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    • Kings Dominion & Carowinds 2010 Roller Coasters
    • Intimidator Coming to Carowinds in 2010
    • Top Thrill Dragster vs. Kingda Ka | Roller Coaster Showdown
    • Thirteen Announced as Alton Towers' 2010 Psychoaster
    • Intimidator 305 Opens: POV Video, Reviews, & a Poll
    • Intimidator 305 Coming to Kings Dominion in 2010
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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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» 2010 coasters

  • Intimidator 305 @ Kings Dominion | Roller Coaster Reviews

    Written by The Coaster Critic 21 Comments
    Last Updated: August 31, 2010
    Intimidator 305 @ Kings Dominion | Roller Coaster Reviews
    Kings Dominion’s Intense NASCAR-Themed Giga Coaster Doesn’t Dissapoint The train rockets around the final turn. Guests waiting in the queue hear it roar by and into the final brakes. Somehow the short stretch of magnetic brakes slow the charging train to a crawl. Immediately, the train erupts with adrenaline-fueled applause and laughter as Intimidator 305 has just delivered another th...
    • Kings Dominion Trip & My 200th Coaster

      Written by The Coaster Critic 14 Comments
      Last Updated: August 20, 2010
      Kings Dominion Trip & My 200th Coaster
      For my next and probably last trip of the season I’ll be headed back to my home state and former home park. Kings Dominion is where it all began for me. I had only ridden a few smaller roller coasters until I was coerced into riding Grizzly. Next thing I knew I was hooked. I’ve been to Kings Dominion dozens of times over the years, but my last visit was in 2004. So, I haven’t bee...
      • Sky Rocket @ Kennywood | Roller Coaster Reviews

        Written by The Coaster Critic 19 Comments
        Last Updated: August 18, 2010
        Sky Rocket @ Kennywood | Roller Coaster Reviews
        Aric Davis is a working writer, body piercer, and the author of From Ashes Rise. He rarely updates his website, www.aricdavis.com, but plans to someday. When not writing, Aric can be found riding rollercoasters, playing hockey, listening to punk rock and knocking holes in people. If you’re at a park in the Midwest and see a guy covered in tattoos with really big ear piercings, it’s pro...
        • Sky Rocket Test Video

          Written by The Coaster Critic 26 Comments
          Last Updated: June 28, 2010
          Sky Rocket Test Video
          Kennywood’s Sky Rocket looks to be about ready to open. As you can see from the video below the coaster has had test runs: As I said in my previous posts, I think Sky Rocket will be a strong addition to Kennywood’s loopless lineup. It will boast all of the ingredients of a solid modern looper. Elements include a launch, two vertical drops, a corkscrew and a barrell roll. The twisting ...
          • Top 10 New Roller Coasters for 2010 Part 2

            Written by The Coaster Critic 11 Comments
            Last Updated: May 3, 2010
            Top 10 New Roller Coasters for 2010 Part 2
            This the conclusion of my annual New Roller Coasters List. In case you missed it, here’s Part 1. This year was tougher than usual as there weren’t many new coasters opening in the States. Also, there were a few attractions with very little information for me to go on. Here are my top five picks for 2010. Thirteen | Alton Towers – Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom Alton Towers&...
            • Intimidator @ Carowinds | Roller Coaster Reviews

              Written by The Coaster Critic 25 Comments
              Last Updated: April 27, 2010
              Intimidator @ Carowinds | Roller Coaster Reviews
              Someone says, “This was a bad idea.” Another rider says, “I think I can see Atlanta”. Meanwhile, Intimidator’s black and red NASCAR-themed train ascend further and further into the sky. I look over my left shoulder and I can see Charlotte’s cluster of skyscrapers in the distance. Most of the other riders are glued to their seats bracing for the ensuing plunge. T...
              • La Ronde Attacked by Sea Monster Ednör

