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Which is the ride that impressed you the most when you rode it the first time?

The one that was state-of-the-art in technology.

From Daniel Etcheberry
Posted September 15, 2011 at 6:48 AM
For me it is a tie between "Spider Man" (OMG! that free fall looked so real!) and Tower of Terror (OMG! they moved the elevator horizontally from one shaft to another shaft!)

Special mention to "Back to the Future" which was jaw dropping the first time.


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Mike Seary
Posted September 15, 2011 at 7:43 AM
Rather difficult question honestly, as many attractions have by virtue of out-doing the previous groundbreaking attractions...

I remember riding BTTF for the first time as a teen and being absolutely blown away... and then Spiderman in my early 20s; WOW... and this new Harry Potter attraction (rode on opening week - 30) is absolutely brilliant.

I love the interesting ways Imagineers and UC come up with new ways to top the big E-ticket rides of yesterday - must be thirsty work.

(as for Tower of Terror, I would probably include that ride as well if I had actually experienced it - but as it stands I cannot bring myself to visit DHS solely on the merits of two rides - nothing else there seems terribly interesting).

From Jeff Elliott
Posted September 15, 2011 at 10:30 AM
Top Thrill Dragster

A distant 2nd is Intimidator 305 and the Voyage

From Carrie Hood
Posted September 15, 2011 at 12:13 PM
I have to say, Spiderman simply amazed me when we first saw it at the Employee preview days, I'm not a comic book hero fan but the ride was just awesome. Now with Harry Potter when we first saw it had my picking my jaw up off the floor, I've never seen a ride made from a series I've been a fan of so amazingly well done. It really took you into the ride and made you forget the outside world for a while.
Men in Black also deserves some kudo points, it's a great ride and is simply the best ride shooter out there today.

The Original Imagination floored me as a small child. To me it was like a walk threw a persons dreams and inspiring at the same time.
Star Tour was also a huge childhood and teenage favorite that always had me impressed. I haven't seen the new one yet but the original catered to Star Wars fans. Can't wait till next year's trip to try out the new one!

From Christy Hall
Posted September 15, 2011 at 12:24 PM
I have to say SheiKra and Rock 'N Roller Coaster as those were two of my first coasters - back when the obsession began!

Edit: Sorry, I missed the technology part. In that case I have to say HP and the Forbidden Journey!

From AJ Hummel
Posted September 15, 2011 at 1:01 PM
In no particular order:

For Technology:

California Screamin'
Curse of DarKastle
Haunted Mansion
Indiana Jones Adventure
Knights' Tournament
Soarin' Over California
Xcelerator
X2

For thrill factor (if not listed above):

Bizarro
El Toro
Intimidator 305
Maverick
Tatsu
Volcano, The Blast Coaster

From Andrew Mooney
Posted September 15, 2011 at 2:09 PM
For me it's Soarin'. I was getting really nervous about riding when I was reading the warning signs pointing out motion sickness. But once I was strapped in and "flying" the experience was incredible. The sights, smells and ride movement were superb.

From Giovanny Cruz
Posted September 15, 2011 at 2:15 PM

Spiderman
Soarin
Toy story midway mania
Chetta hunt
Manta
Harry potter and the forbiden journey

From Tim Hillman
Posted September 15, 2011 at 2:37 PM
Without a doubt - Spiderman!

I haven't had a chance to ride Forbidden Journey yet, but nothing else has come close.

From Orrin Carstarphen
Posted September 15, 2011 at 2:55 PM
Tower of Terror(DHS)
Spiderman(IOA)
Harry Potter(IOA)
Hulk(IOA)
Goliath (SFoGA)smoothest coaster I have ever ridden

From Anthony O'Neal
Posted September 15, 2011 at 5:10 PM
Top Thrill Dragster

From Anthony Murphy
Posted September 15, 2011 at 8:53 PM
Spiderman

Countdown to Extiction/Dinosaur

From Colton McLaughlin
Posted September 17, 2011 at 12:38 PM
I have quite a few.

In no particular order:

Tower of Terror
Spiderman
Curse of DarKastle
Forbidden Journey
El Toro
Revenge of the Mummy
Talon
Griffon
Haunted Mansion

From Mark Fairleigh
Posted September 17, 2011 at 9:25 PM
As amazing as Forbidden Journey is, it's still hands down Spider-Man. The first time my wife and I rode it, we were so amazed we ended up riding it a total of 30 times that day. We just couldn't get enough of it. We had never experienced anything like it. So looking forward to the upgraded version!

From Andy Milito
Posted September 18, 2011 at 11:08 AM
Spider-Man
Harry Potter
The Mummy
Haunted Mansion

From Scott B
Posted September 19, 2011 at 7:47 AM
It is hard to say for me. I remember being a kid, going on the Haunted Mansion and seeing the ballroom scene. I am pretty sure my jaw dropped.

I also remember Spring Break 2000 flying down to Florida and hitting Islands of Adventure. I remember going on Spider-Man and not even knowing what the heck it was. I remember being so blown away that I completely forgot I had just endured 2 plus hours waiting in line for it due to it breaking down.

Those two stand out the most for me. The Harry Potter ride is a close third but I feel like I read up on it too much to be totally surpised by it which killed the initial 'wow' factor.

