#launchcoaster

[subbyfoxelf]

2022 in review, part 7: theme park first rides

for my final “year in review” type post, i thought i’d share my favorite theme park attractions that i rode for the first time this year.

1. guardians of the galaxy: cosmic rewind

this didn’t pop my “first rollercoaster in probably a decade” cherry, but it was pretty easily the best new thing i’ve ridden all year. i would ride this thing several times in a row if i could. first of all it’s a launchcoaster, which turns out to be a much better experience for me given that i for some reason have gotten super wimpy about rollercoaster drops in my 30s.

idk. i was always a pretty big wuss about them as a kid but i found it easily to overcome it usually? i think i was probably traumatized by american eagle at six flags great america being my first big kid coaster. that thing is no joke.

anyway, this has everything i love about rollercoasters that makes them exhilarating but none of the things that trigger my phobias? and on top of that, it has loud rock & roll music (our track was blondie’s “one way or another”) and some kickass visuals. this honestly kind of blew me away.

2. star wars: rise of the resistance

look, i’ve cooled off on star wars in the past few years considerably to the point that it isn’t even really something i’d say i like anymore? but it was a huge deal to me for a very long time so i’m super familiar with the universe and everything (plus like, this is a theme park attraction at the busiest theme park in the world, they’re not exactly gonna expect you to know the deep lore). but yeah, i’m the kind of dumbass that saw a few cast members walking around star wars land in stormtrooper costumes and begged my partner to snap a few pictures of me looking like i was surrendering to them, because that is probably the subbiest thing you can get away with at a theme park? lmao.

anyway, without spoiling it for anyone who hasn’t ridden, with that last thing in mind this ride was extremely up my alley. it’s hard to even really compare it to another ride? because fully like 50% of it is just walking around these big, huge awesome sets and feeling like you’re actually in the world, and all of that happens before you even get to the ride vehicle. and the parts on the ride vehicle kick ass, too, but yeah there’s… Stuff that happens before that that really, really appeals to me.

3. mickey & minnie’s runaway railway

i’m a rollercoaster wimp, so obviously i fucking love dark rides. which means that disney & universal parks are by far the parks that have the most actual stuff for me to enjoy? anyway, yeah, my expectations for this ride were not nearly high enough. this does such a great job of actually making you feel like you’re in a cartoon. i was genuinely blown away.

4. rock’n roller coaster starring aerosmith

like obviously i give zero shits about the theming on this one, but it’s the first rollercoaster i’d rode in years so that’s obviously gonna stick with me. i really wish launch coasters were more common because this kicked ass, and it’s so nice to be able to experience all the things i love about rollercoasters without having to experience the anxiety of those stupid drops.

5. volcano bay

rather than listing all the attractions separately, i’ll just say that we had a great time at volcano bay. i do think the whole park is rife with textbook-worthy examples of cultural appropriation, but in terms of “this was a fun waterpark,” it definitely nailed it.

[killervirgo]

Powder Keg at #silverdollarcity . . . #powderkeg #branson #bransonmissouri #missouri #bransonmo #sands #launchcoaster #coasters #coasterenthusiast #coasterenthusiasts #coaster #rollercoaster #rollercoasters https://www.instagram.com/p/B0hkACADm6U/?igshid=1d9ann3hewxuk

[coasterpictures-blog]

Taron's Launch im @phantasialand #inphluencer #Phantasialand #klugheim #taron #raik #achterbahn #rollercoaster #coaster #amusmentride #amusmentpark #fun #mühle #bestewetter #intermin #LSM #launchcoaster #freizeitpark #lightroom (hier: Phantasialand) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnT9kN9lOyz/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1kz2crnhe8vii

[fotoernie23]

#fly #ausprobieren 👍🎢🏨 #flyer #softopening #achterbahn #rollercoaster #steampunk #area #steam #dampf #freizeitpark #themepark #achterbahnen #phantasialandbrühl #coaster #flyinglaunchcoaster #launchcoaster #vekoma #rookburgh (hier: Phantasialand) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFzv1-lohjy/?igshid=1p1yaoxqcoyw5

[hennisphere]

My first and only impulse credit: Wicked Twister #cedarpoint #cedarfair #rollercoaster #rollercoast #intamin #impulsecoaster #launchcoaster #themepark #themeparks #amusementparks #wickedtwister #coastersupports #dorneypark #valleyfair #discoverykingdom #sixflags #rollercoasters https://www.instagram.com/p/CDjwrotpwk5/?igshid=1eswwct79waap

[jandrewphotos]

Helix @ Liseberg . . . . . #themepark #themeparks #amusementpark #rollercoaster #rollercoasters #coaster #dayout #tourism #tourist #credlife #coasterforce #thrillridesphotography #coastercrazy1 #madetothrill #themeparkenthusiast #themeparkgeek #themeparkphotos #family #photography #Freizeitpark #attractiepark #pretpark #instatpr #coastersofInstagram #helix #mackrides #liseberg #helixliseberg @lisebergab #visitsweden #launchcoaster (at Liseberg) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9PhDmmhR37/?igshid=1oyd1yc1mtmw7

[seagardenscrossing-blog]

The temperatures are getting a "little" cooler. Perfect for a day at @buschgardens Tampa and riding Cheetah Hunt. #buschgardens #buschgardenstampa #tampa #cheetahhunt #gettingcooler #niceweather #intamin #launchcoaster (at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay)

