One of the most frequently asked questions we Receive Asks what our favorite coaster is. It’s never an easy answer and changes over time. Growing up, I would’ve told you the higher, faster and more inversions, the better. Actually, if we went even further back I’d tell you what my favorite queues were, because when it came time to ride the coaster, I’d just step across the train and wait on the exit ramp while my brother rode it out solo. Looking back on that now, that doesn’t sound as ridiculous as it did then given how immersive queues have become.
Today, I still love the most insane coasters that I can push my old bones to withstand, though they’re not really my favorite. In fact, I would liken my appetite for coasters to a really good hot sauce. I like a lot of heat, but it should be complimentary, and delicately balanced with the other flavors in the dish.
A good coaster is a well balanced diet of thrills, aesthetics, “re-ridability” and a kinetic narrative. It doesn’t have to always excel in those qualities, but I feel that when a coaster hits on all of those marks, it’s something special. For me, Cheetah Hunt @buschgardens is one of those attractions. It’s got speed, an aggressive pace, organic curves pinned tightly to the terrain and gorgeous views, both on and off-ride. It doesn’t feel overly engineered, or try to win you over with a gimmicky maneuver. It seems like it was designed with one goal in mind, make you feel like a Cheetah. With that I’d say the design is a success. Unless they were trying to make you feel like Chester Cheetah, in which case they need a lot more powdered cheese.
And for the record, my favorite queue growing up was Batman: The Ride at SFGAm circa 1993. That Gotham City theme 👌🚔 (Photo: Made to Thrill original) — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/2XlilxX