Official Goliath Thread

[CoasterMike]

I knew that those who have ridden all the other RMC coasters (Outlaw Run, Iron Rattler & Texas Giant), would most likely say Goliath is not as good as those three. I wonder how the folks from ThemeParkReview will feel about Goliath (assuming they have not ridden it yet). I bet they will say "it's not as good as Outlaw Run, Texas Giant or Iron Rattler. It also seems like the folks from www.coasterforce did not like Goliath as much as well.

[Coaster Justin]

I knew that those who have ridden all the other RMC coasters (Outlaw Run, Iron Rattler & Texas Giant), would most likely say Goliath is not as good as those three. I wonder how the folks from ThemeParkReview will feel about Goliath (assuming they have not ridden it yet). I bet they will say "it's not as good as Outlaw Run, Texas Giant or Iron Rattler. It also seems like the folks from http://www.coasterforce.com did not like Goliath as much as well.

Fixed.

[CoasterMike]

^thanks for fixing that for me.

[kossdude1]

During my interview with Gary Pohlman (Director of Maintenence/Construction) that's when the wheel problem occurred. Was quite interesting getting Gary's reaction on tape

[Muck Finnesota]

...it's not NTG or IR "quality" (whatever that means).

It means that grown-ass people didn't shit themselves while they rode it.

[Chitown]

Is that Bertha (the housekeeper) from Two and a Half Men? :)

[Chitown]

Sorry, I meant Berta.

[diggerg56]

I was able to attend Media Day and had a blast. I only got 3 rides, but it was fascinating to see the behind the scenes stuff with all the news stations and interviews. The wheel issue and the weather made getting a lot of rides difficult as well as the down time between the different news shoots. Some of the enthusiasts there were a little frustrated, and I can understand why, but I was happy to ride before the GP and understand that we were there to facilitate the news, not the other way around.

Now a bit about the ride. I've ridden Outlaw Run and now Goliath. Outlaw Run is the better of the two coasters, but Goliath is significantly more re-ridable in my opinion. The first drop is fantastic and seems to go on for a long time. The over-banked turn gives a couple pops of air time which is a nice surprise. The air time hill gives great ejector air, and the dive loop is nice with a little floating air. The Zero G Stall is the highlight of the circuit. It's such a foreign element that gives extended floating air...upside down. You do pull down on the lap bar a little, but its much more of a floaty feeling than a falling out feeling (like the second barrel roll on Outlaw Run). The twist and shout gives some cool air on the entrance and exit of the element and you get a good pop of air heading into the break run.

In my opinion, Goliath is much more controlled than Outlaw Run. I kind of think of it as if RMC and B&M had a baby in a good way. It's got the pacing and smoothness of a great B&M, but the ridiculous elements of an RMC. To me, it is easily the best coaster in the park. However, I would rank it as the 3rd best wooden coaster I've been on with Outlaw Run at #1 and The Voyage at #2. I would probably put it in my personal top 10, but I haven't ridden all that many rides. It really is a great ride, though not as memorable as some rides I've ridden. I will say that after riding Outlaw Run and Goliath, Wildfire at Kolmarden, looks to be the perfect combination of the two RMC rides and should be an amazing ride. Regardless of where I rank Goliath, it is a fantastic addition to the park and Great America has a true winner on it's hands.

Outside of the issues with the rain and wheels, I had a great day. I met a lot of new people in the enthusiast community and enjoyed talking to most of them. I got to say a few words to Hank Salemi, Fred Grubb, and Alan Schilke. All of them were incredibly friendly and humble. It was a great pleasure to chat briefly with them.

That is all for now. I'm exhausted and am looking forward to sleep.

Can't say I disagree with much of what you said with a bit of a qualifier. I rode once toward the front and once second from the back and it is two very different rides. Both positions were very re-ridable but the back was much more forceful and the airtime hill was insane back there. I'd give a slight edge to Outlaw Run sitting toward the front but I liked Goliath better toward the back. I miss the corkscrew element but there is so much going on with Goliath. There are some surprising moments and the stall is just....Really hard to describe.

I still think the general public will be blown away by this coaster.

I'd echo one other thing you said, there were some real whiners amongst us. Yes, it can be frustrating but you have to come into media events with the right mindset and to always expect the unexpected. Some people still seem to think it's ERT time. Nope, never really has been that way at any events I've attended.

I can't wait to get back to ride some more! Thankfully I have two passes that will at least make for a couple shorter waits. For those with those passes, a reminder that on a ride like Goliath that has a FlashPass line...You have to use that line. It's not a true "exit pass" for rides with Flashpass according to what the PR folks said.

For those that were there....Might be nice to drop a note in the mail to Katy Enrique and her staff to say thanks.

