What makes a great coaster?

I've always thought that the MCBR on Kumba isn't bad. The ride flies through it, and there is still much to go. And Mamoosh I thought your favorite was SROS/Bizarro not the Voyage.

SFNE Superman/Bizzaro is my favorite. So is Voyage. One steel, one wood.

Mamoosh said:
SFNE Superman/Bizzaro is my favorite. So is Voyage. One steel, one wood.

Moosh, I'd call Bizzaro a good coaster but it falls short of great. The ride elememnts (speed, airtime) are solid, but the other crap around it (fire effects, soundtrack) detract from the greatness.

I haven't ridden it since it became Bizzaro. My ranking of it is from it's Superman days.

Fair enough. To be fair, I had not ridden in when it was RoS, but I can tell that the new stuff (with exception of the misters) detracts from the ride big time!

You can't hear the audio worth squat and the fire effects are chezily unnessesary.

^It's amazing they spent all that money on the fire/speakers, etc. It was a GREAT ride as it was.

I can only dream that some money could have been better spent on some great training classes/workshops on how to get people through the ride faster, happier, without crushing males' *packages* (I had spend an hour in first aid last time I was there to ride ROS thanks to an overzealous bitchy ride attendant).

Guess that's what they call altruistic or wishful thinking or something. I just keep thinking about the service Holidayworld offers, treating EVERY guest with a large amount of respect.

DeliriumDreamer said:
What do you think makes a great coaster?

If you can, please give examples.

Here is a good solid example for you: Compare the Kumba at BGT to the Scream at SFMM. One is built over a parking lot while the other uses the envirement to enhance the experience. Beyond that they are basically the same exact ride. Even their layouts are almost exact copies of eachother!

^^^The misters were there in the S:RoS days. In fact, I distinctly remember thinking that my rides with both misters on (in both tunnels) were significantly better than when they were off or one was off. Actually, that first drop in front into a mist filled tunnel was quite possibly the best first drop I had experienced at the time.

Thankfully I haven't spoiled my memory of it with a Bizarro ride.

ThunderHead: Dollywood.

Great ride from start to finish.

So what you're saying is that the layout of the coaster is just as important as the placement, right?

If the coaster were to be built in the wrong part of the park, do you think people would overlook it more often?

^ That semes fair to assume.

GCII of course ;)

OOPS I guess that would be who makes a great coaster.

If they put the right bolts on good coasters, it would make them all great coasters. (Sorry, I had to post this for Gonch).

^ Okay wise guy, who makes great bolts?

Did you say "great" or "Grade 8" bolts? :)

DeliriumDreamer said:
So what you're saying is that the layout of the coaster is just as important as the placement, right?

If the coaster were to be built in the wrong part of the park, do you think people would overlook it more often?

Theme, scenery, and setting are more important to some enthusiast than they are to others. For example lets say that a park is ready to finalize their design for a roller coaster, and they have 10 million dollars leftover. Personally I would generally rather have them spend the money on improving the ride layout( higher, taller, more elements ect.) over just adding a theme to the ride. It really depends upon the exact circumstances though, but generally i'd rather a park improve the actual ride itself.

As for the Kumba Scream example that I gave you, those rides are almost completely identical in their layout and size. I have never been on Scream before, but i would imagine that it would have to have quite a few more elements to make up for its horrible scenery. There are many more clones and near clones throughout the world especially for looping roller coasters than you would probably imagine, theme, scenery and the setting are a way to stand out.

Hope that helps.

This one is easy:

Arrow and Triangles

or for Rideman: Arrow and Circles