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The 10 Most Epic Rollercoasters On Earth

geekabout.com — Here are ten of the best rollercoasters in the world that are sure to leave you on a major high!

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  • MikeonTV, on 12/21/2007, -0/+14This the reason youtube was created. Roller Coaster scouting!
    • B1663r, on 12/21/2007, -1/+28Easy, just go to Cedar Point for roller coasters. Every other park plays second fiddle to them...
      • Xplorer, on 12/21/2007, -0/+2One of my favorite coaster trips is to start at Kings Island, then head up to Cedar Point....

        I'm interested to see what Cedar Parks does with their acquisition of Kings Island.... It can only mean great things...
        • B1663r, on 12/21/2007, -0/+6What I like About Cedar Point is that you can go there and do nothing but ride coasters all day long. If you go on a weekday in May, no lines, just hop on every coaster you want. As I understand September is even better.
        • paulmike3, on 12/21/2007, -2/+1Just like the great things that have happened to Geauga Lake since Cedar Fair bought it, right?

          RIP, Geauga Lake - 1888-2007 http://www.geaugalaketoday.com/
        • NSMike, on 12/21/2007, -0/+3Oh hell yes. It's really hard to find a better wooden coaster than The Beast.
  • canewediggit, on 12/21/2007, -13/+7geekabout stole this-
    http://www.otbeach.com/news/resorts-and-fun-activi ... - posted on dec 19th. here's the digg submit from earlier today- http://digg.com/travel_places/The_10_Best_Rollerco ...

    unless the same guy is running both site, geekabout needs to be blacklisted asap.
    • plinky, on 12/21/2007, -0/+4I know the guys and yes its the same guys running both sites. Looks like the fact its been picked up twice is purely lucky or unlucky depending on how you see it.
    • Grumps, on 12/21/2007, -0/+1Thanks for the mirror!
  • PPoff, on 12/21/2007, -6/+12Nothing can touch Houston's "The Cyclone". Slow as hell, but the fact that they haven't updated it in 50 years gives it an extra thrill because you know it won't hold together forever.

    Oh and the whiplash is a nice bonus too.
    • Bukowsky, on 12/21/2007, -0/+8You're right. But It's too bad that they took The Cyclone down about two years ago..... The best part of that coaster was the back two cars on the train, because they actually came off the track a little....

      Damn, I miss AstroWorld!
      • socialpyramid, on 12/21/2007, -0/+4Came off the track? That's intense!
        • Bukowsky, on 12/21/2007, -0/+4hell yea... not alot, but just slightly enough for you to notice and ***** your pants!
    • Coven, on 12/21/2007, -1/+10Considering "The Cyclone" is a replica of the original "Cyclone" in Coney Island, I'd say Brooklyn has you beat. The ORIGINAL Coney Island Cyclone is still up and running after 70 years, while the Houston version has only been in operation since 1976, so your 50 years claim is *****. The Houston "Cyclone" closed down last year when the park closed.
      • IgnatiusTheKing, on 12/21/2007, -0/+0While it's true the Texas Cyclone was a replica, it was taller and faster than the original and was one of the fastest and tallest and was considered the best coaster in the world when it opened. Sad that it was knocked down when Astroworld closed.
    • DteK, on 12/21/2007, -0/+4Six Flags NE (formerly riverside) also has a cyclone. Although not as old, it is very rickety and the back two cars are treacherous as well.
    • Rippleeffect, on 12/21/2007, -0/+1Psyclone at Six Flags in LA was like that before they tore it down. Ever since the Northridge earthquake, the ride was just horrible. Whiplash like you wouldn't believe.
    • kaplanfx, on 12/22/2007, -0/+1"The Cyclone" at crystal beach was quite possibly the craziest coaster ever. It's not a clone of the coney island ride but it was freaky. http://www.geocities.com/historic_coasters1/cb_cyc ...
  • plinky, on 12/21/2007, -0/+2Like nemesis is so awesome right now, seriously, like yah. Lodged.
  • jonathanclark, on 12/21/2007, -0/+4These look awesome. What we all need is a vacation tour taking in all of them. 4.5Gs!
    • Rippleeffect, on 12/21/2007, -0/+1you're vision dims on that one.. crazy stuff.
    • EricAnderton, on 12/21/2007, -0/+1There are coaster enthusiast clubs that do this. They sometimes get exclusive access to rides. Google around.
  • RippinKitten, on 12/21/2007, -1/+4wow! suicide is what
  • Error601, on 12/21/2007, -4/+38It can't be a real top 10 roller coaster list if it only has steel coasters.
    • xdeliriumx, on 12/21/2007, -1/+3Phoenix at Knoebels Grove FTW!
      • ELCad, on 12/21/2007, -1/+1YES! A wooden masterpiece.
      • RichG13, on 12/21/2007, -1/+1I don't know, The Twister at night is pretty sweet. How long til summer???? stupid first day of winter...
    • Xplorer, on 12/21/2007, -0/+3The Beast @ Kings Island

