Tremendous buzz and rave reviews surround EPCOT’s new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind coaster. Meanwhile, Magic Kingdom’s TRON Lightcycle Run is testing, and opening details are imminent. With these two gargantuan, futuristic, resort-defining Vekoma launched coasters making their landfall at Walt Disney World within a year of each other (after no major, high profile coaster since Animal Kingdom’s Expedition Everest since 2006), it begs the question: How are these coasters unique to each other, and which one is “better?”
Continue reading “TRON vs Guardians of the Galaxy – Cosmic Rewind: Which Coaster is Better?”What to Expect at Marvel Avenger Campus at Walt Disney Studios in Paris
There’s no better thing than a brand-new Disney park themed land opening up. This is particularly true for Disneyland Paris’ neighboring park Walt Disney Studios that has always struggled with a smaller-than-usual attraction lineup. As part of a large expansion to the theme park, Avenger Campus will be home to several rides, restaurants, shopping and entertainment attractions. Let’s take a look at all that Avenger Campus will have to offer!
Continue reading “What to Expect at Marvel Avenger Campus at Walt Disney Studios in Paris”30th Anniversary at Disneyland Paris
Happy 30th anniversary for Disneyland Paris! The celebration started at Europe’s biggest theme park resort. We go through some of the festivities, including a review of the 30th anniversary Passholder Night. Plus, we also give you an update on Avengers Campus at the Walt Disney Studios!
Continue reading “30th Anniversary at Disneyland Paris”Magic Kingdom / TRON Update – January 2022
It’s been quite some time since we performed a proper TRON Lightcycle Run update, so for our first update of 2022 we decided to brave the Magic Kingdom holiday hysteria for some photos.
Continue reading “Magic Kingdom / TRON Update – January 2022”In Defense of Indiana Jones et le Temple du Péril
Paris’ Indiana Jones gets a bad rap. For pretty much its entire existence, the ride has been overlooked because of bigger coasters and better Indy-themed rides – but we think this odd little ride deserves more credit.
Continue reading “In Defense of Indiana Jones et le Temple du Péril”The Best Big Thunder Mountain
The year is 1860. Thunder Mesa has been virtually wiped off the map by an earthquake, with its infrastructure largely destroyed. Big Thunder Mining Co. is now shuttered, but indigenous spirits still possess the mine trains to this day.
Continue reading “The Best Big Thunder Mountain”The Best Space Mountain
While we’ve ranked all of Disney’s Space Mountains before, such an article can only spend so much time showcasing the pure brilliance of Disneyland Paris’ Space Mountain. After another recent trip to our french Disney home park across the pond, we decided to highlight this dazzling masterpiece of a roller coaster in a dedicated article.
Continue reading “The Best Space Mountain”All Disney Coasters – Ranked
On our 2019 trip to China, we didn’t plan on riding Rex’s Racer at Shanghai Disneyland. The new credit was tempting, but we assumed the line would be too long for us to want to take time away from all of the superb rides Shanghai Disneyland has to offer – after all, we already had the Paris and Hong Kong ones.
On Shanghai Disneyland day the crowds were light, and when we checked out the new Toy Story Land we couldn’t help but notice Rex’s Racer going out with empty seats. “Eh, why not” we said. After riding, it occurred to us that we’ve now ridden every coaster Disney has ever built – but not for long. Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleds will open at Hong Kong Disneyland before we know it, and with no plans for a Hong Kong Disney visit in our near future, we knew our every-Disney-coaster-ridden claim had an expiration date on it.
Naturally we decided to write an article ranking all operating Disney coasters – it may have taken 2 years for us to get around to it, but we’ve finally put it together. As Califloridian DLP passholders, we take our Disney coasters seriously, and with 30-ish coasters we had a lot to consider.
Continue reading “All Disney Coasters – Ranked”Primeval Whirl Demolition
There’s considerable carnage over at Animal Kingdom’s Dino-Land U.S.A.! Let’s see how Primeval Whirl is looking:
Continue reading “Primeval Whirl Demolition”Twenty-Year Top 20: The Best Coasters of 2001
It’s that time a year again! Welcome to Coaster Kings’ 3rd annual Twenty Year Top 20, where we count down our picks for the twenty best coasters turning 20 in 2021!
Continue reading “Twenty-Year Top 20: The Best Coasters of 2001”Disneyland Paris: Our Last International Park Before – and Our First International Park Since – the Pandemic Started.
Shortly before most borders (and theme parks) closed, Alex and I traveled to Disneyland Paris for a few days at one of our favorite parks. At the time we did not realize we’d cancel our next several international trips. This summer we finally were able to leave the US again, and the first park we visited was Disneyland Paris of course. Let’s take a look at the French Disney destination, without the usual crowd!
