The 20 BEST Changes Ever Made to Coasters

Coasters rarely stay the same over the course of their lives. These are the BEST changes ever made to coasters around the world, as voted on by my followers on Instagram.
My Raw Footage Channel: / @airtimethrillsrawfoot...
My baseball channel: Home Run Productions - / @homerunproductions162
Canobie Coaster: Boulder Dash - • Boulder Dash Review & ...
Canobie Coaster: Mr Freeze - • Mr. Freeze Off-Ride Fo...
David Ellis: Ninja - • Ninja (Blue Hawk) - 20...
Sean Flaharty: Steel Phantom - • Steel Phantom's Final ...
Sean Flaharty: Hades - • POV of Hades - Mt. Oly...
ElToroRyan: Fuji Q Highland - • Coaster Idiots Ride Th...
Theme Park Worldwide: Stealth - • Stealth Review - THORP...
Coaster Crutchfield: Ghostrider - • Ghostrider Front Row (...
Cow Missing: Ghostrider - • Ghost Rider Roller Coa...
Kennywood: / @kennywoodofficial
Alton Towers: / @officialaltontowers
Kings Dominion: / @kingsdominionva
Kings Island: / @kingsislandpr
Six Flags Over Georgia: / @officialsixflagsoverg...
Knott's Berry Farm: / @knottsberryfarm
S&S Worldwide: / @ssworldwideinc.4141
Morey's Piers: / @themoreyspiers
Six Flags New England: / @officialsixflagsnewen...
Fun Spot America Theme Parks: / @funspotamericathemeparks
Worlds of Fun: / @worldsoffunkc
Thorpe Park: / @thorpeparkofficial
Intamin Amusement Rides: / @intaminofficial
Music in this video:
Muriel - Bobby Richards
Black Vulture
Nimbus

[@intaminofficial]

So happy your community considered the Skyrush upgrade as the best ever made! Thank you so much 💙

[@kr1stinabee]

quick humble brag that I've operated Mr. Freeze both forwards and backwards and either way it was one of my favorite rides to operate.

[@JoJoC654]

that is awsome, brag away

[@iamdigbick4675]

I would be so interested to see a video that has the opposite premise as this one. The worst changes ever to happen to roller coasters. I remember Montu used to not have trim brakes before the Batwing element. You would usually wake up from graying out as you hit the trim brakes. Most people don't even know that the brakes were added.

[@Keystone_Koasters]

Theme Park Crazy did actually make a video on that topic

[@OneOne7Rih]

Buddy That Was Coming Regardless Trust That .. In 7 Days.

[@andrewqi7404]

It was too intense for most people, that trim break is needed

[@jonengler1296]

Montezoomas Revenge would be in this video 👀

[@AirtimeThrills]

Check back here next thursday for that

[@themeparkguy2525]

Anybody else see the multiple phones fly out in the sky rush clip??? Certified pocket emptyer

[@Kyle_The_Mighty]

Hershey has the free lockers near that ride so I don't mess around. Everything goes in there, even if I have buttoned pockets

[@poppasmurf15]

Changing Buzzsaw Falls from a boring water coaster into a very respectable launching coaster would be in my top 5!!!!

[@Heatherofscots]

TBH, I would have been disappointed if Phantom wasn't on here. Having renewed my passion for roller coasters in roughly the last year , I have considerably increased my coaster count. I just rode PR twice on this dreary morning and it still stands up to some of the best in North America.

[@memesrct_official]

Do the top ten short-lived roller coasters in the planet!

[@edt-ze3ke]

Harley Quinn is definitely an example of that

[@christianortiz793]

I have to say, GhosRider with the new GCI trains was one of the most forceful experiences of my life! Excellent job GCI & Knott's!

[@cynicanal111]

The much better change on the Mr. Freeze coasters was switching from OTSRs from lapbars. I slightly prefer forwards over backwards on these, but it doesn't make much difference; however, OTSRs to lapbars made it go from "not fun at all" to "amazing".

[@brianmacdonald7297]

I can confirm the awfulness of the original Flight of Fear. I rode it right after opening in 1996, and it beat me up so badly I couldn't ride anything else and eventually just left.

[@zikikki1]

Those shoulder harnesses on the Flight of Fear coasters were BRUTAL.

