Traveling the Globe for the Best Coasters and Theme Parks
Sean and Alex disect the 2024 D23 announcements in detail. Reactions, Details, Analysis, and Questions – 90 minutes of Disney Horizons talk that covers all the bases.
** Please note this was recorded prior to Walt Disney World releasing plans to place the Magic Kingdom Cars attractions where Rivers of America are.
Continue reading “D23 Announcements – Answers and Questions!”
Beginning with resort-saving Space Mountain de la Terre a la Lune in 1995, Disney was the unlikely champion of the modern launch coaster. Before Premier Rides, Intamin, and other industry juggernauts had their hand at next-generation launchers, Disney partnered with Vekoma to create the first new catapult-propelled coaster in over a decade (one that, unlike its predecessors, would run multiple trains on a full circuit).
Continue reading “The 5 Best Disney Launch Coasters”
UPDATED – August 2022
We didn’t plan on riding Rex’s Racer on our 2019 visit to Shanghai Disneyland . The new credit was tempting, but we assumed the line would be too long to be a good use of time – after all, we already had the Paris and Hong Kong ones.
On Shanghai Disneyland day the crowds were light, and when we checked out the new Toy Story Land, we noticed Rex’s Racer going out with empty seats. “Eh, why not” we said. After riding, it occurred to us that we’d now ridden every coaster Disney has ever built – but not for long. Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleds will open at Hong Kong Disneyland before we know it, and with no plans for a Hong Kong Disney visit in our near future, we know our every-Disney-coaster-ridden claim had an expiration date.
Naturally we decided to write an article ranking all operating Disney coasters – it may have taken years for us to get around to it, but we’ve finally put it together. We’re also pleased to include both Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Avengers Assemble: Flight Force in our latest revision!
Continue reading “All Disney Coasters – Ranked”
About this time in 2017, we dropped a Disney Rides Top 20 to celebrate the opening of Shanghai Disneyland. Five years and two revisions later, we’re back with the 3rd Edition of our Global Disney Top 20. We’re proud to bring an increasingly comprehensive countdown of Disney’s top rides from around the world – each one pushing the limits of storytelling entertainment and illustrating for the visionary artwork of Walt Disney Imagineering.
Continue reading “20 Best Disney Rides in the World – 2022 Edition”
It’s that time a year again! Welcome to Coaster Kings’ 3rd annual Twenty Year Top 20, where we count down our picks for the twenty best coasters turning 20 in 2021!
Continue reading “Twenty-Year Top 20: The Best Coasters of 2001”
It’s been 2 years since our last comprehensive countdown of California coasters, so for 2020 we bring you now a Top 20 for the Golden State. Things in California have changed a LOT in 2 years, and the landscape and hierarchy of its coasters is no exception. Continue reading “Coaster Kings’ California TOP 20 – 2020”
After launching our Coaster Line last week, we’re now adding five new pieces to form the Coasters and Landmarks Line. These new pieces take us across the globe to some of the most iconic landmarks in the themed entertainment industry. Carefully chosen and designed based on our love for these remarkable icons, this week’s wonderous landmark designs can’t be missed: Continue reading “SHOP – 5 New Landmark Designs”
After months on top of months of waiting, California theme parks finally received reopening guidelines yesterday during the state’s weekly COVID-19 briefing. Governor Gavin Newsom along with other high-level representatives from the Golden State have decided to split up theme parks into “larger theme parks” and “smaller theme parks”. The placement of a theme park is based on its capacity. The state says it will allow smaller theme parks to reopen at 25% capacity (or 500 people, whichever is fewer) once the county the park resides in is placed into the orange tier. Reservations will be required, all park guests must live in the same county the park is in, and only outdoor attractions will be allowed to operate. For larger theme parks, the restrictions are even more suffocating, with the guidelines stating that the county the park resides in must be in the yellow tier in order to reopen. Like the smaller parks, reservations will also be required and the park capacity will have to be 25%. Continue reading “California Theme Parks – Where Do We Go From Here?”
