Roller coasters are the epitome of adrenaline-pumping theme park rides, and they continue to captivate thrill-seekers worldwide with breathtaking drops, technological advancements, and gravity-defying maneuvers.
From towering steel structures to classic wooden designs, roller coasters come in various shapes and sizes, each promising an unforgettable experience. Here, we delve into the world’s best roller coasters, where thrill meets engineering brilliance.
1. Best Indoor Roller Coaster: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is located at Epcot in Walt Disney World. Based on the popular Marvel film franchise, the ride offers an immersive and thrilling experience for riders. The coaster takes guests on an incredibly smooth and high-speed adventure through space alongside the lovable Guardians of the Galaxy characters.
With impeccable storytelling, multiple soundtrack possibilities, state-of-the-art technology, and a unique reverse launch system, this attraction has quickly become a must-ride for Marvel fans and theme park enthusiasts alike, offering an out-of-this-world journey unlike any other.
2. Best Wooden Coaster: El Toro
Ranking the best wooden coaster is quite difficult when you also have coasters like the iconic Beast or The Legend which offer incredible and lengthy rides. However, El Toro continues to impress riders and enthusiasts. El Toro is located at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey. El Toro’s breathtaking 76-degree drop, and smooth, fast-paced layout deliver an adrenaline-packed experience.
With speeds exceeding 70 mph and an astonishing 181-foot height, it provides an exhilarating ride that leaves riders in awe. El Toro remains a classic favorite among roller coaster enthusiasts, offering a wild ride that stands the test of time.
3. Best Flying Coater: The Flying Dinosaur
The Flying Dinosaur coaster is located at Universal Studios Japan. As one of the world’s longest flying roller coasters, it allows riders to soar like a Pteranodon over the park. Suspended below the track, passengers experience a sense of flying through the air as they maneuver through intense twists, turns, and inversions.
The coaster’s unique layout and the sensation of flight create an immersive experience, transporting guests into the prehistoric world of dinosaurs. With its impressive theming and exhilarating maneuvers, The Flying Dinosaur stands out as the best flying coaster in the world.
4. Best Movie-Themed Coaster: VelociCoaster
There are many coasters based on movies, especially in Florida. However, VelociCoaster at Universal’s Islands of Adventure in Orlando stands out as the best. Themed around the iconic velociraptors from the Jurassic Park franchise, this coaster offers an adrenaline-pumping adventure like no other.
With a top speed of 70 mph, four inversions, and an immaculately timed layout, the VeloiCoaster provides an intense and immersive experience. Its state-of-the-art technology and seamless integration of storytelling make it a near-perfect coaster.
5. Best Improved Coaster: Phantom’s Revenge
Phantom’s Revenge is an iconic steel roller coaster located at Kennywood Park in Pennsylvania. This coaster, formerly known as Steel Phantom, underwent a major redesign to become the thrilling ride it is today. With breathtaking drops and speeds reaching up to 85 mph, Phantom’s Revenge delivers an adrenaline rush like no other.
What sets this coaster apart are its two intense drops – the second drop being a remarkable 228-foot plummet, delivering astonishing airtime. The combination of speed, height, and airtime makes Phantom’s Revenge a favorite among roller coaster enthusiasts, ensuring an unforgettable ride experience. There is no doubt that the removal of this coaster’s many inversions was worked out in the very best way.
Continue reading for the best Hybrid coaster, 4-D coaster and overseas coaster as well as the legendary giga coaster…
6. Best Hybrid Coaster: Iron Gwazi
This ranking could be controversial for fans of Steel Vengeance at Cedar Point, which would have held this title if it weren’t for the introduction of Iron Gwazi last year. Iron Gwazi is located at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Florida. It stands as the tallest and fastest hybrid coaster in the world, it combines a classic wooden structure with modern steel track elements.
Standing at a towering height of 206 feet, Iron Gwazi reaches speeds of 76 mph, providing an intense and thrilling ride experience. While its speed and height are not much different than Steel Vengeance, it offers a more compact layout that delivers jaw-dropping moments and relentless excitement. Every element of this coaster is nearly flawless. Many rank Iron Gwazi as their favorite coaster, and there are plenty of reasons to support those claims.
7. Best Coaster Overseas: Ride to Happiness
Ride to Happiness is a groundbreaking roller coaster located at Plopsaland De Panne in Belgium. This innovative attraction, in collaboration with the renowned electronic dance music festival Tomorrowland, offers a unique fusion of music, storytelling, and thrill.
The coaster features an original and daring layout, including two separate launches, numerous inversions, and spinning trains making it one of the wildest and most unique coaster experiences in the world. What really sets Ride to Happiness apart is its integration of music into the ride experience. Each seat is equipped with speakers, providing riders with a personalized soundtrack during their journey. The synchronization of music with the coaster’s impressive elements enhances the overall thrill and emotion, immersing guests in an exhilarating sensory experience. It is truly a unique and unforgettable ride that appeals to both coaster enthusiasts and music lovers alike.
8. Best 4D Coaster: Eejanaika
Eejanaika at Fuji-Q Highland, Japan is renowned for its groundbreaking 4D roller coaster technology, providing riders with a whole new dimension of thrills. With a total of 14 inversions, this coaster flips and rotates independently, delivering a different experience every time.
Riders are treated to a thrilling combination of forward and backward movements and mind-bending spins and twists. Eejanaika’s innovation pushes the boundaries of what a roller coaster can be, leaving visitors in awe of its dynamic and unpredictable nature.
9. Best Giga Coaster: Fury 325
Giga coasters are behemoths that stand as some of the best steel coasters in the world. Picking a favorite giga coaster can be a divisive subject among coaster riders. From Millenium Force to Intimidator 305, it is difficult to pick which stands out as the best of the best.
However, as the tallest and fastest giga coasters on the planet, Fury 325 lives up to its name by unleashing its fury upon riders (despite its recent issue). This mammoth coaster reaches a height of 325 feet and reaches speeds of 95 mph. It boasts an impressive 81-degree initial drop, followed by a series of high-speed turns, and breathtaking airtime hills. Its layout combines great pacing and impressive elements that are a perfect mixture of intensity and airtime. It is worth a visit to Carowinds to ride the extraordinary coaster.
Roller coasters continue to evolve, pushing the boundaries of innovation and engineering to provide riders with unparalleled thrills. Each of these roller coasters offers a unique and unforgettable experience, appealing to thrill-seekers from around the globe. Of course, this list is based on opinion so if you think we got it wrong, respectfully let us know in a comment below or on our Facebook page. We would love to hear what you think the best coasters are!
