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All about the BUSINESS of FUN!

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V Tim Baldwin BEST LANDSCAPING As introduced in 1998, Voters in this year’s Amusement Today ’s Golden Ticket Awards divided the poll didn’t overlook country into four parts and jobs well done at surveyed an equal number Busch Gardens, Va., from each portion to make as and Paramount’s balanced a poll as possible. . International participants Photos courtesy were also included. Receiving its biggest

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2 Ticket Awards offers a broad . KINGS ISLAND range of park expertise. V New for 2002 BEST KID’S AREA One of the most common requests from our partici - pants was a longer period in as more enthusiasts made parks outside the United takes the Best Park category. continues to snag over half of which to have an opportunity their way around the country, State have surfaced in our Known for its abundance of the votes for Friendliest Staff. to travel more and experience and even the globe. Nitro, poll this year in several cate - rides, resort accommoda - While somewhat distant from what is new. Extending this Great Adventure’s mega- gories. In addition to such tions, beautiful location, and the leader, Knoebels and time frame by one month this coaster, debuted at number coasters as Expedition the world’s largest line-up of stand against the year, our survey panel made 16 and leaps this year into the GeForce, , The Big coasters, this enthusiast Holiday World juggernaut to great strides in their traveling number four spot. Likewise, One, Collosos, Air, mecca continues to delight take second and third place. opportunities with many Expedition GeForce didn’t , and Tonnerre de visitors. In a dual perform - Parks continue to explore going overseas. A few inter - even appear in our top 50 list - , several parks appear in ance, Schlitterbahn holds numerous options on how to national parks have surfaced ing last year, but strong - onto it’s water dominance get guests out of long lines. in the park and ride cate - hands its way into the top with Best Waterpark for the No matter what solution may ten at the number eight 2 fifth year in a row. Islands be attempted, guests appreci -

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2 similar fashion, Cornball . AWARD place for Best Park, with Cedar Point is still considered been lighter on coaster addi - V tions than previous years, but Express jumps into the top BEST OF THE BEST Knoebel’s good family top pick for moving lines the one contender still made a 20 on the wooden coaster value rounding out the fastest. Like most Disney strong showing in spite of chart at number 18 after this year’s categories includ - three. Splashin’ Safari, giving properties, Disneyland utiliz - some operational difficulties, falling short of the top 50 last ing Best Landscaping, Best out free sunscreen this year, ing the FastPass system zips X at Magic Mountain year. Themed Music, and Best climbs to the number two people through queues in debuting in the top 20. An International Look Capacity. waterpark, with Blizzard large numbers, taking our Huge Leaps Obviously, it is more Best of the Best Beach splashing into third. number two position. While newer acquisitions challenging for parks spread Since its inception five Holiday World may just Several participants just may not have taken our around the world to make a years ago, two winners have serve as the benchmark for all returning from Europe had charts by storm, some 2001 strong impression on our continued to impress our parks to be measured against great things to say about additions made significant panel simply due to their dis - panel with their park experi - when it comes to friendliness. some parks abroad. Europa jumps over last year’s results tant location. Still, numerous ence. Cedar Point, again, The small Indiana park still 4See AWARDS, page 2B

