News Project 2027/Purple: Delayed “World Record Breaking Coaster" (Phantom Spire?)

[northdetective]

I want to attempt another bridge here.

We agree on this!

• SFGAdv isn't currently a destination park.
• SFGAdv has not been a very good locals/regional park.
• SFGAdv should be one of the best regional amusement parks in the country.
• SFGAdv could and probably should be a "destination"-ish amusement park (in the same vein as Cedar Point, Hersheypark, or Dollywood).
• Phantom Spire, as currently understood, is not a "destination ride" and will not make SFGAdv into a "destination park."

I think the place we diverge is that I don't believe it's possible to build a "destination ride" in the year 2026 in America at a conventional amusement park and, hence, there is no attraction which SFGAdv could buy which would turn them into a "destination park."

I cannot point to any coaster which has been built since Ka that, by itself, transformed a regional park into a nationally known entity. I believe the days where something like that could occur are now long behind us.

How did it happen the first time? Let's put ourselves into the shoes of people during the height of the coaster wars. At the turn of the millennium, coasters with 300ft drops were essentially unheard of but damn, breaking that height barrier was amazing. Then, all the sudden, in the mid-2000s, there are two coasters, Dragster and Ka, that came online and took the record all the way to the low-mid-400s—we're talking a CRAZY jump in height, speed, etc—and this was during a time when launches were still pretty novel too. Launching to over 100 miles per hour? That's fucking nuts in the mid-2000s.

The records weren't just broken during this period, they were shattered—and shattered by coasters that looked and felt nothing like what had been built before them. They got tons of mainstream news coverage, they got specials on the Travel Channel, they were on the cover of Popular Science, etc, etc—not just because they broke records, but because they shattered them and in entirely new and unique ways.

Truthfully, SFGAdv could build a 600ft tall coaster in a similar vein as Ka today and I don't even think it would break out into the public consciousness anywhere near as effectively as Dragster and Ka did in the mid-2000s simply because absurdly fast launches into absurdly high towers is a thing people have seen now. Yeah, the numbers would be bigger, but the methods are now conventional. What I'm saying is that I don't even think a 600ft tall launch coaster would be a "destination coaster" today.

Ultimately, I cannot point to any ride Six Flags could possibly build that would turn SFGAdv into a "destination park," but I'll go even further too—I don't believe SFGAdv should be trying to be a destination park just yet. Should it be their long-term plan? Certainly. That said, they need to become a great, high-quality, respected local park first—something Great Adventure has not managed to achieve for a very long time now. In other words, they need to make their way to the Kings Island and Carowinds stage before they can even think about pushing into the Cedar Point, Hersheypark, and Dollywood sphere.

Becoming a great regional park means replacing Ka, embarking on a good at least 10 years of reinvestment, rejuvenation efforts, and reputation rehab, and then, maybe, if everything has gone smoothly and they're, once again, THE park to visit within a 3-ish hour driving radius, they should start looking to expand in ways to attract audiences from farther afield. Six Flags tried to skip the decade+ process of actually fixing up the park—they tried to jump straight behaving like a destination park—trying a super expensive, IP-driven, upcharge Halloween event, adding a luxury, boutique resort hotel, etc—and I think we all agree those were comical mistakes that have not paid dividends for the park.

Very slow and steady is the name of the game. It's no longer the mid-2000s—there is no silver bullet anymore. The park shot their silver bullet, gathered up the rewards, and then deserted the park—abandoning the gains Ka once gave them. Now that there aren't any cheats available, they have to do it the hard way just like everyone else.

We're now over 10 years removed from the debut of Fury 325 and Carowinds still isn't a destination park. They're flirting with it, don't get me wrong, but they still have a long path ahead. Six Flags Great Adventure is hopefully just begging to walk that path in 2027. Maybe in 2037 we'll see some real dividends start to materialize.

I see nothing in this post I disagree with. I don't think any one single coaster could or would make the restorative push the park needs.

I have tried hard to see the Mack spinner as part of a larger investment scheme, but it's difficult when it feels like this one addition is expected to do SO much heavy lifting in SO many ways. The sheer expense bothers me too because I know the money could buy a significantly longer, more traditional layout of any kind of coaster, and I perceive the "flashiness" of the layout of the spinner to be a gaudy attention grab instead of something genuinely enjoyable.

