Transcript
Zach: I'm Zach, and I'm... Really pretty upset about X2.
ben: I'm Ben and I'm... indifferent about it.
ben: But also...
Zach: That's fair.
ben: i'm like yeah like it's sad but Um... I'm out. shocked like here's the thing right if x2 closed and I don't know 2019 It's much different.
ben: Thing versus... Now... I mean... It sucks. like ah Of course it sucks, but... Um...
ben: Like, ah you know, like we talked about a bunch of times. It's like that time. Like. getting ah Getting a walk -on. On X2. When? Goliath is a 45 minute wait. is kind of Kind of just... it tells the story.
ben: you know it's the It sums things up pretty well. I think.
Zach: i mean Wasn't Goliath on one train?
ben: So is X.
Zach: Fair.
ben: You know what I mean? like that i And maybe maybe the reason why it doesn't surprise me is, and I get this as like a very... it's a very unique or not unique. It's like a very specific story.
ben: It's... uh there's bias to it but That's what's crazy about it is Um... In my mind, right, X2 is always that crazy ride that always had the super long wait.
ben: And there's always that, like, anticipation. disappointment, anticipation. Right. And there's like that. that like adrenaline there's like oh fuck yeah like we got all the way to magic mountain we're about to ride this fucking ride and we waited this whole lot you know this entire line And you're riding, you're like, holy shit.
ben: And then you go there and it's just a walk on. And there's no music. And everyone's quiet. And you're like. this is cool but It's just not the same. And then...
ben: Everything else in the park has a long line. Which tells me that... the average person is kind of over x Unfortunately.
Zach: I mean... possibly. But I'll also push back a little bit and say that's based off of two visits in. ah late February, early March last year.
ben: I mean sure. Yeah. But...
ben: If everything else had lines, though... that that's the part i mean like other things were walk -ons too and it's magic mountain magic mountain is a weird park where like the crowd flows weirdly and sometimes things have long waits and you know but i don't know it's just weird it's just weird though like Like, imagine... um
ben: i don't and i don't know this is it's a unique sensation but the first time i got a walk -on on dragster Was kind of a similar feeling where I was like this doesn't feel right like this is really cool But it also you're so used to waiting And it. being so popular and then when it's a walk -on you're like oh this is weird Um...
ben: But... it's sad though and of course like if like I think it's expected, especially because of the the victims. and
Zach: Yep.
ben: I mean...
Zach: Yeah, I can't say I'm surprised. But. It just uh... It stings a little, you know?
ben: Yeah.
Zach: As one of my favorite coasters. Like that last trip. solidified. that that was Like one of my favorites.
ben: Mm hmm.
ben: And it is.
Zach: The.
ben: I think what is sad about it is that you there will never be... something built like it again and i think that's like it's it's for me weirdly it's for me it's less about that right specifically but also just knowing that there will literally never be something like that ever built ever again.
Zach: No, you're right. And it's Probably the most ambitious. Roller coaster. I won't say roller coaster project But.
Zach: Like. The most ambitious rollercoaster.
ben: Mm hmm.
Zach: Ever. constructed.
ben: Yeah.
Zach: Um...
Zach: and Now I've seen. Some speculation. regarding, you know. what is being referred to as X3.
Zach: And while I don't want to... I don't want to, you know. kill any dreams here.
Zach: I would say. Realistically. I think there's a very... Very. very slim chance that we see anything like that.
ben: Yeah.
Zach: Anything that uses the existing. ride infrastructure in any way.
ben: Yeah, because if from a... publicity or like a reputation standpoint, it wouldn't really make sense. Because... A retract or a re -theme, whatever, is going to cost...
ben: about as much. i mean i would think about as much as a new coaster And then you still have that reputation of like, oh, they just tried to.
ben: you know people think it's the same ride
Zach: Yeah, well, it would be it would need
ben: Or...
Zach: Certainly in most. Obviously in the one section after the second Raven turn that's been identified.
ben: Mhm.
Zach: Um, but likely in other spaces as well. but then also certainly you would need... The newer. version of the 40 trains available from SNS.
ben: Yeah.
Zach: and then you're talking this is a this costs as much as a new roller coaster
ben: Yep.
Zach: At that point.
Zach: Now we can obviously file an unknown how much demolition actually is going to cost them. But here's the thing, right? They haven't fucking done shit about Superman for as long as it's been closed.
Zach: So... It's possible. Especially because X is technically... outside of the rest of the park across that bridge. that they could just close that bridge off.
ben: Mm hmm.
Zach: And say, what roller coaster?
ben: Yeah. and for a lot of people too just driving in and seeing a roller coaster even not operate is enough to kind of like
Zach: And.
ben: people some like there are people who like literally would not know the difference when you drive past it
Zach: I'd be willing to venture a guess that most people.
ben: End.
Zach: As they drive in. wouldn't... They wouldn't notice that the roller coaster is not operating.
ben: Yeah.
Zach: you know They might notice if it is, but they're not going to notice that it's not operating.
ben: Right.
Zach: And if they do, they'll just be like, oh I must not be running right now.
ben: Yeah, I don't think sbno coasters really affect the general public. as much as it does enthusiasts unless it's a new ride Like of course if you market a new ride and it's Espino for a whole season That is, of course.
ben: A no -no, but if it's an old ride... Um... and it's just closed kind of like with deja vus where like people just are like oh yeah it's just it's closed it's on you know But...
Zach: well and that's the thing too is right x's reputation like the original x the reputation there was it doesn't operate Right, like it's sporadically operational.
Zach: So it's not a stretch. To just like. Let people assume that it just doesn't. It's it's not operating. Today.
ben: Mm hmm.
Zach: You know. Because... You know, if you're not an enthusiast, right? It's hard to keep the perspective when you're so deep in it, but if you're not like a theme park enthusiast rollercoaster person Most visitors...
Zach: When they notice things like that, kind of just move on.
ben: Yeah.
Zach: They go, oh, that ride is not running. And then they keep going.
ben: oh yeah funnel cakes
Zach: Yeah, right. Oh, there's another ride there. Let's go on that one.
ben: Mm hmm.
Zach: They don't. and so like yeah they could definitely just pull a uh just ah it's not open right now moose out front should have told you
ben: But now say, um...
ben: Excuse me. If they get into a situation though, where like... uh you got superman still standing x2 still standing Um... Let's just say Ninja and or Viper.
ben: um I mean... Now... That's kind of an issue. honestly like this is where Um...
ben: I'm repeating myself, I know, but where I was saying how... Their coaster collection just feels... Dated.
Zach: Yeah, a little stale or whatever. Yeah.
ben: it needs It needs an update, like a major, like I'm talking like three, they need three major new coasters in.
Zach: and
ben: A five year period to. freshen things up.
Zach: Here's what I think would really... Because like thrill gliders a good step in the right direction
ben: Mhm.
Zach: but I think they need. To commit. Right. They get rid of X2.
ben: Ick.
Zach: ic Yeah, ick. Well, that's what happened that's how you say it. if you Never mind. Fill in the punchline to that one yourself. Anyway. If you...
Zach: If you ride, if you take out x2 completely Fucking get a giga that just goes to that empty plot of land and I know I'm repeating myself with that one
ben: Yeah.
Zach: Actually, that was from our um our hang on discord which um Join our discord It's a great place. Anyway, what the... what i was proposing was they take out x2 and they put a giga there that goes over The road in and out of the parking lot.
Zach: To that. Uh, like. it's just empty fenced in land across The road that goes in and out of the parking lot
ben: Yeah.