      /Superior
  • tidu, on 12/21/2007, -0/+7I've seen Kingda Ka in person. Not that a picture of it wouldn't be reason enough to not go on it....
    • Coven, on 12/21/2007, -0/+3I've been on Kingda Ka and it is by far the greatest steel coaster thrill ride in existence. The only people who get a better ride are Naval Aviators being launched from an aircraft carrier.
      • xblitzkrieg, on 12/21/2007, -0/+0I live less than an hour away from Great Adventure and have been on Kingda Ka numerous times, including the front, but it really isn't the best steel coaster. It is definitely an enjoyable experience but there are plenty of other coasters that are more fun (and a lot longer than what, 50 seconds or so?). In the park itself there are better (steel) coasters namely Medusa and Nitro. El Toro is also fun as well (its wooden though).
        • tidu, on 12/21/2007, -0/+1Nitro was pretty crazy, I can say I've experienced that. almost blacked out too.
    • xdeliriumx, on 12/21/2007, -0/+3Millenium Force at Cedar Point is amazing as well.
      • NSMike, on 12/21/2007, -0/+2Front car. No hands. Minimalistic restraints. 80 degree drop at 310 ft. I love the Millenium Force.
      • Nitro420, on 12/21/2007, -0/+2Agree. MF is still my favorite.

