One of the most exciting parts of being a roller coaster enthusiast is knowing that your next favorite ride could be just around the corner. Every new barcode scan at a new gate brings new experiences, new airtime, new queues, new comparisons, and sometimes a coaster that completely reshuffles your rankings.
I am doing something I have never done before. I am visiting new amusement parks as a priority this year with one major goal in mind. I want to ride some of the world’s most highly regarded roller coasters and see if any of them can dethrone my current #1 coaster, ArieForce One (RIP). And yes, ArieForce One (RIP) has only been my current #1 coaster since July 4, 2026.
My Park Visit Schedule
Travel lans yet to be solidified
California’s Great America
This is a park that has been on my radar for years. While the park’s long-term future remains a topic of discussion among enthusiasts, my primary target is clear: Gold Striker and RailBlazer
As a fan of aggressive airtime and strong pacing, Gold Striker and RailBlazer have a reputation for delivering exactly the kind of ride experience I enjoy.
August 24 through 28
SeaWorld Orlando
For years, one coaster from SeaWorld Orlando has remained near the top of my most wanted list: Mako
Many enthusiasts consider Mako one of the finest B&M hyper coasters ever built. Smooth, fast, and loaded with airtime, it has all the ingredients necessary to become one of my favorites.
Busch Gardens Tampa
This stop features what may be the single biggest contender to challenge ArieForce One (RIP): Iron Gwazi
Whenever enthusiasts discuss the best roller coasters in the world, Iron Gwazi is almost always part of the conversation. Massive drops, relentless pacing, ejector airtime, and the signature RMC I-Box model have made it legendary. If there is one coaster on this year’s itinerary that has the best chance of becoming my new #1, it may be Iron Gwazi.
Universal Islands of Adventure
Unlike many amusement parks, Islands of Adventure combines world-class theming with elite coaster experiences. My main objective: Jurassic World VelociCoaster
For several years now, VelociCoaster has been one of the most praised roller coasters on the planet. The combination of speed, launches, inversions, airtime, and near-misses has created a reputation that few rides can match. I have heard enthusiasts rank it first, second, third, and everywhere in between. Soon I’ll finally find out where it lands on my list.
Universal Epic Universe
The newest park on my itinerary also contains one of the newest elite coasters in the world: Stardust Racers
Every review I’ve seen and nearly every ranking I’ve encountered has praised Stardust Racers. Racing coasters have always fascinated me because they create two slightly different experiences at the same time, and Epic Universe’s signature coaster appears to elevate that concept dramatically. This ride may be the biggest wildcard of the entire trip.
October 23-26
Six Flags Over Texas
This visit is all about finally riding one coaster whose name has made me bite my nails for years and one that I will honestly be frightened to get on: Mr. Freeze, New Texas Giant, and Tormenta
Well, technically I cannot believe it to be at Six Flags Over Texas, but it is now part of the total Texas adventure. I still maintain that Iron Rattler is the best coaster in Texas and regardless, enthusiasts consistently praise the big three at SFOT. The lesson here is simply that great rides can survive around one that offers no airtime like Titan.
A Wishlist That’s Finally Becoming Reality
For years, my most wanted coaster list has included rides such as:
- Iron Gwazi
- Steel Vengeance
- Wildcat’s Revenge
- Maverick
- Mako
- Gold Striker
- VelociCoaster
- Fury 325
- Time Traveler
- Ride to Happiness
- Hyperia
- Pantheon
- Phantom’s Revenge
- Lightning Rod
- Diamondback
- The list goes on………..
As enthusiasts, we often spend years reading reviews, watching POV videos, study layouts, and comparing rankings before ever setting foot in the parks ourselves. Eventually, however, there comes a point where speculation must give way to experience. That point has finally arrived for several rides that have occupied my bucket list for a very long time.
Can ArieForce One (RIP) Stay on Top?
Right now, ArieForce One (RIP) ranks as my favorite roller coaster. It earned that position because it does almost everything I look for a single coaster. It includes great ejector airtime, strong floater airtime, awesome pacing, memorable turnaround elements, and an experience that feels relentlessly complete from start to finish.