Zach: All it has to do is do a turnaround out that way. Like. Think like. Goliath at Over Georgia. type of thing.
ben: Sure, yeah
Zach: You know, I think that would be
Zach: the right type of thing. In terms of what. the the function x2 Serves. For the park. It's a big statement coaster right being right up at the front or like when you drive in
Zach: And it kind of. helps solidify that. like We're the roller coaster thrill. Park. here.
ben: Yeah. Exactly. And like... I also... My other idea was something like Hyperia. Where Viper is.
ben: Because... It's on that because Viper looks really. Big and prominent. because it's on that hill. So something like Hyperia with that. Very tall, steep lift hill and those like. really tall elements.
ben: I think would stand out. Look kind of cool from a distance. but they could do they could do that's the thing like the viper x2 plot is pretty big.
ben: Definitely big enough for two coasters.
Zach: I don't think they should take out viper though unless there's a clear plan to replace it because like you identified superman's still there as well
ben: Yeah. yeah if they want if they have three espionage coasters Although I guess, I mean... There was that era of... flashback and Deja vu.
ben: That were. You know, basically SBNO forever. But...
ben: I guess it's not really the same thing But...
Zach: Yeah, no, I like that's I see where you're coming from
ben: But man, it's like Apocalypse is in bad shape too. like It's just... and not it doesn't seem very popular That's what I mean, man. when you walk around and you ride the stuff Um...
ben: Like, I personally like like Viper, but... I can't imagine that the average person likes it and it's always a walk -on. too, so
Zach: No, yeah, I don't think that.
ben: An apocalypse?
Zach: Viper.
ben: Then you got a Batman clone, and then you got... it just yeah i i think they they better have a good plan because uh
Zach: I've never really seen Viper have a line, but I've definitely seen Apocalypse have like a 45 plus minute line.
ben: Recently?
Zach: within the past couple years.
ben: Okay.
Zach: Like. i've probably been to the park i don't know four or five times since 2022
Zach: Like. not individual visits.
ben: Yeah.
Zach: Like... Like. When we were there for our meetup and we were there two days I'd count that as like one time, right?
Zach: So probably like For.
ben: Sure. yeah
Zach: four or five. it Maybe.
Zach: six to eight individual visits. over the past four years.
ben: Mm hmm.
Zach: Not a huge sampling, but you know. And at different times of year, too. Holiday. Fright Fest. And... early like spring early like late winter, early spring when we were there.
ben: Yeah.
Zach: I don't know. I like, I always liked that park. I think the hit like the the hill is super cool. The layout of the park is cool. Um... It's intrinsically linked to nostalgia for me.
Zach: Just because of like.
Zach: how prominent that park has been. In. various media properties. Going back to... The.
Zach: Vacation movie. Right, Lake?
Zach: so Yeah.
Zach: it's ah It's a park I always really love going to. And. um
Zach: You're right the coaster collection definitely is like Kind of dated But I... I'm very curious to see. how Thrill Glider is.
Zach: and how it does. In terms of like. popularity and not like the initial spike from Just inherently.
Zach: but like over time. Does it sustain popularity?
ben: I think it will. um Because it's... And... Pretty easy and accessible ride. I think it'll do pretty well. Now the capacity on it is...
ben: atrocious but
Zach: Yeah, well, I mean
Zach: Yeah, that's again, they're... Like they're. Prototyping rides over there. It's a weird park to get a first of its kind coaster. You'd think they would have learned that lesson from X.
ben: Mm hmm.
Zach: But... Far be it from me to say.
Zach: Too many like too negative of anything about a coaster type that doesn't yet exist
ben: Well, it's pretty similar to what... they've already or like what Vekoma's already built And I think New Vekoma will do a fine. Like, because it's new Vekoma, I think it...
ben: shouldn't have any maintenance issues. Um... And... I'm curious how the like the inversions feel. and Like...
ben: I did notice too, there's one... One of the overbanked... turns after the launch has a Has like a airtime moment.
ben: In the overbank turn, which I thought was pretty cool
Zach: Okay. I mean... Yeah, I It looks very interesting. I think it's kind of. A very interesting choice to build a ride that seems to...
Zach: sit very cleanly. Between. two existing rides
ben: Mhm.
Zach: Very much. In the way that like.
Zach: West Coast Racers. is...
ben: Yeah, how it's a...
ben: Yeah, the Mobius. Launch coaster.
Zach: Right? Yeah.
ben: Yeah, that is that is kind of funny.
Zach: Cause like throw glider seems to so sit very cleanly. In between. Ninja and Tatsu?
ben: Mm hmm.
Zach: Like philosophically, right? like
Zach: like as a ride experience.
ben: They're doing like the pop music. it's like a pop music kind of model it's like This was popular, so let's make it similar
Zach: It's a...
Zach: Right. Yeah. Whereas like. West Coast Racers. it's kind of like I guess Magic Mountain didn't really have a... A launch coaster.
Zach: Right?
ben: No.
Zach: Well Superman When West Coast Racers opened.
ben: Yeah, that's true. Although, yeah. Yeah, that's true.
Zach: so like Technically. Kind of like a. West Coast Racers is like a philosophically between. Twisted Colossus and Superman.
ben: right
Zach: It's interesting choices for that park, but you know um I really do hope they find their footing.
ben: ironically all they just need is um They didn't need to make something that's just gonna make people happy If they built an enthusiast pleasing coaster, they'll be fine.
ben: As much as we shouldn't. Or as much as that you shouldn't cater to enthusiasts. Like. That's all I got to do on that one Just once.
Zach: I think. this. enthusiasts can't be the target audience. okay It needs to please like. The more broad.
Zach: Coaster fans.
ben: they They just need something with airtime in that park. I don't know. Like it is interesting, right? Like how certain parks sometimes. I don't know, I've always thought Cedar Point is a pretty airtime focus park.
ben: And then Magic Mountain is... an inversion park.
Zach: Yeah.
ben: and is there a reason for that right like is it just Luck, is it just... parks building rides that are similar to the other rides is it market research i've always been curious how that happens but
Zach: whom
ben: because why isn't there's literally not an airtime coaster in that like what are what are Magic Mountain's airtime moments.
Zach: Twisted Colossus Wonder Woman.
ben: oh Yeah, I always forget about those two.
Zach: But those are. very much so on the more recent side of things and a very small sampling because before that it's just
ben: Yeah.
Zach: goliath and maybe a moment or two on apocalypse
ben: Yeah.
Zach: ah maybe being generous like The first drop of ninja in the back?
ben: Mmm.
Zach: Maybe? you know like But yeah, other than that. Kind of. Drawing a blank on the airtime. Yeah. um Yeah, it's gotta be But also like trends at the time.
Zach: because like
Zach: you know, like When Magic Mountain got Scream... I think the main thing a lot of... Us enthusiasts were saying at that.
Zach: our reaction was like Man. Like there's so many other parks this could have gone to where it would have been like a highlight coaster.
ben: yeah
Zach: And like Magic Mountain just like threw it in a parking lot. which it still is.
Zach: Um... And it's like, yeah, scream. There's just like, yep. add seven inversions to the park for no real discernible reason?
ben: Well, remember that inversion breakdown on RCDB?
Zach: No.
ben: it was um it was like a tab it was uh And it was inside of the it's in the main navigation menu. It's like an inversion breakdown in it.
ben: listed magic mountain as the park with the most inversions
Zach: That. Makes a lot of sense.
ben: But also it's also like, why, like, why would you do that? Like.
Zach: Well, I mean okay thinking about the history of the park revolution was the first looping roller coaster Right.
ben: true yeah
Zach: And then. Pull back a little bit broader context, right? If I'm not mistaken. And correct me if I'm wrong.
Zach: Please on discord shout at me or any of the social media.
Zach: Corkscrew. at Knott's Berry Farm. was the first modern coaster to feature an inversion.
ben: Yes. but Revolution is the first loop.
