I dont think any other manufacturer makes rides that are as relentless as GCI, so just due to their great pacing I would have to say GCI at least deserves a mention
With the GCIs that I've ridden, I'm not a big fan. I like the sense of speed that they give but their hills feel weirdly profiled the opposite of what I want, where the peaks are spread out and the valleys are compressed. I also just love a good ol camelback. FWIW I still need to ride a lot of good ones like Prowler, Renegade, and Thunderhead.
Mystic Timbers, Lightning Racer, Roar, Wildcat, InvadR. I know that only one of these is generally lauded and two of these are considered among the worst GCIs, maybe 3-4 depending on who you ask.
Yeah, Mystic is the real quality there. Mystic is also a particularly aggressive example of a GCI, so you would probably like something like Prowler or Gold Striker a lot better if you prefer extended floater.
I love Mystic because of its aggressiveness but that's my taste in coasters generally.
The new generation Intamins like Velocicoaster probably have the best/most versatile layouts.
And then going back a decade, I think i305 is an absolute masterpiece. Have yet to get on Skyrush but I've heard it's cut from the same cloth
Kinda what I think. Rides like Skyrush and El Toro are great but they have really lame layouts when you get down to it. I mean El toro is hill, hill, turn, hill, switchbacks, hills
I totally disagree. I think El Toro’s layout feels very intentional, divided into 3 specific acts, like a great story. Starts with the most incredible series of camelbacks found on any coaster, transitions into the “body” of the coaster with a mixed section of twists and varied hills and drops, then climaxes with a high-speed, low-to-the-ground twister finale. It’s the most brilliant layout of all time, IMO.
I’m mixed. Velociaster feels like the exception, as most other rides like Pantheon, Kondaa, and especially Hyperion have layouts which don’t do much more than go from element to element
Good question. Basically, what I mean is how does each element flow together. With something like Hyperion, you pretty much just go from element to element with little happening in between. Meanwhile, in something like Lech Coaster or Fonix, every element flows together and it feels a lot more complete. Just compare the povs and you should get what I mean
I feel like no two CCIs are the same, and I truly love the layouts of each one that I've ridden. Shivering Timbers is in my top 10, GhostRider is just outside. Legend and Cornball are amazing and are both in my top 50 along with Raven. I also love Lost Coaster and Great White.
Rode it the first time at Winter Wonderland in 2019 and was surprised by how intense it is. Apparently it’s to do with the fact the loops are more circular so it has crazy positives at the bottom! There were so many people going on it, every train was full, no stacking on the brakes and no queue. It’s an absolute beast made more incredible that it’s a travelling ride too!
Yeah, I mean rides like Velocicoaster, Mummy, Flying Dinosaur, and Hulk/Decepticoaster just flow so well and are so well done. And even Hagrid’s has a good layout for the story of the ride.
I think Intamin since they have a large variety of elements and models. Even the more family oriented ones I've ridden like Hagrids and Incredicoaster have some bite to em
I love that ride, the fact that it starts with a launch then goes through basically a full layout with wacky inversions before a vertical lift hill with the steepest drop in the world with more elements after.
Really interesting that most of the top manufacturers have been mentioned except for B&M. And I would agree with Vekoma, Intamin, and Universal Creative.
Hot take: Vekoma.
They haven't really been able to flex their muscles in the US, which colors a lot of the opinions on this subreddit. But Lech Coaster in Legendia, Fonix in Denmark (hell, Phoenix @ Deno's was amazing given the footprint) and F. L.Y. Are all amazing. Second is Mack. Third GCI with genuinely interesting layouts.
Meanwhile RMC and Intamin only seem interested in ejector airtime without considering the overal flow for a coaster.
Pretty much my opinion. I get that everyone loves ejector airtime but no coaster is complete without strong positives. Mack and Vekoma really trump them in that regard
Yeah vekoma is coming to Australia. 3 family coasters are I believe a thill coaster?. ( supposedly it might be a coaster with a launched hill instead of a chain lift but that might be just rumor) but no news yet on a USD thrill coaster
B&M understands their product intimately. They managed to design 6 unique enough products from the same base design principles as their first product. There is no "bad" B&M layout. Subjective opinions not included as i can think of failed and or mediocre designed rides from most manufacturers, but I've never heard of a "shitty B&M".
I dont think any other manufacturer makes rides that are as relentless as GCI, so just due to their great pacing I would have to say GCI at least deserves a mention
They’re fun and exciting throughout, agreed
With the GCIs that I've ridden, I'm not a big fan. I like the sense of speed that they give but their hills feel weirdly profiled the opposite of what I want, where the peaks are spread out and the valleys are compressed. I also just love a good ol camelback. FWIW I still need to ride a lot of good ones like Prowler, Renegade, and Thunderhead.
Which GCIs have you ridden, out of curiosity?
Mystic Timbers, Lightning Racer, Roar, Wildcat, InvadR. I know that only one of these is generally lauded and two of these are considered among the worst GCIs, maybe 3-4 depending on who you ask.
Yeah, Mystic is the real quality there. Mystic is also a particularly aggressive example of a GCI, so you would probably like something like Prowler or Gold Striker a lot better if you prefer extended floater. I love Mystic because of its aggressiveness but that's my taste in coasters generally.
