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July 16th, 2003
Welcome to the 6th Annual Screamscape Ultimate Awards. The Ultimate Awards have really grown over the past five years, with over 2500 votes being cast in just a few days. As in past years, the Ultimate Awards were designed to have fun topics to vote upon as well as more serious topics. This isn’t just another “Top 10” list, we have taken a long serious look at the industry around the world and then begun to poke holes at the flaws and sing praises to our favorite parks and attractions. We’re not giving out Oscars, but you’re sure to enjoy the show.
The 2002 Ultimate Awards were presented on Screamscape.com for open public voting for in June 2003. One vote was allowed for each Award Topic as well as a write in vote if needed. Certain Special Awards as well as the Overall categories were only voted upon by the write in method. The dates for valid park/attraction nominees was from November 1st, 2001 until December 31st, 2002.
The Screamscape Ultimate Awards are the largest and one of the most accurate awards poll on the Internet.
So without further delay, lets take a moment to introduce the top players in our quick year in review...
Disney Theme Parks - “Oops... we did it again!”
I’ve got to stick with the same quote for 2002 as I did in 2001... because after building the ultra small California Adventure and seeing just how guests have reacted to it, they went and built an even smaller park across the Atlantic in the form of Walt Disney Studios Paris. A park so small that it really has only two rides in the entire park: Rock ‘n Roller Coaster and a Dumbo clone themed to Aladdin. At the same time, Disney attempted to start patching the holes in DCA’s line up by starting work on Twilight Zone as well as opening the new Bugs Land area for the kiddies. 2002 also seemed to be the year that the Disney legal team really dug themselves into the parks as we started to see safety gates appearing on rides all over the parks as well as major alterations to classic areas such as Tom Sawyer’s Island and even modified logs on Disneyland’s Splash Mountain.
Six Flags Theme Parks - “We’re falling... ”
The best drop in 2002 wouldn’t be on any Six Flags ride or attraction, instead it would be the massive drop off in their stock price after a quarterly stockholder meeting was held near the end of the summer. Like many parks, attendance in 2002 was erratic due to the terrorist threats from the year before, so a slightly soft market was to be expected. Unfortunately Six Flags chose not to invest in major new attractions at their top five parks (SFMM, SFGAdv, SFGAm, SFWOA and SFOT) and chose to focus on growing some of their smaller markets and building up their newly bought parks (La Ronde & Enchanted Village). While some of the medium parks produced big hits with their Batman and Superman rides (SFNE & SFOG) the lower tier parks opened underwhelming attractions like The Flying Coaster at SFEG or Shipwreck Falls at SFDL. As of this time, Six Flags is still struggling to get their stock price back up anywhere near where it was a year ago, let alone to pre September 11th levels.
Busch Theme Parks - “All is quiet before the storm.”
For a second year it seems as if the Busch parks have chosen to lay low. After finishing major projects in 2001, both of the Busch Gardens parks too the year off it seems while two of the SeaWorld parks added minor new shows while the Florida park added two major new restaurants.
Universal Studios Theme Parks - “A sleeping giant”
For the most part, the French owners of Universal seem to be asleep at the wheel. With Disney not doing much of anything at the moment, the time would have been ripe for Universal to strike out, but instead they choose to remove several new attractions in 2002. Hollywood closed the famous Wild Wild Wild West Stunt Show and has since let the arena sit and rot without adding anything else to it. Hollywood’s Rugrats show theater and Florida’s Hitchcock attraction were both closed to make way for new attractions 2003, as well as Florida’s long running Hanna Barberra ride. Florida closed a third attraction (Kongfrontation) for their next major thrill ride planned for 2004. The transformation has started in Florida at least, though Islands of Adventure is still sitting around doing nothing at all... without adding a major new attraction since the park opened in 1999.
Cedar Fair - “We’re having difficulty with our technicians!”
This was a tough year for Cedar Fair in the technical department. They opened two new Intamin coasters this year, Wicked Twister at Cedar Point and Xcelerator at Knott’s Berry Farm, and ended up having many technical problems with each ride throughout the season. Medium attractions were installed at Worlds of Fun and Dorney Park and a slow of junior rides went into Michigan’s Adventure, leaving Valleyfair out in the cold for the season.
