Top Ten North American Attractions for 2012

[bkroz]

http://www.themepark...ttractions-2012

How do you feel about the list? Interesting to include Buena Vista Street, but the reasoning is sound! Do you think #1 is accurate? Does Verbolten deserve to be the top coaster on the list? How does your list compare?

Just thought it would an interesting thing to discuss - nothing too disagreeable, but some interesting choices, right?

[RingMaster]

Seeing how invariably similar Singapore's Transformers is to the original Spiderman attraction, I really can't see Hollywood's version being #2 on this list. I'd rather Verbolten be second; the concept is much better and looks to be a lot better than Thir13en @ Alton Towers.

I find Buena Vista Street to be much more enticing than Fantasy Forest, and I'm not just saying that simply because FF is primarily geared towards the Disney Princesses. BVS is a complete overhaul of the entrance of California Adventure, and, trust me, it is LOOOONG overdue. Minus the WDW version of The Little Mermaid ride and the Seven Dwarfs coaster, there isn't anything about FF that catches my attention. Therefore, the two need to be flip-flopped.

Even though quite a number of people aren't too thrilled about Leviathan, I'm pretty sure there are some who are mad that it's not up higher on the list for whatever reason. Honestly speaking, even though it's B&M's first 300-foot coaster, their Wing Riders are far more interesting. I'm shocked at the fact that Levi is higher up than Skyrush.

Manta....eh. Fine where it is.

X-Flight vs Wild Eagle. Nods to both for different takes on the same idea. I like X-Flight because it's essentially America's take on Gardaland's Raptor, the very first Wing Rider from B&M, and has awesome set pieces and cutout scenery. But I also like Wild Eagle because it's something I was NOT expecting from Dollywood, and it's built on the side of a mountain.

Which leaves Radiator Springs Racers as #1. And I'm glad it took top honors. Granted, Cars is my least favorite Pixar flick, and I absolutely refuse to see Cars 2, but you cannot look at the most recent construction photos of the iconic Cadillac Range:

...and NOT get excited for it. Not to mention RSR is Test Track in the American Southwest and with a second car to race with. Cars Land might not be the answer to Universal's Wizarding World, but it's the closest Disney has to crafting a pretty realized world based off an existing property. At least until Animal Kingdom opens up AVATAR Land in 2015 to combat with Uni Florida's 2014 Harry Potter expansion.

[thekidd33]

Using the attractions in the article my list would look something like this:

1) Leviathan - 300ft Beemer? Yes please! The pictures of this rides construction are really making it seem like this ride might have some nice forces to it.

2) Fantasy Forest - I am all about anything Disney and while this isn't exactly aimed at my demographic I think it will be a very nice refurbishment/addition to the Magic Kingdom. The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train sounds fun and the reviews of the new Little Mermaid ride in Cali (of which MK's is a clone correct?) have been positive.

3) Wild Eagle - Both of the new B&M Wing Riders look like they will be a lot of fun...I just trust Dollywood a heck of a lot more than I do Six Flags to get all the little details right. Plus, from the photos it seems pretty hard to beat this rides location.

4) Cars Land - Any billion dollar project from Disney will peak my interest. I love Test Track and the comparisons between that and the new Radiator Springs Racers has me excited. While maybe an odd fit for California's Adventure, I think it will be the big hit that Disney is counting on.

5) SkyRush - I have really liked the bigger Intamin's that I ridden and even though I am not a huge fan of the layout, it is hard to imagine that this won't be a stellar ride. Plus it is the first one on the list that I am planning on getting to ride next summer.

6) Transformers - While I didn't get a chance to ride Spiderman on my visit to Universal/IOA in January (I know, I know) by all accounts it is an amazing ride. Any upgrade to the ride system, plus what is sure to be an exciting set of cinematic sequences, is certainly something to look forward too. I would like to see this come to USF as I doubt I will get to California to ride this one anytime soon.

7) X-Flight - When I first saw the layout of X-Flight I thought it would end up being the coaster I was looking forward to the most for next summer, perhaps as construction begins to go vertical it will move up this list. But with Wild Eagle's setting, the fact the Leviathan looks like it is going to be anything but forceless, and the way SkyRush is looking at Hershey, it's got some competition. On the plus side, chances are I will get to ride this next summer.

8) Verbolten - Looks like a fun family coaster and the drop element is something that I really would like to experience. For a reason I can't quite put my finger on, this install just isn't pushing my buttons the way others this year are.

9) Buena Vista Street - By all accounts this is something that needed to happen at DCA. I am sure it will look great when it is done but it isn't something I can really get myself excited for.

10) Manta - I think this will be a great fit for the park. But like Verbolten, nothing about this ride has me too excited.

[CoasterGeek101]

I am having a hard time deciding if Leviathan or Skyrush should go first. They are both new types of coasters and each looks awesome.

[coasterfanatic83]

Leviathan needs to be higher.