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V BEST PARK BEST WATERPARK BEST WOOD COASTER BEST STEEL COASTER 2B AMUSEMENT TODAY September 2002 AWARDS takes the Best Shows Golden junior coasters. Arriving at Ticket. The park’s live per - second place this season is Park and ride winners Continued from page 1B formances of singers, musi - Legoland with its unique Ranked by percentage of votes. cians, characters, and acro - blend of kids coasters, unusu - Park garnered not only votes batic performers, along with al interactive rides, and vari - Best Park but rave comments about its Cedar Point Sandusky, Ohio 28% a laser-pyrotechnic Lone Star ous kid-themed attractions Islands of Adventure Orlando, Fla. 18% capacity. Europa Park scores Spectacular, make it a feast park-wide. Idlewild takes Knoebels Amusement Resort Elysburg, Pa. 9% a third place spot. for show-lovers. Busch third place rounding out this Perhaps the industry is Gardens Williamsburg and category. Best Waterpark Schlitterbahn New Braunfels, Texas 48% making a more concentrated take second Close Calls effort to present their parks as Splashin’ Safari Santa Claus, Ind. 17% and third respectively for Never has the Golden Blizzard Beach Orlando, Fla. 9% cleaner places in the past as their line-up of talent as well. Tickets seen such a battle as AT received virtually no com - The category of Best Food the surveys were tabulated Friendliest Park Staff plaints on cleanliness this becomes a tough call when this year over the two water Holiday World Santa Claus, Ind. 60% year. Holiday World contin - Knoebels Amusement Resort Elysburg, Pa. 8% participants have to evaluate categories. Jockeying for lead Cedar Point Sandusky, Ohio 6% ues to impress and stands value, quality, variety, and position was continuous until proudly in the number one the like. Knoebels, known for the final votes determined a Capacity (fastest moving lines) place in the Cleanest Park cat - their tasty food at very rea - winner. Cedar Point Sandusky, Ohio 45% egory. Having set somewhat Disneyland Anaheim, Calif. 10% sonable prices, takes first Best Water Ride in an Europa Park Rust, Germany 9% of a standard since 1955, place. Silver Dollar City went to Disneyland is recognized at comes in second with their Islands of Adventure’s Cleanest Park second place, and Busch variety of international foods Dudley Do-Right’s Holiday World Santa Claus, Ind. 40% Gardens Williamsburg takes and down home cooking. Falls, with Valhalla of Disneyland Anaheim, Calif. 9% Busch Gardens Williamsburg Williamsburg, Va. 8% third place in votes. Busch Gardens Williamsburg Blackpool Pleasure Beach Parks have long realized rounds out the category in splashing right at its heels. Best Landscaping that creating a beautiful envi - third place. Valhalla also rates highly in Busch Gardens Williamsburg Williamsburg, Va. 37% ronment enhances the guest Ride Categories the category as Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands 17% Bonfante Gardens Gilroy, Calif. 6% experience. Perhaps not spo - Still amazing voters this well. A newcomer also in ken of as often, but always year (with a smash movie to third place resides at Islands Best Shows noticed, colorful landscaping help) Islands of Adventure’s of Adventure, Popeye and Fiesta Texas San Antonio, Texas 29% is usually appreciated by Spiderman webs up Best Bluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges. This Busch Gardens Williamsburg Williamsburg, Va. 11% patrons to parks. Busch Dark Ride with its 3D tech - rapids ride delivers one of the Silver Dollar City Orlando, Fla. 8% Gardens Williamsburg con - nology combined with physi - wildest raft experiences to be Best Food tinues to champion Best cal and visual effects along found in a theme park. All in Knoebels Amusement Resort Elysburg, Pa. 28% Landscaping, but 2002 sees with motion simulation. Two all, this could easily be the Silver Dollar City Branson, Mo. 11% two new players in this cate - haunted mansions still capti - toughest category in the Busch Gardens Williamsburg Williamsburg, Va. 10% gory. Efteling in the vate fans with their dark ride entire survey due to the great Netherlands and Bonfante Best Dark Ride experience, the second place number of worthy candi - Amazing Advs. Spiderman Islands of Adventure 31% Gardens in California have version being presented by dates. Haunted Mansion Knoebels Amusement Resort 