One of the most fun activities found all around the world are theme parks. From the standard amusement parks to large-scale theme parks and resorts, there and hundreds of thousands around the world. What I like most about theme parks are the rollercoasters. There’s the simple family coasters, nerve-building thrill-seeker coasters, and themed coasters with lots of sets. I definitely have not visited every theme park in the world and not even every rollercoaster at the parks I’ve visited, but I have ridden a lot of these attractions over the years. From Hersheypark in Pennsylvania to Six Flags: Great Adventure in New Jersey to Busch Gardens in Virginia all the way to central Florida with Disney World and Universal, here are all 36 rollercoasters I have ridden, ranked worst to best.

#36: Wild Mouse, Hersheypark

Never has a ride really made me feel like I would fall out except for any Wild Mouse-style coaster. The iconic fast turns hurt in the cramped car, the drops make me feel uneasy, and it’s just too stiff. I know that’s the entire concept of the ride, but I strongly despise it. Wild Mouse at Hersheypark is no different to any other Wild Mouse coaster, but I don’t like any of them so Hershey’s doesn’t make it any better.

#35: Flight of the Hippogriff, Universal Studios Orlando

Of all the rides I rode at Universal Studios Orlando, this was the one that’s incredibly long wait was not worth it at all. The coaster is a small family coaster that is finished before you know it. It can be fun for younger kids, but it’s just not a fun rollercoaster overall. Plus, the concept of flying with a hippogriff just isn’t apparent enough. Flight of the Hippogriff is a very underwhelming flight at Universal Studios.

#34: Loch Ness Monster – Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Loch Ness Monster is an older rollercoaster at Busch Gardens, opening in 1978, and you can definitely see and feel that on the ride. The old yellow paint, the rickety feel, and the uneasy loop all make for an aging ride with the bumpy feel. It’s very rough, but the track layout isn’t too bad.

#33: Green Lantern, Six Flags Great Adventure

Green Lantern has one of the weirdest cars I’ve ever rode on, as you’re meant to stand while you ride instead of sitting. It was very uncomfortable because of this. Now listen, when I rode Green Lantern it was very cold out and my hands were frozen solid; but that won’t define my placement. The layout is also very strange and it just isn’t very fun to ride for me.

#32: Nitro, Six Flags Great Adventure

Take Apollo’s Chariot at Busch Gardens or Candymonium at Hersheypark and make it much bigger and much rougher. Nitro has always been one of my least favorites at Six Flags because of the uncomfortable cars. The ride is just too big and the cars are too uncomfortable for me to enjoy the ride.

#31: Tempesto, Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Tempesto is a very unique rollercoaster. It starts by rocking back and forth before shooting you forward at high speeds up a hill. The ride consists of mostly ups and downs with some very small turns, but the ride doesn’t take up much space because of this. Also, because it goes back and forth at the beginning, the ride is constricted to one car only, which can make waits a bit longer and also limits the track length itself to be a short-lived attraction. Also, the corkscrew at the beginning is very annoying because of the slow speed before the drop. It’s all very strange and while it makes for a fun attraction, it’s very short-lived with a rough layout.

#30: Trailblazer, Hersheypark

Trailblazer is a classic, small-scale, family rollercoaster, so it’s not particularly made for a thrill-seeker like me, but it’s definitely fun for kids. Lots of turns and a small but enjoyable drop at the beginning. Fun for the whole family, except for someone like me.

#29: Kingda Ka, Six Flags Great Adventure

Here’s what I always say about Kingda Ka: you ride it just to say that you do it, not to have an incredibly exciting rollercoaster experience. Currently as of writing, Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure is the tallest rollercoaster in the world at 456 feet, and the 2nd fastest worldwide (fastest in the country) at 128 mph. All Kingda Ka has is the launch at the beginning, the hill, a small hill coming back, and that’s it. It’s pretty much just the drop, which wasn’t even very fun. Because of its speed, the coaster is very shaky which can very easily make you feel uneasy. Kingda Ka is the only ride I’ve ever ridden that made me feel uneasy afterwards. Once you’ve rode it, that’s pretty much the only reason to ride it in the first place, just to say that you conquered it. But the ride itself is much less than fun, at least for me.

