Attendees voted for their favorite coasters at Le Voyage Lumière parks and offered observations.
Favorite Steel Coaster:
#1 Toutatis, Parc Astérix
#2 Mahuka, Walibi Rhône-Alps
Favorite Wood Coaster:
#1 Wild Buffalo, La Mer de Sable.
#2 Tonnerre 2 Zeus, Parc Astérix
Favorite Family Coaster:
#1 Défi du Dragon, Jardin d’Acclimatation
#2 Grand Canyon, Fraispertuis City
Favorite Kiddie Coaster:
#1 SOS Tournevis, Parc Astérix
#2 Coccinelle, Walibi Rhône-Alps
Dave Damminger:
I was happy for an opportunity to visit some beautiful small parks I likely would not have found on my own (especially) Le PAL, La Mer de Sable and Fraispertuis City.
Ryan Flamm:
- Hitting 600 coasters on Spatiale Experience (Nigloland).
- Hitting many bucket list coasters that have previously only lived in Roller Coaster DataBase, including Goudurix, Toutatis, OzIris, Mahuka, Fjord Explorer, Grand Splatch and Alpina Blitz, along with the absolutely unreal shows and incredible flume at La Mer de Sable.
- Special mention for Golden Driller (Fraispertuis City stand-up drop tower). I was working Giant Drop at Six Flags Great America when I learned about it and — just ask my crew — I would not shut up about this thing (same with Mystery Castle). Finally coming face to face with it and riding it a whole bunch was just pure catharsis.
- Another special mention to Le Grand Splatch (Parc Astérix), which is my favorite shoot-the-chute of all time and is up there with Chiapas and River Quest (Phantasialand), which are my all-time favorite water rides.
- The incredible backstage opportunities.
- Finally trying (and hating) the Sunkid boomerang trains (Generator, Walibi Rhône-Alpes).
- Somehow getting by without learning much French, and as a result, also learning how friendly the French people are to American tourists despite some things I guess you may have heard (mainly about them wanting to hear you speak French first).
- Teaching the French coaster people about our rides back home and watching their faces light up when I tell them the French ones are better.
- Unintentionally trolling Jo Pools by “being American.”
- And getting to hang with a great group of people who thankfully didn’t fight the staff about pillows this time.
Jamey Frank:
- Being surprised by the power for the second launch on Yukon Quad. Definitely not a “family” coaster!
- Riding Tonnerre 2 Zeus repeatedly until I had a slight limp.
Lorenz Haaker:
For me, it was the small ACE log flume takeover of Cheyenne River in La Mer de Sable; nice, cozy, five people per flume, resulting in a very refreshing ride on a hot day.
Patrick Kaak:
The highlights for me:
- Parc Astérix in general and the right side of the boat getting soaked on Grand Splatch.
- The beautiful landscaping at Le PAL and Nigloland.
- Seeing “the making of” Jonathan’s milestone photo at Fireline Redwood (Fraispertuis City).
Mike Parker:
Parc Astérix had the better rides, but Nigloland was the overall better park, plus it had a saucy puppet show. Everything I need in a park.
Sascha Schwarzer:
- I was in a positive way surprised by La Mer de Sable and Fraispertuis City. And the best moment was the log flume takeover (of Cheyenne River) at La Mer de Sable. I never had seen so much water inside a log flume boat before.
- Best Woodie: 50% of Tonnerre 2 Zeus
- Best steel: Mahuka
Jimmy Titko:
- Nigloland is a great example of the end product being greater than its parts. But for me, Parc Astérix left me wanting more...as in...give me another half day there. So it gets the edge.
- Fjord Explorer (Le PAL) wins the "If I could move a ride anywhere" award. That wave turn was so much fun. And those Mack water coasters are a blast.
#ACENews