        I've also been on Kingda Ka and Top Thrills Dragster. Even though Kingda Ka is taller and faster, top thrills is superior. It has lap belts only (no shoulder restraints) and the view is way better on a Peninsula.
        • Misanthrope, on 12/21/2007, -0/+1So true. Kingda Ka is TTDs slow-witted step brother.
    • majortom1981, on 12/21/2007, -0/+2El-toro is a much better ride at GADV.
      • rspeed, on 12/21/2007, -0/+4Plus you get a great view of Kingda Ka's massive queue area.
      • CJDUFFMAN, on 12/22/2007, -0/+0Toro is a better ride because it is longer, ka is cool but only fron seat is worth it... and i live in that town so ive been on ka 16 times
    • MaxPayne3476, on 12/21/2007, -1/+3Ugh Kingda Ka sucks unless ur in the front car. El Toro is WAY better, I live next to Six Flags great adventure
    • NSMike, on 12/21/2007, -0/+2Eh. It just looks like a re-hash of the Top Thrill Dragster from Cedar Point, and actually only ends up being 30 feet taller.
  • wrxpert, on 12/21/2007, -1/+2Kinda wierd because the park where Goliath is at has a better coaster in the same park. I wonder how much effort actualy went into this article.
    • kaplanfx, on 12/22/2007, -0/+1which coaster are you referring to? If you are talking about X, I'm going to have to disagree, Goliath is my favorite coaster and I'm something of an enthusiast.
      • chancesarent, on 12/30/2007, -0/+1The X was great the first few months after it was introduced.Now, after the years of wear and tear, my neck and shoulders feel like i've been through a car accident when I step off of it.
  • Happy_Phantom, on 12/21/2007, -7/+2"I'm turning Japanese, turning Japanese. I really think so"
    • Waskonator, on 12/21/2007, -1/+2Why would you do that on a roller coaster?
  • Bukowsky, on 12/21/2007, -0/+3oh man! Dragon Khan looks like ALOT of fun!
  • Waskonator, on 12/21/2007, -0/+4107mph in 2 seconds?
  • socialpyramid, on 12/21/2007, -10/+7Rollercoasters rock. Whenever I reach the top of the first hill, I always scream as loud as I can: "Wait, I forgot I'm pregnant!!!"
  • socialpyramid, on 12/21/2007, -10/+3On the top of the second hill I usually yell "I need speeeed!"
  • minnymoo, on 12/21/2007, -1/+2"KingDa Ka will catapult a cart to 128 mph in just 3.5 seconds."
    -Exactly why I didn't go on it.
  • omgwthlol, on 12/21/2007, -1/+1funny
  • PerfektXj, on 12/21/2007, -0/+17mirror http://bestpicsaround.com/pic-607-Ultimate-Rollerc ...
    • xdeliriumx, on 12/21/2007, -0/+2Names? I know some but not all of these.
      • NSMike, on 12/21/2007, -0/+2Well, I know #3 is the Millennium Force at Cedar Point.
      • zzzpoohzzz, on 12/21/2007, -0/+24 is also at cedar point its the dragster
    • jasmar, on 12/21/2007, -0/+1here are the ones I know...
      1. Kingda Ka
      2. might be Superman: Ride of Steel - at one of the Six Flag Parks
      3. Millennium Force - Cedar Point
      4. Top Thrill Dragster - Cedar Point
      5. Hypersonic XLC
      6. ?
      7. Goliath - Six Flags?
      8. ?
      9. Goliath
      10. Nemesis - Alton Towers
  • forcedfx, on 12/21/2007, -0/+6Kingda Ka is pretty sick. If the first 3 to 4 rows put their hands in the air, the car won't make it over the hump and will do a roll back and they re-launch you. Crazy!
    • MaxPayne3476, on 12/21/2007, -0/+3lol it has nothing to do w/ hands in the air. it just doesnt make it over
    • MeNorski, on 12/21/2007, -0/+4I went to Great Adventure the first season Kingda Ka opened. The ride would break down every half hour so they would have to fix it. They also shut it down when it rains because the train doesnt get enough traction to make it over the hump. I also heard that during testing one of the dummies fell out of the seat. I don't know if this is true or not but I heard it from multiple people.

      It still didn't deter me though. Kingda Ka is the best rollercoaster Ive ever been on even if you have to wait like 3 hours for a 30 second ride. Its 30 seconds of bliss.
      • CJDUFFMAN, on 12/22/2007, -0/+0haha it breaks a lot, but no a dummy never fell off, and the reason they dont launch in the rain isnt because of traction (the catch car does the pulling) but because it would be like being in a category 3 hurricane
  • rowlodge, on 12/21/2007, -0/+1like a science fiction movie rollercoaster, that first one, i'm too old for that one.
  • ChronoMojo, on 12/21/2007, -10/+1Epic? Do you really think it's appropriate to use the word 'epic' to describe a roller coaster? It's a term that's over-applied to movies and should never be attributed to roller coasters. Fun? Yes. Exciting? Yes. Epic? That's a bit much.
    • coleki, on 12/21/2007, -1/+1and i'm sure you've never used the word "awesome" to describe a hot dog...
    • marjo9, on 12/21/2007, -1/+1Dude, epic killed his father.
    • DephexTwin, on 12/21/2007, -1/+1Language evolves, bitch!
  • lukeydukey, on 12/21/2007, -0/+5Oh man I went on Kingda Ka after it rained (lines were much shorter) and i ended up front. The crazy part is when they release the brakes, cause it pauses before you actually launch, then I swear to God it's something like the Fast and the Furious when the nitrous boost kicks in. Though if you want to be nostalgic, it looks something like Light Speed in Star Wars.
  • capevapor, on 12/21/2007, -0/+11no Raptor? no Beast? no good.
    • Xplorer, on 12/21/2007, -0/+2Those 540 degree helices on The Beast are INSANE......
    • Misanthrope, on 12/21/2007, -0/+4Raptor is the *****, and The Beast is my favorite ride. God Ohio rocks.
      • glory, on 12/21/2007, -1/+1Dugg for the use of the word *****.
      • jake8689, on 12/21/2007, -1/+1our rollercoasters rock everything else is either mediocre or bad excluding a few places
  • BlazinEurasian, on 12/21/2007, -1/+4I've rode the Goliath, the X-Xtreme is much better however, and both are at 6-flags LA. The X-Xtreme is by far the most intense coaster I've ever been on.
    • mandrakeRaptor, on 12/21/2007, -1/+1I agree, X is the sickest ride Magic has to offer.
  • Skanadian, on 12/21/2007, -0/+2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behemoth_%28roller_co ...

