Vote of the Week: Which New Coaster Excites You Most?

March 20, 2015, 1:50 PM · Bolliger & Mabillard's tallest-ever hyper coaster, Fury 325, opens to reporters next Wednesday at Carowinds, so we're just about ready to start welcoming this year's crop of new roller coasters. But which of this year' new coasters are you most looking forward to ride?

Fury 325 concept art
Fury 325 concept art from Carowinds

We will be at Carowinds next Wednesday for the Fury 325 premiere, and we'll be in Southern Indiana next month for the "launch" of B&M's first launched wing coaster, Thunderbird, at Holiday World. We're also looking forward to the debut of Southern California's first hybrid coaster, Twisted Colossus, which we are expecting to open at Six Flags Magic Mountain in late spring. We will be bringing you detailed coverage, including our reviews and on-ride video, from all of these events. But these aren't the only coasters opening this year.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas is opening Batman: The Ride, an S&S Free Fly coaster. And Cedar Point has converted its old Mantis stand-up coaster into Rougarou, a B&M floorless.

Hersheypark also has a new coaster coming this spring, Laff Traxx, but that tribute to old-fashioned fun houses is as much a dark ride as a roller coaster. And outside the United States, Efteling will be opening Baron 1898 this spring, a B&M dive coaster with an unprecedented level of theming for that model. So we will leave those two attractions for other polls.

We'd love to hear what you're thinking about these new coasters in the United States, as you wait for their arrivals. Let's take a few virtual or test rides to get ready.

Batman: The Ride:

Fury 325:

Rougarou:

Thunderbird:

Twisted Colossus:


Update: By popular demand, we're offering a second vote, featuring Cannibal, Impulse, Laff Trakk, Tempesto, and Wicked Cyclone. Vote now!

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Replies (47)

March 20, 2015 at 2:49 PM · I voted for the one I may be visiting in June: Thunderbird. But if I was being honest, Twisted Colossus peaks my interest the most.
March 20, 2015 at 3:56 PM · Wicked Cyclone. But it's not on the poll...
March 20, 2015 at 4:28 PM · I would have voted for Wicked Cyclone (SFNE) if it had been included on the list. Being absent, I voted for Thundebird.
March 20, 2015 at 5:08 PM · Twisted Colossus, primarily because it's at one of my local parks and based on my previous experience with RMC I expect it to become the new best ride at SFMM, plus it's the only one I know I'll ride. If I had a realistic shot at getting to all of these, however, I'd pick Fury 325. For the rest of the major US installations for 2015, I'd rank them as follows (most interested to least interested):

-Wicked Cyclone
-Thunderbird
-Cannibal
-Impulse
-Batman: The Ride

Personally, I don't consider Rougarou a new coaster.

March 20, 2015 at 8:46 PM · I am visiting Efteling in early June and according to their website Baron 1898 does not open until the summer. So looks like I will miss out unless I catch a soft opening. But at the least I can provide some ride construction photos.
March 21, 2015 at 7:53 AM · Who the heck cares about Batman The Ride?
March 21, 2015 at 8:17 AM · Wicked Cyclone even though it's not on the list
March 21, 2015 at 8:37 AM · How is Batman getting so many votes? Sure, it's neat looking, but I have a feeling this will be a ride more fun to look at than to ride. It's the same concept as the Green Lantern Coaster in California which isn't particularly highly rated. It looks like the kind of coaster designed to take up minimal real estate. It doesn't look like the put through rate will be very high either, so expect long waits.
March 21, 2015 at 9:41 AM · Let's change this to which park are you visiting? Anyhow, voting on Twisted Colossus. By the way, Rougaro is just Mantis as a floorless sit down coaster and a fresh coat of paint. Nice try Cedar Point!
March 21, 2015 at 10:13 AM · I guess by how Batman the ride is winning, gimmicks can at least build excitement.... But come on people!!! A launching wing coaster!!! Can't go wrong with that. Either that or fury 325
March 21, 2015 at 12:34 PM · FWIW, Six Flags Fiesta Texas is campaigning with a link to the poll on its Facebook and social media pages. Other parks always are welcomed to campaign, too.

Sorry about the Wicked Cyclone exclusion. (We could use some help from readers in New England to help us expand coverage of SFNE.)

March 21, 2015 at 8:53 PM · My vote is for Thunderbird. It looks smooth, and the slow roll at the end really looks good!

Thanks for explaining the Batman campaign, Robert. I watched about 20 seconds of that video and it was all I needed to see to know I'd be sick and throwing up upon exiting that ride. I love Batman, but have no interest whatsoever in Batman: The Ride.

