Tac Talks Coasters - Post 190
Photo Sources: All photos are mine
Snoopy's Soap Box Racers at Kings Island!
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Opened: 2024
Manufacturer: Vekoma
Height: 75.5 ft (23 m)
Speed: 37.3 mph (60 kph)
Length: 672.6 ft (205 m)
Place in my rankings: #121 (landing between Pandemonium at Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Cedar Creek Mine Ride at Cedar Point)
It's that time again! I rode two new coasters at Kings Island about a week and a half ago, so that means you guys get two new coaster posts! I think going forward, TTC posts will be listed in the order I get new credits, rather than ranking them in batches. That way, the number at the top matches the number in my progression of credits haha. I'll still have where they fall in my rankings listed above of course (though the rankings listed on the posts I have linked - Pandemonium and CCMR in this case - won't be up to date with my current rankings since I move things around a lot lol)
Anyways, with that out of the way, let's talk about Snoopy's Soap Box Racers! This was my first time riding one of Vekoma's Family Boomerang coasters. I'd heard good things about them for awhile now, so I was definitely looking forward to getting to try one, and it didn't disappoint! It wasn't the most mind blowing thing ever of course, it is still meant to appeal to all ages, but I thought it was super fun! It makes a great stepping stone coaster in the park for kids who are ready to move on from the park's smaller rides like the Great Pumpkin Coaster or Woodstock Express, but aren't quite ready to tackle the more intermediate rides like Queen City Stunt Coaster or Adventure Express.
In terms of thrill, I'd put it about on par with the neighboring Woodstock's Air Rail, since they both offer something new for kids while not being too much. Woodstock's Air Rail hangs below the track and has a bit more forces, where as this goes both forwards and backwards with more banked turns and a bit more speed. The fact that Soap Box Racers is right next to Woodstock's Air Rail also makes for a great showcase in how much Vekoma has evolved over the years. Air Rail, built in 2001, is one of Vekoma's old Suspended Family Coasters, commonly nicknamed Hang and Bangs, due to their roughness. Snoopy's Soap Box Racers, by comparison, is absolutely glass smooth. These Family Boomerangs, along with all the other newer high thrill coasters Vekoma has put out over the last decade or so really goes to show how much they've reinvented themselves.
As for the ride experience itself, there's not too much going on here but it really doesn't need to be overly complicated for what it is. You go up a backwards lift before it releases the train, sending you back through the station and through the course going forward. You then wind through a figure eight shaped course of banked turns right up along the ground before rising up an inclined spike towards the front side of the ride. This then sends the train backwards through the course and returning to the station. Again, not a whole lot to the ride but still a lot of fun for what it is ^^
So yeah, I'd say a very solid family coaster, bordering on family-thrill. I also thought the theming of the ride was very cute and super well done. You guys know me, I'm a big Peanuts fan, so I found the whole thing to be super charming. I liked getting to ride the Esnupi Coaster :3
Thanks for checking out today's coaster post! Keep an eye out for tomorrow's coaster!
