Yesterday Cedar Point broke the news that Top Thrill Dragster will cease to exist as an experience as we know it. I read this as the attraction is going to be getting some major work or overhauled in some way, not that the ride is being removed entirely!
The reason I’m talking about a ride that I’ve never actually been in the same continent as, let alone ridden it, is because it was one of my bucket list coasters. One the big foreign rides that I wanted to ride more than any, along with Velocicoaster and Intimidator 305 to name a few.
I hope they do end up keeping the ride and modernising the hydraulic launch system and trains as, for me at least, it’s very comparable to Stealth here in the UK. Though Top Thrill is more than double the hight of Stealth, the rides operate very similarly. Though Stealth can accelerate a bit faster to its admittedly lower top speed.
I know that nothing lasts forever and I’m not sure what the general consensus is with Top Thrill Dragster with it having legacy status or not. Nemesis for example is widely loved by enthusiasts the world over and certainly deserves the chance to be retracked and to live on. Does Top Thrill Dragster hold the same standing in the community, and also the eyes of the public too?
To finish up, I’d like to say that I’m very saddened that I won’t be able to experience Top Thrill Dragster as it currently resides, but I look forward to hearing what Cedar Point will do with this attraction and hope for good news!
Here is a list of 10 of the rides I’d most like to experience as soon as I possibly can! They are all from abroad so hopefully I’ll get my passport renewed and get to them soon!
Helix looks to be Icons bigger brother. I know simply by looking at it that it’ll be an excellent experience, especially if Icon is anything to go off. It’ll be smooth and intense and from the POVs I’ve seen, it looks to have some great views too! I’ve listened to the soundtrack to this ride so much and it’ll be great to finally hear it while waiting to ride this beast.
This is seemingly Europe’s premier multilaunch coaster. Everyone talks about it and has such high praise for it. I’d like to see what all the fuss is about! Looking to be similar in design principle to The Smiler with it having many interactions with its own track (though lacking any of the inversions), I can’t wait to see if the hype is worth it! I’ve heard Klugheim is also excellently themed too.
This could easily be Kingda Ka as well, however I think I’d pick Top Thrill Dragster over Kingda simply because it seems to review better. I’ve heard the launch on Kingda can be very shaky and it has over the shoulder restraints, where Top Thrill uses lapbars!
The first of two Rocky Mountain Construction rollercoasters on this list. I could easily put Steel Vengeance, Untamed, Twisted Timbers or any of the other RMC attractions but I’ve chosen Zadra purely for that insane looking stall element and its proximity to the UK. Untamed may be closer to me but I like Zadra to be my first RMC!
I305 looks so intense. I’ve watched plenty of videos that say how the ride has had to be reprofiled as the first drop straight into the high speed turn was too insane and needed dialing back. Even after that work has been carried out, it is still said to be one of the most intense rides out there, so count me in!
The Incredible Hulk Coaster – Universals Islands of Adventure
This one is here for 2 reasons. Firstly it looks great, situated partially over the lake and it’s trains and plaza look so good!. Secondly, this is one of the rollercoasters that Tracy has said terrified her for the first time and she regularly compares other rides to this one as some sort of benchmark. So I’d like to see what it’s like of course!
The newest ride on this list, Velocicoaster has so much to love. Its trains look so sleek, it has two launches and features a host of excellent looking elements, specifically its stall and roll over the lake. It has a lot to offer and since I’m a fan of the films, its a no brainer to ride this beast!
Manta – Seaworld Orlando
Manta navigating one of its many elements – Wikipedia
I’ve ridden both Hero at Flamingo Land, and Galactica at Alton Towers, and though I enjoy both, Galactica is the better roller coaster in pretty much all regards. Therefore I’d like to have a ride on one of the bigger flying roller coasters to see what they can truly offer since Galactica/Air was the original flying prototype. Plus that flying turn where the water jets up looks so good!
Simply put, it’s the launch. No other ride offers acceleration like Do-Dodonpa does and to the speed it goes to too. It’s the 4th fastest on the planet and offers acceleration that is class leading. I’ve only ridden Stealth that can come anything like close, and though it does. I think Do-Dodonpa will blow my mind! At time of writing this, Do-Dodonpa is standing but not operating and is listed as permanently closed on Google, hopefully it’ll be back up and running soon!
The second RMC on this list and one that piqued my interest because of the launch and its pacing. Off ride videos always show this monster taking elements at decent speed and never really relenting. The last 3 drops one after the next look so much fun and I really hope to get to Dollywood to ride soon!
This is just a list of 10 of the rollercoasters I’d most like to ride currently. There are still plenty more I could had added such as Maverick, Untamed, The Ride to Happiness and Time Traveller to name just a few! One day I’ll get abroad and sample some of these extreme machines!
All photos used are credited to the original owner in the links below them!