How good is Kings Island's 2009 roller coaster collection?

[KI Kevin]

Cedar Point wins hands down. Please note that these numbers do not reflect everyone's opinions on a certain ride and will change from person to person. For example, I would give Vortex a 8/10, not a 6.9. Someone else might hate it and give it a 4, etc.

Exactly. While Cedar Point may be a park that offers great variety and many coasters, I'd rate Holiday World above it because, even though they only have three major coasters, all three appeal to families (not to metion Howler!), and they definitely appeal to the GP and coaster enthusiasts, and all three are spectacular, IMO. Same with Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Their coasters I would all rate very high.

[TTD-120-420]

KI really only has 2 outstanding coasters. Beast and Diamondback. Diamondback type rides can be found in many other parks so really the only stand out ride is Beast. The others are just boring, painful, outdated or can be found anywhere else. That is why I give KI an average.

[KI Kevin]

Diamondback type rides can be found in many other parks

In the US:

SFGAdv

SFGAm

SFoG

BGW

Carowinds

Depends on how you classify "many".

[The Interpreter]

And the one at Carowinds isn't even open yet....

[KI Kevin]

Yeah, I figured I give him one.

[faeriewench]

Cedar Point wins hands down. Please note that these numbers do not reflect everyone's opinions on a certain ride and will change from person to person. For example, I would give Vortex a 8/10, not a 6.9. Someone else might hate it and give it a 4, etc.

There are also areas where Kings Island, as it is now, probably has Cedar Point beaten- such as the kids area and family rides (probably why the average score for KI is higher from that web page). As a whole, however, I think KI is very well rounded...

Great Steel Roller Coasters? Check. (Diamondback really helped fill in this one)

Great Wooden Roller Coasters? Check.

Great Flatrides? Check. (Though we do need a few more for adults)

Great Family Rides? Check.

Great Kids Rides? Check.

World Records? Check.

Good Food? Check. (Though it is expensive!)

Clean Park? Check. (Well, mostly...)

Observation Tower? Check.

Train? Check.

Water Rides? Check.

How many other parks have all these things? I don't there are that many.

See thats something I always disagree with. Ever since the Antique Cars were pulled, the only "family" rides at KI to me are the train and merry go round. I was raised on CP and practically by my grandparents so this view is different. Kind of depends how you define "family", for me when I define family I include senior citizens. I have yet to meet someone of that age (60s-80s) go ride Avatar, or Runaway Reptar or any of that. Most I've know rather relax on mild rides with their grand kids (like Antique, Cadillac, Ferris Wheel, Space Spiral, etc...) and see the shows. So with that I always considered CP more family friendly

[Browntggrr]

If not having an invert or stand up is the defining factor, then a LOT of parks on your list must be serverly below average...

I said that not having a stand-up or inverted hurt. I did not say that it was a defining factor.

And this is the exact reason why I am looking for clarification on the poll, it is very open ended. But don't get me wrong, I do like the poll. But it also can have people start splitting hairs.

But average has to do with comparison to other parks. While there are a few parks that have a better collection as to quality or variety in their collection, there are a whole lot more that fall well short of KI on both accounts. Thus putting it above average.

There are many reasons why I put KI in the average range when it comes to their collection. And the most basic answer I can give is that they don't have the variety to be put in the "above average" catagory. And IMO, this is the exact reason why CF pulled the trigger rather quickly in building DB.

I have no park in the "Excellent" catagory. There is not a park that has every type of coaster- wood, steel, sit-down, stand-up, inverted, flying, suspended, launch, dive, bobsled, water, 4th dimension, pipeline, water, floorless, racing (what did I forget?) etc.

Above average- SFMM, CP, & SFGAdv.

Average- KI, Hershey, KD, BGA, SFoG, SFoT, Carowinds, CW.

BGW would have been in the average catagory, but with the removal of BBW, it has fallen off my list.

[Thrill_Biscuit]

I haven't noticed that, however I have noticed something else. If you stand under the first drop you can hear the B&M roar then you hear like a meatl clicking sound like metal on metal. When you ride you can also hear it, it sounds like a couple of metal bars just like clinking on the track.

I've noticed that. I thought it was the front car "re-engaging" the track after a second of "free-fall."