                Written by The Coaster Critic 6 Comments
                Last Updated: April 17, 2010
                La Ronde Attacked by Sea Monster Ednör
                This week, Montreal theme park La Ronde announced the name and theme of their new (ish) roller coaster. The Six Flags affiliated park received a Vekoma SLC that was orignially Serial Thriller at Six Flags AstroWorld from 1999 until 2005. When AstroWorld closed, the coaster remained in storage at Great Escape for nearly 4 years. Last winter the ride was shipped to La Ronde where it will get a new l...
                • Top 10 New Roller Coasters for 2010 Part 1

                  Written by The Coaster Critic 17 Comments
                  Last Updated: April 8, 2010
                  Top 10 New Roller Coasters for 2010 Part 1
                  With the start of the 2010 roller coaster season underway, it’s time for my annual top picks for the best new roller coasters. This year was tougher than usual as there weren’t many new coasters opening in the States. Also, there were a few attractions with very little information for me to go on. After much deliberation and repositioning here’s Part 1 of my Top 10 New Roller Coa...
                  • Intimidator 305 Opens: POV Video, Reviews, & a Poll

                    Written by The Coaster Critic 64 Comments
                    Last Updated: April 2, 2010
                    Intimidator 305 Opens: POV Video, Reviews, & a Poll
                    The highly anticipated Intimidator 305 opens to the public today at Kings Dominion (near Richmond, VA). At 305′ or about 30 stories tall, it is one of the tallest roller coasters in the U.S. and the World. Its little brother Intimidator at Carowinds opened last week. They both bear the nickname of the legendary NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt and feature racing themes. Intimidator 305 seems to ...
                    • Carowinds’ Intimidator Reviews, POV Video, & a Poll

                      Written by The Coaster Critic 27 Comments
                      Last Updated: March 28, 2010
                      Carowinds’ Intimidator Reviews, POV Video, & a Poll
                      Carowinds’ new hyper coaster Inimidator opened to the public on Saturday and I’ve been scouring the Web, local news stations, and talking to my friends who have ridden it to see how it is. I live about 30 minutes from the park, but I wasn’t able to make it to Media Day as I was welcoming a new member to our roller coaster loving family. I’m sure I’ll get to ride it so...
                      • Videos Reveal Thirteen’s Secret Weapon

                        Written by The Coaster Critic 22 Comments
                        Last Updated: March 17, 2010
                        Videos Reveal Thirteen’s Secret Weapon
                        Thirteen’s Secret Weapon Revealed! You might not want to read this post if you’re planning on visiting Alton Towers and you want to be completely surprised by Thirteen. British news shows GMTV and ITV were on location to film the first footage of Thirteen, Alton Towers highly anticipated new roller coaster. The park boasted that the ride was going to have a one-of-a-kind, World’s...
                        • Thirteen’s Creepy Blipvert TV Ads

                          Written by The Coaster Critic 23 Comments
                          Last Updated: March 11, 2010
                          Thirteen’s Creepy Blipvert TV Ads
                          Alton Towers has the hype machine going at full speed as the opening for their much anticipated new roller coaster draws near. Not much is known about Thirteen other than that it’s supposed to be so scary that there will be a controversial age limit. There was also talk of a limit to the times per day one could ride, but I would have to imagine that both of these restrictions will be lifted....
                          • Sky Rocket Construction Photos & Kennywood in the Snow

                            Written by The Coaster Critic 16 Comments
                            Last Updated: March 7, 2010
                            Sky Rocket Construction Photos & Kennywood in the Snow
                            Longtime reader Judy sent in these great shots of Kennywood. There are a number of cool images of the Pittsburgh area park after a recent snow storm. She also sent a few images that show the construction site for the park’s 2010 roller coaster, Sky Rocket. Although, it doesn’t appear like too much actual construction has taken place. They were taken on 2/27. #gallery-1 { mar...
                            • Kings Dominion’s Intimidator 305 Construction + Test Video