Paramount Parks - “A little quality in good quantity.”
Instead of building a world record breaking coaster this year, Paramount tried a different approach. They went for a lot of well built family fun attractions and themed areas at virtually every park they own. Giant popular new flat ride went into PCW and PGA as well as the uber themed Tomb Raider at PKI. Many of the other parks brought back classic old style rides like the Ricochet Wild Mice at PC & PKD or the Flying Eagles (PGA) or Troika (PKD). Adding another year of new simulator films for the five Paramount FX Action Theaters and you’ve got a very well rounded year where every park added at least 2 or 3 new attractions.
Now on to the Awards!
2002 “ULTIMATE” PROTOTYPE RIDE AWARD -
For excellence in the design and production of a new prototype ride or attraction.
 49.3% - X - Arrow 4th Dimension - Six Flags Magic Mountain
23.9 - Xcelerator - Intamin Rocket Coaster - Knott's Berry Farm
22.0% - Air & Superman: UF - B&M Flying Coasters - Alton Towers / SFOG
3.0% - Gravity Max - Vekoma Cliffhanger - Discovery World
1.8% - The Flying Coaster - Zamperla Volare - Six Flags Elitch Gardens
Even with a considerable ammount of downtime over it’s first year of life, it seems that X is just what the doctor ordered. Second place was a neck and neck race between Intamin’s new Rocket Coaster technology and B&M’s new Flying Coaster design. Past winners include: Superman: The Escape (‘97), Oblivion (‘98), Spider-man (‘99), Stealth (2000) and Soarin’ Over California (2001).
2002 “ULTIMATE” THRILL RIDE AWARD (NON-COASTER) -
For the design and installation of the most thrilling new ride on the planet.
 47.4% - Tomb Raider - Paramount's Kings Island - Huss Giant Top Spin (Indoor)
23.2% - Delirium - Paramount's Great America - Chance Revolution
13.9% - Riddler's Revenge - WB MovieWorld Spain - S&S Combo Towers
8.7% - Psyclone - Paramounts Canada's Wonderland - Mondial Flat Ride
6.8% - Power Surge - Wild Adventures - Zamperla Power Surge
More often than not, it seems that this catagory is usually won by a themed attraction over an unthemed one and PKI’s Tomb Raider attraction certainly falls into the themed catagory. Past winners have included Orlando’s 300 foot Skycoaster, Countdown To Extinction, Spider-man, Perilous Plunge and Soarin’ Over California.
2002 “ULTIMATE” WATER RIDE AWARD -
For the design and installation of the best new water attraction on the planet.
42.2% - Shipwreck Falls - Six Flags Darien Lake - Intamin Shoot-The-Chutes
25.9% - Riverquest - Phantasialand - Custom Designed Hafema River Rapids
17.8% - Saw Mill Splash - Adventureland - Whitewater West Spinning Rapids
14.1% - Olde Mill -Playland - Sally Dark Ride update of older flume
A slow year for major new water rides, this marks the first time that the award was won by an off-the-shelf attraction. Previous winners include Dudley-Do Right’s Ripsaw Falls (1999), Perilous Plunge (2000) and Grizzly River Run (2001).
2002 "ULTIMATE" DARK RIDE ATTRACTION
For the design and installation of the highest quality new Dark Ride experience.
 45.2% - Tomb Raider - Paramount's Kings Island - Huss Giant Top Spin (Indoor)
26.0% - Journey Into Imagination with Figment - Epcot - Revamped Dark Ride
15.1% - Scooby Doo Ghostblasters - SFSL - Sally Interactive Dark Flume Ride
8.8% - Scooby Doo Ghostblasters - SFFT - Sally Interactive Dark Ride
4.9% - Olde Mill -Playland - Sally Dark Ride update of older flume
The overwhelming response to the Tomb Raider theme over other established dark ride characters (Figment or Scooby Doo) is amazing. For 2002 there were enough dark rides and 3D Attractions that we split the category into two separate awards. Previous winning dark rides include Spider-man (1999), Men In Black (2000) and Soarin’ Over California (2001).