Fury is a great antithesis to Phantom Spire, and I don't know anything about how that went financially, but I agree that Carowinds still isn't necessarily a destination so it must not have gone that well. It does make sense that it would spook CF away from more "traditional" layouts like Fury, which is long and expensive but may not have lived up to expectations in terms of attendance increase etc.

What breaks my heart is how much love and appreciation for their home parks people around KI and CP seemed to have when I visited, and I once felt like I had a park worthy of the same pride and support. I could not feel less like that now, and whether people on this forum (or Reddit for that matter) tend to agree with me or not, almost everyone around me in my life shares my disappointment in what the park has become. All the resentment has been well-earned, Have I polled them on their specific thoughts on the Mack spinner? No, but everyone (AROUND ME) just generically thinks it's a dump unworthy of the expense. (I did not tell them all about the $90 gold pass sale)

Everything you said regarding becoming a great regional park makes perfect sense and I'd love to see it all, but I cannot emphasize reputational rehab enough. Obviously respect will be hard to earn back and the proof must be in the pudding, but my God do they have to communicate their attempts at improving well. I know people who are still mourning Rolling Thunder (other than me, though definitely me as well). The death of Kingda Ka was worldwide news (kinda), and I feel like they're trying to make worldwide news again with the spinner instead of meaningfully making it up to their customer base with like.... a plan??? I know that sounds stupid and Disney is a different ballgame altogether, but their Project Stardust (essentially a program to "improve crowd flow"/ remove benches and places to linger) for Star Wars Land was met with strong (but mixed) reactions. People can get excited about stupid things like infrastructural improvements if they're aware they're happening (I definitely would)

 

[Zachary]

I will 1000% agree with you that basically the entire industry at this point has become wholly inept at communication. Most parks constantly leave tons of free opportunities to improve their reputation on the table. Parks only benefit from the perception that they're working to improve themselves, yet parks rarely actually make any effort to show the ways they're improving themselves. It would take a marketing employee all of 15 minutes total to take and post some before and after photos of a round of new landscaping, some photos of some nice, new, well-designed merch that just arrived, before and after shots of a repainted building, etc, but so few parks capitalize on these obvious, free opportunities to generate goodwill with their regular customers and good vibes with the broader market.

My theory is that somewhere along the way marketing became metrics-driven to a nearly absurd degree and few companies are sophisticated enough to be able to quantify reputation, perception, etc—if a post doesn't directly lead to trackable sales, it doesn't represent a value to the corporation and, hence, it's a waste of time to produce. I think this approach has really done a ton of damage to parks' abilities to not only improve, but even just maintain their reputations.

 

[Clear]

3 new pages?

This bathroom trip might not be that bad after all!

 

[netdvn]

Maybe its just me, but I didn't care for either CP or KI when I visited and I've had a better time with all my visits to GAdv than I have CP and KI combined.

I did two days at Cedar Point this past summer for the first time and both days were plagued with breakdowns, long lines and weather delays. There wasn't a single point in those two days where all of the coasters were operational. Combine that with the crowds the park gets and you basically have to buy Fast Lane just to remotely enjoy your day. The operations were good, but between the breakdowns and weather delays, that just made long lines at whatever was open even worse. In contrast I went to SFMM for the first time in May and not only was every coaster in that park operational, the ops were pretty efficient and the park was dead both days I was there making it easy to just stroll from ride to ride. X2 was the only problem both days I was there and I still ended up with two rides on that.

Kings Island is just overrated IMO. The park feels pretty generic, there's a lack of shade and the atmosphere is pretty nonexistent outside of a Area 72 and most of the park's newer attractions. The coasters are pretty solid, but the park really needs that one elite coaster to put it over the top. But even that won't save the lack of atmosphere. Maybe I had a bad trip. I went right after COVID so the park closed before sundown, and I visited right after a day at Dollywood, which makes most parks look bad by default.