[Dbfan]

I liked Diamondback, but what the park really needs to achieve excellent is a strong invert coaster.

[gigacoaster2k]

PS: Parks without that many coasters didn't stand too much of a chance to make this list, but if Holiday World had 6 Voyage-class coasters they would easily be #1.

Quantity is not always better than quality.

Holiday World only has 4 coasters: one children's coaster, and 3 top notch wooden coasters. They do indeed deserve recognition for having a great collection of coasters. Never have I been to a park where I thoroughly enjoyed 75% of their coasters.. no, not even Cedar Point. I'd rather go to a park that has a few amazing coasters, than go to a park that has several mediocre, boring, or painful ones and only a few good ones.

[The Interpreter]

I totally agree, giga. For a blessed and wonderful year, a Massachusetts park hosted both my then favorite wood and my then favorite steel. The wooden was running PTC trains for the first time in years, and was truly the most violent and breath-taking ride I had ever had on a wooden coaster, before or since. (Before then, it had run Morgan trains, and was barely above average).

They also had a splendid older wooden coaster and a bunch of other stuff, most of it, to be kind, junk. I still loved that park...and nearly cried as I found out they raised the first drop of the wooden.

ONE splendid coaster is enough to draw me anywhere. 10 or more mediocre ones wouldn't get me to drive 100 miles, unless nothing else was open!

[frisbeefan]

I haven't noticed that, however I have noticed something else. If you stand under the first drop you can hear the B&M roar then you hear like a meatl clicking sound like metal on metal. When you ride you can also hear it, it sounds like a couple of metal bars just like clinking on the track.

I've heard that same "clicking" noise every time I ride it and am near it. It's pretty prevalent on this

.

[Coaster Kid]

Hey Dollywood is one of the best parks in the country nice views, fresh air, 3 of the best coasters in the world, a zip line through the woods. What could you ask for more.

[The Interpreter]

And you didn't even mention the craftspeople, the great merchandise, the tremendous food or the incredible shows. . .

Kings Island could learn a lot from Dollywood...in fact, the Kings Island of old was a lot like Dollywood, and a lot of that has faded over the years, most of it under the early Paramount Parks, who did away with much of the local flavor in the park, the theming, the food prepared from scratch in the park, the highly produced high quality shows (where is WooferATL when you need him?).

Yes, coaster collection is important, but it is not the be-all, end-all. If it were, Six Flags Worlds of Adventure would be a thriving park today, as would even Six Flags Astroworld.

[McSalsa]

ONE splendid coaster is enough to draw me anywhere. 10 or more mediocre ones wouldn't get me to drive 100 miles, unless nothing else was open!

True. Any park at least one really good coaster is worth visiting at least once. I can name at least one excellent coaster (averages an 8 or higher in most reviews) at nearly every nearby park. This poll is based on overall selection of KI's coasters, but in certain categories we do get killed.

PS: If this poll were "what park has the best selection of wooden roller coasters?", Holiday World would win hands down. If it were steel, Cedar Point would win hands down. Now, if only someone would buy both parks plus KI and make...Cedar World Island! (34 Roller Coasters!!!) No one would rate that below Excellent!

PS 2: Cedar World Island also has everything else good from all of the parks, including Holiday World's free stuff, etc.

[The Interpreter]

Uh, I'd rather go to Silverwood any day for wooden coasters than to Holiday World. I even prefer the worst wooden coaster at Great Adventure (Rolling Thunder) to the least wonderful at Holiday World (Legend, in my humble opinion). I adore Rolling Thunder. Then again, someone has to (besides Rich and Sue). I haven't even mentioned El Toro.

And I happen to think Six Flags Great Adventure's steel coaster collection is superior to Cedar Point's, as is Six Flags Magic Mountain's. Heck, I'd even say the same for Six Flags Over Georgia. Popularity and/or quantity do not necessarily indicate quality. Cedar Point does have an excellent steel collection, but the best in the USA, "hands down"? Not in my opinion. Not even close.

Am I quibbling? No. I am just constantly amazed by your statements about quality of coasters as judged by some website, polls, etc. If YOU haven't ridden a coaster, then you really can't judge it. Some of the best looking rides I have ever seen were truly atrocious (Raging Wolf Bobs comes immediately to mind...I won't give my second example, but think massive use of wood--four come immediately to mind--and you won't be far off. Big or even popularly known does not necessarily mean truly wonderful.

