[Picklesthedrummer]

The Golden Ticket Awards are out, however I sometimes don't agree with some placements and award winners, I was pleased to see one thing in the rankings. Intimidator is finally getting the recognition it deserves, making a huge jump from last year's #19 ranking of best steel coaster to #7.

[Jonathan]

It's the Coaster Con effect, which you can also see with Dollywood's dominance. These awards are a bit of a known joke every year. There's certainly some value to them, but there are some inherent biases in the poll. The top 6 wood is the same as my personal 6 favorites, though (but ordered differently), so that was interesting.

What would everyone have for their own personal winners?

I'll give it a shot.

Best New Ride: Skyrush, Hersheypark
Best Park: Knoebels
Friendliest Park: Dollywood or Silver Dollar City (can't go wrong with Holiday World or Knoebels either)
Cleanest Park: Hersheypark (not sure why this place never gets recognition in this category; I'm always amazed at how clean it is)
Best Food: Epcot
Best Water Ride: Splash Mountain, Magic Kingdom
Best Dark Ride: Tower of Terror, Hollywood Studios
Best Landscaping: Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Best Carousel: Knoebels
Best Indoor Coaster: Euro Sat, Europa Park
Best Funhouse/Walk-Through: Ghost Ship, Morey's Piers

[arby]

I didn't agree with some of it either. Unfortunately I haven't been to Hershey yet although I'm hoping to be able to make it there in 2013. With only 37 parks and 157 coasters under my belt I don't feel like I have been enough places for my opinion to be broad-based enough. Regardless here's my opinion:

Best New Ride: Verbolten, BGW
Best Park: Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Friendliest Park: Dollywood
Cleanest Park: Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Best Food: Epcot
Best Water Ride: Splash Mountain, WDW
Best Dark Ride: Harry Potter - although it's almost a tie between that and Tower of Terror
Best Landscaping: Walt Disney World
Best Carousel: Knoebels
Best Indoor Coaster: Revenge of the Mummy, USF
Best Funhouse/Walk-Through: Noah's Ark - (because that's the only one I've been through )

[Picklesthedrummer]

It does make sense that Dollywood and Carowinds would get more recognition because of Coster Con. I always have wondered if the reason why Intimidator was not ranked high was because a lot of the voters have not ridden it yet. But anyways here is my votes. I have been to many parks, but can still need to go to a lot more.

Best New: Ride for 2012: Has to be Windseeker since it was the only new ride I rode this year.
Best Park: Disneyland
Best Waterpark: Schlitterbahn
Best Waterpark Ride: Master Blaster (Schlitterbahn)
Friendliest park: Disneyland
Cleanest park: Disneyland
Best Shows: Disneyland
Best food: Disneyland
Best Water Ride: Splash Mountain (WDW or Disneyland)
Best kids area: Kings Island
Best Dark Ride: Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye (Disneyland)
Best Outdoor Show Production: Disney California Adventure
Best Christmas Event: Disneyland
Best Carousel: Knoebels
Best Indoor Coaster: Space Mountain (Disneyland)
Best Wooden Coaster: The Beast
Best Steel Coaster: Millennium Force

[arby]

I was disappointed that more people didn't give their picks. I use opinions from people on this site to plan my trips.

[Jay]

^That's dangerous to do around here. You'd just end up at Cedar Point, Kings Island and Magic Mountain over and over.


What I do is go to RCDB, find a place I haven't been yet, and GO.

[arby]

Yeah, I know. There are a whole lot of those fanboys.

I actually use coast2coaster.com which is driven by rcdb.

I've been doing pretty good hitting 8-10 (mostly new to me) parks every year. Now that I don't write for any sites (other than my travel blog) I have more time so I might be able to squeeze more in next year.

[RollerBee]

Best New: Ride for 2012: Windseeker
Best Park: Carowinds
Best Waterpark: Emerald Pointe
Best Waterpark Ride: Tunnel of Terror
Friendliest park: Dollywood
Cleanest park: Dollywood
Best Shows: Tweetsie Railroad
Best food: Tweetsie Railroad
Best Water Ride: Hydrosurge(defunct)
Best kids area: Carowinds
Best Dark Ride: Haunted Mansion (Disney World)
Best Outdoor Show Production: Dollywood
Best Christmas Event: Carowinds
Best Carousel: Magic Kingdom
Best Indoor Coaster: Flight of Fear (Kings Dominion)
Best Wooden Coaster: Thunder Road
Best Steel Coaster: Intimidator

[Picklesthedrummer]

Best Christmas Event: Carowinds

Too bad this isn't even here anymore I never got a chance to experience it either.

[cwgator]

This is based off the parks I've been to and attractions I've tried:

Best New Ride: N/A (Haven't ridden any new for 2012 attractions - but Cheetah Hunt would be it for 2011)
Best Park: Busch Gardens Tampa
Best Waterpark: N/A (Aquatica in Orlando would win from the ones I've seen up close)
Friendliest park: Busch Gardens Tampa
Cleanest park: Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Best Shows: Seaworld Orlando
Best food: Busch Gardens Tampa (I've had great experiences consistently @ locations tried)
Best Water Ride: Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls (IOA)
Best Children's area: Sesame Street Safari Of Fun @ BGT
Best Dark Ride: The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman (IOA)
Best Christmas Event: Seaworld Orlando
Best Carousel: Carousel Caravan @ Busch Gardens Tampa
Best Indoor Coaster: Flight of Fear (KD)
Best Wooden Coaster: Great American Scream Machine (SFOG)
Best Steel Coaster: Kraken (SWO)


The parks I've been too (with last visit):
Carowinds (Oct. '08), Busch Gardens Williamsburg (June '08), King's Dominion (1999),
Six Flags Over Georgia (May '08), Busch Gardens Tampa (July '12), Seaworld Orlando (Apr. '12),
Universal's Islands Of Adventure (Dec. '08), Universal Studios Florida (Dec. '08), Disney's Animal Kingdom (Dec. '08),
Wild Adventures (Mar '12)