What is your favorite roller coaster or amusement park ride?

[Jason Thurman]

There's a point to this. It's very on topic, and we'll get to it in a day or two. But for now, I just want to know your favorite. The one you love the most and have the best memories from and can't wait to do again. You can explain, or not.

But really, what's your absolute favorite ride?

[Paul Gray]

Jason,

As you're a trusted GCAer I'll take your word for it.

The waltzers, if they're still about.

[Matthew Petersen]

Always enjoy the old wooden coasters, though I have to admit a well-done modern one with a smooth ride (like California Screaming at DCA) is a wonderful experience, too.

[Matthew Sander]

Jason,

From your neck of the woods, The Beast.

[Howard Riefs]

Action Park (1978-1996)
Vernon Township, N.J.
Super Speed Water Slides

"These were two water slides, set slightly apart from the rest of the park, that took advantage of nearly vertical slopes to allow riders to attain higher speeds than usually possible. One started with riders going almost vertically downwards and was covered with screening for the first several feet. As barriers on the side of the slides were very low, lifeguards reminded every user to remain flat on their back with their arms at the side as they descended since there was no way to ride it otherwise and stay on. The fall from both slides had the potential for very serious injury. Those who made it to the bottom found their progress arrested by water, which made a large splash, and then a small pool." Source: Wikipedia

Photo (on left):  http://weirdnj.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Slide.jpg

[David Federman]

OK I'll play along - the best ride ever - Soarin - at EPCOT.

[Bill_McBride]

This is pretty funny. I had not been on a roller coaster for 25 years when I rode the steel coaster Loch Ness Monster at Busch Gardens in Williams urg, VA.  That was a cool ride where you went underwater and emerged at high speed.  Last Sunday, at 71, my son and I rode the wooden coaster "Keemah Bullet" south of Houston.  Holy shit, it was wild, crazy and exhilarating!

Look forward to seeing where this is going!

[Matthew Runde]

I like where I think this is going.

In my last trip to an amusement park, my favorite ride was the latest roller coaster.  It was different from the average roller coaster.  It had unexpected twists and turns that came along much more quickly than on an average ride.  At one point, it looked like your legs were going to be crushed against the ground.  At another point, it looked like you were about to be flung into space.  When we pulled back into the station, everybody was so thrilled with the ride that they cheered.

[Mac Plumart]

The Magnum at Cedar Point was my favorite growing up.

[Brian Ross]

Jason,

From your neck of the woods, The Beast.

+1

[Mac Plumart]

I loved The Beast, but if you don't lean into the corners...that thing will beat you up pretty good.

[PCCraig]

The American Eagle at Six Flags Great America, of course!!

[Pat Burke]

Action Park

AKA Traction Park

I survived two trips there in my youth.

If the USGA set a park up, you would get Action Park

[Chris_Blakely]

Millennium force at Cedar Point.

CHris

[Bruce Wellmon]

The twin red and blue roller coasters at the Harry Potter section of Universal Studios in Florida - Dragon Somethingorother.

I'm thinking you are thinking of "Fire and Ice." And it is well worth ANY wait to be in the front row.
My favorite.

[Eric Smith]

OK I'll play along - the best ride ever - Soarin - at EPCOT.

That's a great ride for sure. Only been on it twice though as it is always such a ridiculously long wait.

Sadly, I suffer from vertigo when on the really fast rides anymore so I try not to go on them. Truth is it's easy to tell you what my all time favorite ride is. It's the one with the infectious tune looping throughout the cavern.. "YO HO YO HO... A PIRATES LIFE FOR ME..."

[Cory Lewis]

Montu

The Batwing is awesome, so much better than the Cobra Roll you see on so many of them!

[Pete_Pittock]

Hellcat, Clementon, NJ

[Ed Brzezowski]

No love for Space Mountain??  Great pick on Clemeton Park, you can see heaven from the top.

[Wade Schueneman]

Soarin is great (but there are lots of imperfections in the HD footage of Cal and the screen is not quite large enough).  Expedition Everest and Space Mountain are also favorites.

[Tim Martin]

Cyclone at Riverside Park back in the day in Agawam Massachusetts. Don't have the stomach any more since it became Six Flags some time ago.

[Dave Falkner]

Hands down  The Cyclone Coney Island

wooden coasters are so much more fun than metal ones

Wooden coaster= ODG


and you can go to the original nathans for a hot dog afterwards  and if sthe schedule is right catch a minor league baseball game after that

[Dale_McCallon]

I don't guess it is a true roller coaster, but the Spiderman ride at Universal Orlando is a ton of fun.

As far as roller coasters, Apollo's Chariot at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg is probably my favorite.  No loops, just giant hills throughout.  Does this mean I'm a sucker for downhill par 3's?

[Anthony Butler]

I don't guess it is a true roller coaster, but the Spiderman ride at Universal Orlando is a ton of fun.

+1 on Spider-Man. Sat in the front row and was more than a little surprised when Spidey landed on the car about 3 ft in front of me..  Pasatiempo/Santa Cruz Rollercoaster/Surfing with the Sharks is also pretty fun day.

[Michael Huber]

If the Thunderbolt at kennywood in pittsburgh was a golf course, the GCAers would love it.  Its old school and its built to fit the hilly topography its built on.  Plus its got quirk, as you go straight down hill right out of the gate.  Plus, another roller coaster goes right under it.  It wont break any speed records but it is classic.

Pretty awesome if you ask me.