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The Coaster Critic's Blog is your source for opinionated roller coaster reviews, theme park reviews and a coaster enthusiast's take on all the latest theme park news. Read more...
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» Roller Coaster Reviews

  • Demon @ Six Flags Great America | Coaster Reviews

    Written by The Coaster Critic 18 Comments
    Last Updated: February 5, 2010
    Demon @ Six Flags Great America | Coaster Reviews
    A few years ago I ventured out to Chicago for a Six Flags Great America-Wisconsin Dells trip. The main attraction of the Great America visit was the B&M hyper coaster Raging Bull. But, it was almost overshadowed by my surprisingly fun rides on Demon. Riding decades-old Arrow loopers is generally an unenjoyable, ho-hum kind of experience where you’re happy to come away with a ride credit....
    • Avalanche @ Kings Dominion | Coaster Reviews

      Written by The Coaster Critic 8 Comments
      Last Updated: December 27, 2009
      Avalanche @ Kings Dominion | Coaster Reviews
      Avalanche @ Kings Dominion | Coaster Reviews The Avalanche at Kings Dominion is located in the Congo area (oddly enough) at Kings Dominion next to Volcano mountain. It’s a fun family coaster and one of the few bobsled roller coasters around. Bobsled coasters feature chutes or half pipes without fixed tracks like most roller coasters. This allows the bobsleigh-like cars to move freely as if ...
      • Disaster Transport @ Cedar Point | Coaster Reviews

        Written by The Coaster Critic 15 Comments
        Last Updated: December 15, 2009
        Disaster Transport @ Cedar Point | Coaster Reviews
        Disaster Transport: Not a Complete Disaster Even with Dated Theming & A Short Ride Disaster Transport is an indoor bobsled coaster at Cedar Point. It’s one of the parks few, if not only, large indoor rides. It opened as Avalanche Run in 1985. Then, in 1990, it was transformed to an indoor attraction and renamed Disaster Transport. I’m assuming Cedar Point did this to add a dark att...
        • Dueling Dragons – Fire Dragon | Coaster Reviews

          Written by The Coaster Critic 3 Comments
          Last Updated: November 1, 2009
          Dueling Dragons – Fire Dragon | Coaster Reviews
          Dueling Dragons | Fire Dragon @ Islands of Adventure The Dueling Dragons is a popular dueling roller coaster at Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. It consists of a red (Fire) track and a blue (Ice) track. The inverted tracks share a lift hill, but after that their layouts are unique. They boast three duels or near-misses where the trains pass within feet of each other. An Amazing Medieval C...
          • Dueling Dragons – Ice Dragon | Coaster Reviews

            Written by The Coaster Critic 8 Comments
            Last Updated: October 25, 2009
            Dueling Dragons – Ice Dragon | Coaster Reviews
            Dueling Dragons | Ice Dragon @ Islands of Adventure The Dueling Dragons is a popular dueling roller coaster at Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Florida. It consists of a red (Fire) track and a blue (Ice) track. The inverted tracks share a lift hill, but after that their layouts are unique. They boast three duels or near-misses where the trains pass within feet of each other. An Amazing Medieval Ca...
            • The Cyclone at Coney Island | Roller Coaster Reviews

              Written by The Coaster Critic 5 Comments
              Last Updated: September 12, 2009
              The Cyclone at Coney Island | Roller Coaster Reviews
              The Cyclone Still Has Enough Tricks Up Its Sleeve to Offer a Thrilling Ride As I exited the subway station at the far end of the line, I could tell that the ocean was nearby. I didn’t know exactly where the Cyclone was located, but one glance down Surf Avenue and there it was. A tall rectangular electric sign right on the corner of the street brought a smile to my face. I had driven to the a...
              • Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Finally Ready to Rock

