Traveling the Globe for the Best Coasters and Theme Parks
We’ve wanted to write a Flying Coaster Top 5 for years now, but a certain Dutch prototype project in Germany made us take pause. Now that we have F.L.Y. under our belts, we ask ourselves: how does Vekoma’s flying coaster reset stack up against the flying coasters of the preceding 20 years?
Continue reading “The Top 5 Flying Coasters”
Following the launch of our Twenty-Year Top 20: The Best Coasters of 1999, we immediately decided to make it an annual thing – Here’s what we think are the 20 best coasters that turned 20 in 2020!
Continue reading “Twenty-Year Top 20: The Best Coasters of 2000”
In 1981 Dutch fantasy park Efteling decided to add their first roller coaster. Already a well established theme-park they chose to make an investment that would make a big impact on the European market. Working with Dutch manufacturer Vekoma they unveiled the largest roller coaster in all of Europe, Python. Although a copy of the existing Arrow Huss Carolina Cyclone, this 4 inversion monster was unlike anything in the region. It was only 2 years after Blackpool Pleasure Beach had unveiled Europe’s first modern looping coaster and the first time modern inversions appeared in continental Europe. Efteling had built something loopier, larger, and unlike anything else that Europe had seen and it became a phenomenon. Python has been featured in numerous Dutch TV programs, was used by Porsche to film a television commercial, and continues to be one of the most popular attractions in the park. So beloved is this ride that in 2018 the park spent an estimated 4.5 Million Euro ($5.3 Million USD) to re-track the majority of the ride and ensure it continues to run for future generations. Continue reading “5 of America’s National Coaster Icons”
With the opening of Corkscrew in 1975 Arrow Development not only introduced the first modern looping roller coaster it also introduced the first inverting coaster element that wasn’t a vertical loop. Though people complain about Arrow’s use of “cookie cutter” elements on its looping coasters we still see almost every element Arrow introduced being used today. For over 20 years these “cookie cutter” inversions were what it meant to ride a looping coaster and I think Arrow loopers continue to be the first “upside down” ride for many people. In celebration of 45 years of the modern looping roller coaster enjoy this ranking of five classic Arrow inverting elements.
Alexander: Greetings! Who’s ready for another Coaster Kings Top 5? This time we’re looking at one of B&M’s most enduring product lines, the Flying Coaster!
Sean: We’re back with another list! This time we’re looking at a smaller company than the past few lists, but with tremendous value nonetheless. Herschend Family Entertainment operates three theme parks in the US: Wild Adventures, Silver Dollar City and Dollywood. Let’s find out what their 5 best coasters are! Continue reading “The 5 Best Herschend Family Entertainment Coasters”
Alexander: Everyone that knows us knows we live for a good Arrow coaster – especially their loopers. We love nothing more than getting rattled around on some of Arrow’s rowdier concoctions, which brings us to this fairly-exhaustive list of our favorites (though we’re still missing some cool ones, like Fantasia Special and HotWheels Sidewinder). Continue reading “The 5 Best Arrow Loopers”
Sean: The unique collection of Cedar Fair parks are home to some of the world’s greatest and biggest coasters. While all parks are currently closed due to COVID-19, now’s a good time to discuss the company’s best coasters: Continue reading “The 5 Best Cedar Fair Coasters”
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).
Sean: SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment (including the Busch Gardens parks) announced quite the line-up of new-for-2020 coasters. The amusement park chain however only opened one so far, in Texas. With the delays in ride openings due to COVID-19, we took the moment to pick the 5 best coasters in the chain, as we’ve ridden them all! Continue reading “The 5 Best SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Coasters”
Alexander: We’ve got a long road ahead of us, folks. In the ever-changing fight against CoVid19’s triple threat of illness fears, financial anxiety, and quarantine-induced boredom, we’ve decided to fight fire with Fives – Top 5s, that is. Continue reading “Top 5 Six Flags-Built Coasters”
Sean: Just a few days ago we presented our readers with the ‘Bottom 5 Worst Parks’, which shed some light on parks that were unique for bad reasons. This time around we’re presenting you with a polar opposite article as we look at our 5 favorite parks in the World! Continue reading “Our 5 Favorite Parks in the World”
Alexander: Here at Coaster Kings, we like to see the good in things – or, at the very least, we like to criticize the parks we visit in a constructive way.
However,
We’re doing things a little different today: we’ve got a list of 5 parks that are so dreadful it’s a miracle they’re even open.
Andrew: For a total of five seasons, I have had the pleasure of working for Cedar Fair in the Ride Operations Department. I was lucky enough to work world class attractions such as Millennium Force, Top Thrill Dragster, Gatekeeper, Magnum XL 200 and much more! Throughout the seasons, my crew and I learned fascinating things about the public.
Continue reading “Top 5 Cedar Point Ride Operator Pet Peeves”
Sean: I know we’re already approaching the end of 2019, but we’re flashing back to 2018 when we traveled across the world to some memorable and not-so-memorable parks. Below we have listed some of the biggest surprises of 2018, both local and international coasters. Continue reading “FLASHBACK – The 5 Most Surprising Coasters We Rode in 2018”
Sean: Obviously we like Vekoma’s products, and though admittedly some can be a bit rough or intense to the point where most modern riders find them uncomfortable, not all Vekoma coasters are created equally. Vekoma’s newest products have taken the world by storm and are considered some of the best thrill rides ever created, none however, are located in the United States. Let’s take a look at what the 5 Best Vekoma coasters are in the US, leaving out obvious Disney-fan favorites this time. Continue reading “The 5 Best (Non-Disney) Vekomas in the US!”
Alexander: Who’s ready for an epic coaster countdown!?
Here’s our 5 picks for Schwarzkopf’s Best Loopers!
Sean: This week’s list of 5 coasters is inspired by the trip Alexander and I took to Asia last fall! We rode over 60 awesome (and not-so-awesome) coasters in Japan and we have narrowed it down to our 5 absolute favorites! Let’s take a look: Continue reading “Our 5 Favorite Coasters in Japan”
Sven: Europe isn’t always sunshine, lollipops and rainbows. One of theme parks biggest enemies is the weather. Both too rainy and too scorching can be deadly for attendance. That’s why parks invest in indoor attractions. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re good rides! Let’s have a look at Europe’s best (completely) indoor coasters! Continue reading “Top 5 Indoor Coasters in Europe”
Sean: What makes the best first impression on a coaster, and what makes the best last impression? That’s what we’re looking at this month. Last month we discussed the 5 Best Finales on Coasters in California, this time we’re taking a look at the best first drops around the state! Sadly some of our favorite first drops in the state, such as Perilous Plunge and Deja Vu, are no longer around, we have gained some incredible new first drops in the past few years that have made the list. Let’s look at a nice variety of drops that we find to be 5 of the best first drops in California! Continue reading “The 5 Best First Drops in California”