[coasterdave]

This is abit offtopic but the 2005 Golden Ticket Awards where annonced today. Top Gun was ranked at #29 in the steel coasters. ANd everyone knows CArowinds came in Third for the Best Kids Area.

But the Biggest thing is that park right up the road with the new #1 Wooden Coaster called Thunderhead. Just think that Night Of Thunder 2 on sept. 17th will be on that coaster while enjoy complete darkness ERT (http://www.rideworld.com for info ).
Dollywood also had a great showing in the park's award area.

Youi can view the results at: <a href='http://www.amusementtoday.com/2005gta82705.html' target='_blank'>http://www.amusementtoday.com/2005gta82705.html</a>

[Dukeis#1]

Congratulations to Dollywood and all of it's rankings in this year's Golden Tickets!

-2nd in Friendliest Staff
-2nd in Best Shows (Should be 1st <_< )
-4th in Best Food
-5th in Best Water Ride- Mountain Slidewinder
-5th in Best Water Park Landscaping- Dolly's Splash Country



Maybe the Carowinds kids area will rise up the list in coming years.

[swampfox43]

I feel confident that Carowinds will rise to #2, or possibly #1 next year for "Best Kids Area".

The biggest flaw in the Golden Ticket Awards ballots is that they needed to be mailed in by July 11. Not everybody has done their vacations by then (myself an example) so you can't really vote for something you haven't seen or ridden.

It will be interesting to see what next years winners will be after a full season of operation. Thunderhead was rated #6 last year simply because not enough people had ridden it before the ballot entry deadline in 2004. Hades was #6 this year for the same reason. I feel sure it will jump into the top 3 next year.

I also feel the same may apply to Carowinds Kids Area given a full season of operation.

[Jay]

I found it interesting that PKI, Carowinds, AND PKD finished in the top 4 of Best Kids Area.

Also kudos to Hades for having a strong showing at #6 and Avalanche at #11.

Things I'm not happy about.. #8 wood Beast (should not be on list), #1 Millennium Force, (should be behind at least SROS and EGF if not more..), Top Gun at #29.. no respect I tell ya..

As for a certain #1 ranked woodie.. see the sig..

Can't wait for the more accurate Internet Coaster Poll later in the year..

[coasterholic14]

really...you dont think the beast is one of the top ten wooden coasters? Persoanly it's my number two, of course, i've only been on about 3 or 4 of those top 10...but i still think it will be in my top 10, even if i've ridden all the others on there.

[Cephas]

Ghostrider is so much better than the beast... <_<

[MarkD]

Congats to Paramount on having 3 of the 6 top areas for kids, as 2 were tied for 5th. That's pretty impressive if you ask me. With that kind of publicity for "kids" they should rack up on a continued base of future guests. I know I like what they did here at Carowinds. That area is much cooler now without the asphalt, seems alot less congested (thanks for opening up the dead end). Thanks again for the Flyers.

The Beast has always been my number 1 woodie. Sure it's fun during the day (please remove that dang trim after the drop) but it is at night where it comes alive. The beast is more of a run away / terrain coaster which I love but I think most are starting to prefer twisties. That is why I think woodies should have 2 catagories. Also, I think Steel should be broke down to what type. Yea, that would be alot more Tickets to give out but to me you have to compare apples to apples. A hyper just isn't the same as an Inverted as a terrrain woodie is not the same as a twisty.

Did anyone notice that my Favorite 2 water attractions are 2nd and 3rd? Popeye and Dudley are just awesome rides. Hint Hint Paramount!!

Bonfante Gardens even came in 3rd for best landscaping. I know Paramount doesn't own it but they manage it. This is still another feather in thier hat.

Can't wait to see the show in 2006. It will be interesting to see how that comes off and to see those attractions that got a number 1 spot.

All in all I'd say it was a pretty good showing for Paramount. The future looks pretty good if they keep improving as they have. We just seem to miss out on that 1 attraction that catches everyones eyes and gets talked about thruought all the discussion boards.

[coasterdave]

Beast and Ghostrider are no where near my top ten. I would also agree that Ghostrider is alot better than Beast any day of the week.