    85 degree drop, oh lawd.
  • rkd1312, on 12/21/2007, -0/+0Kingda Ka was crazy the first time around
  • flyjar, on 12/21/2007, -2/+3Kingda Ka sucks. The ride is 30 seconds long and not worth the 1hr+ wait, usually much more. Maybe it is the tallest and fastest right now, but most people that get off have no desire to go back on again. When it first opened it was really smooth, now it's really bumpy and causes much headaches. Hardly epic by my standards. Where's Alphengeist, Busch Gardens Virginia, now that's a good rollercoaster? El Toro, Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson is also great.
    • majortom1981, on 12/21/2007, -0/+2Nitro isnt on the list either and that consistanly ranks pretty high with enthusiasts.
    • MaxPayne3476, on 12/21/2007, -0/+2I agree with u that kingda ka sucks. Not worth any line. However, Alphengeiust isnt any better. el toro remains my favorite coaster
    • CJDUFFMAN, on 12/22/2007, -0/+0Ka may not be worth the wait, but i have friends that work there and pull me to the front of the line
  • majortom1981, on 12/21/2007, -1/+0The article doesn't have Nitro listed on it. Come on its a much better ride then a lot of those on their and ranks high with coaster enthusiasts.
    • MaxPayne3476, on 12/21/2007, -0/+2Nitro and El Toro best 2 coasters period
    • CJDUFFMAN, on 12/22/2007, -0/+0i hate nitro, its sooo boring, i can fall asleep on it
    • teamgwho, on 12/24/2007, -0/+1nitro is indeed awesome, it's arelaxing y6et terrifying ride. I love the giant sloping hills. and el toro rocks. but I prefer the great white in wildwood as far as wooden coasters go locally.
  • MerryMortician, on 12/21/2007, -0/+39two words: Cedar Point.
    • Boondoggler123, on 12/21/2007, -0/+7Preach on brother. No other place on earth has more coasters in such small amount of space. not to mention quality.
      • NukkChorris, on 12/21/2007, -0/+4I second that - easily the best place to get the bang for your buck
    • JupiterSSJ4, on 12/21/2007, -1/+4I live 2 hrs from Cedar Point, but I don't really like Roller Coasters, I feel like a bastard because there are people that come from all over the world to Ohio just to go to Cedar Point, and I live right next to it, but don't appreciate it. haha.
      I really only like the older slower ones, Like the Beast at King's Island in southern ohio, and I love the indoor ones (afraid of heights) like the one at Cedar Point, King's Island and the Rockin Roller Coaster at Disney World.
  • doomeyes, on 12/21/2007, -2/+0I always thought a cool idea for a roller coaster would be that you are lying down flat on your back, and then the ride twists you around so that sometimes you are facing straight up and are above the tracks, sometimes you are facing straight down and are below the tracks, and other times you are upright or upside down climbing and going down steep hills.
    • deaftly, on 12/21/2007, -1/+1Superman the Ride at Great Adventure is kinda like that but you lay on your stomach, very awesome ride none the less though
    • Spaztiq, on 12/21/2007, -0/+1You basically described a Flying Coaster, of which there are a few. Check rcdb.com.
      • doomeyes, on 12/21/2007, -0/+0I checked out the site, thanks. My idea is that you are not side by side, but rather like in a train, and completely flat against the track, with not so much metal in front of you.
  • deaftly, on 12/21/2007, -4/+2so basically Six Flags Great Adventure has the best coasters around, kicks ass to live only 30 minutes away, go jersey!
    • Tearlock, on 12/22/2007, -0/+1It's alright to be proud of where you come from, but brother you're missing out in life if you haven't spent a day at Cedar Point
  • thetechkid, on 12/21/2007, -0/+2The view from Goliath at night alone is reason enough to go ride it.
  • Jigen72, on 12/21/2007, -2/+0Mirror please?
  • gllopc, on 12/21/2007, -1/+2Even thought it's 25+ years old, Kings Island's wooden coaster "The Beast" has my vote.
  • mrepic, on 12/21/2007, -6/+0six flags over georgia?

