Vote of the week: What's the hottest new roller coaster for 2009?

January 30, 2009, 12:14 PM · We've got five new major roller coasters under construction now for the 2009 season. And five theme parks sweating whether or not their multi-million dollar investments will help them protect their attendance and revenue in a troubled economy.

So let's help 'em out with a little advance information (you can get the details about these coasters on our What's Under Construction at Top Theme Parks page):

Tell us in the comments why you're looking forward to the coaster you picked.

Replies (10)

January 30, 2009 at 12:52 PM · Manta sounds cool! Universal just seems to me that they are copying Disneys RnR idea.
January 30, 2009 at 1:16 PM · Manta and RRR and looking nice. I thought RRR was going to go out over the City Walk lake though!!! Its not, it comes out as far as the path around the lake, without going over it!!

Weird looking coaster though!! It seems very compact.

Manta on the other hand is very spacious and has great lines, a wonderful flow about it and will certainly bring some visual excitement!!

I can't wait for either to open, I'll be there at ppreview days for both!!

I do love the way RRR has encorporated the new stage though. Very fitting, and the stage must be ready in time for Mardi Gras, which is just a week away.

Apparently the ride will open to the public right after Mardi Gras ends!!

Manta will need a lot of landscaping, currently underway. Anyone who's been to Seaworld lately will know that the path between the entrance and the Stingray lagoon is completely blocked off, forcing everyone to enter and exit via the Sky Tower or bridge route!! Fun stuff.

January 30, 2009 at 2:10 PM · OK, can all the theme parks wake up!!! Terminator Salvation, come on...what am I missing...maybe themeing??? Does Six Flags really think we are going to waste our precious vacation dollars on a woodie with a terminator "theme" and not a single sign of a robot???

We want new, we want exciting, we want different...HELLO are you listening? Lets see cutting edge technology, something new we have not see before.

Has anyone else noticed we stopped building higher roller coasters; they are BORING? Kingda Ka is a horrible ride...up and down in 17 seconds?

Somebody please reinvent the industry...Walt did it, and we all know how that worked out!

January 30, 2009 at 4:16 PM · I wanted to vote for Rip, Ride, Rockit, but in the absence of a quality narrative coaster (like Expedition Everest or Revenge of the Mummy) I chose to stay with my local park instead.

Go Worlds of Fun!

(GCI is having a banner year).

January 30, 2009 at 6:24 PM · A mile-long hypercoaster with (as I figure it) about a whole minute of airtime...that's what I'm looking for. Diamondback, here I come!
January 31, 2009 at 1:43 AM · While Manta's concept seemed promising, Im not yet sold on how they are going to execute the dive into the water and how well it will be themed, so..

My vote goes to RRR at USF...it seems like it will be the most scenic of all the coasters, going through the Hollywood backlot and a stage, and although the music idea does copy RnR, Universal is taking that concept to a new level of innovation and technology by letting the riders choose their music...it will be very cool and fun, and should have good re-ride-ability for those who just can't choose one song they want to ride with

January 31, 2009 at 4:16 PM · I picked the Diamondback mainly because it's 20 minutes from me. But, in addition to proximity, there is a lot to be excited about. It's bigger and faster than anything at KI. It has unique car. It has all the usual - helixes, big hills, etc. It has a splash down ending, but not sure what that'll really add.
February 1, 2009 at 1:02 PM · I'm looking most forward to Kings Island's Diamondback mainly because it is the closest to me. I'm hoping to finally ride Firehawk. Each time I have gone to KI for the last 2 years it was shut down because of weather or mechanical problems.
February 1, 2009 at 3:14 PM · That was my logic for voting for Diamondback as well. King's Island has wood covered, but their steel selection strikes me as underwhelming. This will totally correct that shortcoming...
February 2, 2009 at 12:18 PM · Manta just looks really cool and Seaworld needs another roller coaster. I'm really looking forward to trying it out this November

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