UPDATED: October 2020
We’ve had the amazing opportunity to travel to all Disney parks in the world, twice! Along with that, we’ve also been passholders for 8 out of the 12 parks! We’re critics – and thus can’t help but compare every experience at each Disney park. We’ve reasoned back and forth and have taken the changes over the past couple of years in account to create this list ranking all Disney parks in the World. (Please note that this article has been completely rewritten from our January 2019 edition). Continue reading “All Disney Parks in the World – Ranked”
Disney is truly in a league of their own when it comes to themed areas. Our recent podcast covered this in great detail, but we wanted to produce a follow-up article to make a couple changes and reiterate some of our key points.
In our brand new podcast episode we discuss Disney’s best themed areas from around the world! Are your favorites on the list? Continue reading “Coaster Kings Radio – Disney Themed Areas Top 10”
Preston: The Disneyland Resort is back! This past Thursday, July 9th, Downtown Disney District reopened after its nearly four-month closure due to COVID-19. In this update, we’ll show you the health and safety measures that have been added to the resort. We’ll also take a look at which locations did and did not open on July 9th. There are also some recently completed construction projects around Downtown Disney that we take a peek at. Continue reading “Downtown Disney is Open! – Disneyland Resort Update – July 13th, 2020”
Alexander: It’s no secret that the 4 (sorry, 3) Tower Of Terror rides are some of Disney’s most popular and iconic attractions. “Why not rank them?” We asked ourselves (and if you’re wondering how we squeezed a “Top 5” out of this, your answer lies at the start of our list).
Alexander: There’s no Disney ride quite as well-loved as Haunted Mansion. Lightyears ahead of its time, Walt Disney’s home for 999 happy haunts was a showcase for experimental optical tricks that lent themselves marvelously to spectacular specters – little did they know they’d lead to the most cult-obsessed amusement park ride in the world.
Continue reading “All 5 Disney Haunted Mansions & Manors Ranked”
Sean: Disney loves their (mine) train themed coasters and every Disney Resort is home to at least one signature version! Today we take a look at five of the eight spread around the world to make our ranking. The selection ranges from classic Big Thunder Mountain Railroad installations to new-age versions such as Expedition Everest and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Continue reading “Our 5 Favorite Disney Mine Train Roller Coasters”
Alexander: for over 50 years, Pirates of the Caribbean has dazzled Disney parkgoers with its uncanny ability to transport riders into a seamless environment of excitement and danger. As the last ride whose construction was curated by Walt Disney himself, Pirates is often regarded as Walt’s Magnum Opus, as well as his parting gift to the industry.
Continue reading “All 5 Pirates of the Caribbean Disney Rides Ranked”
Sean: In 2020 the name “Space Mountain” is pretty much a household name in regions with Disney resorts. The fascination with lifting off into space and riding a thrilling coaster has been what makes Disney’s Space Mountain roller coasters so appealing. Today, let’s rank all 5 of Disney’s Space Mountains! Continue reading “All 5 Space Mountain Disney Coasters Ranked”
Preston: January 17th, 2020 was no normal day at the Disneyland Resort. Yesterday marked the first E-Ticket attraction to open at Walt Disney’s original theme park in over twenty years. We decided to head down to celebrate the special occasion. We have heard such amazing things about Rise of the Resistance from Galaxy’s Edge east over in Florida; we made sure to take off work so we were able to get on the attraction on opening day. In this report, we will showcase the crazy early morning crowds and the actual experience of the ride itself. We’ll also give you a tutorial (and some tips) on how to get a boarding group to ensure you are able to ride on your visit.
Preston: It’s Christmas time! The holidays have returned to Disneyland, and we returned to the resort on the inaugural day of the season. Here’s a look at some of the Holiday cheer that has been spread around both parks.
Continue reading “Christmas at Disneyland! – December 1st, 2019”
Preston: With the Holiday season quickly approaching, we decided to head over to the Disneyland Resort to check up on some projects they’ve been working on. In this update, we’ll take a look at the newly opened pedestrian bridge, the new security and transportation hub, a new FastPass system in Tomorrowland, and some Christmas snow that has recently fallen on the castle.
Continue reading “Disneyland Resort Update – Early November 2019”