[KIBOB]

Being from Ohio, we're quite lucky. Regardless of their current statuses, we did have Cedar Fair's flagship, Paramount's flagship, and one of the larger Six Flags parks. States like Pennsylvania have quite a few parks, but mostly local, family parks, and would be quite impressed by our collection. Likewise, people from Orlando may rate us as average, or slightly below. But from my simple experience, I view Kings Island's collection as being above average. There truly are not many park that can say they have a B&M hyper, a family launch coaster with Hollywood special effects, a John Allen racer, an indoor launch coaster, a Vekoma Invertigo, an Arrow megalooper, an Arrow suspended, etc. and that doesn't even touch on The Beast or Son of Beast, or our dozen or so notable records or specialties.

I can see how, depending on your travel history, you may say we have an "average" collection. But I couldn't see the rationalization for anything below "average." If we have an "average" collection, what does Kennywood have?

Was KI really Paramount's flagship? I was just making sure because i have heard some sources say KI and others say Carowinds.

[The Interpreter]

Under Taft and KECO and early Paramount Parks, Kings Island was the flagship park. Later, under Paramount ownership, the company moved corporate headquarters to Charlotte and claimed the flagship was Carowinds. Some bought this, some did not. In any event, doing so made selling the parks easier in the future, especially if, as happened, an Ohio park company was to buy the company...

[KIBOB]

Under Taft and KECO and early Paramount Parks, Kings Island was the flagship park. Later, under Paramount ownership, the company moved corporate headquarters to Charlotte and claimed the flagship was Carowinds. Some bought this, some did not. In any event, doing so made selling the parks easier in the future, especially if, as happened, an Ohio park company was to buy the company...

Hmmmm.....Learn something new everyday!

[McSalsa]

Uh, I'd rather go to Silverwood any day for wooden coasters than to Holiday World. I even prefer the worst wooden coaster at Great Adventure (Rolling Thunder) to the least wonderful at Holiday World (Legend, in my humble opinion). I adore Rolling Thunder. Then again, someone has to (besides Rich and Sue). I haven't even mentioned El Toro.

And I happen to think Six Flags Great Adventure's steel coaster collection is superior to Cedar Point's, as is Six Flags Magic Mountain's. Heck, I'd even say the same for Six Flags Over Georgia. Popularity and/or quantity do not necessarily indicate quality. Cedar Point does have an excellent steel collection, but the best in the USA, "hands down"? Not in my opinion. Not even close.

Am I quibbling? No. I am just constantly amazed by your statements about quality of coasters as judged by some website, polls, etc. If YOU haven't ridden a coaster, then you really can't judge it. Some of the best looking rides I have ever seen were truly atrocious (Raging Wolf Bobs comes immediately to mind...I won't give my second example, but think massive use of wood--four come immediately to mind--and you won't be far off. Big or even popularly known does not necessarily mean truly wonderful.

Sorry. Remember, I'm still a "noob" when it comes to most parks and coasters, having only been to 2 in the course of my life and having ridden only 10 roller coasters total. I need to visit more parks before I comment on their roller coasters. I hope to visit a few new parks in 2010 though (Probably Holiday World and Cedar Point, ironically...).

Memo to self...do not comment on coasters you have not yet ridden. (As of right now, that means anything besides Hoosier Hurricane, LBGC, Beastie, Blue Racer, Beast, Vortex, Diamondback, Flight Deck, Red Racer, and Flight of Fear)

[The Interpreter]

Remember, too, that extreme familiarity colors perceptions, one can become either jaded or extremely proud, defensive and even jingoistic. Great Adventure locals, for example, largely despise the place and find little special about it. Some near Cedar Point feel like that, while others would defend it against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Some people love and will defend Beast and Kings Island, while others have been there so often they are utterly bored by both.

The ONE thing I learned a bit late in this avocation, that I wish I had learned earlier, is that what others think of a certain park or ride may be a guide, but it isn't the "gospel truth." One must decide for oneself. What Terpy likes may or may not be what you like. There is a gentleman from Nashville who has virtually identical taste to Terpy. I know that when Nashville "Mike" likes something, I almost certainly will. And he knows that when I do, he probably will, too. If you find someone like that, it is a big help.