                              Written by The Coaster Critic 21 Comments
                              Last Updated: February 27, 2010
                              Kings Dominion’s Intimidator 305 Construction + Test Video
                              UPDATE – 4/02/10 Intimidator 305’s open! Watch a POV video and leave or read a review here: Kings Dominion’s Intimidator 305 Reviews & POV Video Intimidator 305: Intimidating Indeed King’s Dominion’s massive Giga coaster is nearing completion. Images on the official mini site (Intimidator 305 Kings Dominion.com) show the red steel track reaching 305 feet into t...
                              • Intimidator Construction Photos & Test Run Video

                                Written by The Coaster Critic 28 Comments
                                Last Updated: February 1, 2010
                                Intimidator Construction Photos & Test Run Video
                                I went to Plaza Fiesta with my family about a week ago. It’s an indoor shopping mall with a huge kids play area and arcade. It just so happens to be located across the street from Carowinds. So, while we were there I ran across the street and took a few pictures of Intimidator from a far. These aren’t the greatest ‘construction’ photos, but it’s still a look at the ...
                                • Mr. Six’s DanceCoaster Coming to Six Flags Magic Mountain

                                  Written by The Coaster Critic 28 Comments
                                  Last Updated: January 27, 2010
                                  Mr. Six’s DanceCoaster Coming to Six Flags Magic Mountain
                                  Just as I was writing a post about relocated roller coasters, Six Flags Magic Mountain finally announced today the name and theme of their 2010 relocated family coaster. Mr. Six’s DanceCoaster was announced as the park’s 17th roller coaster. It will be themed after that creepy old dancing guy that serves as the company’s spokesperson. While I think he’s annoying, the theme ...
                                  • Augmented Reality Preview of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

                                    Written by The Coaster Critic 8 Comments
                                    Last Updated: January 21, 2010
                                    Augmented Reality Preview of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
                                    Augmented Reality Preview of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter USA Today & Universal have teamed up to provide a pretty interesting preview of the highly anticipated Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Set to open in Spring 2010, the multi-million dollar section of Islands of Adventure has Potter fans and theme park fans anxious to see details of this new ‘theme park within a theme park&#...
                                    • Theme Park Travel Odyssey 2009 Edition

                                      Written by The Coaster Critic 16 Comments
                                      Last Updated: December 20, 2009
                                      Theme Park Travel Odyssey 2009 Edition
                                      2009 Theme Park Travel Odyssey Time to recap my 2009 theme park trips. This was a busy year with a number of interviews, media days, and fun theme park trips. I’m even going to include a lost trip that I don’t think I’ve referenced on the blog. From the warm tropic atmosphere of Orlando to the mean streets of Manhattan, my travels took me to 10 theme parks. But, it all started ba...
                                      • Thirteen Announced as Alton Towers’ 2010 Psychoaster

                                        Written by The Coaster Critic 81 Comments
                                        Last Updated: December 11, 2009
                                        Thirteen Announced as Alton Towers’ 2010 Psychoaster
                                        Thirteen To Scare The Pants Off Of Unsuspecting Brits in 2010 UPDATE – 3/17 New videos reveal Thirteen’s theme, one-of-a-kind element, and some POV video footage. British news shows GMTV and ITV were on location to film the first footage of Thirteen, Alton Towers highly anticipated new roller coaster. Read the full post and watch the videos, but only if you don’t mind seeing the ...
                                        • Kennywood’s 2010 Coaster Dubbed Sky Rocket

                                          Written by The Coaster Critic 9 Comments
                                          Last Updated: December 9, 2009
                                          Kennywood’s 2010 Coaster Dubbed Sky Rocket
                                          Sky Rocket to Blast Off from Kennywood in 2010 Rumors about the name of Kennywood’s 2010 roller coaster have been confirmed as today the park announced that it will be called Sky Rocket. To recap, the new roller coaster was designed by launch coaster pioneers Premier Rides. They’re responsible for coasters like Flight of Fear, the Italian Job Stunt Coasters, and the insanely popular Reveng...
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