                Written by The Coaster Critic 24 Comments
                Last Updated: August 22, 2009
                Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Finally Ready to Rock
                Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Open – Video & Early Reviews Last weekend, Universal Studios Orlando began a soft opening period for their delayed Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. With the ride’s uniqueness and many state-of-the-art features it’s no surprise that it took a little longer to get everything just right. Then on August 19th, the park sent out a press release stating that the ...
                • Afterburn @ Carowinds | Roller Coaster Reviews

                  Written by The Coaster Critic 53 Comments
                  Last Updated: August 14, 2009
                  Afterburn @ Carowinds | Roller Coaster Reviews
                  Take a Spin on the Best Roller Coaster in the Carolinas Due to popular demand, I’m finally getting around to writing my full review of Afterburn; an underrated inverted roller coaster at Carowinds (Charlotte, NC). It was formerly Top Gun: The Jet Coaster until the 2008 season. The movie theming had to go when Paramount sold the park to Cedar Fair. It’s too bad because the ride’s ...
                  • Mind Eraser @ Six Flags | Coaster Reviews

                    Written by The Coaster Critic 8 Comments
                    Last Updated: July 15, 2009
                    Mind Eraser @ Six Flags | Coaster Reviews
                    A Review of Mind Eraser & Its Many Clones The concept of Vekoma’s Suspended Looping Coaster (SLC) is a great one. It’s a compact inverted roller coaster(even though the model name has ’suspended’ in it) with riders fixed below a tangle of twisted track. They are popular additions at theme parks with about 30 clones or slight variations around the globe. I’ve...
                    • Superman Ride of Steel Goes Bizarro at Six Flags New England

                      Written by The Coaster Critic 36 Comments
                      Last Updated: June 27, 2009
                      Superman Ride of Steel Goes Bizarro at Six Flags New England
                      I’ve been nervous to even write about the new Bizarro at Six Flags New England. Obviously, the revamped Intamin hyper coaster isn’t really new. It’s another in a line of renovated roller coasters in Six Flags’ new era of roller coaster makeovers. Why would I be nervous? Superman Ride of Steel is my #1 ranked roller coaster and I consider it the best roller coaster I’...
                      • The Best Roller Coasters Near Charlotte NC

                        Written by The Coaster Critic 12 Comments
                        Last Updated: June 25, 2009
                        The Best Roller Coasters Near Charlotte NC
                        Theme Parks within Driving Distance of Charlotte NC (Click to Enlarge) Queen City Coasters: A List of the Best Roller Coasters within Driving Distance of Charlotte, NC Charlotteans are lucky to have not only Carowinds here in town, but also several other parks within a 5 or 6 hour drive. To coincide with my interview tonight on Fox Charlotte, here is a list of my favorite roller coasters at the pa...
                        • FOX Charlotte News Interview

                          Written by The Coaster Critic 11 Comments
                          Last Updated: June 24, 2009
                          FOX Charlotte News Interview
                          I’m going to be interviewed on FOX Charlotte News tomorrow. I’ll be talking about the best roller coasters within driving distance of Charlotte. It’s going to be taped at Carowinds so there may be some great background shots of Carolina Cobra, Flight Deck (formerly Top Gun), or Nighthawk (formerly BORG Assimilator). If you live in the area, check it out. It will be airing on the ...
                          • Montu @ Busch Gardens Tampa | Coaster Reviews

                            Written by The Coaster Critic 14 Comments
                            Last Updated: June 19, 2009
                            Montu @ Busch Gardens Tampa | Coaster Reviews
                            A World-Class Inverted Coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Busch Gardens Africa’s (Tampa, FL) Montu is a world-class roller coaster that’s deservingly found on many enthusiast’s top tens. It combines some of the best theming, pacing and timing of inversions, that you’ll find anywhere. A Terrain Loving Inverted Coaster I’m no historian when it comes to this Busch park, but it a...
                            • Bizarro @ Six Flags Great Adventure