Continue reading “Disneyland Paris: Our Last International Park Before – and Our First International Park Since – the Pandemic Started.”Magic Kingdom – Crown Rating
Disney’s second park was the very ambitious “Florida project”. Magic Kingdom opened in 1971 with much fanfare and started what has become the World’s largest resort. Magic Kingdom as a park continues to be the most attended theme park in the World at 20M+ annual visitors (pre-pandemic). Today, let’s see if Magic Kingdom is worth the hype.
Continue reading “Magic Kingdom – Crown Rating”20 Best Disney Rides in the World
About this time in 2017, we dropped a Disney Rides Top 20 to celebrate the opening of Shanghai Disneyland. It’s been an extremely long four years, and the landscape of Disney’s ride offerings have grown exponentially. We’re excited to bring a dramatically altered countdown of Disney’s top rides from around the world – each one pushing the limits of storytelling entertainment and testifying for the visionary craftwork of Walt Disney Imagineering.
Continue reading “20 Best Disney Rides in the World”Weakest Theme Park Areas
Since their creation amusement and theme parks have utilized landscaping and theming as an important part of the experience. The massive popularity of Disneyland standardized the idea of themed lands within a park. Most parks which opened in the resulting regional park boom incorporated this idea. Theme parks have the ability to transport guests to different times and worlds. A well-themed area can be an attraction in and of itself. But these areas often fall flat. The following are five of the weakest theme park areas. Also included are some ideas on how they might be refreshed. This is by no means an exhaustive list so please make your own suggestions, they may find their way to a part two!
Continue reading “Weakest Theme Park Areas”Asia Coaster News – Early January 2021
The first Asia Coaster News update of the year is filled with exciting news from several countries! We’re excited to continue offering timely coverage of an array of notable projects throughout the continent!
Continue reading “Asia Coaster News – Early January 2021”Coaster Kings’ California TOP 20 – 2020
It’s been 2 years since our last comprehensive countdown of California coasters, so for 2020 we bring you now a Top 20 for the Golden State. Things in California have changed a LOT in 2 years, and the landscape and hierarchy of its coasters is no exception. Continue reading “Coaster Kings’ California TOP 20 – 2020”
Central Florida Coaster Construction + Testing – Mid-December 2020
This will be a rather unusual report because we’re combining Iron Gwazi, TRON Lightcycle / Run and Jurassic World: VelociCoaster into one update! We visited the three parks/projects over the past three days and though we didn’t quite collect enough for three separate reports, we definitely have enough to share for an exciting Central Florida Coaster Construction report! Continue reading “Central Florida Coaster Construction + Testing – Mid-December 2020”
Coaster Kings’ Florida TOP 10 Coasters – 2020
It’s been two years since our last Florida Coasters Top 10 – needless to say a lot has happened in these two years. We planned on holding off on our next Florida Top 10 until Iron Gwazi and VelociCoaster had opened; with the way 2020 unfolded, we ultimately decided to sound off on the region’s current collection of coasters without them. The next two years promise a dramatic shuffle in Central Florida coaster hierarchy, so let’s consider this 2020 countdown the foundation upon which we’ll judge the region’s variety of new coasters.
Continue reading “Coaster Kings’ Florida TOP 10 Coasters – 2020”
5 of America’s National Coaster Icons
In 1981 Dutch fantasy park Efteling decided to add their first roller coaster. Already a well established theme-park they chose to make an investment that would make a big impact on the European market. Working with Dutch manufacturer Vekoma they unveiled the largest roller coaster in all of Europe, Python. Although a copy of the existing Arrow Huss Carolina Cyclone, this 4 inversion monster was unlike anything in the region. It was only 2 years after Blackpool Pleasure Beach had unveiled Europe’s first modern looping coaster and the first time modern inversions appeared in continental Europe. Efteling had built something loopier, larger, and unlike anything else that Europe had seen and it became a phenomenon. Python has been featured in numerous Dutch TV programs, was used by Porsche to film a television commercial, and continues to be one of the most popular attractions in the park. So beloved is this ride that in 2018 the park spent an estimated 4.5 Million Euro ($5.3 Million USD) to re-track the majority of the ride and ensure it continues to run for future generations. Continue reading “5 of America’s National Coaster Icons”
TRON Lightcycle / Run Construction Update – Magic Kingdom, December 1, 2020
It’s been a few weeks since we launched a new TRON Lightcycle / Run update on the site. With this week’s cool temperatures, we figured we’d spend a day at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and share a TRON update with you. Continue reading “TRON Lightcycle / Run Construction Update – Magic Kingdom, December 1, 2020”