#28: Comet, Hersheypark

When it comes to Hersheypark’s wooden rollercoasters, Comet is most unique since it’s less of a traditional wooden coaster and more of a classic boardwalk coaster, like Cyclone at Coney Island. It feels very similar to Cyclone, with a very similar layout. While still bumpy and rickety, it definitely tones down the intensity compared to Wildcat and Lightning Racer. Comet has a great-feeling drop at the beginning, but otherwise the rest of the ride is just standard turns to small hills. Still, Comet is a classic.

#27: SooperDooperLooper, Hersheypark

SooperDooperLooper is pretty much Hersheypark’s Loch Ness Monster, only with a bit more history. Ironically, the coaster is more of a family coaster with only a single loop. The loop is very rickety and definitely makes the ride feel very aged. It’s one of the rides that I regularly skip at Hersheypark for a multitude of reasons.

#26: Skyrush, Hersheypark

I had a very underwhelming reaction after riding Skyrush. I was unimpressed with the drop and the simple track layout, and the car was very uncomfortable. I even banged my head on a bar that was on the car, which wasn’t pleasant. Skyrush feels very old, which is ironic since it opened in 2012. It also feels obsolete since it was the tallest coaster in the park, but has now been overtaken by Candymonium. Skyrush is a pretty easy ride to skip at Hersheypark.

#25: Lightning Racer, Hersheypark

Lightning Racer is a pretty standard wooden rollercoaster. While not quite as good as the original Wildcat because of the weaker drop and layout, both coasters are very similar with pretty much the same top speed of around 50 mph and Lightning Racer being only 16 feet shorter than Wildcat. While it will feel more unique after Wildcat’s Revenge opens, it’s still just a pretty mediocre ride.

#24: El Toro, Six Flags Great Adventure

What distinguishes El Toro from the other wooden coasters on this list is its speed and height. El Toro is an insane 70 mph and 181 feet tall. It’s a pretty thrilling ride to say the least. Unfortunately, this doesn’t pair very well with the wooden track, making the coaster an extremely bumpy experience.

#23: InvadR, Busch Gardens Williamsburg

I’m going to be honest, what I love most about InvadR is the incredible facade. The ride is the shortest and slowest of the wooden coasters on this list, but the coaster is still very fun. It has some great drops, a fun layout, and a fairly smooth ride for a wooden rollercoaster.

#22: Wildcat, Hersheypark

As of writing, the original Wildcat is closed at Hersheypark and is getting ready to reopen as Wildcat’s Revenge. However, I still thought I’d include the original wooden rollercoaster. Wildcat is pretty standard: very bumpy, very fast, and great drops. Wildcat is very exciting, and one of the most thrilling at Hersheypark. I also love the layout; it’s probably the best of any coaster at the park. Wildcat is a little too bumpy, but it was still a fun one to ride before it closed.

#21: Jolly Rancher Remix, Hersheypark

I’m going to say this: I love Jolly Ranchers, but their refurbishment of the old Sidewinder was pretty underwhelming. I mean the only ‘new’ additions were a cool new loading area and a colored tunnel. That’s it. However, it’s still the classic Sidewinder attraction we all love, so even though the Jolly Rancher theme didn’t add much, it’s still as fun as always. Plus, those hanging Jolly Ranchers in the loading area are so awesome. I want one.

#20: Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, Universal Studios Orlando

Universal Studios Orlando doesn’t have a ton of standard rollercoasters, such as Hulk or VelociCoaster, but Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is the only coaster at Universal Studios Florida, and it’s pretty fun. The ride is a bit rickety, filled with drops and turns and no inversions. A few times the ride will stop and then just continue on. It’s pretty and also hard to tell when exactly the ride will end. Rip Ride Rockit feels very long, but that just adds to the excitement. Plus, what other rollercoasters let you pick a song to rock out to while you ride?

#19: Test Track, Walt Disney World

I wasn’t able to make a car because I went through the single-rider lane, but I still had a lot of fun with Test Track. Even though it is the fastest rollercoaster at any Disney theme park, it’s still a ride that can be enjoyed by anyone. The unique concept of testing your car in different areas, including off-road and dangerous weather, was very neat and the high speed added to that fact very well. My only gripe is that I wish the sets were a little bit more detailed, especially that outside area which didn’t have any set and seemed like you were just driving above a backstage parking lot. Otherwise, Test Track is great.