Zach: Right.
ben: Yeah.
Zach: So. If you. like pull back and look at that kind of context.
Zach: Think. Think about how that establishes. A kind of like.
Zach: How are we going to build our own? marketing strategy and compete In what is clearly an already.
Zach: crowded market.
Zach: And I think. Maybe if you look at it from that lens of like. From.
Zach: um Five years after opening in 1976. onwards. Cause the strategy from opening.
Zach: was like it's Disneyland, but just rides.
ben: yeah
Zach: And then... making that appeal more broadly afterwards is like, okay. No, we're going to be the most crazy rides. And up until...
Zach: Jeez, like the mid 2000s, maybe the 2010s. That almost always equated to like. How many loops? How many inversions?
ben: Yeah, I mean they had a real Probably...
ben: The G -
ben: Yeah, like the GFC was probably there. Decline. and coasters.
ben: Because then they didn't really... Yeah, because then it was basically like with Twisted Colossus. I mean, I guess it's not true. They had Full Throttle, Twisted Colossus. and apocalypse. and But yeah, I get it. Yeah.
Zach: But yeah. Magic Mountain dude. I'm hoping for the best for that park. and our IP to x2 A truly.
Zach: Let me let me be careful here about my wording I'm going to say potentially the most unique roller coaster ever built?
ben: mm -hmm
Zach: And I'll say. also potentially potentially.
Zach: The most.
Zach: Significant. Roller coaster. In.
Zach: the new millennium.
ben: Yeah, and... It goes into the coaster war debates of like what actually ended the coaster wars. Because...
ben: Obviously, people say, like, Dragster and... Kinder car. Were the kind of. like the last you know the last shockwaves of the coaster wars But in a weird way, i was kind of x to it was kind of X.
ben: Maybe. I don't know, I guess it's debatable.
Zach: Well, I think that's as far like that's as far as concepts. could be taken right
ben: Right, yeah
Zach: At least at that time. And really, we haven't seen. many revolutionary concepts other than RMC saying Oh no, it's easier to engineer.
Zach: uh, like a, like an I beam basically then. than a pipe.
ben: it's like yeah we can stack the I -beam on the top of the wood Oh yeah, we can now use two I -beams. How about one I -beam? How about a big I -beam?
Zach: We're probably half an I -beam. You mean a T -beam? Yes.
ben: They've really figured out the I -beam, right?
Zach: ah
ben: You got the...
Zach: I don't know.
ben: You got... the topper track The T -Rex. You got the single rail.
Zach: It's like wait a second. Did you mean an H beam?
Zach: Anyway. um Yeah. um Yeah, R .A .P .X. too. potentially one of the most significant coasters.
Zach: And we're talking about the coaster wars right and that Brings me to something I wanted to discuss and that is Ben. We've been doing the your favorite coaster sucks.
Zach: Amen. We let the ah The 7th anniversary. of our first upload passed by silently.
ben: ah yeah When was that?
Zach: September 13th.
ben: Oh shit, okay.
Zach: So. And obviously we're aware. There hasn't been an upload every week since then. There's been longer breaks, smaller breaks. There's been gaps.
Zach: But. We also have been bringing you... podcasts. For seven years now. And we are approaching episode 200 in our catalog. So we have many, many hours.
Zach: of us discussing roller coasters at great lengths. here on Your Favorite Coaster Sucks. and You know Our brand name.
Zach: Really? it's It's a statement, right? It's the statement we wanted to make. To tip fire out Out of the... this the station right to to fire Arr. Arr.
Zach: brand forward and make ah make a bold statement with our launch.
ben: right
Zach: Your favorite coaster sucks. And that's a claim. And I think it's time. That we back that name up. Ben.
ben: Okay.
Zach: So here's what we're going to do. We are relaunching.
Zach: The Mitch Hawker rollercoaster pull.
Zach: And Mitch Hawker has nothing to do with this. Um, I almost jokingly said, may he rest in peace. I have no idea about the guy. so
ben: i was about to say this i was about to say the same thing for some reason
Zach: I'm not gonna.
Zach: Oh my God.
ben: But like... um Yeah, I don't even know who he is, honestly. We just hear his name. but
Zach: I tried looking him up on LinkedIn. Just so I could like send a message if he was there and be like, hey. Appreciate all the work you did. Right. Nothing but that.
Zach: but I couldn't find anything. So I'm like, ah might as well let this. Go. But. That said... Hope Mitch Hawker is doing well.
Zach: We've taken his formula head to head. every roller coaster How they're ranked only by people who have ridden... each. of the individual pairings.
Zach: And. We have. condensed down the idea of having to edit a freaking excel sheet Because nobody wants to do that.
ben: Yeah, I quickly learned I didn't even have Excel on my PC.
Zach: Exactly. Nobody wants to have to... Here's what I figure, right? Our generation. Gen X. Boomers. We all know how to.
Zach: fucking mess with a spreadsheet We don't want to do that shit. Not for a fucking rollercoaster pole.
Zach: Right? and The generations beneath us. god God bless him. i don't think they have the computer literacy to do it
ben: Yeah, I don't think so
Zach: um So. Here's what we've done. We have removed the entire notion. of a spreadsheet from the equation. So if you are familiar with the Mitch Hawker bet poll,
Zach: This is going to work. differently. And if you're not... You have nothing to worry about. All you're going to do. Is he go to your favorite coaster sucks?
Zach: And there will be. A button you can click that says. Pull or... rank wood. There's a couple buttons. Right. So that's going to take you to.
Zach: The wooden coaster pole. A quick explainer. It's only ranking wooden coasters that operated this year. in 2026.
Zach: So if they've closed. this year as well, but they did operate. They're eligible. If they went SBNO this year. but they did operate. They are eligible.
Zach: Looking at you. Pretty sure it's Grand National. Over there at Blackpool that had that. Weird accident. um
Zach: Now... Wood coasters. I know this is going to be. A debated one, right? RMC topper track coasters have been omitted.
Zach: from the definition of wood coasters because For the purpose of this poll. We are only going to be looking at Physical track construction. If it is constructed of several layers of wood,
Zach: laminated wood. It is considered a wood coaster. But. and a thin layer of of steel as a running rail. Right. But...
Zach: replacing layers of that stack with steel. is fundamentally different physical construction.
Zach: So for that reason. This. The three coasters that fall under that category. will appear.
Zach: On the steel pole.
ben: I think that's fair.
Zach: Um,
Zach: Yes. I mean, my personal opinion is that they. are a they They offer a different ride experience. but I didn't want my opinion to be the deciding factor.
Zach: If that makes sense.
ben: Well, not to mention it's like... You don't want to just have a bunch of RMCs at the top of the ranking.
Zach: Well, that is. I'll be honest, that kind of drove my decision. But. It's really more so about like. What's really the best? wood coaster.
Zach: And just being part wood. And here's the thing, right? Let me address. First of all, I know someone's going to say the pre -cut, pre -fab track from Intamin, right? First of all, that right there.
Zach: That is still layers. In a stack.
ben: Yeah.
Zach: And it's wood, whether it's laminated or not.
ben: Yeah.
Zach: It's wood. Right. Um. Titan track. That one's an interesting call, right? that one would count as steel.
Zach: If. over 50 % of the physical track. is Titan Trek.
ben: Well, there is an interesting conundrum.
ben: I guess. like so a ride like boulder dash I think is over 50 % Titan track now.
Zach: As far as my... Searching. determined It was not.
Zach: but... I don't want to be the authority on this, right? So. as it stands for this year. Right. Our roster of roller coasters is. Frozen for 2026.
Zach: We can't change it. So Boulder Dash is included. How?
ben: Guys.