From Caroline Davis
Posted September 19, 2011 at 11:01 AM
I have to say I agree with a lot of people. The first one was probably BTTF for me, then I went on Tower of Terror, Spiderman and most recently Forbidden Journey. I can't wait to go on Forbidden Journey again, I just bought tickets for November.

It does help that BTTF, Spiderman and Harry Potter are probably my three favourite franchises... (In fact Back To The Future is my favourite film!) How brilliant ride designers used those brilliant stories to create ground-breaking rides.

From Manny Rodriguez
Posted September 19, 2011 at 12:23 PM
Mission space test track soarin tower of terror and rockin roller coaster

From Amanda Jenkins
Posted September 19, 2011 at 4:53 PM
Expedition Everest blew me away during those blissful months of the Yeti working to full capacity.

Splash Mountain: first log flume ride I had ridden that had a story.

Haunted Mansion: after all these years, I still am in amazement.

Tower oF Terror: wow

E.T. for its themeing and its wonderfully cool air conditioned line going through the dark forest.

From chris cona
Posted September 19, 2011 at 7:15 PM
harry potter
soarin
spiderman
space mountain
tower of terror

From TH Creative
Posted September 20, 2011 at 3:10 AM
Hulk.

From Karly Tenney
Posted September 20, 2011 at 12:57 PM
I think the most jaw dropping for me were
the Hulk Sheikra and Spiderman as well.

From Steph Ramos
Posted September 22, 2011 at 11:56 PM
Hmm...jaw dropping you say?

Well...if we're talking childhood theme park experinces...I'd have to say the old Back To The Future ride at Universal Studios...the part when you're about to crash into the old Texaco gas station sign always made me scream and cover my face in anticipation of flying glass....XD

As for more recent jaw dropping experinces....I'd have to place X2 and Tatsu at SFMM in the top two (With several other SFMM rides filling the list with a small peppering of Knotts rides as well on the side....). The individual intensity of both rides coupled with my rather irrational fear of heights made for an amazing first time experince on both. To this day, my heart still beats a mile a minute everytime the X2 cars are pulled backwards up the chain lift (I know when the backwards drop is comming and I am familiar with the ride intensity, yet it still drives my heart nuts!) and I STILL can't keep my eyes open when the Tatsu trains literally FLY up the lift and out of the station (I can't take looking down at that point for some reason...).

From Will Chilcote
Posted September 23, 2011 at 7:19 PM
Star Tours 2.0... Rode it for the first time earlier this week. I was blown away. Spiderman is a close second.

From Doug Jenkins
Posted September 26, 2011 at 9:34 AM
Hulk, Spiderman, but the Rockin Roller Coaster (Aeorosmith) really took me by surprise the first time

From Michelle Pilling
Posted September 27, 2011 at 8:29 AM
The simpsons
The Mummy
The hulk
men in black.
These are my favourite.

From Vickie Boyd
Posted September 27, 2011 at 9:42 AM
Let's see, we went to BGT last year and rode Montu 5 times in a row. Griffon blew my mind. We rode Hulk 4 times in a row. Space Mountain, Superman (Georgia), Millenium Force, Apollo's Chariot all are big favorites.

From Anthony O'Neal
Posted September 29, 2011 at 9:17 PM
Actually, I'll add Magnum XL-200 at Cedar Point, as well. 72 mph and 200 feet were no joke when that coaster opened in 1989. I remember riding that for the first time when I was in my early teens, and while I'd ridden coasters at Michigan's Adventure, THAT was the coaster that cemented my interest. . .

From N B
Posted September 29, 2011 at 10:39 PM
Spider Man was the most impressive ride for me. I ride it at least a dozen times when we spend a week at the park. The graphics upgrades should make a huge difference.

Can't wait to go back in 2012.

From Adrienne McDonald
Posted October 11, 2011 at 1:56 PM
I haven't had the chance to ride a whole lot but for the ones I have ridden, I'd hafta say I only have a couple of catagories for right now b/c I haven't really been impressed w/any dark rides I've ridden so far nor w/any of the water rapids rides or any other catagory (again, I haven't been able to ride much) & reasons for choosing certain rides so I'll start with...

Coasters: My fave pick:
Superman Krypton Coaster at SFFTx b/c while it looks scary b/c it's huge & utilizing the cliffs to add to it's uniqueness which made it just 'look' scary but once it got to the drop, it was AWESOME! I really felt like I was flying.
Also Superman ROS (now called Bizarro) at SFNE. I was totally scared to ride it but once I got on it, it too was totally awesome & so not what I expected...much better than I thought it would be.

Water flume:
A tie between Bugs' White Water Rapids at SFFTx due to it's sheer cuteness, layout & theming & the Adventure Canyon Log Flume at Buffalo Bill's at stateline in Primm, NV b/c it's long, has a nice layout (and going thru the inside fun gallery) & also offers the shooting gallery during the ride which is also unique. I haven't seen another log flume that includes the laser shooting gallery.
I don't know if Pompeii is a dark ride or shoot the shoots ride, maybe it's both but if I had to add it to the list, it's the only one I've liked, in either of those catagories, so far b/c it's unique & offers theming too.

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