    mybasementblog.blogspot.com
  • blaze03, on 12/21/2007, -1/+8If you haven't been on X (Six Flags Magic Mountain), you haven't lived.
  • dewright23, on 12/21/2007, -0/+4Wheres "Maverick". That ride is great, when it's running.
    Otherwise, I have ridden 3 of those.
    • OodlesOnoodles, on 12/22/2007, -0/+1I go to Cedar Point all the time... I went about 4 time this past summer and it went down every damn time.
  • spunkmyer, on 12/21/2007, -1/+3I'm surprised the oblivion coaster from the Alton towers in Great Britain is not in the list.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oblivion_(roller_coas ...
  • markhimself, on 12/21/2007, -3/+7Worst list ever. Anyone who has been on "X" knows what i'm talking about.
    • Rippleeffect, on 12/21/2007, -0/+2have a picture of my sister riding that one.. looks like she's about ready to rip the handles right off the ride. I rode it only once, and once is enough for me.
  • morningmatters, on 12/21/2007, -1/+1I tried Steel Dragon 2000 a few years back and I thought I was going to get a heart attack when we were reaching the top right before the drop. Since I was there in Feb there were hardly anyone else who was there so we were to go through this 5 times in a row.
  • Rippleeffect, on 12/21/2007, -0/+3Goliath has been the only ride to ever give me a partial blackout. Vision starts going dim on that corkscrew.
    • ryanchapelle, on 12/21/2007, -0/+1I always thought I was blacking out there too -- though one day I realized it was actually just the intense G-forces keeping my eyelids shut!!! HA!
    • kaplanfx, on 12/22/2007, -0/+1It was even better before they started activating the break track going into the helix. For the first few months people were coming back into the station completely blacked out. Sadly someone died when a pre-existing clot caused an aneurysm from the G's.
  • Chubarama, on 12/21/2007, -1/+1If you actually want to get serious about coasters as a hobby this list does a good job of listing the biggest and fastest coasters out there but not really the best, or what I would consider the most "epic" or anything.

    Google "mitch's coaster poll" to see a list of the best coasters in the world that is voted by people who have ridden hundreds of different coasters. The poll also controls for a ride's given popularity so that an inferior coaster at popular park (like Cedar Point) doesn't get all the votes instead of a truly great coaster at an obscure park in Japan.

    You may even discover some truly great coasters near you that you never knew existed.
    • Misanthrope, on 12/21/2007, -0/+2I'd like to know which CP coasters you would consider "inferior". I mean other than the obvious junk coasters. CP has some seriously good coasters, regardless of how popular it is.
    • Tearlock, on 12/22/2007, -0/+1Actually Cedar Point is really only popular among coaster enthusiasts. Most people I've asked have never heard of it. But the people who go never forget. Calling the popular coasters at CP inferior is like calling George Bush a messiah. Get real, the Millenium Force, Magnum, Raptor, Top Thrill, Mantis, Gemini all rock and are all at one single park. Then throw in the Mean Streak, Blue Streak, Corkscrew, Disaster Transport, Iron Dragon, and the Mine Ride for good measure.