Zach: ever. If you... Listener. Voter on the poll. can Show me.
Zach: with evidence. It doesn't... Like something that can verify. That. you know, approximately half of the track or more.
Zach: is actually titan track then we can adjust that. Because that's the thing, right? Going forward. Next year.
Zach: Things might change. Coasters that were here might appear on the steal list instead. And we're working on the steel one. That's a. fuckload more work. Just to be clear.
Zach: Because there's so many more steel coasters So building the roster just takes so much more work.
Zach: But we got the wood one right now. And I think that's a good place to start, too, because that's. A. Historically where Mitch Hawker would start. be Mitch Hawker's poll.
Zach: Was just the wood pole at first He didn't launch the steel pole until several years after the wood pole launched.
ben: Okay.
Zach: Because it was about. you know it was it was some purists some roller coaster purists really is what it was
ben: Well, apparently didn't he also do this shit by like manually in excel?
Zach: Yes.
ben: Yeah.
Zach: yeah yeah exactly he had some algorithm he built into excel So like in Excel. I'm pretty sure, because you had to email him your spreadsheet.
ben: Yeah.
Zach: And it had to be a spreadsheet. So... um we've done away with that it's all on our website yourfavoritecoastersucks .com now Mitch Hawker was also very, very big.
Zach: on transparency. So what you can also find there. is A detailed methodology. of how our results will be calculated.
Zach: To give you a brief explainer It's a head to head system. So every single roller coaster. goes head to head with every other roller coaster But only...
Zach: on the metrics of Riders who have ridden both. So... If. 100 riders. have ridden both The Voyage and The Beast.
Zach: And 78 Riders. rank Voyage Above the Beast. Then Voyage wins. With a 78%. And Beast loses with...
Zach: 12. 24? Whatever. I'm not a math guy. I'm having. uh a substantial amount of AI help on this.
ben: Vibe coding.
Zach: But that's okay. Because the methodology will be. detailed and available as well as once the Results are closed.
Zach: All of the ballots. They will not have any identifying information attached to them. those are Not stored on our systems. We can't even access that stuff. I guarantee that.
Zach: when i in In all of my prompting.
Zach: And. but all of the results without any identifying information. will be posted. with methodology. So anybody can go ahead and run the math themselves.
Zach: To verify what we got. Plus. We'll also be able to offer. approximate. results. As if.
Zach: our voting base Voted in other. Similar poles.
Zach: For example... What would our results be? If they were the golden ticket top 25.
ben: Wait, if... Sorry I didn't follow.
Zach: So. it's a It's an interesting layer I added in to the results calculations where...
ben: Mm hmm.
Zach: We will get. like our main results are going to be mitch hawker calculated results based off of his head -to -head formulas. But. I've added in where you can select.
Zach: Different. Coaster Poles And it will use their methodology against our. Ballots.
ben: Okay. I see.
Zach: So... you could select For example, the Golden Ticket Awards or Elo Coaster. and see how our ballots what results they would give.
Zach: using their methodology.
ben: Okay. follow.
Zach: Yeah. I think that's really cool. that willll be able to you'll be able to just reinterpret the data in many ways. For those of you who voted in the Mitch Hawker polls We will be asking about.
Zach: The three things that Mitch always asked about that were a little extraneous. First of all. Where do you rank your favorite steel coaster? amongst The wood coasters.
Zach: This is not going to make. you First of all, you don't identify what it is. It's just your favorite steel. how it ranks against the other ones. It's not going to get ranked officially.
Zach: It's mainly... as a point of comparison
Zach: So we can see like. How? Damn it. ah General overview like How much? Do people like their favorite steel versus?
Zach: their favorite wood.
ben: i'm curious like if anybody has sabotaged that where they put their favorite steel coaster. at the bottom of the list.
Zach: Yeah. Possibly. um I'm interested to see what kind of results we can Or what kind of data we can glean from that.
Zach: We are also putting in ranking the five sensations, abrupt airtime. Floating air time. Changes in direction slash out of control feeling. Lateral forces. and positive g forces You rank those.
Zach: Although these are all optional. Um. But that's an interesting point of data collection because then you can say. What are the coasters? That people who prefer.
Zach: floating air time. What's the rank, right? you know.
ben: Right. Okay.
Zach: Or whatever. Sensation. Or like what coasters to people who like. Out of control feelings hate. Right. Like that. kind of some interesting data.
Zach: And then, of course. Did you ride any of the your coasters? this gear.
Zach: And that's just. That's going to be more interesting. down the line when we continue doing this in the future. to see how things stack up.
Zach: You know when more people have written it this year than when it's a historical. thing.
ben: Well, that's what I always kind of found funny, too, with...
ben: What's up? whole when Because... People I mean like I wonder how many times people got caught doing like duplicate ballots or Trying to...
ben: Because if you wanted to sabotage it, you could.
Zach: Well, it's interesting you bring that up because I thought about this.
ben: Right, like that's... Yeah.
Zach: In terms of the Eagles fortress situation.
ben: Mm hmm.
Zach: And how. Honestly, particularly Falcon's flight might have a similar effect when our steel pole comes out.
ben: Oh sure. Yeah.
Zach: So I did bake in. First of all... A couple rules around. duplicates. I'm not gonna get into that.
Zach: here because I don't want to Publicize. some of our security features for that.
ben: Yeah, just blast your...
Zach: Um.
ben: Social Security IP address, credit card.
Zach: the The admin login for the site, all that. ah No, but what I will tell you is that. to appear in the rankings officially.
Zach: A coaster needs to have to hit the threshold of A ridership of at least 10 % of the total voters.
ben: Okay.
Zach: So. If we get... 70 voters. Any coaster has to have at least seven riders. to have an official ranking. Otherwise...
Zach: It will appear. where it would have been ranked in terms of the physical list up and down. But... It will have an asterisk. Instead of a number.
ben: Okay.
Zach: Now, when it comes to our top 10. I added an extra layer.
Zach: which is... every coaster. has to have met the number of head -to -heads from individual writers.
Zach: That is at least 25 % of. The total voter count.
Zach: So...
ben: Okay.
Zach: If we get 100 voters. At least 25 of them. We'll have had to have... gone on that coaster.
Zach: paired with the next best coaster.
ben: Okay.
Zach: So like. But. Just let's just theorize that the top. Two. come out to be. Falcon's Flight. and steal vengeance Right.
Zach: Our system would make it so that. Falcon's flight would have needed. 25 riders at least. In the situation with 100 voters. And.
Zach: that have ridden falcons flight and steal vengeance. To be able to appear in that number one spot Officially.
Zach: If that makes sense
ben: Yeah. Okay.
Zach: Plus it also has that 10 % threshold so they would need 25 % of the paired riders with the next coaster. Plus. It needs. 10 riders
ben: I wonder if...
ben: Okay. There's a
Zach: I'm just... because yeah Go ahead.
ben: Does... Does the... Will the code, will it... tell you I guess like... are you able to will it spit out like the output of um What it did with the algorithm like the ranking algorithm
Zach: Yes. And that is as currently available. on yourfavoritecoastersucks .com as well as the ballots. And you are listening to this.
ben: Okay.
Zach: um But at the time of recording. You can find our methodology posted in detail. at yourfavoritecoastersucks .com.
Zach: And that is where our ballots will be as well. Um, We do require an email address.
Zach: But. Here's the great thing. First of all, we're not storing your email address. We're not even going to freaking email you. We'll email you when the results are ready. That's it.
Zach: But. We don't have your email other than that We're not using it for shit. It's not getting sold elsewhere. And. um That. Your email is not attached to your ballot for when it gets publicly posted.
