Coaster Kings

September 5, 2021September 30, 2021

Disneyland Paris: Our Last International Park Before – and Our First International Park Since – the Pandemic Started.

Shortly before most borders (and theme parks) closed, Alex and I traveled to Disneyland Paris for a few days at one of our favorite parks. At the time we did not realize we’d cancel our next several international trips. This summer we finally were able to leave the US again, and the first park we visited was Disneyland Paris of course. Let’s take a look at the French Disney destination, without the usual crowd!

September 3, 2021September 30, 2021

Alton Towers – Crown Rating

The UK’s got several famous coaster-parks, perhaps the favorite among enthusiasts is Alton Towers. Let’s see how this landmark-turned-theme park destination holds up in this Coaster Kings Crown Ratings.

August 29, 2021September 30, 2021

Best of the Best at Phantasialand

We ventured back to what’s perhaps Germany’s most impressive theme park: Phantasialand. Home to highly-detailed multi-level themed worlds in a rather small concise park. Let’s take a tour around Phantasialand and see how our impressions have changed since our previous visits.

August 29, 2021September 30, 2021

NEW AT HOWL-O-SCREAM 2021 – BUSCH GARDENS TAMPA

Superstitions aside, this Friday the 13^th will be a very lucky day for fans of fear in Tampa Bay. As Howl-O-Scream, Tampa’s largest haunt event, prepares to open on September 10 for 28 select nights through October 31, Busch Gardens is unleashing a limited-time offer to secure event tickets for up to 75% off savings for only one day.

August 29, 2021September 30, 2021

Knott’s Scary Farm 2021 Details!

Southern California’s largest immersive Halloween experience, Knott’s Scary Farm, returns with innovative new scares and bone-chilling thrills for its 48th frightful year. Terror comes to life as the theme park shifts into your worst nightmare, with horrifying monsters and hair-raising scares looming around every turn. This year, guests will have to confront their greatest fears with 15 haunted attractions, including five sinister scare zones, eight mesmerizing mazes, and two seasonal ride overlays to some of your favorite park attractions. Knott’s Scary Farm returns for 27 terrifying nights from September 16 – October 31.

August 29, 2021September 30, 2021

Six Flags Magic Mountain – Fright Fest 2021 Details!

Six Flags Magic Mountain’s 28^thseason of Fright Fest is back with 24 terrifying nights of monsters, ghouls, and crazed characters ready to strike fear in any one who crosses their path. The bone-chilling lineup of haunted attractions features two new spine-tingling scare zones, a dark and twisted photo experience, two new mind-numbing shows, and added days. Six Flags Magic Mountain leaves no tombstone unturned to deliver what guests want most…an all-out terrifying experience.

August 27, 2021September 30, 2021

The Missouri Triangle: Part 2 – Worlds of Fun

In part one of this series my friend Pete and I started our Missouri trip with an amazing Thursday at Silver Dollar City. Friday’s park was one of Cedar Fair’s mid-tier parks, Worlds of Fun. Worlds of Fun opened in 1973 at the height of the regional park boom. Despite some dramatic changes since the park’s 1995 sale to Cedar Fair, Worlds of Fun still very much feels like a product of the 70s. Loosely themed to Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days, the park is divided into various international regions such as Europa, Africa, and the Orient. These areas are more distinguished than I expected and are united by a streamlined 70s aesthetic. For coaster enthusiasts World of Fun features some impressive coasters including the tallest full-circuit coaster in the state, Mamba and the well regarded GCI woodie, Prowler. The biggest question for the two of us was how did this Cedar Fair property compare to it’s Ohio siblings.

August 25, 2021September 30, 2021

Magic Kingdom – Crown Rating

Disney’s second park was the very ambitious “Florida project”. Magic Kingdom opened in 1971 with much fanfare and started what has become the World’s largest resort. Magic Kingdom as a park continues to be the most attended theme park in the World at 20M+ annual visitors (pre-pandemic). Today, let’s see if Magic Kingdom is worth the hype.

