Now that 2023 is coming to an end, what were everyone’s coaster highlights from the year? What was the best new coaster you rode this year? Did it dethrone your previous favorite? Were there any surprises? Is anyone still planning final trips before the year ends or ringing in the new year at a park?
This year, I was able to visit 10 new parks and ride 81 new coasters along with revisiting a few favorites from the past. Of these new credits, the best is Iron Gwazi (I know, not a very controversial opinion haha). In the same trip I got to ride Velocicoaster too and those became my new 1 and 2, respectively.
The best new park I visited was Hersheypark. I have been wanting to go to this park for years and had two unsuccessful attempts (including one earlier this year) due to weather or poor planning. Luckily this park’s top-tier coaster lineup lived up to the hype. A couple of coasters were closed including Sooperdooperlooper, but I was able to get two rides on Skyrush in a back right wing seat. I actually only thought Skyrush was okay after my first ride in the morning but I snagged another ride at night with a full train and it was a completely different experience with crazy intensity and airtime.
My biggest surprises were Screamin’ Eagle and Boss at Six Flags St. Louis. Those two coasters were much more intense than I expected. I swear I spent more time out of my seat than in it on Screamin’ Eagle. For Boss, it was a slow day so the train was only about half full. Despite that, it was still hauling. I can’t even imagine what a full train is like.
With the new coasters this year, my total credit count is now around 228. Next year, I’m hoping to visit some smaller parks such as Adventureland in Iowa and Indiana Beach along with a couple of Cedar Fair and Six Flags parks but no concrete plans yet.
I think Wildcat's Revenge really took my by surprise. I honestly haven't placed it in my list yet but it's up there. I was one of the "believers" of it back when people were saying it looked weak in the POV but it still was so much more than I expected. My last trip is going to be tomorrow at KD for NYE.... I've been going to it ever since they started having it and it's a fun time (especially the first year when they completely missed the countdown except for the fireworks team lol).
Next year.... honestly, nothing is really jumping out at me. I think Gravity Group Wildcat (LC) and Good Gravy are probably what I'm looking forward to most. I would be looking forward to KD finishing Grizzly with Gravity Group but they haven't announced anything and I'm starting to think that maybe they aren't going to finish it.... and TT2 -- yea, I can't be excited about that monstrosity.
Hope you (and everyone else) has a great 2024!