Zach: That information is in a separate data file It gets separated from the ballot. when the ballot's submitted. But what's very cool. is you'll be able to log in using your email address to our website.
Zach: So next year and going forward. You will never have to. Put in. You're ridden coasters again. it will have them already there. as well as their rankings.
Zach: Stored. So all you'll need to do next year. is add the coasters. that should be there as well as where they should be in their rankings.
ben: Mm hmm.
ben: and Okay.
Zach: And I know you've seen.
ben: I mean, that's pretty
Zach: Oh sorry, go ahead.
ben: No, yeah, like, um... Going back to the Gen Z thing.
ben: Not using spreadsheets. Also not.
Zach: Yeah.
ben: Not liking to capitalize things.
Zach: Yeah, I tried to control for a lot of that stuff I tried to make it.
ben: Can you...
Zach: Easy for everybody who might. Want to vote in here?
ben: Does it allow you to so you know how there are people who that did it by like brackets Because you could have like...
Zach: Yes.
ben: 10 number ones, 10 number twos. you know, etc.
Zach: Yes. So here's what I've done about that. When you go to your rankings. Before you... Before you get to the main ranking page.
Zach: If you would like. you can put in a permanently fixed Top 10. You can put in. One. You can put in all 10. Anywhere in between.
Zach: But those are going to be permanently fixed in their position of their rankings. Then when you go to the next page to rank every coaster There's gonna be five Buckets where you can put them It's going to be best.
Zach: And that's where your top 10 is going to appear. And then it's gonna be good. Underneath that... Okay. Beneath that not. Good. And then the final one.
Zach: Sucks.
Zach: You're going to put each coaster into one of those five tiers. Right. And if you put it in the wrong one, you can move it around. Then once you've got that done. Right.
Zach: You can. You can place them all individually within those tiers if you'd like. Or... You can hit randomize.
Zach: and it will randomize every coaster you've ridden in that list. Now. You may be asking. What if I want to leave one or two in their place?
Zach: At the top of that list. You can click a button to do that. before you randomize.
Zach: So if you want to preserve The top four or five. 10 20 whatever of each category but randomize the rest because you really can't make a distinction You can do that.
ben: Nice, okay.
Zach: But if you... If you're like. I don't really know if this one's better than that one or that one or that one. then you can just randomize all of them. So that way they're not appearing in the order in which you put them in.
Zach: So it really. It's as granular or as... ah you know, macro as you'd like it to be.
Zach: You can dump everything into categories and randomize them all and say, yeah, that's ah that's approximately right. Or you can rank every single one you've been on.
Zach: Choice is yours. I've tried to make it as simple as possible So whether you've been on. you know, Every single wooden coaster that operated this year.
Zach: Or you've been on... Two of them. It's Pretty straightforward.
ben: Yeah, the... Ranking them individually... I remember doing. I feel like at a certain point, it's like impossible to. The tell.
ben: And... Going back to the have you ridden it? what is it it's how have you written it this year is the question
Zach: Right.
ben: Yeah.
Zach: And that'll provide some interesting data points in the future.
ben: That's...
ben: Yeah.
Zach: Because, like... You know, especially with new coasters that open People ride them, they vote them high. How does it perform the year after? How does it perform after that? you know
ben: Yeah, because there's definitely roller coasters that I still... say are top 10, but I might not have. bet on them and... Well... A very long time, so it's impossible to say, like...
ben: You know is this still even valid? Because there has been some duds where you ride it later and you're like, oh, this sucks now.
Zach: Yeah. Well, and that's the thing, right? Is like.
Zach: You shouldn't have to think about it too hard if you don't want to. Right.
Zach: But I've also tried to think ahead. We've tried to think ahead and make sure that like. the features that would make it as streamlined as possible are there. And that's again, accounting for.
Zach: everybody from the person that's been on 1 ,500 coasters all the way down to the person that's been on Just the ones at their home at home park.
ben: Mm hmm.
Zach: And I get it. People on the higher End of that spectrum. are probably more inclined to just dump things into brackets. And that's why I tried to put those there.
Zach: And also why. I very much wanted to make sure that like with your email. Those rankings stay in place in your written list. stays attached there.
Zach: So that way, if you're inputting 300 coasters, 500 coasters. Especially when our steel pole comes out in a little while Um.
Zach: You don't ever have to do that step again.
ben: yeah right Okay. I... When is this when is this due? Or when is it closed?
Zach: So it's going to run for 30 days.
ben: Okay, perfect.
Zach: so um Yeah, yeah, we'll be accepting ballots. All the way through till. um we'll We'll call it like Halloween. Day before Halloween.
ben: Okay. That's cool.
Zach: Double check on yourfavoritecoastersucks .com. I'll make sure it is prominently displayed there
Zach: And please, please vote. Help us determine. If your favorite coaster sucks.
ben: It's... if it's the beast. that Kind of sucks.
ben: Actually...
Zach: Well, let's let's get some consensus, right? This is... yeah The podcast is great for you and I to be ah sharing our opinions, but let's get some consensus here. So you, listener, please vote on the poll.
Zach: But also... Tell a friend who has coaster opinions.
ben: Yeah, especially see if they're bad
Zach: Yeah. yeah Yeah, we want all the coaster opinions represented in our poll.
ben: Like. Ghost or coaster. Being number one.
Zach: Yes. Will somebody please? And that's the thing too, right? Another reason I really wanted to make sure that the ballots were private. is so that Afterwards.
Zach: You and I can go through the ballots? And kind of like go like, what the fuck? Who the hell ranked a fucking... um Ghost Your Coaster is number one over The Voyage.
Zach: Because I'm sure we'll get some interesting ones.
ben: Yeah, and I... um i'm trying to remember i remember there was obviously the eagles fortress controversy but I'm actually curious if like, wasn't that kind of part of it that he.
ben: He at his discretion could toss ballots.
Zach: Yeah. And then. Makes sense. I guess the same rule applies for us, but Um. I think I've baked in enough. Security measures.
Zach: Again, I don't want to get into them, but...
ben: And so the...
Zach: I've I've Tried to anticipate. ways that the results could be manipulated. End. Bake in some security.
Zach: to get around that
ben: Yeah. I was going to say until. ah until like there's like an ai bot swarm who uh wants to push up. Something stupid like... a
ben: Mystic Timbers or something. Although I kind of like Mystic Timbers.
Zach: Yeah, I mean, we'll see what happens.
Zach: Well...
ben: We'll give you $5 ,000 if you do it. If you fill out the ballot.
Zach: It would have been more, but some of our VC money ran out.
Zach: Uh, but also I'd encourage you to please visit your favorite coaster. Sucks .com. And. while you're over there poke around a little bit and see what you find.
ben: Your favorite coaster. That sucks.
Zach: Yeah, your favorite coaster dot sucks. That will not take you to the right place. Your favorite coaster sucks .com. Go vote on the best wooden coaster pole Or as I like to call it, the.
Zach: Does your favorite coaster suck? wooden coaster pole.
Zach: Anyway. um Dude. They're opening one of those Intamin single rails in America.
ben: Speaking of like weird. track config layout concepts like That's when I don't. I mean, like it's cool, but I don't. I don't know. To me, that's not a single rail.
ben: It's just like a...
ben: Actually, let me look at a a picture. Is there a photos or concept art?
Zach: um I should have researched this. I don't. I think so, but maybe?
ben: Not concept art.
Zach: It's at Lagoon. I know that.
ben: Okay. um interesting actually yeah they don't have it they just The people are just...
Zach: Hot Racer.
ben: yeah people are just reposting that one at uh Wallaby.
Zach: Yeah. um That makes sense. Yeah. All right, hold on. um Need. to break really quick.
ben: Okay.
ben: Um, I dug. I couldn't. Yeah, there's no art. Or any... No limits recreations or. predictions or anything.