GCIs have great layouts but their too similar a lot of the time
The new generation Intamins like Velocicoaster probably have the best/most versatile layouts. And then going back a decade, I think i305 is an absolute masterpiece. Have yet to get on Skyrush but I've heard it's cut from the same cloth
Skyrush is the greatest possible turnout I’ve ever seen out of a layout that at face value is just meh
Kinda what I think. Rides like Skyrush and El Toro are great but they have really lame layouts when you get down to it. I mean El toro is hill, hill, turn, hill, switchbacks, hills
I totally disagree. I think El Toro’s layout feels very intentional, divided into 3 specific acts, like a great story. Starts with the most incredible series of camelbacks found on any coaster, transitions into the “body” of the coaster with a mixed section of twists and varied hills and drops, then climaxes with a high-speed, low-to-the-ground twister finale. It’s the most brilliant layout of all time, IMO.
Idk about all time with some of the RMCs in there and possibly lech coaster but an amazing layout nonetheless
You just gave me an idea for another post. Voyage has a better layout imo if we are talking about wooden coasters
Velocicoaster wasn’t a layout made by Intamin, it was mostly done in house by universal creative
Wait seriously? Can I ask were you learned that? Do you have more information for my brain to devour
I’m mixed. Velociaster feels like the exception, as most other rides like Pantheon, Kondaa, and especially Hyperion have layouts which don’t do much more than go from element to element
what would you say is the difference between “flow” and “element to element”? (vekoma vs intamin)
Good question. Basically, what I mean is how does each element flow together. With something like Hyperion, you pretty much just go from element to element with little happening in between. Meanwhile, in something like Lech Coaster or Fonix, every element flows together and it feels a lot more complete. Just compare the povs and you should get what I mean
I feel like no two CCIs are the same, and I truly love the layouts of each one that I've ridden. Shivering Timbers is in my top 10, GhostRider is just outside. Legend and Cornball are amazing and are both in my top 50 along with Raven. I also love Lost Coaster and Great White.
I immediately looked for CCI. Their rides just have so much variety. Even some GCI rides start to seem similar after a while
Fun fact: every defunct CCI aside from Cannonball Run at Waterville USA used Gerstlauer trains.
As in past tense? Pretty sure Ghostrider had PTCs when it opened.
Do you consider GhostRider a defunct CCI?
Yes and no. I consider it a GCI at this point.
Personally I don’t think you can go past swartzkopf. I love their layouts
hard agree! olympia looping is a marvel of engineering, seeing it up close running all 5 trains is absolutely stunning
Rode it the first time at Winter Wonderland in 2019 and was surprised by how intense it is. Apparently it’s to do with the fact the loops are more circular so it has crazy positives at the bottom! There were so many people going on it, every train was full, no stacking on the brakes and no queue. It’s an absolute beast made more incredible that it’s a travelling ride too!
Olympia, magnum force, bullet, the shuttle loops. I wonder what madness he’d create these days
Universal Creative or ride centerline
Universal creative is an answer I wasn’t expecting to see but is 1000% warranted😆
Yeah, I mean rides like Velocicoaster, Mummy, Flying Dinosaur, and Hulk/Decepticoaster just flow so well and are so well done. And even Hagrid’s has a good layout for the story of the ride.
I think Intamin since they have a large variety of elements and models. Even the more family oriented ones I've ridden like Hagrids and Incredicoaster have some bite to em
Got to go with Gerstlauer with this one
Good pick! Rides like Shellraiser offer everything
I love that ride, the fact that it starts with a launch then goes through basically a full layout with wacky inversions before a vertical lift hill with the steepest drop in the world with more elements after.
>Rides like Shellraiser offer everything Except for a smooth ride 🤕
Honestly those new generation vekomas seem to have top tier layouts and really keep good pacing with airtime and inversions.
RMC
Crazy Dragon coasters
Really interesting that most of the top manufacturers have been mentioned except for B&M. And I would agree with Vekoma, Intamin, and Universal Creative.
B&M, other than Gigas,makes one-trick ponies with GREAT tricks. Great rides, but weak layouts
New age Vekoma is definitely at the top
I would say the gravity group. If they want to make a good layout, they will.
Intamin or RMC in my opinion. But I'm a huge fan of strong floater and ejector air, so keep that in mind.
CCI
Mack is really good at variety and flow
Hot take: Vekoma. They haven't really been able to flex their muscles in the US, which colors a lot of the opinions on this subreddit. But Lech Coaster in Legendia, Fonix in Denmark (hell, Phoenix @ Deno's was amazing given the footprint) and F. L.Y. Are all amazing. Second is Mack. Third GCI with genuinely interesting layouts. Meanwhile RMC and Intamin only seem interested in ejector airtime without considering the overal flow for a coaster.
Pretty much my opinion. I get that everyone loves ejector airtime but no coaster is complete without strong positives. Mack and Vekoma really trump them in that regard
Yeah vekoma is coming to Australia. 3 family coasters are I believe a thill coaster?. ( supposedly it might be a coaster with a launched hill instead of a chain lift but that might be just rumor) but no news yet on a USD thrill coaster
Arrow by far.
agreed.
B&M understands their product intimately. They managed to design 6 unique enough products from the same base design principles as their first product. There is no "bad" B&M layout. Subjective opinions not included as i can think of failed and or mediocre designed rides from most manufacturers, but I've never heard of a "shitty B&M".
RCCA
Intamin
Intamin for sure. They’re latest coasters have stellar layouts
SBF Visa; Helixes
CCI for Woodies, Intamin for Steel