Right now, GAdv isn't in a very good spot, but its pretty clear SF sees plenty of potential that was lost after COVID. It was amazing being able to run into the park at 2-3pm, stay till close and be able to lap all the flagship coasters multiple times, but I'd imagine that's not very good for the park's bottom line. Some of the smaller changes like the new entry and bigger security check are really nice. Flash is a pretty solid addition. Losing KK and Holiday in the Park sucked but hopefully that means we aren't seeing major rides go down for weeks at a time during the regular season. I have high enough expectations for the new coaster. Ride to Happiness and Time Traveler are elite coasters so a 400 ft version of that is bound to be pretty insane.

TLDR: Cedar Point and Kings Island are overrated. I think GAdv has potential. I appreciate the low crowds, but I wouldn't mind seeing a new iconic attraction come to the park. Hopefully it'll bring crowds back to the park again.

 

[SweetBabyJames]

Maybe its just me, but I didn't care for either CP or KI when I visited and I've had a better time with all my visits to GAdv than I have CP and KI combined.

I did two days at Cedar Point this past summer for the first time and both days were plagued with breakdowns, long lines and weather delays. There wasn't a single point in those two days where all of the coasters were operational. Combine that with the crowds the park gets and you basically have to buy Fast Lane just to remotely enjoy your day. The operations were good, but between the breakdowns and weather delays, that just made long lines at whatever was open even worse. In contrast I went to SFMM for the first time in May and not only was every coaster in that park operational, the ops were pretty efficient and the park was dead both days I was there making it easy to just stroll from ride to ride. X2 was the only problem both days I was there and I still ended up with two rides on that.

Kings Island is just overrated IMO. The park feels pretty generic, there's a lack of shade and the atmosphere is pretty nonexistent outside of a Area 72 and most of the park's newer attractions. The coasters are pretty solid, but the park really needs that one elite coaster to put it over the top. But even that won't save the lack of atmosphere. Maybe I had a bad trip. I went right after COVID so the park closed before sundown, and I visited right after a day at Dollywood, which makes most parks look bad by default.

Right now, GAdv isn't in a very good spot, but its pretty clear SF sees plenty of potential that was lost after COVID. It was amazing being able to run into the park at 2-3pm, stay till close and be able to lap all the flagship coasters multiple times, but I'd imagine that's not very good for the park's bottom line. Some of the smaller changes like the new entry and bigger security check are really nice. Flash is a pretty solid addition. Losing KK and Holiday in the Park sucked but hopefully that means we aren't seeing major rides go down for weeks at a time during the regular season. I have high enough expectations for the new coaster. Ride to Happiness and Time Traveler are elite coasters so a 400 ft version of that is bound to be pretty insane.

TLDR: Cedar Point and Kings Island are overrated. I think GAdv has potential. I appreciate the low crowds, but I wouldn't mind seeing a new iconic attraction come to the park. Hopefully it'll bring crowds back to the park again.

I appreciate your post. I agree with you about Cedar Point. I went to the park this summer, had a good time, however there were a considerable number of operational issues and downtime especially with Siren's Curse and TT2. Conversely I disagree with your overall analysis of Kings Island. I absolutely love that park. In my multiple experiences there and especially this summer (the day after I went to CP) the park operations were flawless and ride ops were super efficient. While some sections of the park may seem "generic", they are well kept and carry historical charm. I especially love coney mall and the western section of the park. Going to KI is honestly a more manageable experience for me than going to CP as KI is smaller, easier to navigate, has a more hometown park feel and I just feel less pressure to ride everything. Also, I like the attention to small details like the Eiffel Tower park, bluegrass music covers in the western area, unique food options like the blue ice cream, and reverence toward its history. In fairness CP caries some of those qualities too. CP has superior coasters to KI and KI does lack a truly signature coaster (however one could argue the Beast fits this bill). I love both parks, but I like the overall experience at KI just a tad more.

Yes, I agree Great Adventure has a ton of potential. I think this new coaster will be a good, enjoyable addition. If I could make an analogy, it will be like getting an oil change and some tires replaced on a car. It is a necessary upgrade, but it wont be like jumper cables reigniting a car or getting the engine replaced which IMO the engine needs some major work. I love Great Adventure's history, and I still enjoy the park and the many times I've been there, but it is not even close to being on the same level as CP or KI. (Not yet anyway).

 

[ski4ever5]

I think we both know that new ideas aren't born or implemented without manhours of work, but you win there. Enjoy.