[@justiceleaguebattleformetr9239]

I’ve been hoping for years that Six Flags St. Louis would turn 1 train on Mr. Freeze forwards. Still hasn’t happened yet, but I’m hopeful that it’ll happen soon

[@bigpboy1012]

I was surprised the Flights of Fear were on the list for getting lap bars while Poltergeist and Joker's Jinx were left out.

[@AirtimeThrills]

Thats a good call. They should have all shared a spot

[@thedashcamkid6175]

Video idea: Best food you have had in amusement parks.

[@mikes6457]

gravy fries at the potato patch. Also, farmhouse grill at cedar point

[@605coasters]

Even as someone who actually liked the lapbars of Skyrush, but seeing people enjoy it, I'm happy. Those new Intamin lapbars are great, and they're just as open feeling as Skyrush's original lapbars, so I like it. It doesn't appear to take away from the ride experience, and it lets people enjoy what is, imo, the greatest coaster ever created.

[@seankearns8303]

You should absolutely do a video on the best coasters that were built in-house by their own parks (for example, Cannibal)

[@AirtimeThrills]

Now Cannibal is under the ART Engineering umbrella

[@macsignals]

I rode Steel Force at Dorney last month about six times, can confirm it also received the Mamba treatment. Definitely pulled some near- if not full on Magnum XL-200 level airtime on those ending bunny hills.

[@collegeluvr]

Agree! Dare I say Steel Force is close to being “elite”?

[@kingsislandfanboy]

The 2020, 2023 and 2024 Gravity Group Racer retracks should be included to. Both Racers have great sustained floater on every hill all the way until the turn arounds

[@Fools_Requiem]

I road Mamba last year, shortly after watching the POV footage that someone had posted on YT. On YT, the ride seems to die at the trim break before the bunny hills, and the whole ride just kinda looked slow. When I road it last year, it barely slowed down before the bunny hills. Mr Freeze at St Louis starting backwards is a fantastic defining feature. For a park that really doesn't have much special going for it, Mr Freeze stands out.

[@sdw92able]

I love the LOVE Worlds of Fun is getting lately.

[@theventuracountyrailfan]

It would be cool to see an updated artifacts video from magic mountain

[@deedsyosu071]

Changing the restraints on maverick was absolutely clutch, I avoided that ride for a long time because it was such a head banger, now I enjoy it more every time I ride it

[@rosariobono438]

An honorable mention/joke mention for worst change could be changing the perfect soundtrack of California screamin’ when it was rethemed to incredicoaster. Also you should definitely include hyperspace mountain at Disneyland Paris, as the loss of the from the earth to the moon theming was a significant downgrade

[@TheGuyShow458]

Video idea: which manufacturer has the best defunct coasters

[@carysage]

Out of coasters I've ridden I'd say Wolverine Wildcat is the most improved. The Titan track drop and reprofiled airtime hills are incredible. I've been lapping that thing since it opened in 1988 and it has never run better than it did last year.

[@OklahomaCoasterFan]

Over 2 visits, I enjoyed my rides on it in 2019, but I totally loved my 2023 rides! Shivering Timbers was quite brutal on last year's visit, so I was riding WW a lot more. I still like ST more, but it's a smaller gap now.

[@infinitecoasters8769]

One that isn’t on here is Wildcat at Lake Compounce. The Gravity Group retrack did wonders and I’ll be checking it out soon, I’ve heard nothing but amazing things.

[@ctskifreaks]

I came here looking for this comment - between that and Boulder Dash getting Titan Trash, it seems like LC does care

[@Posirep]

Yeah it's great for 80% of the ride and then you hit that last 20% and you remember you're riding Wildcat. It needed a full retracking and didn't get it

[@AirtimeThrills]

The last retrack on wildcat is actually on the bad list

[@Posirep]

@AirtimeThrills Yeah but we're talking about the one that just got finished in which made the ride good except the last couple hundred feet they didn't bother to retrack cuz Palace cheapness.

[@SlimFury]

You will enjoy the new restraints on Skyrush. I have gotten to ride it a bunch of times and it is a massive upgrade.