[johnntay01]

was wanting to know if there is a test seat for Goliath or is it going to be a wait in line for 4 hours and find out you don't fit kind of ride know this has been talked about a lot but haven't seen any thing about a test chair

[BackwardsBlue]

There was not a test chair yesterday at media day and when you get up there the lap bar doesn't like click shut, so you have no idea how far the bar needs to come down. I really hope they get a tester out there soon because I feel like some people are going to have a bad time if they have to wait and they can't get on.

[Jodon]

I will second the no sight of a test chair. I was on the first train and the person next to me was able to get the belt buckled after a significant struggle, but could not get the lap bar down far enough. The ride ops did not do much of anything to help get the lap bar down either (not that that is their job, but just wanted to give you the information). The gentleman that was unable to ride, mentioned that he was able to fit on Outlaw Run, though I actually find that hard to believe given his current size, so maybe he was bigger now than then, but maybe Outlaw Run's restraints are a bit more "forgiving" than Goliath's, but I would tend to think that they are pretty much identical.

I don't think anyone from Media Day has mentioned this yet, but there was zero signage about a single rider line, so I would be shocked if Goliath opened with a single rider line. Also, the Flash Pass entrance basically spits you out right in the middle of the station, much closer to the air gates than any other Flash Pass I've seen on any other coaster in the park.

Speaking of the station and queue, there is very little shade in the queue. There is a large-ish queue block behind Thrillseekers that has cover...and that is it. The temporary queue is completely unshaded, and so is everything from the queue block mentioned above through the main part of the station. The station modifications are very welcomed. It is much easier to move around inside the station and the queue places you into the station in the middle as opposed to the front like Iron Wolf. I really wish they would have torn down the roof of the old station and built it to fit Goliath, but they did not. They did a decent job extending the back part of the station to accommodate the last few rows of the train, but they did nothing to the roof on the extension of the gates. All in all, nothing terrible, but it could have been done much better if they would have torn down the old roof.

[kossdude1]

^ Dameon seems to have been the only one mentioning single rider line. When I asked other full timers, they had no clue what I was talking about.

As for the test seat, someone asked the park on twitter. The park replied saying that yes, it will.

[Iron Wolf 90-11]

^ Dameon seems to have been the only one mentioning single rider line. When I asked other full timers, they had no clue what I was talking about.

I feel like there was no point for a single rider line anyway. It's a ride that only has two per row not four so it honestly just wouldn't make sense for there to be a single rider line.

[Tardis1972]

I am in line for Goliath right now. Expected wait time is 120 minutes.

[rct2wizard360]

Don't think there will be a single rider line. However, there was a gate at the back of the station they were letting single riders through when they called out for one. It was a lot more accessible and convenient than having to reopen the air gates to let one person through and hold up the loading process. Nothing major, but it might save you a couple of cycles.

There is a test seat at the entrance today for those who were wondering.

[RBull4life]

For those who are there, are they running two trains?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

[Tardis1972]

I am with one of my friends. He wanted to ride Goliath today to so I used the bring a friend for $15 discount.

[CoasterMike]

I can't wait to hear what the GP has to say about Goliath.

[tribar]

I can't wait to hear what the GP has to say about Goliath.

Probably " OMG dat coaster was de best coaster in de park! It was even better than de Raging Bull. I loved all dem loopty loops, i didn't know they could build dem on dem wood rides! OMG OMG BEST COASTER EVER!"

Something along lines of that.

[CoasterMike]

Well let's all hope that Goliath will receive mostly high reviews.

There is currently a four hour wait for Goliath! I'm sure most people will say Goliath was NOT worth the four hour wait and it will receive negative reviews.

[rct2wizard360]

I can't wait to hear what the GP has to say about Goliath.

Probably " OMG dat coaster was de best coaster in de park! It was even better than de Raging Bull. I loved all dem loopty loops, i didn't know they could build dem on dem wood rides! OMG OMG BEST COASTER EVER!"

Something along lines of that.

Is it super fan day at the park today?

[anewman35]

Well let's all hope that Goliath will receive mostly high reviews.

There is currently a four hour wait for Goliath! I'm sure most people will say Goliath was NOT worth the four hour wait and it will receive negative reviews.

I don't get why everybody always seems so worried about negative reviews. No matter what the reviews, the ride isn't going anywhere, and if people are discouraged that just means shorter lines.

I'm heading to the park this afternoon, but I won't wait that long. If it's really four hours, there's always another day...

[CoasterMike]

^ You could always purchase a fast pass if the line is to long.

[JimPanky]

2 trains
grouper
there is a test seat
Im guessing no single rider line?

[anewman35]

^ You could always purchase a fast pass if the line is to long.

True, but I'm cheap and I have a pass and I have patience. I'll get on it eventually, no need to spend a ton of money to do it today.