13% made people take notice with Knoebels, and Disney’s spook- The results were every bit Haunted Mansion Disneyland 9% the second and third posi - filled manor coming in third. as exciting in the waterpark tions respectively. Best Water Ride (Amusement Park) The Best Kids Area cate - category as well. A neck-and- Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls Islands of Adventure 16% In an era when it is all too gory sees some new faces this neck race was ongoing until Valhalla Blackpool Pleasure Beach 15% easy to cut live entertainment go round. Paramount’s Kings Schlitterbahn’s Master Blaster Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge-rat Barges Islands of Adventure 6% for budgetary reasons, many Island takes top honors again finally edged out Holiday Best Kid’s Area parks still offer outstanding for the second year in a row World’s brand-new Zoom- show packages for their Paramount’s Kings Island Kings Mills, Ohio 38% with its many kid-sized rides, babwe for Best Waterpark Legoland Carlsbad, Calif. 6% guests. Topping the category water activities, street charac - Ride. Rounding out third Idlewild Ligonier, Pa. 5% again this year, Fiesta Texas ters, and collection of four place is Blizzard Beach’s Summit Plummit. Best Waterpark Ride Master Blaster Schlitterbahn 34% On one final note in ride Zoombabwe Splashin’ Safari 32% categories, our voters continue Summit Plummit Blizzard Beach 7% to applaud as a top www.amusementtoday.com Amusement Today ’s annual Golden Ticket Awards were ten coaster even though Best Souvenirs bestowed upon all first-place finishers in each category. Amusement Knoebels Amusement Resort Elysburg, Pa. 16% Visionland did not open this Cedar Point Sandusky, Ohio 13% Today congratulates the many fine parks that won or placed in this year and the park’s future Islands of Adventure Orlando, Fla. 8% year’s categories. We also would like to thank the many people who remains clouded. took the time to return our survey forms and participate in the New Categories Best Games Area polling process. If you were not selected to vote, and would like As detailed on page 3, Cedar Point Sandusky, Ohio 19% your name added to the selection list, please drop us a postcard and Parmount’s Kings Island Kings Mills, Ohio 11% we’ll be glad to add your name to next year’s ballot list. Remember, Amusement Today will rotate Disney’s California Adventure Anaheim, Calif. 8% industry employees are ineligible to vote. AT also would like to categories every few years in thank our advertisers for their help in making this Bonus Section an effort to keep the survey Best Themed or Background Music possible. fresh and entertaining. Four Islands of Adventure Orlando, Fla. 38% Thanks also go to Tim Baldwin for his countless hours in tabu - Disney’s California Adventure Anaheim, Calif. 10% new categories appear this Efteling Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands 7% lating the poll results and to Ted Davidson and his staff at year for the first time. Corporate Graphics in Arlington, Texas, for the design and printing Many of our survey par - Most Classic or Distinctive Coaster Station of the Golden Ticket Awards. ticipants often buy souvenirs. Cyclone, Lakeside Park Denver, Colo. 22% Amusement Today is an independent newspaper, published T-shirts and postcards are , Kennywood West Mifflin, Pa. 12% monthly by Amusement Today Inc., P.O. Box 5427, Arlington, Texas Dueling Dragons, Islands of Adventure Orlando, Fla. 11% 76005-5427. For subscription information, or to order extra copies 4See AWARDS, page 3B September 2002 AMUSEMENT TODAY 3B AWARDS Islands of Adventure coming in second and third, with all Continued from page 2B three being praised for their variety. easy to find, but comments Probably the toughest were given on what made the category we have ever park they voted for the best. thrown at our voters, Best Frequent answers were Games Area particularly “good variety” as well as caused them to think as “they come out with new many do not always play things each year.” Many col - games. Cedar Point took top lectors enjoy finding the honors for its classic games, items they collect, with logo nostalgic look, and variety of merchandise for both the prizes and skill levels. parks and attractions being Finding pinball machines top pick. Knoebels was rated also was mentioned. best, with Cedar Point and Paramount’s Kings Island

