Over the last year I’ve tried a fair few types of coaster but there must be a reason 2/3 of my top 3 coasters are woodies. Okay, I’ve only been on 2 but they are both regarded as the best wooden coasters in the country (there’s not much competition to be fair) so I’m putting them head to head and I’ll give you my opinion on each one.
Wicker Man is a 2018 GCI family coaster based at Alton Towers with millennium flyer trains, world class theming and use of fire and effects.
Megafobia is a 1996 CCI based at Oakwood Theme Park and features tonnes of airtime, a wicked first drop and beautiful views of Pembrokeshire so which one is better?
This question is extremely hard because they are both beautiful in different ways. Wicker Man is the younger, sleeker and sexier one whilst Megafobia is the older, more experienced one. It’s definitely about taste.
TRAINS/CARS
Wicker Man’s Millennium flyer trains are flawlessly designed with comfortable seats but the restraint is very restrictive. Megafobia’s trains are pretty much stock vehicles and they have a bright orange lap bar and seatbelt so it’s double the restraint with less airtime restriction. Overall the Wicker Man trains flow better throughout the layout and I actually like the restraint system.
Winner: Wicker Man
TRACK/LAYOUT
I won’t spoil either layout but each coaster has its pro’s and con’s. Megafobia relies on speed, steep drops and airtime to thrill riders. The coaster isn’t rough but definitely has a couple of jolts at the end which does whip you into your co-rider. Wicker Man is more about banked turns and smaller drops which helps gather speed. I love the smooth track design and it’s profiled perfectly. My only problem is the fact it’s a pretty short ride. Overall I would say Megafobia wins this section. My only improvement would be to make the banked turns steeper and to iron out the jolts.
Winner: Megafobia
QUEUE
Do I really need to go through this? Wicker Man has the best queue in the country. You see a different perspective at every corner, the music is outstanding, the “no food beyond this point” sign is legendary (despite having a shop a few yards before it), the show building is amazing and it’s a full experience in itself. Megafobia has restricted views and you can only see the top of the lift hill when you approach the station. The music is great and the bushes surrounding the queue are nice but it’s certainly lacking in comparison. The wasps really take the piss in the Megafobia queue too. I mean, in hot weather it’s ridiculous. They were hanging round a bin and guests were dodging them all day. Not good at all.
Winner: Wicker Man
STATION
Megafobia has a wooden shelter. It’s not impressive but the ride more than makes up for the negativities. Don’t forget Oakwood doesn’t have the attendance or funding compared to Alton Towers. Wicker Man has a gorgeous station with a genuine sinister vibe. The fire effect at the back of the station looks so good and the lighting adds to the overall experience.
Winner: Wicker Man
INTENSITY
Megafobia is incredibly intense from start to finish. It’s like a wooden Nemesis. It’s genuinely thrilling throughout and every airtime moment flows into the next. I’m still blown away by this coaster and really hope to ride it again next year. Wicker Man can be very intense but never mind numbingly intense. The best ride I’ve had on it was in the rain at the end of the day with all effects working. It was flying around the track but I think the smoothness takes away some of the intensity and there’s no ‘arse in your throat’ moment you get on Megafobia.
Winner: Megafobia
THEMING
Wicker Man’s theming still blows me away. The “Big Bob” structure is incredibly intimidating and the pre-show room/station is fully themed from floor to ceiling. This along with the music makes this a clear winner. I would talk about Megafobia’s theme but I doesn’t really have one. The Creepy Crawler Pinfari at Oakwood is actually better themed than the star attraction (it actually has a theme).
Winner: Wicker Man
OVERALL WINNER: Wicker Man
So there’s my honest opinion on both coasters. If it was based on just the coaster, Megafobia would definitely win but Wicker Man has more to offer. If ‘fobia got a GCI re-track and some kickass theming I would 100% put it as my number 1 so it sits at number 3, under Wickie and Nemesis. Wicker Man has an intense and fun layout with exceptional theming and a world class pre show. It fully deserves to be my favourite coaster.
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