2002 “ULTIMATE” 3-D THEATER ATTRACTION
For the design and installation of the best 3-D / 4-D Theater Film Experience
33.0% - Hershey's Really Big 3D Show - Hersheypark's Chocholate World
26.0% - Lego Racers 4D - Legoland
21.9% - The Mask 4D - WB MovieWorld Spain
9.9% - Pandadroom - Efteling
9.1% - Tall Tales of the South - Stone Mountain
For 2002 there were enough dark rides and 3D Attractions that we split the category into two separate awards.
2002 “ULTIMATE” STEEL COASTER AWARD -
For design and excellence in building the best new steel coaster on the planet.
 33.2% - X - Six Flags Magic Mountain - Arrow 4th Dimension Coaster
13.2% - Rock 'n Roller Coaster - Walt Disney Studios Paris - Vekoma Indoor Launched
12.9% - Xcelerator - Knott's Berry Farm - Intamin Rocket Coaster
10.1% - Superman: Ultimate Flight - Six Flags over Georgia - B&M Flyer
9.7% - Wicked Twister - Cedar Point - Intamin Double Spiral Impulse
7.3% - Goliath - Six Flags Holland - Intamin Hypercoaster
4.0% - Colossus - Thorpe Park - Intamin 10 Inversion Coaster
3.2% - Air - Alton Towers - B&M Flyer
3.0% - Batman: The Dark Knight - Six Flags New England - B&M Floorless
1.8% - Silver Star - Europa Park - B&M Hypercoaster
1.7% - Superman - WB MovieWorld Spain - B&M Floorless
It seems pretty clear that X was this year’s most popular new steel coaster by a long shot. Past winners have gone to Alpengeist (‘97), Riddler’s Revenge (‘98), Incredible Hulk (‘99), Millennium Force (2000) and Nitro (2001). This also represents Arrow’s first winner in this catagory, with B&M having won 4 previous awards and Intamin with only 1.
2002 “ULTIMATE” WOOD COASTER AWARD -
For design and excellence in building the best new wood coaster on the planet.
35.1% - Wild Wild West - WB MovieWorld Spain - Intamin
34.1% - Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain - Indiana Beach - CCI
30.7% - New Mexico Rattler - Cliff's Amusement Park - CCI
It was a very slow year for wooden coasters, with only three projects built for the year and only 2 of them built as full sized traditional wooden coasters. With all three rides well off the beaten paths, the votes seems evenly split amongst the three. Past winners include: Stampeda, Shivering Timbers, GhostRider, Son of Beast and Colossos (Heide Park)
2002 “ULTIMATE” THAT LOOKS FUN! AWARD -
An attraction that may not be the biggest of the best, but was made just for the fun of it.
32.7% - Roller Soaker - Hersheypark - Setpoint Swing Thing w/ Water Effects
19.5% - Primeval Whirl - Disney's Animal Kingdom - 2 Reverchon Crazy Mice
10.9% - Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain - Indiana Beach - CCI Coaster
7.7% - Winjas Force / Fear - Phantasialand - Mauher-Sohne Spinning Coasters
6.6% - Scooby Doo Spooky Coaster - WB MovieWorld Australia - Indoor Mouse
6.0% - Scooby Doo Ghostblasters - SFSL - Sally Interactive Dark Flume Ride
5.6% - Vampire w/ New Inverted Trains - Chessington WOA - Vekoma
4.8% - Ricochet - Paramount's Kings Dominion - Mack Giant Wild Mouse
3.2% - Scooby Doo Ghostblasters - SFFT - Sally Interactive Dark Ride
1.5% - Ricochet - Paramount's Carowinds - Mack Wild Mouse
1.3% - Big Bad John - Magic Springs - Relocated Arrow Mine Train Coaster
This is the second award given to a Setpoint Wet Swing Thing coaster system. Previous winners include: Cat In The Hat, Buzz Lightyear, the Reverchon Crazy Mouse, Flying Super Saturator and two for the Scooby Doo’s Haunted Mansion rides at Paramounts Canada’s Wonderland and Carowinds.
2002 “ULTIMATE” DISAPPOINTMENT -
Awarded for poor planning, design, and/or execution of a ride, attraction or park.