For years, I believed the locals from up Jersey way that Great Adventure was a dump, a terribly maintained dangerous park, and one where not only could fun not be had, but one's very life was in great danger. For years, I did not go. And whose loss did that turn out to be? Mine.

For years, I believed that Disney had a corporate philosophy such that I could never enjoy the place. I was 43 years old before I stepped foot on Disney property. You will find few fans more gratified by the Disney experience than this one. Or even by Disney's business tactics. Are they perfect? No. Could they teach others a great deal about how to treat people while extracting revenue? Certainly, and that they do.

[Beast1979]

Memo to self...do not comment on coasters you have not yet ridden.

And how! Before I went, I heard numerous people from very accredited websites talk about how Incredible Hulk: The Ride at Universal Studios was the best roller coaster in Orlando, possibly in the state of Florida, a top 5 coaster. When you hear people talk about Universal Studios: Florida, you hear them talk about Hulk.

So I rode it. And you know what? It bored me! It was a B&M With 7 inversions and a launching lift through a zero g roll over the lake. And I thought it was boring!

And even more surprising, Hulk didn't make the trip for me. Neither did Dueling Dragons. The biggest surprise for me there was the Mummy! I'd put that ride up there with Spiderman, possibly over Flight of Fear!

Moral: Wait and ride it for yourself. It's your opinion that matters, afterall. It doesn't mean a thing that Coaster___.com loves a ride if you hate it!

For years, I believed that Disney had a corporate philosophy such that I could never enjoy the place. I was 43 years old before I stepped foot on Disney property. You will find few fans more gratified by the Disney experience than this one. Or even by Disney's business tactics. Are they perfect? No. Could they teach others a great deal about how to treat people while extracting revenue? Certainly, and that they do.

"They come, they spend until they have nothing left to spend, and the leave Happy!"

[DaveStroem]

It couldn't be more true that everyone's taste in coasters is not only different, it can be the complete opposite. While I respect others opinions, as Terpy said they can only be a guide and should not stop you from experiancing something for yourself.

Now on to some opinions of my own. (use only as a guide)

Best Wood collection of the 31 parks I have been to.

Holiday World (Voyage, Legend & Raven)

Hershey Park (Lightning Racer, Wildcat & Comet)

Six Flags St Louis (Evel Knievel, Boss & Screaming Eagle)

Best Steel Collection of the 31 parks I have been to.

Cedar Point (Millennium Force, Maverick, Magnum, Raptor, Top Thrill Dragster)

Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Griffon, Alpengeist, Apollo's Chariot)

Six Flags Great Adventure (Nitro, Bizzaro, Batman, Superman)

Six Flags over Georgia (Goliath, Mindbender, Batman, Superman)

Best Combined Coaster Collection of the 31 parks I have been to.

Six Flags Great Adventure (El Toro, Nitro, Bizzaro, Batman, Superman)

Cedar Point (Millennium Force, Maverick, Magnum, Raptor, Top Thrill Dragster)

Hershey Park (Lightning Racer, Wildcat & Comet, Storm Runner, Fahrenheit)

My criteria for a collection has to do with having at least 3 coasters that I would be willing to marathon with out getting board.

[thekidd33]

I think we have an extremely unique collection that, as far as variety goes, is excellent. Perhaps our quality doesnt match CP or some of the Six Flags parks but again that is a matter of personal opinion.

[Ki Man]

It's very diverse. It's okay, nothing amazing..it's just a big mix of different coasters.

[Pillsberry123]

If this was before Diamondback, then it would be average. Now that we have Diamondback, it's slightly above average. If you ask me, every park should have one of the following:

A Traditional Wooden Coaster (Racer)

A Good, Adult Wooden Coaster (Beast)

A Launch Coaster (Flight of Fear)

A Good Looper (Vortex)

A Hyper/Giga (Diamondback)

A Good Inverted... None

King's Island is lacking a good B&M Invert. Sure, we have Invertago, but that's just another boomerang. A B&M Invert and maybe a GCI Woodie and we would have an excellent selection.

[The Interpreter]

A good inverted? And what, may I ask, is Reptar?

Terpy, who just HAD to