March 23, 2015 at 11:03 AM · Robert, when you say "We will be at Carowinds next Wednesday" and later Holiday World, who is WE? I figured that someone associated with TPI who's closer to Charlotte than I am would cover it but am extremely frustrated by Carowinds' lack of response to my request to be added to their distribution list for media events. I was going to ask for permission to cover Thunderbird for TPI but someone beat me to it. At least I now know to stop looking for cheap airfares to Evansville. Fury 325 looks more exciting to me and fares from Philly to Charlotte are reasonable so I'll go to Carowinds maybe at the end of May, when the frenzy over Fury's opening will have subsided.
March 23, 2015 at 12:20 PM · Where is impulse how come thats not on the list
March 23, 2015 at 4:52 PM · Since I live 30 minutes from Carowinds, I'd have to say Fury 325. As far as which ride looks the best, I'd say Wicked Cyclone, but that's not on the list.
March 24, 2015 at 7:34 AM · The new ride that excites me the most is the world's first 4D free-fly coaster, I voted for Batman, The Ride!
March 24, 2015 at 7:39 AM · Woot woot.can't wait to check these new rides out
March 24, 2015 at 8:16 AM · Batman the Ride....Why??? Because it's going to be short, sweet, and insane. I can't wait to visit Six Flags Fiesta Texas in SA, TX
March 24, 2015 at 9:28 AM · We been waiting for Batman: TheRide since we first heard about it. Waiting patiently! Looks like it's going to be a "twisted" ride!
March 24, 2015 at 11:50 AM · Why so many people hateing on batman the ride. Let me say it's going to be one of the best coaster out their and the only one of its kind. I say don't judge it till u try it. I know it's going to be a great ride. Six flags fiesta Texas is a great park.
March 24, 2015 at 2:33 PM · OK, part two of this poll is coming later today!

And, Bobbie, Russell is going to Carowinds, and I am going to Holiday World. We needed to do some lobbying to get responses from various parks around the country for events this year. As always, I ask our front-pagers to email me if you know the date of a media event and need help getting approval from the park to attend. I can't always swing it (some parks like to work only with local media), but I try my best to get in so we can bring coverage to all of our readers.

March 24, 2015 at 3:03 PM · Omg can't wait for the batman ride at fiesta Texas
March 24, 2015 at 4:38 PM · The second vote is up now!
March 24, 2015 at 4:48 PM · I can't wait to get to San Antonio Sixflags to ride the new batman ride. I've been discussing with my family our plans for this summer and when I saw the video advertising the first 4D Ride it blew my mind. We are anticipating this July regardless free or not we will ride this ride. Cant wait for the adrenal rush/stress relief.
March 24, 2015 at 5:30 PM · I can't really get excited about Batman the ride, because we already have a couple of rides like that at Magic Mountain, with X2 leading the way. Honestly that ride reminds me mostly of Green Lantern at Magic Mountain...but I suppose I'm biased...TWISTED
COLOSSUS BABY!!
March 24, 2015 at 5:30 PM · Wicked Cyclone Six Flags New England! Why isn;t it on here??!?!?!
March 24, 2015 at 5:58 PM · It's in the other bracket.
March 24, 2015 at 6:40 PM · What about Cannibal at Lagoon? It looks sick!
March 24, 2015 at 6:45 PM · I am looking forward to riding Twisted Colossus. Another new coaster I can't wait to ride is 'Cannibal' coming to Lagoon amusement park in Utah this spring. It isn't on the poll, but I have to mention it because Lagoon is basically my home amusement park. Cannibal is noteworthy because it will have a 208 foot beyond vertical first drop at 116 degrees, (steepest drop in the states) and three or four inversions.
March 24, 2015 at 6:59 PM · Fury 325. Mantis' new hair do isn't fooling anybody.
March 24, 2015 at 8:05 PM · Batman the ride is the best!!!
March 24, 2015 at 8:19 PM · I can't wait to go on twistedcolossus.
March 24, 2015 at 10:13 PM · I want to ride all new rides

March 24, 2015 at 11:28 PM · It was hard to decide between Batman because I've never been on anything like that and Twisted Colossus. Yes, Six Flags Over Texas has a link to this poll wanting to show Texas pride for Batman. Both Over Texas and Fiesta Texas do not have a ride similar to Batman while both parks have a wooden/steel combination rollercoaster similar to Colossus minus the double train and twists. However, I am not sure why so many are upset that Batman has a high amount of votes. It is a very different type of coaster compared to the others and will peak the interest of those who have never been on that type of coaster.
March 25, 2015 at 9:21 AM · Batman the ride six flags fiesta Texas
March 25, 2015 at 12:26 PM · I prefer s-l-o-w rides.
March 25, 2015 at 3:54 PM · Batman the ride, as I will be riding it
March 25, 2015 at 4:28 PM · I can't figure out why Colossus has so many votes. It looks pretty much like IRON Rattler minus the length and double train. Hybrids are starting to because a cookie cutter coaster with a couple of new things added to each one.
I can't wait for Batman! If all goes well I should be there on opening day!
Go Big! Go Six Flags! Go Spurs Go
March 26, 2015 at 7:50 AM · Batman: The Ride! I've NEVER seen anything like that!
March 26, 2015 at 9:46 AM · I will choose Batman the ride because it looks cool seems like its going to be a very awesome ride can't wait to wear it
March 26, 2015 at 10:12 AM · Batman ride is what I can't wait for,,,, it's a thriller ride!
March 26, 2015 at 10:14 AM · We can't wait to try the new Barman ride in San Antonio!!!
March 26, 2015 at 12:49 PM · Boycotting this vote. Most looking forward to Turbulence at Adventureland!!!
http://www.adventureland.us
March 27, 2015 at 8:21 AM · I vote for the Batman ride it looks insane!
March 27, 2015 at 8:23 AM · Danuh nuhnuh nuhnuh nuhnuh BATMAN!
March 27, 2015 at 11:47 AM · Batman looks a lot like The Green Lantern ride as Six Flags Magic Mountain. Just a little more that's all.
March 27, 2015 at 11:51 AM · Batman the Ride @ Six Flags Fiesta Texas!!!

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