33.1% - The Flying Coaster - Rider discomfort and restraints ruining the view
31.6% - Splash Mountain - Retrofits of logs to have only 5 seats cuts capacity
22.4% - A Bugs Land - Flik's Fun Fair - Too little, too late
13.0% - Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain - Delays and rough ride
Six Flags won again for the second year, scoring the award in 2001 for the troublesome Déjà Vu triplets. Previously Disney took it in a 4-year long streak: Light Magic, Animal Kingdom, Test Track, and the downgrade of CTX into Dinosaur.
2002 “ULTIMATE’ NEW LAND / EXPANSION -
Awarded to the best new Land, Re-themed Area, or Major Expansion Project of the year.
 40.7% - Dinorama - Disney's Animal Kingdom
33.7% - Carolina Boardwalk - Paramount's Carowinds
25.5% - A Bugs Land / Flik's Fun Fair - Disney's California Adventure
Past winners include Edge of Africa (‘97), Star Trek: The Experience (‘98), Universal’s Islands of Adventure (‘99), Six Flags Ohio (2000) and Tokyo DisneySea (2001).
2002 “ULTIMATE” COOL RIDE NAME -
Awarded to the park that came up with the best sounding and memorable name of the year.
 26.4% - Xcelerator - Knott's Berry Farm - Intamin Rocket Coaster
16.8% - Wicked Twister - Cedar Point - Intamin Twin Spiral Impulse Coaster
16.0% - X - Six Flags Magic Mountain - Arrow 4th Dimension Coaster
10.6% - Piledriver - WWE Experience/Store - Tower Ride
10.4% - Roller Soaker - Hersheypark - Setpoint Swing Thing
10.4% - Delirium - Paramount's Great America - Chance/Morgan Revolution
4.0% - Superman: Ultimate Flight - Six Flags over Georgia - B&M Flying Coaster
2.9% - Batman: The Dark Knight - Six Flags New England - B&M Floorless
2.6% - Psyclone - Paramounts Canada's Wonderland - Mondial Flat Ride
The aptly named Xcelerator took the race. Past winners include: Alpengeist, Shivering Timbers, Rock ‘n Roller Coaster, Millennium Force and California Screamin’.
2002 “ULTIMATE” LAME RIDE NAME -
Awarded to the park that came up with the worst sounding name of the year.
28.5% - The Flying Coaster - Six Flags Elitch Gardens - Zamperla Volare
19.1% - Heimlich's Chew Chew Train - Disney's California Adventure - Mini-Train
16.1% - X - Six Flags Magic Mountain - Arrow 4th Dimension Coaster
12.7% - Big Bad John - Magic Springs - Arrow Mine Train
7.0% - Twisted Twins - Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom - Renamed Twisted Sisters
6.0% - Superman: Ultimate Flight - Six Flags over Georgia - B&M Flying Coaster
4.9% - Roller Soaker - Hersheypark - Setpoint Swing Thing
4.2% - Batman: The Dark Knight - Six Flags New England - B&M Floorless
1.4% - Meteor - Dorney Park - Zamperla Hawk
Previous Awards were given to Playstation: The Ride (‘97), Boomerang: Coast To Coaster (‘98 & ‘99), the renaming of Dinosaur from “Countdown To Extinction” (2000) and Cornball Express (2001).
2002 “ULTIMATE” COOL THEME AWARD -
Awarded to the park that designed the best looking themed appearance for a new attraction.
 25.0% - Tomb Raider - Paramount's Kings Island
19.9% - Rock 'n Roller Coaster - Walt Disney Studios Paris
18.8% - Xcelerator - Knott's Berry Farm
14.0% - A Bugs Land / Flik's Fun Fair - Disney's California Adventure
8.1% - Journey Into Imagination with Figment - Epcot
7.1% - RiverQuest - Phantasialand
3.3% - Scooby Doo Ghostblasters - Six Flags St. Louis
2.2% - Scooby Doo Ghostblasters - Six Flags Fiesta Texas
1.6% - Crossroads - Stone Mountain
Paramount makes a surprising grab for first place this year with Tomb Raider. Past winner include: Alpengeist, Star Trek: The Experience, Men In Black, Dueling Dragons and Grizzly River Run.
2002 “ULTIMATE” LAME THEME AWARD -
Awarded to the park that designed or budget cut to end up with the worst looking attraction.