I guess I just don't understand what's outwardly offensive to everybody about what I say. I'm not starting an argument when I say I disagree, I'm furthering a conversation. It's okay to admit it if you only want your own perspectives validated (I'll openly admit it would be nice to be validated more. It was nice when a few people were nice about my timeline chart), but it's quite tiresome that people act like I'm "arguing for fun." I would like to talk to people who share great memories at Great Adventure and want the best for it, even if we don't agree on what's best, and speculate about its future. I think the Mack spinner is a poor choice that will fail to provide the shot in the arm that the park needs, and I think people defend it vigorously because we all know the future of the park is reliant on it. Everyone agrees the past has been rocky, but for some reason the idea that the status quo of poorly-conceived additions that die slowly of neglect will continue causes outrage. I don't know why.

Hey Northdetective,

I think the problem you’re running into here (and I say this from the perspective of someone who struggles with it as well) is that your writing style makes you sound like a bit of a twit. That’s pretty rude of me to say, and I don’t think you’re actually approaching these conversations in bad faith, but when I read your messages it feels like you’re actively trying to antagonize people instead of simply sharing your views on this rather ridiculous hobby we share.

I get it if you feel strongly about the decisions Six Flags corporate is making (I certainly do), but if you end up writing long messages on here, I suggest you give them a once over before you post them. Whenever I post something here (or on the reddit) that’s more than a sentence or two long, I always read it out loud. It’s a great litmus test to see how your writing sounds outside of your head, and it could help flag some areas where your discussion sounds attacking instead of contributing.

From the messages I’ve read that you’ve posted, it sounds like you have some really great ideas for the park and ways that they could better invest in their future growth. I’d love to be able to enjoy all of your thoughts and contributions to this community (I loved the bar graph), but at this point I’ve started skimming your messages because the way that they’re written annoys me. I hope you continue to contribute to this thread in a way that is more universally well-received (a devil’s advocate is a powerful thing), and I’ve got my fingers crossed for us all that the Mack Spinner is only the start of the turnaround for Great Adventure.

 

[northdetective]

Hey Northdetective,

I think the problem you’re running into here (and I say this from the perspective of someone who struggles with it as well) is that your writing style makes you sound like a bit of a twit. That’s pretty rude of me to say, and I don’t think you’re actually approaching these conversations in bad faith, but when I read your messages it feels like you’re actively trying to antagonize people instead of simply sharing your views on this rather ridiculous hobby we share.

I get it if you feel strongly about the decisions Six Flags corporate is making (I certainly do), but if you end up writing long messages on here, I suggest you give them a once over before you post them. Whenever I post something here (or on the reddit) that’s more than a sentence or two long, I always read it out loud. It’s a great litmus test to see how your writing sounds outside of your head, and it could help flag some areas where your discussion sounds attacking instead of contributing.

From the messages I’ve read that you’ve posted, it sounds like you have some really great ideas for the park and ways that they could better invest in their future growth. I’d love to be able to enjoy all of your thoughts and contributions to this community (I loved the bar graph), but at this point I’ve started skimming your messages because the way that they’re written annoys me. I hope you continue to contribute to this thread in a way that is more universally well-received (a devil’s advocate is a powerful thing), and I’ve got my fingers crossed for us all that the Mack Spinner is only the start of the turnaround for Great Adventure.

I appreciate you taking the time for thoughtful feedback and not rejecting my content based on tone alone, though in retrospect, I guess I find it hard to articulate what I mean without stepping on any toes, or "sound[ing] like a bit of a twit." I respect that you didn't mince words there because I typically don't either, but I will try to work on my intensity.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the complex self-awareness of your Qiddiya write-up. It's the only piece of content related to that park I haven't immediately downvoted lol

 

[netdvn]

I appreciate your post. I agree with you about Cedar Point. I went to the park this summer, had a good time, however there were a considerable number of operational issues and downtime especially with Siren's Curse and TT2. Conversely I disagree with your overall analysis of Kings Island. I absolutely love that park. In my multiple experiences there and especially this summer (the day after I went to CP) the park operations were flawless and ride ops were super efficient. While some sections of the park may seem "generic", they are well kept and carry historical charm. I especially love coney mall and the western section of the park. Going to KI is honestly a more manageable experience for me than going to CP as KI is smaller, easier to navigate, has a more hometown park feel and I just feel less pressure to ride everything. Also, I like the attention to small details like the Eiffel Tower park, bluegrass music covers in the western area, unique food options like the blue ice cream, and reverence toward its history. In fairness CP caries some of those qualities too. CP has superior coasters to KI and KI does lack a truly signature coaster (however one could argue the Beast fits this bill). I love both parks, but I like the overall experience at KI just a tad more.