#18: The Joker, Six Flags Great Adventure

The Joker is a very unique experience compared to other coasters on this list. The ‘car’ has four sections with dangling-feet seats. The sections flip constantly as the ride moves along the simple but great track for the ride. The speed is perfect and you won’t get terribly dizzy on the ride. Definitely a must-ride at Great Adventure just for its uniqueness.

#17: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Walt Disney World

It sure is the widest ride in the wilderness. Big Thunder Mountain is a classic at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. It’s a fun family coaster everyone will enjoy. The theme is spot-on (and a perfect ride for Frontierland), the sets are neat, and layout is perfect, and it’s still a fun ride overall.

#16: Laff Trakk, Hersheypark

Whenever I would go to Hersheypark as a kid, we never went on Laff Trakk because of the incredibly long lines. I even started to think the ride was a myth or something. But thankfully, Laff Trakk is not a myth because it is a Hersheypark ride and a great one at that. The indoor coaster is set in one big room, and the family coaster takes advantage of the space perfectly. So many neon signs of clowns and more than make it truly feel like a ‘house of horrors’. The ride is super enjoyable for everyone, with fun drops and turns. A perfect family coaster at the park no matter what side of the car you sit on.

#15: Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, Universal Studios Orlando

Pretty much all the Harry Potter rides are class-S attractions with fantastic sets, queues, facades, stories, and more. In Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida is Harry Potter: Escape from Gringotts, and man is this a different ride then I thought at first. While it is a dark ride themed to Harry Potter, it’s also a fun thrill ride with drops and fast turns. While it’s definitely on the more tame side, it’s a ride anyone can enjoy. Plus, that queue – breathtaking.

#14: Storm Runner, Hersheypark

Storm Runner was always one of the most intimidating rides when I was a kid. It’s launch clocks in at one of the fastest top speeds at the park, it looked menacingly tall, and was so loud and scary. However, the ride is just very fun. The launch is intense (though very easy for me after Kingda Ka) but after the drop, it goes into standard rollercoaster mode with turns, twists, and more. Storm Runner is definitely a top-tier ride with one of the best launches on this list.

#13: Alpengeist, Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Alpengeist was a pretty surprising rollercoaster. While very similar to Great Bear at Hersheypark, Aplengeist is a bit bumpier, has more inversions, and some set pieces. There are times when you’ll ride right above areas that look to be covered in snow, which is perfect for the ride being themed to a runaway ski lift. Another neat detail is that since it opened until about two years ago, Alpengeist was the tallest inverted rollercoaster in the world. Pretty cool.

#12: Verbolten, Busch Gardens Williamsburg

I’ve always seen Verbolten as the Hagrid’s Motorbike from Universal without the Harry Potter theme. Verbolten is very similar to the Universal attraction, even including indoor sections, accelerations, and even a track drop. What’s cool about Verbolten is that it actually has a story in which a German car gets struck by lightning and gets lost in the Black Forest. There’s even effects with the lightning and trees, which you can definitely tell. The ride starts a bit slower until lightning strikes and the next minute is all in darkness with some scary-lit trees. The ride is so unique and one of the best at Busch Gardens. It feels like a Universal or Disney-level ride, especially with it feeling very much like Hargrid’s Motorbike. Also, those cars are the best-designed of any coaster on this list. Even better than the stretched limousines on Rock ‘n Roller Coaster.

#11: Farhenheit, Hersheypark

Definitely one of the must-rides at Hersheypark, Fahrenheit is a standard steel roller coaster with loops and turns and lots of excitement. The notable detail about Fahrenheit is its 97-degree drop, which is a great part that also extinguishes the coaster from others at the park. Fahrenheit is a classic, and you really can’t go without riding it on a trip to Hershey.

#10: Griffon, Busch Gardens Williamsburg

The one thing that stands out most with Griffon at Busch Gardens is the drop, as I still find the drop on this coaster to be the most exciting out of every rollercoaster I’ve ridden. At the top of the hill, the car stops at the edge for a few seconds before plummeting into a very smooth and perfectly-designed drop. The rest of the ride has lots of turns and inversions, along with other points where the ride stops before continuing, which is always a neat detail. The Griffon is a legendary, powerful creature, and it’s a perfect name for this rollercoaster.