[aledevitta-blog]

repost via @instarepost20 from @coaster.central A New Breed Of Speed✌🏻️ - Don't forget to tag your photos with #CoasterCentral to be featured! - Photo: @coaster_bean #cheetahhunt #buschgardens #intamin #cheetah #launchcoaster #intaminblitz #blitz #seaworld #bgt #buschgardenstampa #rollercoaster #instarepost20

[themeparkreview]

📷: @phantagraphy 👈 FOLLOW! ・ Blue Fire at night looks #awesome! 😍 What's your favorite roller coaster to ride at night? #europapark #bluefire #looping #mackrides #amusementpark #freizeitpark #pretpark #attractiepark #fun #amazing #rollercoaster #achterbahn #island #gazprom #rust #travel #coastersofinstagram #launchcoaster #thrillride #instatpr #themepark #germany https://ift.tt/2pW5ejM

[subbyfoxelf]

we had a ridiculous day at walt disney world

this was seriously a charmed day. we went to all four disney parks and rode the most popular ride in three of the four. the number of things that had to go right for us to have that day were just ridiculous. the biggest thing that broke in our favor is that rise of the resistance had been closed all morning but they just happened to open it back up right when we were walking past it, making it very nearly a walk-on. after riding a ton of rides in hollywood studios we hopped over to epcot to score a virtual queue spot for cosmic rewind, hopped right over magic kingdom to ride haunted mansion, then over to animal kingdom at which point it started pouring rain and as a result flight of passage ended up being basically a walk-on??? then we rode na’vi river journey twice (the secret best ride, YES I KNOW IT’S POPULAR TO HATE ON IT BUT Y’ALL ARE WRONG SORRY), and finally hopped back over to epcot for cosmic rewind.

according to my partner’s fitness tracker we walked almost 30,000 steps, but when all was said and done, we had ridden 13 rides (one of which we rode twice). not bad for the day we were going to the park “just because” and weren’t really in a particular rush to do anything. i also conquered my fear of rollercoasters to ride both rock ‘n rollercoaster and the aforementioned cosmic rewind. turns out i really like launchcoasters?

seriously, though, you could go to disney a hundred times and never have as much luck as we did that day. it’s just wild. and as if to hammer home just how truly ridiculous the day had been, literally right as we were walking past spaceship earth they did the little ceremony they do every night when they turn on the exterior lights. at that point we just literally laughed and looked at each other and said, “this is ridiculous, right? it’s completely ridiculous.” and it was.

final ride tally

rock’n roller coaster starring aerosmith star tours: the adventures continue muppet*vision 3d star wars: rise of the resistance alien swirling saucers millennium falcon: smuggler's run mickey & minnie’s runaway railway tomorrowland transit authority peoplemover the haunted mansion avatar flight of passage na'vi river journey (twice!) guardians of the galaxy: cosmic rewind mission: space

[coasterpictures-blog]

Blue Fier im @europapark ist der Beste Launch coaster von @mackrides_official den ich je gefahren binn #mack #launchcoaster #lsm #europapark #blue #coaster #rollercoaster #achterbahn #beschleunigung #mackrides (hier: Europa-Park)

[coasterpictures-blog]

Taron Wunderschön im @phantasialand #inphluencer #Phantasialand #klugheim #taron #raik #achterbahn #rollercoaster #coaster #amusmentride #amusmentpark #fun #mühle #bestewetter #intermin #LSM #launchcoaster #freizeitpark #lightroom (hier: Phantasialand) https://www.instagram.com/p/BmtqsIXlhda/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1nxbf4lhqim09

[coasterpictures-blog]

Was ist den da im Fels? TARON @phantasialand #inphluencer #taron #klugheim #phantasialand #thematisierung #launchcoaster #lsm #beschleunigung #raik #vekoma #amusmentride #amusmentpark #freizeitpark #achterbahn #rollercoaster #lightroom (hier: Phantasialand) https://www.instagram.com/p/BmNWATrle5N/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=adqifoov9rzi

[killervirgo]

Copperhead Strike at Carowinds . . . #rollercoaster #rollercoasters #coasters #coasterenthusiast #coastercredit #pixel3xl #pixel3xlphotography #photography #carowinds #northcarolina #southcarolina #mack #mackrides #mackridescoaster #launchcoaster https://www.instagram.com/p/B5lUk9rh9LR/?igshid=13b73tn74sfz1

[killervirgo]

Copperhead Strike at Carowinds. Was able to get 10 rides with the Fast Lane Plus. I thought it was a great ride , but the theming of the ride and plot of the story didn't make any sense. . . . #rollercoaster #rollercoasters #coasters #coasterenthusiast #coastercredit #pixel3xl #pixel3xlphotography #photography #carowinds #northcarolina #southcarolina #copperheadstrike #mackridescoaster #mackrides #mack #launchcoaster https://www.instagram.com/p/B5lUY5OBUoH/?igshid=15dryqdo6usfa

[jandrewphotos]

Furius Baco @ PortAventura . . . . . #themepark #themeparks #amusementpark #rollercoaster #rollercoasters #coaster #dayout #tourism #tourist #credlife #coasterforce #thrillridesphotography #coastercrazy1 #madetothrill #themeparkenthusiast #themeparkgeek #themeparkphotos #family #photography #Freizeitpark #attractiepark #pretpark #instatpr #coastersofInstagram #furiusbaco #launchcoaster #intamin #portaventura #portaventuraworld @portaventuraoficial (at PortAventura World) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8uiNglBPl9/?igshid=k6t6ehjzcqts