Yes, I agree Great Adventure has a ton of potential. I think this new coaster will be a good, enjoyable addition. If I could make an analogy, it will be like getting an oil change and some tires replaced on a car. It is a necessary upgrade, but it wont be like jumper cables reigniting a car or getting the engine replaced which IMO the engine needs some major work. I love Great Adventure's history, and I still enjoy the park and the many times I've been there, but it is not even close to being on the same level as CP or KI. (Not yet anyway).

I think KD does a better job of having an Eiffel Tower park with a bit of personality. Even though KD doesn't pull flagship park status anymore like KI currently does, I prefer the overall atmosphere here. Candy Apple Grove is way more charming and has way more personality than Coney Mall. Our International Street feels way more intimate with the fully grown trees in place. Old Virginia is much nicer atmosphere-wise than Rivertown. Food options were ok for me. Nowhere near the level of a park like Dollywood or Silver Dollar City. Best of all, KD has two elite coasters in Timbers and 305. Nothing at KI has anything that comes close.

And don't get me started on comparing KI to Dollywood. Dollywood absolutely shits all over anything KI has to offer. If you want a park in a beautiful setting with great food, amazing shows, incredible coasters, great operations and a ton of personality, I would choose Dollywood over KI any day of the week.

Bringing this back to GAdv, I feel like GAdv has that elite coaster that puts it past KI's coaster collection in El Toro. Both parks have similar atmosphere, but I found GAdv to be the easier park to ride stuff. GAdv also allows re-rides on everything. I don't recall KI being as loose with their re-ride policy. I wanna give KI a second chance in the future, but I'm not really in a hurry to go back. Maybe if Phantom Theater turns out to be amazing, I'll consider. I'm a sucker for a good dark ride. Right now I still prefer GAdv though. I love the large park feel with the small park crowds. I love being able to get up around 9am and stroll into GAdv at 3pm, ride everything before sundown and then get as many re-rides as possible. While GAdv has suffered from maintenance issues in the past, its nowhere near as bad as my first trip to CP.

 

[AmyUD06]

Nothing at KI has anything that comes close.

Somehow not a fan of Beast or Mystic Timbers?

 

[netdvn]

Beast was solid. I like that it's long but it doesn't really do much. I haven't ridden it at night yet.

Timbers is great but I'm a bit more partial to Thunderhead and Wicker Man. It's a fantastic coaster but it doesn't touch my top 50. I don't think anything at KI touches my top 50 lol

 

[MrBradferd]

I think KD does a better job of having an Eiffel Tower park with a bit of personality. Even though KD doesn't pull flagship park status anymore like KI currently does, I prefer the overall atmosphere here. Candy Apple Grove is way more charming and has way more personality than Coney Mall. Our International Street feels way more intimate with the fully grown trees in place. Old Virginia is much nicer atmosphere-wise than Rivertown. Food options were ok for me. Nowhere near the level of a park like Dollywood or Silver Dollar City. Best of all, KD has two elite coasters in Timbers and 305. Nothing at KI has anything that comes close.

And don't get me started on comparing KI to Dollywood. Dollywood absolutely shits all over anything KI has to offer. If you want a park in a beautiful setting with great food, amazing shows, incredible coasters, great operations and a ton of personality, I would choose Dollywood over KI any day of the week.

Bringing this back to GAdv, I feel like GAdv has that elite coaster that puts it past KI's coaster collection in El Toro. Both parks have similar atmosphere, but I found GAdv to be the easier park to ride stuff. GAdv also allows re-rides on everything. I don't recall KI being as loose with their re-ride policy. I wanna give KI a second chance in the future, but I'm not really in a hurry to go back. Maybe if Phantom Theater turns out to be amazing, I'll consider. I'm a sucker for a good dark ride. Right now I still prefer GAdv though. I love the large park feel with the small park crowds. I love being able to get up around 9am and stroll into GAdv at 3pm, ride everything before sundown and then get as many re-rides as possible. While GAdv has suffered from maintenance issues in the past, its nowhere near as bad as my first trip to CP.