August 22, 2021September 30, 2021

Bellewaerde: Belgium’s Oldest Park

Welcome to Bellewaerde! Opened in 1954, this quaint Companies des Alpes park started as a zoo – it still hosts many exotic animals to this day.

August 21, 2021June 26, 2022

The Missouri Triangle: Part 1 – Silver Dollar City

There is lots of debate over what state in the US has the best coaster collection. Most conversation centers on California, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, but there’s one state that usually overlooked. With three major theme parks and a significant collection of World class coasters, Missouri is one of the most underrated coaster destinations in America. With the end of seasonal park season on the horizon, my friend Pete and I decided to make the trek from Ohio to visit these three major parks which I’m dubbing “The Missouri Triangle.”

August 18, 2021August 17, 2021

California’s Great America – Crown Rating

Santa Clara’s California’s Great America has a fascinating history: from having some of the coolest prototype coasters ever made, to one of the most impressive coaster lineups, to neglect, and now an impressive glow-up. Let’s see what has become from the park.

August 14, 2021August 14, 2021

Paris’ Regional Destination: Parc Astérix!

Just outside of Paris is one of Europe’s biggest regional parks: Parc Astérix! While the destination comes from an ambition to build a major park in Paris before Disney could come in and do it, the 1989 theme park is very much different than Disney and offers some fun alternative themes and experiences. Do you still want to go for a resort visit? Parc Astérix has you covered with several onsite resort hotels!

August 11, 2021August 10, 2021

China Dinosaurland – Crown Rating

Often referred to as the Jurassic Park of the East, China Dinosaurland is home to the Eastern world’s largest collection of dinosaur fossils. The park is entirely dedicated to the theme of dinosaurs, and we mean in every single way possible. Let’s take a moment to rate this park!

August 9, 2021August 13, 2021

Plopsaland De Panne and The Ride to Happiness by Tomorrowland!

Located near the dunes of the North Sea in Belgium is Plopsaland De Panne, a theme park resort that’s home to an indoor water park, a resort hotel, a theme park, and as of 2021: one of the World’s most notable coasters. Let’s take a closer look at all that this resort has to offer!

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August 4, 2021August 5, 2021

Bobbejaanland

Last week we visited Bobbejaanland in Belgium, a park with a fun collection of classics and modern thrill rides. Like many European parks, Bobbejaanland has a well-rounded lineup offering standout attractions in each category. Let’s take a look at what this charming Belgian park has to offer!

August 4, 2021August 3, 2021

Efteling – Crown Rating

This week’s Crown Rating discusses our first European park of the series – none other than a World of Wonders (Wereld Vol Wonderen in Dutch): Efteling! Efteling is known for its dedication to storytelling in their fairytale forest, which has since extended to the park’s notable dark rides and coasters.

July 28, 2021July 28, 2021

Carowinds – Crown Rating

Our second-ever Crown Rating is for the only park in the United States to be located in two states. Carowinds, located near Charlotte, NC, has the unique claim to fame that their coasters cross from one state to another. However, what does the park offer beyond that exciting idea? Let’s give them a rating.

July 21, 2021August 1, 2021

Six Flags Magic Mountain – Crown Rating

We’re inaugurating our new ranking series with Coaster Kings’ original home park! Our first Crown Rating will rank Six Flags Magic Mountain based on five categories: Roller Coasters, Non-Coasters, Other Attractions, Food and Beverage, and Atmosphere. What will Magic Mountain’s Crown Rating be?

July 19, 2021July 19, 2021

Throwback Series: Lihpao Land, Home of Gravity Max

We’re back with the 3rd installment of our Throwback series, featuring our third and final Taiwanese park: Lihpao Land! Though the smallest of Taiwan parks we visited, their signature ride, the Vekoma Tilt Coaster Gravity Max, was the most our most sought-after credit of the trip.

July 17, 2021July 17, 2021

For the Love of Wing Coasters

While certainly a crowd pleaser, enthusiasts don’t seem to talk about these coaster as much as I’d like. What was once a product I had lukewarm interest in has turned into one of my favorite coaster types out there: the B&M Wing Coaster. Today, I am putting the Wing Coaster in the spotlight.