Twin Peaks: Kingda Ka vs. Top Thrill Dragster
One of the most common comparisons in enthusiastland involves the two tallest and fastest roller coasters on Earth. It's like Everest and K2. They are very similar strata coasters that launch riders from 0 to 100+ miles per hour in a matter of seconds. They both take riders over 400 feet into the air only to send them spiraling back down to Earth.
Since Six Flags Great Adventure's Kingda Ka was built second, it bested Top Thrill Dragster's 420' peak by 36 feet and added a second 129' hill. Thanks to a rainy day at Cedar Point, Top Thrill Dragster closed before I was able to ride it. So I really can't give a clear cut winner from my ride experience. But I'll compare and contrast what I've observed of the two rides.
Theming the Sky Scrapers
Kingda Ka's Golden Kingdom is nice, but Top Thrill Dragster's dragster-inspired trains, station, and observation area take the cake.
Edge: Top Thrill Dragster
A View from a Hill
On a clear day you can see New York City and Philadelphia from the top of Kingda Ka. TTD's view of Lake Erie and Canada(!) is probably more memorable.
Edge: Top Thrill Dragster
Ride Experience
Again, the rides are pretty similar and I seriously doubt the additional 18 feet on Kingda Ka's drop is perceptible. Ditto for the heights at about 42-stories and 45-stories and the speeds at 120 mph and 128 mph. Kingda Ka does boast that second hill which does offer some airtime in certain seats.
Edge: Kingda Ka
Verdict
You decide! I'm sure some of my readers have ridden both Kingda Ka and Top Thrill Dragster. Which ride gave more airtime on the top hat, felt faster or smoother? Which did you just enjoy more? Leave a comment below.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Top Thrill Dragster vs. Kingda Ka | Roller Coaster Showdown
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15 comments:
If you were able to ride TOP FUEL you would have realized that there is only a lap bar restraint. KK uses over the shoulder restraints and is way more rough so personally its not even close. I would much rather flung up 36 less feet to be held in by only a seat belt and lap bar any day. That makes the ride that much more trilling and automatically gives TOP FUEL the win.
Top Thrill Dragster is better. The theme and layout is much better and Kingda Ka is a blatant ripoff by Shit Flags. They're both cool rides, but I give the edge to the original and cooler theme, Top Thrill Dragster.
That's two votes for Top Thrill Dragster. You both make some good points. I failed to mention the difference with the restraints. From this picture you can clearly see that there are only lap bars on Dragster. That's nuts!
TTD's theming definitely beats Kingda Ka's. I was just curious if the ride was that much better. So far, it sounds like it is. Thanks for stopping by.
Anyone prefer Kingda Ka to Top Thrill Dragster? And if so, why?
I just went to Cedar Point yesterday, I rode TTD for the 6th time. I talked to some people about KK and all of them said TTD is better. Its the restraints like you guys are talking about. You feel like you're going to die on TTD due to the lack of huuuge shoulder restraints. TTD's theme I've heard is much better too. Over all, i say TTD. I havent been able to ride KK, but from alot of people I've talked to, they say that I'm not missing much.
i have only been on ttd and it is so much fun, you feel like there is nothing holding u down when u stick ure arms up. i cant imagine having giant shoulders restraints on.
I went to six flags and rode kk. First of all its not the first time i tried to ride the extreamly sensitive ride.Often it is closed without notice. Top thrill has better rliablity. kk was only open for about six hours. I live in ct and to drive there for a ride that could be closed which just suck. THe theminig on kk is just okay. I would much perfer Top Thrills Theaminig,lets face it theaminig on a coaster is one of the most imporatant thinigs on a ride.
I never Rode Top Thrill but I think it would be better.Dont get me wrong kk was great, awsome launch ,but it wasn't that smooth and the air time hill did not do anything. I rode kk 4 times and it's a great ride but still a knock of it's father top thrill.
I have yet to ride KK because it was down when I was there, but I know several people that have ridden both, and give the edge to Top Thrill Dragster. After riding Maverick and Storm Runner with those restraints that are on KK, I can't imagine how it could be better. The feeling of freedom with only the lapbar is incredible. After 315 rides, Top Thrill Dragster will always be my favorite!
top thrill all the way
Could I just say, I have ridden Kingda Ka and TTD and Ka is better in every possible way. more air time safer feel more thrilling just better
I'd have to say Kingda Ka is better than TTD. I'm terrified of roller coasters, so hearing that TTD (I've never been over there) has lap bars, scares me even more. I was pushed onto KK and I was so glad I did. I felt completely safe and I loved the air time I got. KK is better then TTD, in my opinion.
There are a few issues I have with most of the posters that comment on the difference between these rides.
1. If you have never ridden Kingda Ka how can you compare? The Coaster Critic here did not ride TTD so he is not giving the winner to either. Saying, "I've never ridden (A) but (B) makes your comparison meaningless.
2. If you have not ridden the front seat of Kingda Ka and think TTD is more of a "thrill" you will also have a skewed opinion. Sitting in the back is like watching a football game from the nosebleed section. You not only get less of a thrill, but the farther back the seat the shakier it is.
Now for my opionions. One thing not a lot of people talk about is why the OTSRs are better, at least in my opinion. The reason I like Kingda Ka better than Nitro is because I feel safer. Feeling like I'm going to slip out of my seat is not a "perk" in my book. I think Kingda Ka will attract more of the casual, just getting in to coaster experience, rider than TTD because of the OTSRs.
That being said I have never ridden TTD because I have never been to Cedar point, so I will not say I think Kingda Ka is better, but considering the reason people don't ride the coaster is because they think they will fall out of the seats makes Kingda Ka a much more practical idea. Kingda Ka was a huge leap for me in coasters and I may, or may not ride TTD because of the unsafe and slightly nauseating feeling lap bars give me.
seriously....KK is better. TTD has cool theming yes alot better and is more reliable....but KK is still better. The OTSR is actually better, let me say why. i have been on both TTD and KK. on TTD the lap bar has to come down so tight, that you can barely move. so when you get up there, people think you start falling forward or something. quite the opposite. you are stuck in that seat and your lower body does not move at all. and whats this not as scary on KK, not as free ?? what a load of crap. you're still 450 feet up in the air.....i went on both 3 times and i tell you they feel the same apart from the fact that on KK you slightly fall forward into the harness which gives a WAYYYY better feeling. TTD takes cake with theming ideas and reliability. but KK is better, neither is shakier than the other and KK's extra hill is actually really good. although TTD's view ROCKS !!!! the water is awesome !!! although being able to see new york and philly is really cool !!! but TTD is better in that concern. as a roller coaster KK is better. and trust me, theres nothing holding you from putting your hands up in KK. your just as free as you are on either one.
i cant really say because i have only rode on the top thrill dragster and it was amazing! the lap bars feel safe even when you put your hands up but at the same time you feel free and the view is incredible!!! the airtime is great and the theme is just great! and also cedar point is the roller coaster capital of the world!!!
I've been on TTD and KK and I must say that by far TTD wins my vote. Talking to other rides that have road both as well also said that TTD is a much better coaster.
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