Dollywood has a massive downgrade RMC that is super mid now. Their other coasters are whatever. You talk about KI not having an elite ride.. Dollywood damn sure lacks a standout ride.

 

[netdvn]

Dollywood has a massive downgrade RMC that is super mid now. Their other coasters are whatever. You talk about KI not having an elite ride.. Dollywood damn sure lacks a standout ride.

Even if Lightning Rod was as bad as original Gwazi and is at the very bottom of my coaster rankings...

Wild Eagle is one of the best B&M wings
Mystery Mine is one of the best Gerstlauers
Firechaser, Blazing Fury and Big Bear are elite family coasters
Tennessee Tornado is one of the best Arrows
And Thunderhead is better than Mystic Timbers

Oh and did I forget to mention
The best shows in the industry
Some of the best theme park food
Craftsman's Valley
Specialty stores
All the Dolly Parton exhibits

That's what makes Dollywood an elite park. It's more than just coasters.

I'll even throw Alton Towers into the mix. AT is what KI could be. A park oozing with atmosphere and charm, and while the coasters aren't gonna make it into my top 50 either, the coasters are all so unique and take full advantage of their location, are extremely well themed and have best-in-class layouts. And they have things to do if it rains. The Alton Manor dark ride is elite and they supposed have a madhouse too (was closed when I was there).

What does Kings Island have apart from coasters?
Drop Zone, Delirium, and Eiffel Tower are solid and Phantom Theater looks to be really cool. And if it rains? Oh just Phantom Theater because CF can't run FOF in a thunderstorm. The park itself just feels corporate. Apart from a few rides, the atmosphere feels bland. How does a park that prides itself on coasters going out of the middle of the woods feel like walking around a parking lot with zero shade anywhere?

In all fairness GAdv doesn't have much going for it outside the coasters too, but I have good enough luck there that I miss bad weather or time my visits so I've ridden all the important stuff by the time the weather hits.

 

[MrBradferd]

Even if Lightning Rod was as bad as original Gwazi and is at the very bottom of my coaster rankings...

Wild Eagle is one of the best B&M wings
Mystery Mine is one of the best Gerstlauers
Firechaser, Blazing Fury and Big Bear are elite family coasters
Tennessee Tornado is one of the best Arrows
And Thunderhead is better than Mystic Timbers

Oh and did I forget to mention
The best shows in the industry
Some of the best theme park food
Craftsman's Valley
Specialty stores
All the Dolly Parton exhibits

That's what makes Dollywood an elite park. It's more than just coasters.

I'll even throw Alton Towers into the mix. AT is what KI could be. A park oozing with atmosphere and charm, and while the coasters aren't gonna make it into my top 50 either, the coasters are all so unique and take full advantage of their location, are extremely well themed and have best-in-class layouts. And they have things to do if it rains. The Alton Manor dark ride is elite and they supposed have a madhouse too (was closed when I was there).

What does Kings Island have apart from coasters?
Drop Zone, Delirium, and Eiffel Tower are solid and Phantom Theater looks to be really cool. And if it rains? Oh just Phantom Theater because CF can't run FOF in a thunderstorm. The park itself just feels corporate. Apart from a few rides, the atmosphere feels bland. How does a park that prides itself on coasters going out of the middle of the woods feel like walking around a parking lot with zero shade anywhere?

In all fairness GAdv doesn't have much going for it outside the coasters too, but I have good enough luck there that I miss bad weather or time my visits so I've ridden all the important stuff by the time the weather hits.

Just talking about ride standpoint. They do not have a elite coaster at all. If orion, beast, or timbers arnt elite for a park then Dollywood is basically a pier park. Their coaster linup is a snoozefest for the mass appealing of familys. (Which is perfectly fine) big bear is probably the only coaster im really excited to ride this April. I already rode rapterra and gatekeeper, wild eagle looks hella boring

 

[netdvn]

Have you been to Dollywood? Even if Dollywood just had Blazing Fury, it would still be a better park than Kings Island lol.

