Does where to sit on a roller coaster matter to you?

On a coaster, do you care where you sit? Not only front, middle, or back, but what about which seat in that car?

This time, I'm asking this: where do you want to sit on a coaster? Here, i'll choose one... how about Apollo's Chariot at Busch Gardens Europe? Most people know that one. Ok, do you want the 6th row - middle-right seat? Or the 2nd row - very left seat?

If my message isn't getting through, maybe this is a better explination: do you care where you sit when you get on a coaster? Or just you're glad you're on it?

For people who just "don't care", take this into mind: airtime, speed, view, and adrenaline all are different factors of where you sit.

I have to go, so i'll do my response later. So, does it matter?

On B&M Inverts you NEED an outside seat for the view. And on Storm Runner (or any Intamin rocket coaster I guess), when you go up the top hat, the turn is really tight, so an outside seat bangs your head around. Other than that, only the row matters for me.

Yes definetly. I'll give you some examples from my home park, Cedar Point. On Raptor, I HAVE to sit in the front seat on one of the ends. Same thing with other inverts. On Top Thrill Dragster, I like to sit on the right side so I can look at all of the people watching us from the ground. On Millennium Force, I have to sit on the left side because I like to look over the lake. Usually, if there's stairs on one side of the lift hill, I'll sit on the opposite side. I like to look straight down!

Most of the time it dose, at my homepark Worlds of Fun I sit on Prowler on the left side at all times, throughout the whole ride it's the most scenic view.
On Patriot I always have to get on the outside like others have stated, I hate getting in the middle of any invert.
On Mamba, sitting in the front is great for that hang when you're about to go over the first hill, but that's only for that first part, I prefer the back for more speed and "Whip"

Besides those terms, I don't think I really care otherwise for anything else.

For all three of you, I've never tried a B&M invert (that I remember) where i didn't sit in the outside seat. Still, on those, the back is still good for the amazing amount of forces! Try any of em! Especially on the first drop, and the cobra roll, if it has one. On great bear, it seems like you're pulling at least 5 g's after the loop in the back! I seem to love the front of B&M hypers now a days. Seems like more airtime for some reason, and the speed is incredible! On those HUGE hills, looking into the banked turn is really cool. Such as AC, the front left is awesome, and so is it for Goliath at SFOG.

Ian, what do you mean the outside of stormrunner? The right or left? and has it gotten rougher from '07 to '08?

Brandon, it's the same with me on Superman RoS! Both by intamin! The left side doesn't have a catwalk, so I think my very 2nd time was scarier than the very 1st because of what side i was on! Now a days, I'm always sure to get the left!

Ok, for my home park, SFA.

Mind Eraser: Eh... another Vekoma SLC that has gotten rougher and rougher over the years. I've only ridden in the back a couple times, and I don't plan to go back there! I like to stay in the front, but if I can, I hate going more than 2 rows behind that! When i went earlier this year, i realized that the front is as rough as the back used to be about 2 years ago! Oh no! It doesn't matter which side you sit on, but it only matters where you keep your head. The high majority of the ride is right turns, so keep your head to the left for the least amount of pain, even though there is still enough pain to power the coaster! (No clue what that means...)

Roar: Ugh... why did SFA have to go with PTC trains instead of GCI?! This would be the 2nd, maybe even my 1st fav coaster in the park if they hired GCI for not only the layout, but the trains?! Just like ME (mind eraser), the back is no where to go now adays, because of how rough it is! Just like ME, again, The front is as rough as the back was 2 years ago! Again, doesn't matter which side, just between the front 4 rows...

Wild One: Just like ME and Roar, the front is as rough as the back used to be! No big turns, so then again, doesn't matter what side.

(By now, you're probably thinking "how can someone live in that area for a home park like that?!" Now it "kinda" picks up...)