[swampfox43]

Granted, I haven't ridden the Beast since 1999, but rode it plenty before then. Sorry, I'm just not a Beast fan. It was always rough, bumpy, jackhammery, shuffly & too brakey...when I rode it. The pacing is just terrible, ruined by the over usage of trim brakes on every drop and turn.

Honestly, the only positive thing about this coaster is the length. I just can't understand why this coaster is still making top 10 lists with so many other superb woodies out there. But, I understand we all have different taste in coasters so I digress.

As mentioned above, there are more accurate coaster polls out there and I certainly don't consider the Golden Tickets the "end all" of coaster polls although I do respect their other categories.

I can quickly lose respect for any coaster poll that places the Texas Giant or The Beast over Tremors or Rampage......which was the case in the GTA.

[coasterfanatic]

Beast and Ghostrider are no where near my top ten. I would also agree that Ghostrider is alot better than Beast any day of the week.

C'mon. Didn't those night rides last year sell you on GhostRider. It was a lot rougher this year and I still had to get a handful of rides on it. I guess you are just spoiled with that #1 woodie sitting in your backyard.

And yes ... Ghostrider bests The Beast anyday. But then again ... so does about half the woodies in the US!

[bgwfreak]

Congratulations to PC for their showing for Top Gun and Nick Central!

Their work is finally beginning to get some attention!

Congratulations (if they read these boards) to Dollywood as well. I have been nothing but impressed by Dollywood every time I go.

Dollywood could a do a 101 class called "How to run an amusement park 101" because they do it right in almost every way.

As I've said before PC has come a long way (and no I'm not going to start ranting like that guy last Saturday) lol. But I can't say enough about the positive changes I've seen at my home park.

C3 5 will be bigger and better, and maybe we might even break 150! Ok maybe not, but slow steady growth of any event is a good thing. It takes time for word of mouth to spread about a ride or park.

[coasterholic14]

Granted, I haven't ridden the Beast since 1999, but rode it plenty before then. Sorry, I'm just not a Beast fan. It was always rough, bumpy, jackhammery, shuffly & too brakey...when I rode it. The pacing is just terrible, ruined by the over usage of trim brakes on every drop and turn.

Honestly, the only positive thing about this coaster is the length.  I just can't understand why this coaster is still making top 10 lists with so many other superb woodies out there. But, I understand we all have different taste in coasters so I regress.

As mentioned above, there are more accurate coaster polls out there and I certainly don't consider the Golden Tickets the "end all" of coaster polls although I do respect their other categories.

I can quickly lose respect for any coaster poll that places the Texas Giant or The Beast over Tremors or Rampage......which was the case in the GTA.

See, that's where i guess i can't accurately rate the Beast compared to other woodies. I have been on a total of 24 different woodies up and down the east coast, farthest west being kings island or dollywood. But among woodies i have ridden, beast is still my number two. But everyone is going to have different opinions because we all have different tastes. Beast is a bit rough and bumpy i'll admit, but it's out of control feeling and great use of terrain make it one of my favorites. That along with night rides. Night rides on the beast are by far the best night rides i have ever gotten on a coaster. It all just depends on your taste...though i have no specific set taste, just as long as it's a great ride.

I certainly agree it is not the "god" of all polls or anything. Rating Millennium Force as number one i don't agree with. While it is a great coaster, i just never saw it as being a number 1. But these polls are based on what people send in as votes, and the problem with that is that there are so many people out there who like to be unoriginal in a way and just vote for the tallest, fastest, etc. (though i did vote for the longest woodie...but not for that reason lol) Others vote just because they aren't well rounded with coasters and have only been on a few. But generally, it does serve as a good guide for "these are must ride sometime" coasters. Who cares if the beast is #1 or #15, basically, i would consider most coasters in the top 15-20 as ones i must ride eventually. I really hope to get to holiday world within a few years, mt. olympus for hades, and over to california for ghost rider. Those are my most sought after woodies. I am also very interested in riding tremors, before i even knew much about coasters, in the first RollerCoaster! magazine i back-ordered, seeing pictures of this coaster made me want to ride it a lot. So i'd add that to the list as well. Sound like a good list to you guys?