[@SkyrushFanboy]

I've heard that the laterals are significantly lessened though, so I'm a bit worried that it was made less intense, but I guess I'll find out whenever I go this year

[@JoJoC654]

finally an american acknowledges that stealth is the fastest accelerating coaster, thanks airtime thrills

[@ducksfan_1149]

cry harder 🦅🦅🦅🦅🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@Derangedlefty]

It’s not imagine being this susceptible to false advertising suck my national anthem singing, gun blazing, cowboy hat wearing, beer drinking, 100% all American dick

[@HugeRMCFanBoY-bx3od]

Maxx force is definitely the fastest 💯🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@JoJoC654]

@@HugeRMCFanBoY-bx3od but it factually aint though 🤣

[@coasterstudies]

Xcelerator is faster 🦅🦅🦅🦅🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@lamarcorlis2081]

Thanks for the upload, I've been binge watching your channel lately and learning so much

[@stevenohlson5476]

MAMBA absolutely slaps now.

[@CalvinHughes-Thomas]

I’ve watched this guy from his first video and it’s amazing to see his progression (I watched it on a diffrent account until recently)

[@AirtimeThrills]

It's good I don't make em like I used to

[@michael7054]

Great video! Great video idea! I really enjoyed watching this!

[@dubvuchyea502]

You forgot to mention the best change made to Son of Beast.... tearing it down

[@AirtimeThrills]

This guy

[@MakBot]

I'm a notorious Skyrush hater and tried out the new restraints the past weekend. They are amazing! Also, while waiting to unload on the breakrun before you return to the station, the bars pop up a couple inches to alleviate any added pressure that the ride's forces may have added to the bars.

[@BoyRoy18]

Here i am, again with python from efteling. The retrack from 2018 is still realy loved by everyone, making a bumpy ride in a smooth one. But i heard some guest complane about the famus python hill. Then i asked my college's if it was true, they sad it was true. The turnarond after the second loop was to large for the space, so they sortend the hill after the second loop. This made this hill ejectur for the fiste copple rows. It launched you out your sead. This was loved by apperently a lot of guest. When i talk with older guest about the retrack and they mantion riding it sinds 1981, they love the retrack but deffenitly mis the highlight, the injecter airtime hill after the second loop.

[@UniversalAddicts]

Airtime Thrills never runs out of ideas!

[@AirtimeThrills]

My calendar is overflowing for the rest of 2024

[@CzarBarry]

Another great change to Mr Freeze; it opened with over the shoulder restraints (at least at OT) that were guaranteed to destroy your ears. They switched to lapbars long before turning the trains around

[@maxpowr90]

Aww, I was expecting Goliath at Six Flags New England! /s

[@AirtimeThrills]

Next week, its high on the list

[@Jackrabbit9961]

I might have to try Flight of Fear again. I rode it with the over the shoulder and said never again because of the head banging.

[@F4celess_Angel]

Tonnerre 2 Zeus at Parc Asterix is also an amazing change. That GG retrack is phenomenal.

[@calebpatterson5300]

Grizzly was one of the most surprising coasters I’ve ever been on. I got on it last year, pretty fresh after the re track work and it was great. You’ve got the big three at that park, but Grizzly is now #4 in the park in my opinion.

[@MrChuckGrape]

Another great list!

[@ChazolaCola]

Adimant mamba defender I gotta think you got a bad ride or something I’ve been to parks all over and that return is wild now

[@busfan9874]

Yes! Rode Skyrush yesterday with the new restraints and it was great!

[@topbaker4651]

You used to have to remove earrings on Viper at MM when it opened !! Those lovely over the shoulder restraints right by your ears, your head getting banged around like a ping pong ball. I miss those days !!

[@AirtimeThrills]

Once youre tall enough its all good tho

[@Yonkunderscore]

Not sure if anyone has commented yet, but stealth at Thorpe Park used to be 0-80 in 2.3 seconds, so the increase to 1.8 seconds was actually a very significant boost!

[@lamarcorlis2081]

Ghostrider's 2016 Refurbishment is my favorite change to any coaster 😊

[@alex33952]

I like ice breaker so much more now. Just rode it end of February, underrated really good ride

[@mikes6457]

speaking of Mamba, I recently rode Steel Force at Dorney Park and compared to 2020, that thing was on another level. Awesome ride!

[@jhlando8063]

The Gaunlet at Magic Springs is a Vekoma SLC and it has aged very very well. It opened in 2004 and I rode it for the first time a few years ago and it was so smooth.