Orion is a pretty ok giga. Nothing to write home about considering I have the best giga in the world in my backyard

Mystic is a top tier GCI, but Dollywood's is better

Beast is cool and unique, but Grizzly is better

I like Adventure Express a lot... And I REALLY love Bat

And I love that their Eiffel Tower actually works

I don't care much for anything else. The rest I can just do at home, and/or we have better variants out here.

Like GAdv with their really solid hyper, better than anything KI has to offer wooden coaster, better invert, equally as fun but more painful mine train, and if Spire is anything close to Time Traveler and Ride to Happiness elite spinning coaster

 

[michaellynn4]

Beast was solid. I like that it's long but it doesn't really do much. I haven't ridden it at night yet.

Speaking as someone who's first ride on Beast was at night with a light mist / fog in the air - it needs to be experienced that way to be appreciated fully. Easily one of the best experiences on a coaster I've ever had.

I can understand your reaction to how you experienced the ride, though, because when my ex and I rode it again the next day in the late morning, naively expecting a similar experience, we left very underwhelmed.

 

[MrBradferd]

Have you been to Dollywood? Even if Dollywood just had Blazing Fury, it would still be a better park than Kings Island lol.

Orion is a pretty ok giga. Nothing to write home about considering I have the best giga in the world in my backyard

Mystic is a top tier GCI, but Dollywood's is better

Beast is cool and unique, but Grizzly is better

I like Adventure Express a lot... And I REALLY love Bat

And I love that their Eiffel Tower actually works

I don't care much for anything else. The rest I can just do at home, and/or we have better variants out here.

Like GAdv with their really solid hyper, better than anything KI has to offer wooden coaster, better invert, equally as fun but more painful mine train, and if Spire is anything close to Time Traveler and Ride to Happiness elite spinning coaster

Im not gonna derail this thread. I could respond for awhile. I think these are just personal hot takes that most people would not agree with lol

 

[northdetective]

Im not gonna derail this thread. I could respond for awhile. I think these are just personal hot takes that most people would not agree with lol

Yeah... this criticism would feel more legitimate in literally any other thread lmao. Arguing from the perspective of "I think Great Adventure in its current state is better than Kings Island" is already a losing battle even in a Great Adventure discussion... and Wicker Man>TT is a very very hot take but to each their own. At least I'm not seeing Bat or Adventure Express slander. Praise be to Ron

 

[bill s]

I felt like I could fly after my KI visit, great. But did get Fast Lane for the second, and so far the last, time in my life. Dollywood is a great park but I still don't feel the need to go back, and my visit was during well below average crowds and it sounds like a lot of the time the place is miserable. I far prefer Mystic to Thunderhead but now think even The Raven is better than either. I still really enjoy being at GrAdv although not sure why except Nitro, I'd put recent Toro someplace below Grizzly and really don't want to ride it again until smoother than I've ever experienced it.

The spinning tower coaster does seem like an attempt to become a destination park though, a 400 foot spinning coaster has got to be the craziest thing anyone could think of. It maybe depends on what you call destination park, GrAdv surely gets some people that travel to it and stay around than one day, but I don't see how they can ever compete with a media machine that couples rides to already popular properties such as Harry Potter, other than maybe people eventually tiring of that stuff like they already are with DC superheroes.

Note I probably won't ever try Timmy's Half Pipe because afraid of being sick due to its repetitive nature, but I've never gotten as sick from a spinning coaster as even Finnegan's Flyer (which I do ride), though strongly prefer the ones that spin less.

 

[Clear]

I will not tolerate Dollywood slander in this thread

Dollywood is one of the most elite parks out there. Completely Ignoring the setting of the park in the mountains and the surrounding towns being awesome tourist spots.( which significantly adds to the parks overall vibe) That park itself is simply spectacular. I have 3 kids, I’d go out of my way to take my family to Dollywood and pigeon forge for a week over a day or two at GADv. (Stinks to say that but it’s reality). We can’t compare GADv to Dollywood. They’re not on the same continent

 

[GASM]

Speaking as someone who's first ride on Beast was at night with a light mist / fog in the air - it needs to be experienced that way to be appreciated fully. Easily one of the best experiences on a coaster I've ever had.

Not to further detract, but this is truly the greatest coaster experience I’ve ever had. It sits at #5 for me for that alone.