Zach: Yeah, I feel like Lagoon tends to keep their stuff pretty under wraps.
ben: Yeah.
Zach: So.
ben: Interesting they're going with a manufacturer. Like. Or, you know. like an actual manufacturer
Zach: I feel like.
ben: Versus.
Zach: They've always done like, even on like. What is it cannibal they like had like Gerstlar as a subcontractor.
ben: Mm
Zach: But, yeah. I don't know, I think... It's it's cool that it's also gonna be like the first of its kind in the US
ben: and that Yeah, and... um I would assume they're not just going to get a clone. But... Yeah, that's pretty cool.
ben: And then it's really the first. Big Intamin. actually that's not true i was gonna say it's like the first intimate in the us but We've gotten... Pantheon. and
ben: Although wasn't Pantheon technically like a pre -COVID coaster?
Zach: Maybe?
ben: Oh, yeah, and we've gotten Vlasico, sir, and we got... Okay, there's intimans in the US. People are being dramatic.
Zach: Yeah, we're we' doing all right.
ben: We're fine.
Zach: Yeah, so i think I think it is exciting, though, because... um you know what the There's only the ones in... There's one in Europe and one in Australia, right?
ben: um Yeah, there's two of them. And...
ben: I don't know if they look better than the single row. They definitely ride better. They're not like. It's not like riding a shopping cart. like the Like the single rails.
Zach: Isn't that something you enjoy?
ben: shopping carts, no. I do like... I like car accidents. Like, just you know, like a... like a simulated kind of like just Train wreck. kind of vibe but not Shopping carts.
Zach: So no jackass more like, uh, You know a nasty wipeout car accident
ben: Yeah.
Zach: No jackass except Ryan Dunn.
ben: Eh, that's been enough. It's been like... Enough time has passed on that one. But the... Yeah, like the single roller coasters. You just feel every transition in the track. It's like, kuoo doooo dooto don't do and you feel it.
ben: And it's just like. because you're literally on top of the rail you just feel every single Like. Ker -chunk.
Zach: Yeah, Railblazer was definitely... Nah. Pleasant? when I wrote it.
ben: Yeah, and then those shoulder straps. Which aren't, like, I don't, i surprisingly, even being... Like six. four or what am i six five six six Not really having a problem with them
ben: but it's just not you know what i mean i get it they're supposed to keep you upright with the crazy laterals and stuff but Um... Yeah, it's just not... a i don't I don't love it.
ben: Wonder Woman was... Probably my favorite. Out of them? and even then i guess it's been a while since we've wrote written it maybe um I don't know
Zach: Yeah, that was early 2020. And I remember writing that and going like, whoa, what the fuck?
ben: Yeah.
Zach: And then I remember writing Railblazer and be like. What the fuck?
Zach: But yeah, it's it's cool that there's... going to be a different kind of single rail. Somewhere here in America.
ben: Mm hmm. Yeah, and it hopefully it opens up that... ah market a little bit as long as parks i will say that i wait I was worried about the single rail about...
ben: them going into part like major six flags parks as a Kind of like they did with the 4D free spins, which they didn't really do.
ben: Um... Maybe these ones don't. These ones will be a little different.
Zach: Great adventure says hi.
ben: Yeah. Oh wow, a cheaper coaster.
Zach: Yeah, they've got they've got the 40 free spin and the single rail. ah
Zach: Although...
ben: Yeah. And the one.
Zach: magic mountain has the the single rail so are they gonna replace x with fucking joker Only time will tell.
ben: You know, that'd be a funny... Little AI prompt is like. <unk> i'll I'll remember what... maybe i'll listen to this at some point i'll remember to do it but like um The view of driving up the Magic Mountain.
ben: You know, it would be like a funny meme, right, where it's like. I haven't been to Magic Mountain in 20 years and it's like the video of you driving in 20 years ago, like being all pumped, like, holy shit, X.
ben: Then you drive in like. you know, 20 years later and you're driving up and it's just a 40 free spin in X2's spot. Because it would look so... underwhelming right there.
Zach: And it's like, oh. Joker.
ben: What the fuck?
Zach: Speaking of what the fuck. How do you feel about the name Magic Mountain? A Six Flags Experience.
ben: i don one That one's pretty gay.
ben: Um... Um... I don't love that. no like ah Well, honestly, the only park. I think. would have a good Six Flags name is Six Flags King's Dominion.
Zach: That could work. What about six flags? Over. What about Six Flags Kings Island?
ben: That one doesn't hit the same for some reason. Kings Island. I guess it's three syllables. Maybe. maybe i was like I was just kind of thinking, as far as Cedar Fair Park, it's like Six Flags, Cedar Point.
ben: Doesn't work.
ben: Six Flags. It's the weird thing with the syllables, right? its Cedar Point is two syllables. It just hits, right? King's Island. I guess that one's three. I just said that.
ben: I mean not that it really matters But.
Zach: Here's the ones that we Are semi -confirmed? know that they're workshopping.
ben: Jesus. Okay.
Zach: Okay, first I'll read It's it's park name Buy six flags. So we've got. Cedar Point. basic swags. Carowinds by six flags.
Zach: Great adventure. by six flags. and Magic Mountain. by Six Flags.
ben: I feel like it it feel like it reads like a...
Zach: which
ben: Like a... like a courtyard by Marriott or something where it just has that stupid you know, like little texts at the bottom of the name.
ben: It just doesn't... also like good luck
Zach: it's It's the NPC of copy.
ben: Yeah, also good fucking luck trying to change a theme park name in Ohio.
Zach: Oh they get worse.
Zach: Are you ready for the next one?
ben: Yeah.
Zach: Six flags. Park name. Six Flags Cedar Point. Six Flags Carowinds. And then Six Flags Great Adventure, Six Flags Magic Mountain. but I've also seen that King's Dominion and King's Island are included in this.
Zach: Right, so then We can add in. King's Dominion by Six Flags and King's day Island by Six Flags, as well as Six Flags King's Island and Six Flags King's Dominion.
ben: Yeah, those aren't. Those aren't good.
Zach: Now here's where
ben: maybe not right away here's the thing right if they if they The only way... I could see this happening. Is if. They D.
ben: D .C. like if they were to d dc The original Six Flags Parks. And. kind of restore original, unique.
ben: theming and charm. Because I think what throws a lot of people off is like right like when I hear the the brand Six Flags, I'm thinking... you know, Coca -Cola. $5 Dasanis.
ben: And... DC you know comic book shit Bugs Bunny. So if they can... they got I think they have to improve the original Six Flags properties first, and then...
ben: They could go to the Cedar Fair properties and then start doing this. but
Zach: Well, it's interesting you should say that about returning to Six Flags. as a brand, right? Because the next column is.
Zach: No, the next row is six flags over location and this is where it gets really weird
ben: Overlocation.
Zach: Yeah. Well locations in brackets Right. So it's very AI coded.
ben: Yeah.
Zach: um This is where it gets weird. There's no Kings Island or Kings Dominion. So let's just assume. Virginia and Ohio, right? But I'm going to read these in reverse order.
Zach: Six Flags over Valencia. Nope.
ben: No.
Zach: Six Flags over New Jersey. Nope.
ben: Yeah, that one't work that does those two don't work specifically because... I know what one of the six flags are. And... I'm pretty sure that won't fly
ben: Hmm.
Zach: ah Six Flags Over Carolina. Eh.
ben: That would work it could work, right? like one of the Because, you know, again, one of the six flags, we know what it is. Could work in the Carolina. half ah Half the population would be like, yeehaw.
Zach: Okay.
ben: About time. Um...