      With so many choices, most of these only end up having 10 minute or less wait times in line on average days. The only exceptions are the Millenium Force and Top Thrill because they are the crown jewels. If you like coasters then honestly, why wouldn't you go?
  • Shawn4168, on 12/21/2007, -0/+5Dugg for Millenium Force...maybe not the (adjective)ist coaster around, but definitely one of the smoothest and most enjoyable coasters that I've ever been on. It truly captures the thrill of speed and height without being ridiculously uncomfortable or just plain crazy.
  • ELCad, on 12/21/2007, -0/+1The Skyliner in Altoona is the scariest coaster I have ever been on. I was sure it was going to fall apart.
  • slapded, on 12/21/2007, -1/+1kingda ka is great, the only bad part is that it is in new jersey. YUCK!
  • universltravlr, on 12/21/2007, -1/+1ive rode the millenium countless times and anymore id rather freefall for a couple minutes at terminal velocity than drop 300ft at less than a 100mph
  • dslartoo, on 12/21/2007, -0/+2I keep meaning to make a roadtrip to Cedar Point for a couple days of coaster-riding. My local park, Six Flags over Georgia, has gotten hugely crowded, dirty, and overcommercialized over the past decade or so. It's no longer a fun experience. The ticket prices are also astronomical for what you get in return. *sigh*
  • roguedragon, on 12/21/2007, -1/+4I find it interesting that so many of the rollercoasters shown are from Cedar Point. There's no other theme park in the world that can even begin to touch that place. It's the #1 theme park in the world with the most top rated coasters of any park. It's also the only park to ever hold more than one slot in the top 5 of best coasters in the world list year after year, and has no less than 3 coasters in the top 10 each year. I think the only other park to ever hold two slots in the top 10 for more than two years running was six flags out of chicago, and that was a fluke.

    http://www.cedarpoint.com/

    Check them out if you get a chance.
    • Shawn4168, on 12/21/2007, -1/+1Only 2 of the coasters are from Cedar Point.
    • mrjah, on 12/21/2007, -1/+0Cedar Point is a great, great park. But its prominence in those lists is really an over-representation of their rides. There is no "official" Top 5 or Top 10 list. There are dozens of those lists, and essentially none of them control for the "pretty good ride at a popular park" phenomenon. Cedar Point comes out way ahead as a result.

      Mitch's Hawker's polls (one for wooden, one for steel) are a noteworthy exception to that phenomenon, and it's also noteworthy that Cedar Point has only ONE "Top 10" ride (Millennium Force) between the two polls. That seems about right. They certainly don't have any truly great wooden rides, and only Millennium Force really sits atop the pack of steel rides. You could make a case for Dragster, but I think that's a stretch. Sorry, it's really not one of the 10 greatest steel rides in the world.

      Roller coaster media coverage of Cedar Point is like ESPN coverage of the Yankees. It's easy, it's obvious, nobody will question where you're spending your attention, and it sort of just seems right. But that doesn't make it truly worthy of all the attention it receives.
      Again: great park, with some -- some -- great roller coasters. But it really isn't on a pedestal when it comes to the very best individual rides in the world. Off the top of my head, IMO Six Flags Great Adventure is every bit as much of a heavyweight among great rides with Kingda Ka, Nitro, and El Toro, plus Medusa. All top-notch rides in a park which (for some good reasons) isn't as popular with the coaster-ing community as Cedar Point.

      Not surprising, then, the Mitch Hawker's polls give two Top 10 finishes to Great Adventure's rides while Cedar Point gets only one.
  • SamboGT, on 12/21/2007, -1/+1The Voyage - Holiday World.

    Enough said.
  • braksmak, on 12/21/2007, -0/+1Top Thrill Dragster > Kingda Ka The dragster may be slightly slower, but you don't have straps over your shoulders like kingda ka. Plus, Cedar Point is awesome!
  • gl77, on 03/31/2008, -0/+1i believe the millennium force's top speed is around 93 mph, i could be wrong though
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