Joker's Jinx: Because I've ridden FoF at KD, this coaster isn't as enjoyable as it would be... Doesn't matter about side, but if you wanted to be picky, the left is better, i guess. Oh, only the back is good if you've ridden FoF before... but if not, go for it! Try the front! All my friends that have been to KD don't like this coaster very much (like me), mainly because the launch just sucks! But for the ones that haven't, they still get a kick out of it! Then, i tell them about FoF, and then they want to ride that!

Batwing: Only fun if you ride in the front... the left is the best, too. 2nd best coaster in the park, but only where you ride can you truly judge this coaster! Oh, and this is one of the few good coasters Vekoma built before bankruptcy.

Superman RoS: Same as above. I left out something: now a days, I've realized the front gives more airtime than the back! So, front is the top priority, and I also love the "pure speed"!

Ok... just be happy you don't have MY home park... only 2 decent coasters!

I'll take the front everytime Eli, although I've ridden everywhere over the years. But with my Florida trips over for now, I'm looking forward to adding to my list on those coasters I've missed recently. I'll have to start out slowly with Zachary, but I think he'll come around. He was just at Dorney with his mom and dad yesterday but I haven't had time to talk to him yet. By the way Eli what's your favorite coaster built in the last five years?

I will sit anywhere for a ride but if I have time and the line isn't stupid I will always wait for the front.

Actually, Bob, my fav coaster is Griffon, which was '07. Next in the past 5... would be number 5, Goliath at SFOG. What about you?

Well, it depends on what roller coaster it is. For example I would love to ride in the front of Goliath but, in the end, it does not matter where you sit on X2. It always just depends on the ride for me!

Yes it does. We are both confirmed cowards and won't sit at the front...........unless it's something like Splash or Big Thunder.

Eli, I guess mine would be The Hulk, that blast off and first twist are a great way to start a ride.

Eli, what I meant about Storm Runner a few posts back is when you go up the top hat (a right-hand turn), if you sit on the left it whips you around, especially in the front. Also, on the "flying mamba stinky sock suck dive dohickey" you really bang your head in the back 3 or 4 rows, no matter where you sit.

Bob, just like what I thought, hulk was made in the late '90's. Have another in the past 5?

Ian, that sucks! Is that the roughness from over time?

Eli, sorry about that, time flies when you old, call it a senior moment. About the only coaster Zachary and I have been on is Mt Everest. And since we've been going down to Florida six out of the last seven years, my coaster time has all but dried up like the skin on this old body of mine.

But that'll all change next year when we start hitting coaster parks I love. Zack has been on other coasters with his mom and dad at Knoebels and Dorney. He was afraid to go on any coaster in Flotida except Mt Everest. He might have gone on Space Mt had it been running, but now we'll have to wait 3 or 4 years to find out. And he still won't go on a coaster that goes upside down, hopefully that will change next year.

So, Mt Everest would have to be my answer. Maybe the next time we hit Florida, Zack'll be willing to ride the rest of the coasters with me. That's if this old dried up skin on me doesn't crack more and fall off my body or my teeth go flying out of my mouth going upside down and I starve to death!!! LOL :)

If he hates flips (or is scared of them), then Knoebels was a good choice. I went 4 years ago, though, when I wasn't a coaster freak, and I only have one "picture" memory of the 2 coasters there. Going past the que on twister, and after the turn around on Phoenix. But, at dorney, all the coasters for him would be steel force, and maybe possessed if it was there and if he was ok with a barrel roll that goes strait up.

oh, and thunderhawk.

My boyfriend and I are both "front-seat fans"! We'll nearly always choose to wait for the front seat, unless the line is prohibitively long and/or we're pressed for time. (And, of course, if we've opted for the single-rider line, we have to take whatever we get, though I've even lucked into the front seat as a single rider!)

On a B&M coaster (or any 4-abreast seating coaster), and i'm a single rider, it's always awesome to get the front! No matter what! I have an amazing example. Go check out my SFOG trip report for that example. You can always cut down the time waiting if you're a single rider waiting for the front! And on ... every coaster I can think of that I've been on, the front is always better, because of the amazing airtime, speed, or only source of desperation for non-whiplash. Do you agree?

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