                              Written by The Coaster Critic 8 Comments
                              Last Updated: June 8, 2009
                              Bizarro @ Six Flags Great Adventure
                              From Medusa to Bizarro at Six Flags Great Adventure: The World’s First Floorless Roller Coaster Takes a Bizarre Twist Back when new CEO Mark Shapiro took over Six Flags he was interviewed at Six Flags Over Georgia. He pointed at the brand new 20-story hyper coaster Goliath and stated “No more of those.” Now, after 2008’s X2 at Magic Mountainand this year’s Bizarro-the...
                              • Manta @ SeaWorld Orlando | Roller Coaster Review

                                Written by The Coaster Critic 33 Comments
                                Last Updated: May 30, 2009
                                Manta @ SeaWorld Orlando | Roller Coaster Review
                                Manta – SeaWorld Orlando’s New Signature Attraction After the eight hour drive down to Orlando for the Manta Grand Opening and Media Day, I was hoping to not be disappointed and thankfully I wasn’t. It was my first time to SeaWorld, but right away I recognized that I was at a Busch-owned theme park. The park was clean and beautifully-themed. Manta is the much-hyped flying roller ...
                                • Goliath @ Six Flags Magic Mountain | Coaster Reviews

                                  Written by The Coaster Critic 10 Comments
                                  Last Updated: May 12, 2009
                                  Goliath @ Six Flags Magic Mountain | Coaster Reviews
                                  Blacking out. I’ve heard coaster enthusiasts mention that they’d experienced such intense g-forces that they blacked out. I’ve ridden many coasters in my time, but I couldn’t recall ever blacking out (nor did I want to). Until I rode Goliath last summer. It had other plans. Six Flags Magic Mountain’s Goliath (not to be confused with Georgia’s Goliath) is one of the tallest r...
                                  • Carolina Cobra Review & Media Day at Carowinds

                                    Written by The Coaster Critic 3 Comments
                                    Last Updated: March 29, 2009
                                    Carolina Cobra Review & Media Day at Carowinds
                                    It was a rainy day, but the Carolina Cobra media day had a positive feel and pointed to a bright future for Carowinds. The event was attended by the local media, park officials, live snakes, and some Nick characters. A local cover band played a few crowd-pleasers while Dora, Diego, and the Rugrats entertained guests. Next, the park addressed the media. Then, an official ribbon cutting was followed...
                                    • Phantom’s Revenge @ Kennywood | Coaster Reviews

                                      Written by The Coaster Critic 9 Comments
                                      Last Updated: March 16, 2009
                                      Phantom’s Revenge @ Kennywood | Coaster Reviews
                                      Kennywood’s Phantom’s Revenge was originally the Steel Phantom. In its first incarnation, the Phantom was created in 1991 during the height of the ‘Coaster Arms Race’. That was back when amusement parks were vying to be the home of the World’s Tallest Roller Coaster. Steel Phantom couldn’t technically claim the title with regards to height, but the coaster̵...
                                      • Tatsu @ Six Flags Magic Mountain | Coaster Reviews

                                        Written by The Coaster Critic 9 Comments
                                        Last Updated: February 15, 2009
                                        Tatsu @ Six Flags Magic Mountain | Coaster Reviews
                                        My trip out West to Los Angeles brought me to the state’s largest theme park, Six Flags Magic Mountain. While X2 was a big draw, the co-main event had to be Tatsu. I got off the world’s largest flying coaster in awe of another masterpiece from Bolliger & Mabillard. Located near the top of Samurai Summit stood Tatsu. The massive 170′ tall, 3,600 foot long red and yellow dragon...
                                        • Goliath @ Six Flags Over Georgia | Coaster Reviews

                                          Written by The Coaster Critic 23 Comments
                                          Last Updated: December 5, 2008
                                          Goliath @ Six Flags Over Georgia | Coaster Reviews
                                          Take A Spin on Goliath – The Jewel of the SouthEast  Goliath is a towering hyper coaster built at Six Flags Over Georgia in 2006. It may mark the end of an era for Six Flags. Newly appointed CEO Mark Shapiro pointed at the $20 million roller coaster in an interview and said “No more of those.” The year it was built Dan Snyder and Mark Shapiro assumed control of Six Flags. They p...
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