 35.0% - Primeval Whirl - Disney's Animal Kingdom
31.5% - Batman: The Dark Knights - Six Flags New England
23.2% - Meteor - Dorney Park
10.3% - Rock 'n Roller Coaster - Walt Disney Studios Paris
Normally Disney isn’t even in this category. They came close to winning last year with Superstar Limo and they took the “prize” this year with Primeval Whirl. Previous winners include: Superman: The Escape, Doo Whopper, Two-Face: The Flip Side, Superman: Ultimate Escape, and Batwing.
2002 “ULTIMATE” ON THE RIGHT TRACK AWARD -
Awarded to the park that, if they continue, will be on the path to greatness.
 33.8% - Knott's Berry Farm - Xcelerator , the world's 1st Intamin Rocket Coaster
31.7% - Disney's California Adventure - Opening Bugs and starting Twilight Zone
21.6% - Six Flags Retro Fit of Premier Rides coasters w/ Lap Bar only restraints
5.2% - La Ronde - Adding Le Vampire and building this park up with new capital
4.4% - Paramount's Great America - Adding a large quality flat ride (Delirium)
3.3% - Paramounts Canada's Wonderland - Another Killer Flat Ride (Psyclone)
This makes the third time that Knott’s has taken this award. The park park’s should take note since they seem to be doing something right! Previous winners include Adventure World (now Six Flags America) in ‘97, Knott’s Berry Farm in ‘98 and ‘99 for Supreme Scream & GhostRider, Six Flags Ohio in 2000, and Busch Gardens Williamsburg in 2001.
2002 “ULTIMATE” YAWN AWARD -
Awarded to the park that installed the most boring attraction of the year.
 24.7% - A Bugs Land / Flik's Fun Fair - Disney's California Adventure
24.2% - Garfield's Pounce & Bounce - Kennywood - Frog Hopper style flat ride
17.6% - The Flying Coaster - Six Flags Elitch Gardens
13.4% - Shipwreck Falls - Six Flags Darien Lake - Off the shelf ride\
12.7% - Kiddie Rides & Ripcord - Michigan's Adventure
7.5% - Meteor - Dorney Park - Zamperla Hawk
Disney takes the award for the third time in a row! Previous winners have been: Light Magic & Bernestein Bear Country (tie ‘97), Rocket Rods (‘98) Bugs Bunny World (‘99) at SFMM, Journey Into Your Imagination at Epcot (2000) and Superstar Limo at Disney’s California Adventure (2001).
2002 “ULTIMATE” WE SAW THIS COMING AWARD -
Awarded to the park that took the most predictable action based upon past history.
 33.3% - Journey Into Imagination with Figment - The 3rd version of the ride
22.4% - Paramount's Carowinds & Kings Dominion - More Wild Mice
20.1% - La Ronde - Le Vampire, a Batman: The Ride clone
18.1% - Alton Towers - AIR, the long awaited B&M prototype flying coaster
6.2% - Phantasialand - Wuze Town opened after being delayed for a year
This is the first time Disney has won this award. Previous winners: Batman: The Ride SFOG (‘97), Boomerang SFDL (‘98), Batman: The Ride SFOT (‘99), Hurricane Harbor SFGAdv (2000), Camp Snoopy @ WOF (2001).
2002 “ULTIMATE” WE’RE NOT WORTHY! AWARD -
Awarded to the park that surprised everyone by buying an expensive and well crafted attraction.
 25.5% - Xcelerator - Knott's Berry Farm
21.3% - X - Six Flags Magic Mountain
12.8% - Six Flags adding Lap Bar only trains to all Premier Rides LIM coasters
12.1% - Superman: Ultimate Flight - Six Flags over Georgia
9.6% - Colossus - Thorpe Park
9.5% - Goliath - Six Flags Holland
9.3% - Tomb Raider - Paramount's Kings Island
It was a Southern California Standoff for this one. Previous Winners: Chang (‘97), Shivering Timbers (‘98), Spider-man (‘99), Millennium Force (2000), and Soarin’ Over California (2001).
2002 “ULTIMATE” OUCH, THAT HURT! AWARD -
Awarded to the park that installed the most painful new ride of the year.