#9: Apollo’s Chariot, Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Loops and bankings are fun, but my favorite part of rollercoasters are the drops. Rides like Nitro, Candymonium, and Apollo’s Chariot are all about the drops, and they are very fun. Apollo’s Chariot feels very nice and smooth, with clean drops and a great track layout. There’s not much to say about it, but Apollo’s Chariot definitely is not a let down with perfect speed, drops, and more. It’s a great Busch Gardens rollercoaster.

#8: Space Mountain, Walt Disney World

Space Mountain is an undoubtable classic at Walt Disney World. Since 1975, this indoor rollercoaster has been blasting people into space in one of the best indoor rollercoasters I’ve ridden. Space Mountain is a family coaster, but it’s still one of the most thrilling at Disney World. It isn’t a very smooth ride, but it does have nice turns and bankings that add to the incredible thrill. Space Mountain is a classic, and it deserves to be as it’s one of the best thrill rides at the resort.

#7: Batman, Six Flags Great Adventure

Batman at Six Flags Great Adventure is a classic inverted rollercoaster, and a must-ride at the park. Great drops, great inversions, and so much more make Batman feel great. It really feels like you’re flying in the Batwing, if you ask me. It’s a classic inverted coaster with a lot of greatness, just like the superhero it is named after.

#6: Rock ‘n Roller Coaster, Walt Disney World

Indoors, fantastic sets, great music, exhilarating speed, an epic launch, and even the only inversions seen at the Walt Disney World Resort. Rock ‘n Roller Coaster is a classic and definitely the premiere attraction for any thrill seekers planning a trip to Disney. The ride is undoubtedly the most intense at the entire resort, especially since it does have the only inversions at the resort, but that just adds to the fun. Plus, rocking out to Aerosmith and riding a fast roller coaster are a perfect mix.

TOP 5

#5: Candymonium, Hersheypark

I was very impressed when I first rode Candymonium, especially with how smooth it is. The ride consists of multiple drops, very similar to Apollo’s Chariot at Busch Gardens, but the drops here are much more fun. My favorite part of the ride is the incredible harness: a giant mold acts as a lap bar that pushes down. It molds incredibly well with your legs, making the ride extremely enjoyable. Some rides aren’t fun because of the uncomfortable cars and harnesses, but Candymonium is top tier when it comes to cars. Plus, each car is colored differently to match a different Hershey candy? Spectacular.

 

#4: Great Bear, Hersheypark

The great king of inverted track rollercoasters in definitely the Great Bear at Hersheypark. It’s smoother than Alpengeist, has a better track layout than Batman, and the drop is more exciting than both. Great Bear just mixes the best things about inverted and normal-track coasters and puts it into a fantastic ride. Great Bear is my personal favorite inverted coaster, also including my favorite corkscrews. They’re very smooth and not shaky or bumpy like others I’ve ridden. Great Bear is a very well-designed coaster, and my favorite at Hersheypark.

 

#3: Pantheon, Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s newest rollercoaster (as of writing) is so unique and different to anything I’ve ridden before at a standard amusement park, and it’s so much fun. The ride starts by shooting you directly upward before you go backwards as the track behind you switches, and that’s when the real drop begins. The track changes constantly, the drops are really fun, the inversions are smooth and enjoyable, and the entire concept is spot-on. Unfortunately, since the track moves there’s only one car at a time, making lines very long, but that’s just the trade-off for a unique and surprisingly fantastic rollercoaster.

 

#2: Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Universal Studios Orlando

When I went to Disney World and Universal in 2021, I also went with a bunch of friends who aren’t thrill-seekers like me. However, all of them who rode Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure were blown away — including me. The ride is just fantastic. Smooth track, exhilarating accelerations, amazing animatronics, and just a purely enjoyable ride experience. Even for those who aren’t big Harry Potter fans, this ride is amazing.

 

 

#1: Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, Walt Disney World

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t a huge fan of Animal Kingdom and it isn’t the Disney park I would tend to revisit. However, Mount Everest is a ride that would probably be the only reason I’d want to go back. While it isn’t quite as scary or intense as some other attractions on this list, Mount Everest sure is fun. Backwards, forwards, darkness, cool set pieces, and even a part of broken track – which was a huge shock the first time I rode the ride. Plus in the front row you get a great view of the Epcot ball. Anyway, Mount Everest is fun for the whole family that really can define your trip to the park all by itself.

What’s your favorite rollercoaster or theme park attraction? Let me know in the comments.

Ryan’s Fortress Twitter: @RyansFortress