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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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» family rides

  • Space Mountain @ Disney World | Roller Coaster Reviews

    Written by The Coaster Critic 14 Comments
    Last Updated: June 6, 2010
    Space Mountain @ Disney World | 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...
    • 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 19 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...
        • Six Flags Great America to Get Little Dipper in 2010

          Written by The Coaster Critic 7 Comments
          Last Updated: November 28, 2009
          Six Flags Great America to Get Little Dipper in 2010
          Six Flags Great America Makes Little Dipper Its 14th Roller Coaster Six Flags Great America (Gurnee, IL) is saving Little Dipper, a historic wooden roller coaster from nearby Kiddieland Amusement Park. Kiddieland operated in the Melrose Park area for 80 years until it closed earlier this year. Little Dipper is a Herbert Schmeck designed pint-sized woodie that has operated at Kiddieland since 1950....
          • Busch Gardens Opens New Roller Coaster & Sesame Street Forest

            Written by The Coaster Critic 1 Comment
            Last Updated: April 6, 2009
            Busch Gardens Opens New Roller Coaster & Sesame Street Forest
            The CoasterCrew attended Busch Gardens Europe’s recent media day which was all about the park’s new Sesame Street Forest of Fun. The new section includes a number of new rides for the little ones. The centerpiece is the park’s sixth roller coaster, Grover’s Alpine Express. I’m sure many little Virginian’s will get their first taste of roller coasters on the 24&#...
            • What is a Bobsled Roller Coaster?

              Written by The Coaster Critic No Comments
              Last Updated: July 28, 2008
              What is a Bobsled Roller Coaster?
              What is a Bobsled Roller Coaster?Bobsled roller coasters feature trackless chutes that are essentially a pipe with the top half removed. The half pipes do not have fixed tracks so the bobsleigh-like cars move freely on the tracks as if they were sliding on ice like in a real bobsled course. Today, most bobsled coasters are made of steel, but originally they were made of wood and known as Flying Tu...
              • Slippery When Wet Review | Hard Rock Park

                Written by The Coaster Critic 2 Comments
                Last Updated: May 27, 2008
                Slippery When Wet Review | Hard Rock Park
                Slippery When Wet at Hard Rock Park | Coaster ReviewsIn the heart of Hard Rock Park lies one the park’s few attractions that incorporate water. Slippery When Wet (likely named after the Bon Jovi album) is a suspended coaster designed by Premier Rides. It is similar to Carowinds Flying Super Saturator and Hersheypark’s Roller Soaker. Each car holds four riders, two facing frontward and ...
                • Simpsons Ride | Universal Studios Florida

                  Written by The Coaster Critic 4 Comments
                  Last Updated: May 20, 2008
                  Simpsons Ride | Universal Studios Florida
                  Simpsons Ride Opens at Universal Studios Florida Last week, the new Simpsons Ride at Universal Studios Florida opened. Island of Adventure Central has coverage of the grand opening. Universal went all out for the event. Visitors adorned blue Marge Simpson wigs handed out by the park. And Krusty the Clow was on hand to lead an orchestra during the ribbon cutting. The ride is a six minute long simul...
                  • World’s First People-Powered Roller Coaster

                    Written by The Coaster Critic 1 Comment
                    Last Updated: April 22, 2008
                    World’s First People-Powered Roller Coaster
                    People-Powered Green Dragon | Greenest Roller Coaster on EarthHappy Earth Day! Today, I thought I’d write about the most eco-friendly roller coaster. Not only is it good for the environment, it even gives the riders some exercise. The aptly named Green Dragon located at the UK amusement park Greenwood Forest was the world’s first people-powered roller coaster when it opened in 2004. It...
                    • Tony Hawk’s Big Spin | Six Flags Over Texas

                      Written by The Coaster Critic No Comments
                      Last Updated: April 19, 2008
                      Tony Hawk’s Big Spin | Six Flags Over Texas
                      Tony Hawk’s Big Spin Opening at Six Flags Over TexasLast year, Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Six Flags St. Louis built two of these. They must have been successful because Six Flags Over Texas and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom will debut another Tony Hawk coaster this season. These are basically wild mouse coasters with more open layouts. They feature spinning coasters with four seats where rider...
                      • Eagles Roller Coaster Test Video

                        Written by The Coaster Critic 4 Comments
                        Last Updated: March 25, 2008
                        Eagles Roller Coaster Test Video
                        Midnight Rider Renamed Eagles Life in the Fast LaneHard Rock Park’s marquee coaster, Led Zeppelin – The Ride, has been well covered, but it’s good to get a peak at one of the other coasters. Last week, the roller coaster formerly known as Midnight Rider was renamed after the 70’s rock band the Eagles. Most won’t notice the name change as Hard Rock Park, located in Myr...
                        • Bondi Beach @ Carowinds Web Cam

                          Written by The Coaster Critic 1 Comment
                          Last Updated: February 27, 2008
                          Bondi Beach @ Carowinds Web Cam
                          Bondi Beach Web Cam | CarowindsCarowinds is my new home park now that I’ve moved to Charlotte, NC. For 2008 they’ll be adding a wave pool. At 34,000 square feet, Bondi Beach will be the park’s second and largest wave pool. You can track Bondi’s progress via Carowinds’ web cams. The park is also adding a new ride called Yo Yo that Carowinds describes as a whirling swin...
                          • American Idol Meets Disney?