48.1% - The Flying Coaster - Six Flags Elitch Gardens
26.4% - Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain - Indiana Beach
25.5% - Jubilee Odyssey - Fantasy Island
This was another rough choice this year since there were so few new painful rides. Plus one previous winner has been scrapped and two others modified to become pain free. Previous winners include: Windjammer (‘97), The Chiller (‘98), Joker’s Jinx (‘99), Son of Beast (2000) and Eraser (2001).
2002 “ULTIMATE” WE SAT ON OUR ASS & DID NOTHING! AWARD -
Awarded to the park that did the least to promote growth and higher attendance this year.
 21.9% - Islands of Adventure
12.5% - Disneyland
9.4% - Busch Gardens Williamsburg
8.7% - WDW - Magic Kingdom
8.3% - Busch Gardens Tampa
5.5% - Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
5.2% - Six Flags Worlds of Adventure
4.2% - Jazzland
4.0% - Universal Studios Florida
3.6% - Six Flags Great Adventure
3.2% - Visionland
3.0% - WDW - Disney/MGM Studios
2.9% - Valleyfair
2.1% - Lake Compounce
2.1% - Six Flags Great America
1.7% - Silver Dollar City
1.7% - Six Flags over Texas
Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure took the award for the second time in a row! Previous Awards have been given to Universal Studios Hollywood (‘97), Kennywood (‘98), MGM Grand Adventures (‘99), Walt Disney World (2000), and Islands of Adventure (2001).
2002 “ULTIMATE” ABOUT TIME AWARD -
Given to a park that made a move that was long overdue.
 30.9% - Epcot - Revamping the hated ride and returning Figment as the focus
30.5% - Disney's California Adventure - New attractions & starting Twilight Zone
15.6% - Six Flags Darien Lake - Adding a new ride after a three year gap
12.2% - Six Flags Astroworld - Including Waterworld in park admission
10.7% - Thorpe Park - Pushing the limits to make the first 10 Inversion Coaster
Previous Awards went to: Six Flags Over Georgia for Batman: The Ride (‘97), Knott’s Berry Farm for Supreme Scream (‘98), Epcot for opening Test Track (‘99), SeaWorld Florida for Kraken (2000) and Busch Gardens Williamsburg (2001).
2002 “ULTIMATE” LICENSED PROPERTY AWARD -
Given to the best Entertainment Property transformed into a ride or themed land.
 43.4% - Tomb Raider - Paramount's Kings Island
19.1% - Flik's Fun Fair - Disney's California Adventure
19.0% - Superman: Ultimate Flight - Six Flags over Georgia
10.2% - Lego Racers 4D - Legoland
8.2% - Batman: The Dark Knight - Six Flags New England
It looks like Paramount’s Tomb Raider franchise rights are exceptionally strong as Laura Croft wins by a landslide. Six Flags took the award for the Batman franchise in 2001. Previously Universal took the award for two years in a row with Men In Black (2000) and Marvel Super Heros (‘99). Paramount last won it in ‘98 with Star Trek: The Experience.
2002 “ULTIMATE” HATED ATTRACTION WE’D LIKE TO SEE REMOVED -
Given to the park ride or attraction that we feel the world would benefit if the plug was pulled.
 40.6% - Flashback - Six Flags Magic Mountain - Intamin Space Diver
31.9% - Viper - Six Flags Great Adventure - TOGO Heartline Coaster
16.3% - Grizzly - Paramount's Great America - Custom Wood Coaster
11.3% - Hercules - Dorney Park - Custom Wood Coaster
It looks like the dislike for Flashback has reached a new high. It’s been in the running for the entire history of our Awards but has never won it until now. Previous dishonors went to Journey Into Your Imagination (2000), Windjammer (‘99 and now closed) and PGA’s Grizzly coaster (‘98). The history of the award’s past nominees is starting to look more like a crystal ball of the future. Other attractions previously listed that have been closed or remodeled Mr. Lincoln (Disneyland), Hall of Presidents (Magic Kingdom), Black Widow (Riverside), Vampire (SFKK) and Superstar Limo (DCA).
2002 “ULTIMATE” BEST REMOVED ATTRACTION -
Given to the attraction that we’re most grateful that it was removed, replaced or remodeled.