Zach: Make carowinds great again.
ben: Yeah, they make carowinds in actual Six Flags and they're just like, hell yeah.
Zach: now i can Now I can get into a knife fight in the parking lot.
Zach: Okay, are you sitting down, Ben?
ben: Mhm.
Zach: Six Flags over North Ohio.
ben: Yeah, that's gay
Zach: That's so bad
Zach: you know. Millennium Force at Six Flags over North Ohio.
ben: Has... I mean... I hope that a lot of these surveys are just AI generated, especially with that one concept art with the literal. the like. coaster that was in a figure eight just floating
ben: Did you see that?
Zach: Yeah.
ben: Yeah.
Zach: Yeah, the Air Force One one.
ben: So I hope a lot of this shit is just AI or it's just one of those like Um... They're just... getting people's gut reaction. the things like I...
ben: I don't know. i I imagine that the renaming is going to be a really soft spot because...
ben: Especially for Ohio theme parks. like i don't I don't know. I can't imagine them ever finding a way to rebrand Cedar Point.
Zach: Yeah, me neither cuz everybody's always just gonna call it Cedar Point
ben: Yeah. and Kings Island, those two, every other park, whatever, right, like, Six flags carowinds. I don't think anyone would give a shit Um... But...
Zach: Yeah, and like most of them I feel like it's 50 -50. that most people refer to them, at least coming from Six Flags Great America. It's like 50 50 if people refer to them As Six Flags. or Whatever.
Zach: precedes Six Flags.
ben: Yeah.
Zach: So it'd either be like, oh, we're gonna go to Six Flags or to be like, oh, we're gonna go to Great America
ben: Whatever my mom talks about the park, she still calls it Marriott's.
Zach: No kidding.
ben: Yeah.
Zach: When was the last time your mom went?
ben: Like a... Uh... Um... Good question. Some more time in the... Probably early 2000s like 2004
Zach: Damn.
ben: like actually last last summer when i stopped at the park before going to visit my parents Like... Like, oh, how was Marriott's? It's just always...
ben: You know. ever Actually, as long as I remember, she always called it Marriott's.
Zach: I wonder if that's a...
Zach: Midwestern thing?
ben: Maybe. I know I've heard a few people say it here and there, but... Um... i mean i i'm i don't know it's probably just one of those things if you just grew up when it was new when it was actually Marriott's and then You haven't gone a lot. But...
Zach: Yeah. Well.
Zach: the The final category here. Since Marriott's isn't one of them, unfortunately. Marriott Cedar Point. ah
Zach: Um, which... Quick side tangent, I wish I could have visited Great America as a Marriott Park.
ben: Yeah, same.
Zach: Because it seems like it was a... Like almost like a completely different bark
ben: Yeah.
Zach: and like especially it's Kind of driven home when you go. visit The opposite one.
Zach: relative to whichever one you're used to.
Zach: and it's like oh the bones are the same
ben: Yeah. Mm hmm.
Zach: like this was a thing, you know?
ben: Yeah.
Zach: Anyway. for a deep dive on great America. in Gurney, Illinois. Go listen to See the Carousel. on your podcast app of choice.
Zach: Um... But yeah, I. the The final category here is... Park name. Brackets A Six Flags Experience.
ben: bad
Zach: Yeah. So Cedar Point, a Six Flags experience. Carowinds, a Six Flags experience. Great Adventure, a Six Flags experience. Magic Mountain, a Six Flags experience.
Zach: Pass.
ben: Mm hmm.
ben: It doesn't matter. Like, that's the thing. Like these parks are. Like. trying to brand shit is i mean i get it probably there's probably something about it but Um...
ben: It's only been... Two seasons. One season. Er. Yeah, it's been two. Um...
Zach: Well, it makes sense they're zeroing in on... The parts that they. know are the most profitable. Which... Um... It's the five six flags core parks in the five Cedar Fair.
Zach: Core Parks.
ben: Mm hmm.
Zach: The 10 parks. That. Are the ones that they're zeroing in on and I think Those are the ones where they want to make sure. you know, the branding is consistent and I guess it makes sense from the...
Zach: perspective of
Zach: Here's... the core of our brand identity.
ben: Yeah.
Zach: And my guess is they're probably trying to position themselves as like. Oh yeah, Cedar Point is our flagship park.
ben: right
Zach: Because it probably won't be Magic Mountain. based off of um you know, everything we were talking. Thank you. You know approximately an hour and 20 minutes ago
ben: Yeah.
Zach: That's...
ben: Yep.
Zach: So.
Zach: But that's where... We're at CoasterWise, I think.
ben: well
ben: I doubt anything changes next year. But...
Zach: Agreed. I don't see any major changes coming Although it would certainly be interesting if...
ben: no
Zach: The Seas Parks. Um...
Zach: oh here we go play on words If the Seas Parks cease to exist. I don't know. Okay. But not really. I think it would be interesting, though, if if Six Flags.
Zach: had any interest in The. Bush sees. perks.
Zach: Since they're clearly in a... weird financial place.
ben: I doubt it. but home I feel like those parks speak to different languages.
Zach: Yeah, but imagine. If they wanted to acquire the whole thing. Pretty much just for the Orlando. Presence.
ben: do you think or but Do you think they really care about Orlando presence? I...
Zach: insofar as it might benefit Premium season pass sales? Yes.
ben: Sure. I mean, yeah.
Zach: Like. Like, oh. You already have a... past uh like a pasta great adventure So... you know if you upgrade to this pass it'll also work at SeaWorld in Orlando And Bush Gardens in Tampa. what Whatever the names are.
Zach: Um, SeaWorld, a Six Flags experience. Six flags over Tampa.
ben: Worlds of Adventure 2.
Zach: Maybe they'll bring back the old Six Flags Ohio branding.
ben: Yeah, I mean... That's what is funny, like Six Flags did exist in Ohio.
Zach: Yep. SeaWorld Six Flags World of Adventure
Zach: Well, Six Flags, Ohio, then Six Flags World of Adventure.
ben: Yeah, that time they tried to... compete with her. 100 year old amusement park.
Zach: Well, to be fair, Geauga Lake was like almost as old.
ben: I mean true, but it was never a coaster park. It was like.
ben: It was like a day party. or It was like the Michigan's Adventure to Cedar Fair kind of party. like comparison.
Zach: Yeah, definitely. It was dumb of Six Flags to be like... Oh, well we'll fuck up Cedar Point if we add an impulse coaster and a B and &M floorless coaster.
Zach: And of a coma flying Dutchman.
Zach: We just got to do this for three more years in a row.
ben: If only they did like something crazy. when Millennium Force was built. Like a...
Zach: If they would have built X2 there. ah then nobody would have ever written it.
ben: I mean, it's like when you play roller coaster tycoon. And. You start a new park. And the park has nothing. And you just like plop. the x2 the x clone
ben: Just in the middle of the park. to try to like get a park value bomb.
Zach: And it works.
ben: Yeah, it it does. remember when you'd pace rides though and like It would keep the scenery. But the scenery pieces would get all fucked up.
Zach: Yeah.
ben: or if Or if the ground wasn't level. The scenery pieces would have that wooden scaffolding.
Zach: Yeah.
Zach: fucking RCT I've been watching uh a little more Marcio Vaz than I should.
ben: Yeah, same. It's like when on Saturday mornings. Because my routine is I don't. I try not to sleep in on Saturday. I'll sleep in Sunday.
ben: A little bit but. Saturday I try to just get up as early as I can. Um. But then I'll like sit on the couch half asleep drinking coffee.
ben: And I always watch Marcel Voss.
ben: For some reason.
