Rankings

[Cstrcrzy1]

It’s been a while since I’ve posted and I don’t remember if I posted this question already or not so I’m gonna take a shot…. have any of you here ever actually put kids and or family coasters in your personal rankings above thrill coasters?

 

[Trax]

If they’re better than a thrill coaster… sure!
Mine Train Ulven comes to mind, I’d rank this way higher than a lot of thrill coasters.
I’d also rather ride a whacky worm, which is boring but doesn’t hurt than an SLC, Volare or Vekoma Boomerang.

 

[Matt N]

My answer would be somewhat the same as the one given by @Trax.

What does it matter whether a ride is a “family” or “kiddie” coaster? If I prefer it to a “thrill” coaster, I’ll rank it higher; it’s as simple as that. As someone who ranks coasters based on a mix of fun, thrills and rerideability as opposed to out and out intensity (and to be honest, I often simply rank based on how much I enjoyed something!), that does mean that I would rank a “family” coaster above a “thrill” coaster if I felt that I enjoyed it more and it better satisfied those 3 criteria.

The reason I use inverted commas is because these are just arbitrary classifying terms, after all; they don’t really mean anything when it comes to how much you enjoy a ride. I’d also argue that the lines between these terms have become far more blurred in recent years with newer coasters.

 

[Cstrcrzy1]

If they’re better than a thrill coaster… sure!
Mine Train Ulven comes to mind, I’d rank this way higher than a lot of thrill coasters.
I’d also rather ride a whacky worm, which is boring but doesn’t hurt than an SLC, Volare or Vekoma Boomerang.

Thank you!!!

 

[Cstrcrzy1]

My answer would be somewhat the same as the one given by @Trax.

What does it matter whether a ride is a “family” or “kiddie” coaster? If I prefer it to a “thrill” coaster, I’ll rank it higher; it’s as simple as that. As someone who ranks coasters based on a mix of fun, thrills and rerideability as opposed to out and out intensity (and to be honest, I often simply rank based on how much I enjoyed something!), that does mean that I would rank a “family” coaster above a “thrill” coaster if I felt that I enjoyed it more and it better satisfied those 3 criteria.

The reason I use inverted commas is because these are just arbitrary classifying terms, after all; they don’t really mean anything when it comes to how much you enjoy a ride. I’d also argue that the lines between these terms have become far more blurred in recent years with newer coasters.

Thank you!!!

 

[Rollercoaster David]

Rip wild train

 

[Heth]

I will often rank rides based on the simple "which would I rather ride". This often means that more actively re-rideable and 'fun' thrill coasters can often end up above more intense and challenging coasters which might be objectively 'better', but I simply don't prefer.

 

[Flash Shift]

Gold Rush at Drayton Manor is now my favourite coaster at that park, even above The Wave, and I enjoyed it more than several more intense coasters such as nearly everything at Flamingoland.

Colorado Adventure also goes insanely hard for a family coaster if you're in the back few rows. It is pure chaos and I probably enjoyed it more than Black Mamba!

 

[Hixee]

I will often rank rides based on the simple "which would I rather ride". This often means that more actively re-rideable and 'fun' thrill coasters can often end up above more intense and challenging coasters which might be objectively 'better', but I simply don't prefer.

I've got a slight variation to this too - I'm not necessarily just ranking the best hardware, I'm often ranking the best 'experience'. Boulder Dash [#8] is clearly, objectively, not a Top 10 coaster anymore, but those rides I had on it back in 2010 are probably one of my Top 10 "experiences" overall. Same with Lighting Rod [#7] (albeit I only rode Lighting Rod in it's original form) and Montu [#18]. Obviously in some instances the hardware does win out, and in some instances it's a bit of a combination, and in others the 'experience' element wins out.

So whilst I don't technically have any family coasters in my Top 20, it wouldn't be impossible. And IF I was to rank all the coasters I've ridden, there would absolutely be family coasters above thrill/extreme coasters. There'd be loads.

 

[Heth]

I've got a slight variation to this too - I'm not necessarily just ranking the best hardware, I'm often ranking the best 'experience'. Boulder Dash [#8] is clearly, objectively, not a Top 10 coaster anymore, but those rides I had on it back in 2010 are probably one of my Top 10 "experiences" overall. Same with Lighting Rod [#7] (albeit I only rode Lighting Rod in it's original form) and Montu [#18]. Obviously in some instances the hardware does win out, and in some instances it's a bit of a combination, and in others the 'experience' element wins out.

So whilst I don't technically have any family coasters in my Top 20, it wouldn't be impossible. And IF I was to rank all the coasters I've ridden, there would absolutely be family coasters above thrill/extreme coasters. There'd be loads.

Agreed. Similarly I rank Baron 1898 highly because the whole package of the story, music theming, preshow, indoor section gets me hyped and forms part if the enjoyment. It is objectively not better than other hardware I've ridden, but as a whole experience I prefer it.

 

[Hixee]

Agreed. Similarly I rank Baron 1898 highly because the whole package of the story, music theming, preshow, indoor section gets me hyped and forms part if the enjoyment. It is objectively not better than other hardware I've ridden, but as a whole experience I prefer it.

I realised in re-reading my post, that I didn't elaborate on the second part of 'experience'. You're head right, there's all the theming elements that enhance the experience (see Taron [#2] in my case), but there's also the more human element of the experience. The people you're with, the atmosphere, the context of the trip, the overall success of the day, the general excitement that comes with it.

Boulder Dash and Lightning Rod are two great examples for me - night rides, after an awesome day at the park, with great friends and just overall having an awesome time. That propels them into "Top 10 experiences", far, far beyond any coaster hardware or theming could ever do in isolation. It's part of the reason it will take something very, very special to beat Steel Vengeance for me - not only is it an exceptional piece of hardware, but that trip, those night rides, with those friends... it's almost impossible for me to imagine how I could enjoy a coaster experience more than that.