                            Written by The Coaster Critic 1 Comment
                            Last Updated: February 15, 2008
                            American Idol Meets Disney?
                            Walt Disney World & American Idol Team Up Last week Disney announced plans for an American Idol attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World, Florida. It sounds like an immersive attraction where guests can experience auditioning, performing, and being judged. According to the press release: “That experience will include an audition process, open to all who registe...
                            • What is a Wild Mouse Roller Coaster?

                              Written by The Coaster Critic 16 Comments
                              Last Updated: February 8, 2008
                              What is a Wild Mouse Roller Coaster?
                              Wild Mouse Coasters Are Fun For All AgesAt first glance wild mouse roller coasters look like boring ‘kiddie’ rides. They’re typically no taller than 40 or 50 feet with mild speeds that top out at about 30 mph. Unlike most roller coasters that use trains with several cars, wild mouse coasters run single cars that seat four riders (two in front and two in back). Wild mouse coasters...
                              • Kennywood Gets Ghostwood Estates for 2008

                                Written by The Coaster Critic 2 Comments
                                Last Updated: December 17, 2007
                                Kennywood Gets Ghostwood Estates for 2008
                                Kennywood Gets New Dark Ride in 2008A few days before Kennywood announced that it and its sister parks were going to be acquired by Parques International, the park announced a new attraction for 2008. Ghostwood Estates will be a state-of-the-art dark ride where Gold Rusher ride used to be. “The eight room haunted house replaces the Gold Rusher, which was retired this past August. “Ghostwoo...
                                • What is a Water Roller Coaster?

                                  Written by The Coaster Critic 6 Comments
                                  Last Updated: October 27, 2007
                                  What is a Water Roller Coaster?
                                  What is a Water Roller Coaster?Water coasters have effectively blurred the line between roller coasters and water rides. In recent years, Mack and other builders have constructed several water coasters around the U.S. and the World. Water coasters are typically steel coasters with large boat-like cars (reminiscent of log flumes) and water splash sections. They add a new level of fun for riders com...
                                  • Dark Knight Roller Coasters Invade Six Flags Parks

                                    Written by The Coaster Critic 50 Comments
                                    Last Updated: September 28, 2007
                                    Dark Knight Roller Coasters Invade Six Flags Parks
                                    Dark Knight Roller Coasters Swoop into Six Flags in 2008Six Flags looks to mass produce (well mass produce in coaster terms) a new indoor roller coaster for three of its parks. In 2008, Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, NJ), Six Flags New England (Springfield, MA), and Six Flags Great America (Chicago, IL) will get Mack Wild Mouse coasters enclosed in a Batman themed building.The Name GameNormal...
                                    • Italian Job Stunt Track @ Kings Island | Coaster Reviews

                                      Written by The Coaster Critic 20 Comments
                                      Last Updated: September 24, 2007
                                      Italian Job Stunt Track @ Kings Island | Coaster Reviews
                                      Italian Job Stunt Track @ Kings Island | Coaster ReviewsThe most noteworthy thing about the Italian Job coasters are the Mini Cooper themed trains. They’re straight from the ride’s namesake, the 2003 movie starring Mark Wahlberg and Charlize Theron. With the aforementioned movie theme and and en vogue Minis, right away Italian Job is the opposite of a timeless classic. But it’ll ...
                                      • Top 3 Family Roller Coasters

                                        Written by The Coaster Critic 1 Comment
                                        Last Updated: August 9, 2007
                                        Top 3 Family Roller Coasters
                                        Top 3 Family Roller CoastersThis week’s Top 3 is fun for all ages. Not all roller coasters push the limits of human g-force tolerance like Kingda Ka. Family roller coasters are crowd-pleasers that are usually pretty tame. Italian Job Stunt Coaster at Kings IslandSeveral former Paramount parks (Kings Island, Kings Dominion and Canada’s Wonderland) are home to launch coasters with Mini ...
                                        • Harry Potter’s Magic is Coming to Islands of Adventure

                                          Written by The Coaster Critic No Comments
                                          Last Updated: June 10, 2007
                                          Harry Potter’s Magic is Coming to Islands of Adventure
                                          Harry Potter Attraction Planned for Universal’s Islands of AdventureWarner Brothers and Universal will be teaming up for a new Harry Potter attraction at Orlando’s Universal Islands of Adventure. It has been described as the world’s first fully immersive Harry Potter themed environment. Also, as a theme park within a theme park. Guests will be able to visit the village of Hogsmeade, ...
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