Zach: Yeah, he's got like i'm subscribed but i don't go like binge's channel but like i'll be scrolling through my home screen and then One of his videos that I haven't watched.
Zach: where I'm like. What the fuck? And I watch it and then I end up, you know Damn. Fucking cycle of Marcio Vaz
ben: Yeah.
Zach: Where I'm like... I don't know. How do the guests decide when to turn left or right?
ben: I used to... play his live streams. um When I first got Ruger. And I would leave the house. I'd put play the live streams. on On TV as like a background.
ben: Audio.
Zach: Oh, okay.
ben: system
Zach: ah
ben: Because it was they're always like three plus hours and they had no ads Um... So it wouldn't. you know skip to something stupid if After a while. Um...
ben: And for some reason, like... I mean, it's hard to say of what a dog likes and doesn't like, you know what I mean? but I think. I think... I think just somebody, ah but i I do think like just somebody talking with like a deep voice.
ben: for three hours was like you know. was probably somewhat calming.
ben: This is...
Zach: Yeah, probably
Zach: I mean he'd be an interesting dude to talk to.
ben: Yeah. I don't think he does. Bye. podcasts or anything, though. like that
Zach: Yeah, that would be surprising.
Zach: maybe Maybe if we sent him a list of... uh questions he would record answers to them
ben: Yeah. Or like, um...
ben: Build like a really shitty Like build a really shitty park and just send the file be like hey review this part for two minutes or something.
ben: um
Zach: Yeah, well... Or like build the shittiest park you can. that can still Like. Beat the level. as is.
ben: Oh, he's already done that. there's he's There's a whole series about how to beat Parks with doing nothing.
ben: Or... there are certain parks where If you just... uh do whatever like quadruple speed and let it sit. you can win the scenario.
Zach: Okay, well then.
ben: By doing nothing.
Zach: then fucking... Makeup Park. That beats the scenario without bathrooms
ben: I think there is a way to do that I think he's also done that too. where it's you build a maze And then you raise the ground over the exit. So then...
ben: the guests just fall.
Zach: ah
ben: Out of the map? And then they just read it like they're like. You lose the guess, but it doesn't hurt your park rating. And then it like. Keeps the guest generation up.
ben: So then if you have like if you charge like $80 at the entrance And you kill your guests without them actually dying. But you just make them disappear. They'll regenerate constantly and you can get.
ben: Park admission.
ben: Everything has been thought of. at this point. It's insane. um
Zach: I've got one situation. What? I'm going to be a kind of vague here. Sorry, listeners. What if he took...
Zach: Our buddies. RCT 2. Recreation.
Zach: What could he do with that?
ben: I don't know. And does he have that file posted anywhere? Like, is ah is that public?
Zach: Maybe if you search for it specifically. Yes. But I don't know Like that's one of the things I'd love to ask that guy.
Zach: Like, have you ever seen that?
ben: Yeah, that's a good thing to look into.
Zach: that Would be an interesting question because.
ben: Or that Dirkling guy.
Zach: Yeah. Right. Like.
Zach: Because that recreation. predates. YouTube. As far as I'm aware.
ben: I wonder how many backups, I wonder how many bat times he backs it up.
Zach: Maybe...
ben: indifferent. ways.
Zach: Well, that's the thing. i think if you can find it online anywhere now. it's probably far out of date
ben: Yeah.
Zach: There's versions of it that exist, but I think they're going back 10 20 years, you know
Zach: But it's been updated. As far as I'm aware.
ben: shit
Zach: Daily. Anyway.
Zach: um The oh shit sounds like it's time to go
ben: Yeah, i didn't I wasn't checking my time. Um,
Zach: Yeah, well, anyway.
ben: But yeah.
Zach: ah on On that note, do you have anything else, Ben?
Zach: all right well i'm glad we're getting back into the swing of it Um, I want a quick shout out. Sean Flaherty.
Zach: It was supposed to be here tonight.
ben: Yeah, we did. Yeah, we don't we we tried. Unfortunately, there's some tech. tech issues. With Zencaster.
Zach: Yes, unfortunately. However... We will be getting Sean on an episode soon, as well as another friend we've had on before. It'll be good to.
Zach: Be getting some friends back on. As well as... um El Toro Ryan's dad. Tainan. So go. Listen to his episode if you haven't.
Zach: Heard it yet. And. um We will be back very soon. Go vote in the wooden coaster poll. Your favorite coaster sucks .com.
Zach: Love to get. Your opinion on coasters? So we can get. The general consensus for 2026.
Zach: and um if you're a new listener if you or an old listener and you haven't yet Please. Go join our Discord. um It's... basically like a Old school forum.
Zach: but also kind of like a chat room. All rolled into one. And it's where our community lives. for the most part.
Zach: So please come and join us there. We're a fun crew. And if you vibe with. Ben and I here on this show then you will get along well with everybody There on our discord
Zach: So all that said thank you all for listening
Zach: Um... I guess. Shit, Ben. We gotta do, we gotta say. Thank you to all of our day ones, right?
Zach: If they're still hanging.
ben: There's a few out there. I'm sure Thank you for sticking up with us. or put up with or showing up. Downloading. Hanging out.
ben: awesome
Zach: Yeah, definitely. we For our day ones and all the way through to the people who are joining us for this episode and beyond. if you're a new here, or if you go back all the way.
Zach: Thank you for being a part of it. Um, And I'm feeling... you know, after all this work on the the wood coaster pole, like, um,
Zach: I want to send thanks to everybody who helped us along the way to get to. Where we are as your favorite coaster sucks Um, in particular.
Zach: uh, Sifgamworld .com. which still exists. So go check them out if you need a resource on Great America. Six Flags Free in America.
Zach: Um, And earnestly. Theme park review Rob Alvey We've given him a lot of shit here on the show. But...
Zach: Um... I think this time. Just an earnest thanks.
Zach: Because technically... That's the form we met on.
ben: mm -hmm
Zach: And. Tommy Faircloth our homie The gap. John Revell, Sif Gamzone.
Zach: Fucking Nick, Midwest Coaster Madness.
Zach: Shouts out. to Everybody. and With all that said, Ben, do you have anything else?
ben: I can't believe it's been seven years I'm happy to have those I've met in person. It's because of the show And also the trips. uh That at ah honestly, at a certain point. I didn't think.
ben: I was going to like. I don't know, when we started the show, never would have anticipated actually like... doing trips. with a meeting people again. So that was pretty cool.
ben: So...
ben: And even...
Zach: hell yeah dude are just like having a community and like legit legit Fucking... Friends in the space.
ben: Yeah.
Zach: is super cool.
ben: Yeah, especially when like at a certain point.
Zach: Yeah.
ben: The roller coaster. A hobby almost seemed. Well shit, especially living in Seattle like there's no coasters. There's no coaster community So. Yeah, I'm glad we're the the glad the places the show is brought. Us and the people we've met.
ben: So...
Zach: Same. And huge thanks to everybody that's been a part of it.
ben: We'll see
Zach: Thank you to the people on our Discord. and Patreon and Everybody hopped along the way and everybody who's a part of it now. and Yeah.
Zach: it's It's super cool. And we're... Super. thrilled to Have the the corner of the niche that we've built.
Zach: Yeah.
Zach: Fuck, seven years.
Zach: i'm glad i'm I'm glad we still got this going. so that
Zach: We'll be less nostalgic and member berries on the next one. but
Zach: reaching reaching some sort of milestone makes you makes you get a little a little bit that way. So. ah And thank thank you for listening and helping us.
Zach: in this journey in any way.
ben: hello
Zach: Yeah, all right well with all that said I think there's no other way to end it than your.
ben: Favorite?
Zach: favorite.
ben: Coaster sucks.
Zach: Coasters. Peace.