 27.9% - Superstar Limo - Disney's California Adventure
11.9% - King Cobra - Paramount's Kings Island
10.6% - Shockwave - Six Flags Great America
9.0% - Kongfrontation - Universal Studios Florida
8.7% - Joker's Revenge - Six Flags Fiesta Texas
8.6% - Hitchcock Theater - Universal Studios Florida
8.0% - Wild Wild Wild West Stunt Show - Universal Studios Hollywood
7.4% - Funtastic World of Hanna Barberra - Universal Studios Florida
4.1% - Evolution - Six Flags Great Adventure
4.0% - Rotor - The Great Escape
Disney takes the award for two years straight now by removing the dud Dark Ride. Previous winners were: Days of Thunder (‘98), Bettlejuice’s Graveyard Review USH (‘99), Windjammer (2000) and Doug’s Live Show (2001).
2002 “ULTIMATE” WORST ATTRACTION REMOVED -
Given to the attraction that we are most upset that it has been removed.
 27.6% - Kongfrontation - Universal Studios Florida
15.1% - Vertigo - Cedar Point & Knott's Berry Farm
10.4% - Tidal Wave / Greezed Lightnin - Paramount's Great America
9.7% - Shockwave - Six Flags Great America
9.1% - King Cobra - Paramount's Kings Island
5.1% - Wild Wild Wild West Stunt Show - Universal Studios Hollywood
4.9% - Funtastic World of Hanna Barberra - Universal Studios Florida
4.7% - Hitchcock Theater - Universal Studios Florida
4.0% - Phantom Theater - Paramount's Kings Island
3.7% - Joker's Revenge - Six Flags Fiesta Texas
3.4% - Dracula's Castle - Wildwood Area Attractions
2.3% - Evolution - Six Flags Great Adventure
Guests mobbed the park to say goodbye to the big ape on his last day and the love for the big ape continues it seems. Previous awards were given to Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride (‘98), Drachen Fire (‘99), the Magic Kingdom’s Skyway (2000) and Disneyland’s Country Bear Jamboree (2001).
2002 “ULTIMATE” OOPS! AWARD -
Given to the park or attraction that had the biggest "OOPS" moment.
 45.5% - Déjà vu - After 2nd year the ride's all still have tons of problems
20.5% - Vertical Velocity - SFMW - Rebuild after determined to be too tall
16.1% - Vertigo - Cedar Point - Rare Vortex Shedding effect caused collapse
9.8% - Piledriver - WWE Experience/Store - Opened ride without permits
4.6% - Desperado - Coaster closed for weeks after a wheel fell off
3.4% - Cliff's New Mexico Rattler - CCI closing up shop before complete
This marks the return of the “Oops!” award after being absent for the past couple of years. Though the award’s return is new... the problems that plague the winner are not as Six Flags experiences the true meaning of Deja Vu yet again.
The Following “OVERALL” Awards include all current parks and attractions, not just the new attractions that opened in 2002.
TOP 10 - 2002 “ULTIMATE’ FAVORITE OVERALL THEME/AMUSEMENT PARK
 #1 - Cedar Point (Last Year - #1)
#2 - Islands of Adventure (Last Year Tied for #1)
#3 - Disneyland (#3)
#4 - Six Flags Magic Mountain (#4)
#5 - Magic Kingdom (#6)
#6 - Busch Gardens Williamsburg (#7)
#6 - Epcot (#11)
#8 - Disney/MGM Studios (#8)
#9 - Six Flags Great Adventure (#9)
#10 - Paramount’s Kings Island (#13)
TOP 10 - 2002 “ULTIMATE” FAVORITE OVERALL NON-COASTER THRILL RIDES
 #1 - The Adventures of Spiderman - Islands Of Adventure (Last Year - #1)
** - S&S Tower Rides (All Styles Combined would rank #2)
#2 - Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror - Disney/MGM Studios (#2)