In an effort to continue the introduction of new Golden Ticket categories each year, Amusement Today has elected to place some awards on a three-year rotation for voting. Last year, AT introduced Best Carousel as one of the new categories. Since new carousels are not being introduced Photos courtesy Cedar Point and Schlitterbahn each year, that category will not be voted on again until Left to right: Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, was voted as the top rated park in the 2004. country for the fifth consecutive year. The park also picked up Golden Tickets for This year, AT debuted winners for Best Souvenirs, Best Best Park Capacity and Best Steel Coaster. In the favorite waterpark category, Park Background Music, Best Games Area and the Most Distinctive or Classic Looking Station. These Schlitterbahn captured the title for the fifth consecutive year. The New Braunfels, categories will not be voted on again until 2005. Texas, park also was a repeat winner for its Master Blaster ride. Other repeat winners If you have a suggestion for a category you would like included: Knoebels (Food); Islands of Adventure (Water Ride and Dark Ride); Fiesta to see introduced contact Amusement Today at (817) 460-7220 6B AMUSEMENT TODAY September 2002

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. AWARDS V BEST OF THE BEST! The List Top 25 wood roller coasters

RANK NAME YEAR PARK LOCATION POINTS

1 Raven 1995 Holiday World Santa Claus, Ind. 838

2 1998 Michigan’s Adventure Muskegon, Mich. 788

3 Boulder Dash 2000 Bristol, Conn. 764

4 Legend 2000 Holiday World Santa Claus, Ind. 661

5 1985 Knoebels Amusement Resort Elysburg, Pa. 604

6 GhostRider 1998 Knott’s Berry Farm Buena Park, Calif. 570

7 Beast 1979 Parmount’s Kings Island Kings Mills, Ohio 394

8 Texas Giant 1990 Six Flags Over Texas Arlington, Texas 363

9 Megafobia 1996 Oakwood Leisure Park Pembrookshire, Wales 328

10 Rampage 1998 Visionland Bessemer, Ala. 321

11 Lightning Racer 2000 Hershey, Pa. 307

12 1994 The Great Escape Lake George, N.Y. 278

13 Cyclone 1927 Astroland (Coney Island) Brooklyn, N.Y. 244

14 Georgia Cyclone 1990 Six Flags Over Georgia Atlanta, Ga. 221

15 1968 Kennywood West Mifflin, Pa. 218

16 Colossos 2001 Soltau, Germany 216

17 The Boss 2000 Six Flags St. Louis St. Louis, Mo. 200

18 2001 Monticello, Ind. 166

19 2000 Six Flags Worlds of Adventure Aurora, Ohio 153

20 1997 Parc Asterix Plailly, France 152

21 1999 Silverwood Athol, Idaho 149

22 Twister 1999 Knoebels Amusement Resort Elysburg, Pa. 147

23 Grand National 1935 Blackpool Pleasure Beach Blackpool, England 118

24 Viper 1995 Gurnee, Ill. 116

25 1996 Hersheypark Hershey, Pa. 113 Amusement Today also presents the next 25 wooden coasters as determined by points. 26: (Santa Cruz), 27: Coaster (PNE Playland), 28: Mega Zeph (Jazzland), 29: Grizzly (PKD), 30: Timberwolf (WOF), 31: Cyclone (SFNE), 32: Roar (SFMW), 33: Thunder Coaster (Tusenfryd); 34 tie: Blue Streak (Cedar Point), Gwazi (BGT); 36: Timber Terror (Silverwood), 37: (Kennywood); 38: Son of Beast (PKI), 39: Thunder Run (SFKK), 40: Mean Streak (Cedar Point), 41: Texas Cyclone (AstroWorld); 42: (SFWoA), 43 tie: Giant Dipper (Belmont), Roar (SFA); 45 tie: Colossus (SFMM), Hurricane (Boomers) 47: Cyclone (Lakeside), 48: Loup Garou Weerwolf (SF Belgium), 49: Racer (Kennywood), 50: Racer (PKI).

The Top 10 Wooden Coasters 3195 Penn Avenue All Use The Number One Coaster Trains! Hatfield, Pa. 19440 PHILADELPHIA TOBOGGAN COASTERS INC. Tel: (215) 799-2155

Fax: (215) 799-2158 Because Their Business Is Riding On It! September 2002 AMUSEMENT TODAY 7B

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. AWARDS V The List BEST OF THE BEST! Top 25 steel roller coasters

RANK NAME YEAR PARK LOCATION POINTS

1 2000 Cedar Point Sandusky, Ohio 970

2 Superman Ride of Steel 2000 Six Flags New England Agawam, Mass. 897

3 Magnum XL-200 1989 Cedar Point Sandusky, Ohio 723

4 Nitro 2001 Six Flags Great Adventure Jackson, N.J. 398

5 Apollo’s Chariot 1999 Busch Gardens Williamsburg Williamsburg, Va. 359

6 Steel Force 1997 Dorney Park Allentown, Pa. 353

7 Phantom’s Revenge 2001/1991 Kennywood West Mifflin, Pa. 330

8 Expedition GeForce 2001 Holiday Park Hassloch, Germany 329

9 Montu 1996 Busch Gardens Tampa Tampa, Fla. 303

10 Superman Ride of Steel 1999 Six Flags Darien Lake Darien Center, N.Y. 303

11 Dueling Dragons 1999 Islands of Adventure Orlando, Fla. 267

12 1994 Cedar Point Sandusky, Ohio. 247

13 Alpengeist 1997 Busch Gardens Williamsburg Williamsburg, Va. 244

14 tie Goliath 2000 Six Flags Magic Mountain Valencia, Calif. 243

14 tie Raging Bull 1999 Six Flags Great America Gurnee, Ill. 243

16 Superman Ride of Steel 2000 Six Flags America Largo, Md. 224

17 Incredible Hulk 1999 Islands of Adventure Orlando, Fla. 213

18 Nemesis 1994 Staffordshire, England 203

19 Kumba 1993 Busch Gardens Tampa Tampa, Fla. 188

20 X 2002 Six Flags Magic Mountain Valencia, Calif. 169

21 The Big One 1994 Blackpool Pleasure Beach Blackpool, England 137

22 Mindbender 1978 Six Flags Over Georgia Atlanta, Ga. 131

23 Titan 2001 Six Flags Over Texas Arlington, Tex. 128

24 tie Mamba 1998 Worlds of Fun Kansas City, Mo. 102

24 tie Superman Krypton Coaster 2000 Fiesta Texas San Antonio, Tex. 102 Amusement Today also presents the next 25 steel coasters as determined by points. 26: Medusa (SFGAd), 27: Goliath (Six Flags Holland), 28: Volcano (PKD), 29: California Screamin’ (DCA), 30: Mind Bender (Galaxyland), 31: Big Bad Wolf (BGW), 32: Desperado (Buffalo Bill’s), 33: Superman Ultimate Flight (SFOG), 34: Superman the Escape (SFMM), 35:Wildfire (SDC), 36 tie: Shock Wave (SFOT), Superman Ultimate Escape (SFWoA), 38: Riddler’s Revenge (SFMM), 39 tie: Magnum Force (Flamingoland), Air (Alton Towers); 41: Mr. Freeze (SFOT), 42: Hypersonic XLC (PKD); 43: Top Gun (PGA) 44 tie: Batman Knight Flight (SFWoA), Kraken (SeaWorld Fla.), 46: Top Gun (PC), 47: Matterhorn (Disneyland), 48: Steel Eel (SeaWorld Texas), 49: Xcelerator (Knott’s); 50: Rock n’ Roller Coaster (WDW).

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A N O T H E R V GREAT YEAR ! BEST FOOD

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2 Golden Tickets . 2 Top 25 Coasters V BEST SOUVENIRS Thank you readers of Amusement Today!