But every coaster enthusiast knows that rankings are temporary
- I would not be surprised if VelociCoaster takes the crown for me
- I would not be surprised if Iron Gwazi takes my number one slot
- I would not be surprised if Stardust Racers takes the honor
Honestly, I would not even be surprised if Mako sneaks into the conversation because of the wonderous floater airtime I hear it includes. Sometimes a coaster’s reputation creates certain expectations, and other times a ride exceeds those expectations in ways you never anticipated. That uncertainty is part of what makes this hobby so much fun.
Not Every Headliner Is a Priority
One of the interesting realities of being a coaster enthusiast is that popularity and personal preference are not always the same thing. While this year’s trips are focused on some of the most acclaimed roller coasters in the world, there are also a few major attractions that I may not prioritize because their ride styles simply do not align with what I enjoy most. The biggest examples of rides I may not ride are Titan at Six Flags Over Texas and The Incredible Hulk Coaster at Universal Islands of Adventure.
Many riders love both attractions, and I completely understand why they might enjoy them. They are intense, high G-force, fast, tall, smooth, and very recognizable rides that have developed loyal fanbases over the years. However, my coaster preferences have become fairly clear as I tend to favor rides that emphasize time out of ones seat rather than time forced into it. Repeated moments of weightlessness and layouts built around airtime-focused elements are my favorite.
Titan: This ride has long been a coaster that enthusiasts debate because of its relative lack of airtime; actually is has no airtime at all. While its height, speed, smoothness, and extreme intensity are impressive, the ride focuses far more on sustained positive G-forces than the moments of weightlessness that typically make a coaster memorable for me.
The Incredible Hulk Coaster: This ride falls into a somewhat similar category. The launch, inversions, and sheer force of the layout are undeniably impressive, but I generally prefer airtime-focused experiences over inversion-heavy rides. If given the choice between riding Hulk again or re-riding VelociCoaster, the decision would probably be very easy for me.
That does not mean I will automatically skip either coaster. Part of visiting a new park is experiencing the attractions firsthand rather than relying entirely on reputation or ride statistics. Sometimes a ride surprises an enthusiast and sometimes it confirms exactly what you expect.
Still, as I look ahead to these trips, I am far more excited about chasing airtime machines like Iron Gwazi, VelociCoaster, Mako, RailBlazer, Gold Striker, and Stardust Racers than I am about riding coasters whose strengths lie primarily in positive G-forces and inversions. After all, knowing what you don’t enjoy is almost as important as knowing what you do.
What It Takes to Become My Number One
Whenever enthusiasts discuss rankings, one question inevitably comes up…
What exactly makes a coaster great?
For me, becoming my number one coaster requires more than a few standout elements. A ride needs to feel complete from beginning to end. Some of the qualities I value most in a roller coaster include the following.
- Sustained ejector airtime
- Meaningful floater airtime
- Extended Hangtime (or Zero-G moments)
- Strong pacing that is relentless, with no wasted straight track
- Memorable signature or first of their kind moments
- Excellent re-rideability value
- A layout that feels balanced rather than repetitive
ArieForce One (RIP) currently sits at the top of my rankings because it combines nearly all of those qualities into a single experience. Many coasters excel in one category, while very few excel in all of them.
As I visit these new parks throughout the remainder of 2026, every major coaster will be judged against that standard. The question for me is not whether Iron Gwazi, VelociCoaster, Stardust Racers, or Mako are fantastic rides. Their reputations already suggest that they are excellent experiences and masterpieces. The real question is whether any of them can put together the complete package required to replace ArieForce One (RIP) at the top of my rankings.
More Than Just New Credits
While coaster counts and rankings are entertaining, this year’s trips are really about something bigger. Each of these parks represents a new experience, a new atmosphere, and a new opportunity to discover why people become passionate about different rides.
- Some enthusiasts chase records
- Some chase unique ride systems
- Some chase themed experiences
- I chase great roller coasters that are built around airtime (floater and ejector)
By the end of this year, I will have visited six new parks, ridden several legendary coasters for the first time, and gathered enough firsthand experience to revisit my rankings with fresh perspective. And who knows, the coaster sitting at the top of my rankings today may not be there by the time the final brake run comes to a stop.