once magnificent that has fallen into disrepair. Everything from the garden outside the hotel, to the library with the pre show, to the ride itself exceeded my expectations to a level that I doubt will ever be reached again.

Biggest disappointment was Superman the Escape at Magic Mountain. I rode it before the renovation, and was sorely disappointed at what this 400 ft ride did. I seem to remember thinking when I got off that Wicked Twister at Cedar Point had better airtime on the launches that only send you part way up the tower (depending on where you sit)

Tower of Terror is one of Imagineering's greatest achievements! From the minute you enter the garden of the Hollywood Tower Hotel, the depth of detail of the theme is amazing, such as the Hollywood Tower Hotel being the only hotel to get the AAA 13 Diamond award, according to a sign in the lobby.

Who on earth gave that place 13 diamonds?!?

The elevator doesn't even work right.

I thought the place seemed kind of dirty. Black and white TV. Staff was a little spooky. And so run down.

They did have a nice gift shop, though.

:-) Those silly Imagineers, making up 13 Diamond awards....