** - Intamin Tower Rides (All Styles Combined would rank #4)
#3 - KMG / Chance Afterburner Style Rides (N/A)
#4 - S&S Space Shot - Big Shot, Maliboomer, Dr Doom’s Fearfall (#9)
#4 - S&S Turbo Drop - Supreme Scream (#10)
#6 - Tomb Raider - Paramount’s Kings Island (N/A)
#7 - Indiana Jones Adventure - Disneyland (#5)
#8 - Intamin Giant Drops - Drop Zone, PittFall, etc... (N/A)
#9 - S&S Combo Towers - The Scream (N/A)
#10 - Huss Frisbee (N/A)
TOP 10 - 2002 “ULTIMATE” FAVORITE OVERALL DARK RIDE
 #1 - The Adventures of Spiderman - Islands Of Adventure (Last Year - #1)
#2 - Tomb Raider - Paramount’s Kings Island (New)
#3 - Haunted Mansion - Magic Kingdom (#2)
#4 - Indiana Jones Adventure - Disneyland (#4)
#5 - Haunted Mansion - Disneyland (#2)
#6 - Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror - Disney/MGM Studios (#6)
#7 - Men In Black - Universal Studios Florida (#5)
#8 - Haunted House - Knoebels (#9)
#9 - Pirates of the Caribbean - Disneyland (#7)
#9 - Scooby Doo’s Ghostblaster / Scary Swamp - Six Flags St. Louis (New)
TOP 10 - 2002 “ULTIMATE” FAVORITE OVERALL WATER RIDE
 #1 - Splash Mountain - Magic Kingdom (#1)
#2 - Dudley Do Right’s Ripsaw Falls - Islands of Adventure (#2)
#3 - Splash Mountain - Disneyland (#4)
#4 - Perilous Plunge - Knott’s Berry Farm (#6)
#5 - Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges - Island of Adventure (#4)
#6 - Journey To Atlantis - SeaWorld Florida (#7)
#7 - Grizzly River Run - Disney’s California Adventure (#3)
#8 - Roller Soaker - Hersheypark (New)
#9 - Jurassic Park - Islands of Adventure (#9)
#10 - RiverQuest - Phantasialand (New)
TOP 10 - 2002 “ULTIMATE” FAVORITE OVERALL WOOD ROLLER COASTER
 #1 - GhostRider - Knott’s Berry Farm (Last Year - #1)
#2 - The Beast - Paramount’s Kings Island (#2)
** - Gwazi Lion & Gwazi Tiger Combined would rank #3
#3 - Son of Beast - Paramount’s Kings Island (#5)
#4 - Lightning Racer - Hersheypark (#3)
#4 - Raven - Holiday World (#8)
#6 - Shivering Timbers - Michigan’s Adventure (#6)
#7 - Gwazi Tiger - Busch Gardens Tampa (#12)
#8 - Boulder Dash - Lake Compounce (#7)
#9 - Legend - Holiday World (#10)
#9 - Tonerre De Zeus - Parc Asterix (#12)
TOP 10 - 2002 “ULTIMATE” FAVORITE OVERALL STEEL ROLLER COASTER
 #1 - Millennium Force - Cedar Point (Last Year - #1)
#2 - X - Six Flags Magic Mountain (New)
#3 - Incredible Hulk - Islands Of Adventure (#2)
#4 - Superman: Ride Of Steel - Six Flags New England (#3)
#5 - Rock ‘n Roller Coaster - Disney/MGM Studios (#7)
#6 - Nitro - Six Flags Great Adventure (#4)
#6 - Goliath - Six Flags Magic Mountain (#5)
#8 - Expedition Ge-Force - Holiday Park (#6)
#9 - Xcelerator - Knott’s Berry Farm (New)
#10 - Superman: Ultimate Flight - Six Flags over Georgia (New)
TOP 10 - 2002 “ULTIMATE’ FAVORITE OVERALL WATER PARK
 #1 - Blizzard Beach - Walt Disney World
#2 - Schlitterbahn - New Braunfels, TX
#3 - Typhoon Lagoon - Walt Disney World
#4 - Raging Waters - San Dimas, CA
#5 - Soak City USA - Cedar Point
#6 - Wet ‘n Wild - Orlando, FL
#7 - Water Country USA - Williamsburg, VA
#8 - Holiday World & Splashin Safari - Santa Claus, IN
#9 - Noah’s Ark - Wisconson Dells
#10 - Hurricane Harbor @ Six Flags Great Adventure - New Jersey
That’s a wrap people! Thanks for visiting and voting in the 6th Annual Screamscape Ultimate Awards. We enjoyed having you and invite everyone to return next year because this thing just keeps getting bigger!
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