[@ScottyMania313]

Steel Phantom was my very first coaster inversion. My 2nd ever was Cedar Point's Raptor. Raptor is way better. When I was a little whipper snapper, I was happy with my one and only ride on Steel Phantom. The first two drops were cool & then it went downhill really fast. Luckily, they kept the first 2 hills on the upgrade, literally the best part of Steel Phantom, besides the OG paint job.

[@jerseymiike]

Another great change that should've been included is any B&M Standup converted to a floorless.

[@LanesAviationYT]

Video idea: Rank the top 10 tallest coasters you have ridden.

[@toastterrrr8957]

Great video as always man!! I know you let fans pick the changes for you but what i would’ve added is the outer bank turn on wicked cyclone that wasn’t originally going to be added to the ride. it is one of the best moments on that ride and any ride I’ve been on.

[@carminecdinoproductions]

Please do another video on the topic, which would be a part 2!

[@AirtimeThrills]

Possibly if theres another good set of changes

[@scory22]

Rode Mine Blower for the first time last month and it was definitely much smoother than I anticipated. I'd forgotten about the RMC retrack

[@bigc1280]

You missed wildcat at Lake Compounce, It is so much better this year with the retracking!

[@mt_xing]

Hershey Park's Intamins still have hard shell restraints. The park just added some soft padding around the hard shell. They're not new restraints like on Maverick or 305. I never noticed until I went with one of my very tall friends and he complained that the hard shell on Fahrenheit was still digging into his shoulders in a way that Maverick's never did.

[@AirtimeThrills]

Really...i didnt notice, but wasnt paying super close attention

[@clairefunnell8481]

Whatever it takes to make them run better. Still love to ride The Beast.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@user-ny5ek3ru4u]

I rode Skyrush many times with the old "thigh crush" restraints, they always seemed to lock down even harder during the ride. Today I rode it with the new restraints, and it was a LOT better, the restraints didn't lock down harder during the ride.

[@Loveyallwhowatchthischannel]

I want to be a coasterbuilder and you airtime thrills decide to name it❤❤❤❤ i watch your video do much and you are one of my fav channels❤❤❤

[@zacdavid184]

I said way back when that it would be awesome if the Mr. Freezes ran one backwards- and one forwards-facing train, and I'm so glad at least Texas has done so.

[@thesamesunrise5297]

You were absolutely waiting for the new skyrush restraints to make this video LOL

[@jiru331]

thank you for being one of my comfort youtubers

[@Splater765]

Back in January, I was actually in a minor car accident that whipped me forward and beat me up. Needless to say it was a smoother experience than Grizzly pre the retrack.

[@AirtimeThrills]

Yeah I actually called 2022 Grizzly a car crash. I guess I wasn't far off

[@ChibiProwl]

Ouch.😮 Are you doing alright?😮

[@MarsJenkar]

@@AirtimeThrills I still remember the paint mixer clip you threw in on that vlog entry.

[@ajaypujara6273]

Being a coaster enthusiast and living in Vegas . I would ride the manhattan express almost every day when I would get off work 🙃😂

[@JonnyUlasien]

Mamba's lift used to slow down the train to a crawl at the top and they reprogramed it so you have more speed going into the first drop. It's overall a much better ride than it used to be.

[@soylentbob6725]

Number one should be "All the RMC's". 🤣

[@extro-order]

Just quickly, for Nemesis Reborn although the changes have been overall positive and I myself while not being a local am a big fan of Nemesis and went on the opening day of Reborn, there were 2 things that disappointed me, 1 The main complaint of roughness at the end, they said it could be the drip trays or the sand in the track, I hope it is the drip trays because they said the can fix that. 2 They NEED to bring back the front row queue or let you wait a train or 2 to go on front row. But I do think that the area of Forbidden Valley is much better with Nemesis Reborn.

[@ytcomment4242]

The B&M Nutcrushers being converted to floorless was a great change. I think Mantis/Rougarou was the first so I'd vote for that. It's probably in the "conversion" category, and given the current situation this opinion is temporarily closed and subject to redesign, but Top Thrill 2 was a significant improvement over Dragster. And an early vote for the worst changes: Maverick's heartline roll, RIP. If only. That section could really use... well, anything, but that roll would've been awesome.

[@theearthlord2209]

I think maybe like magnum the magic seat would work on mamba as well. Idk just a thought but it might would.

[@thewintermedic2246]

Thunderhead at Dollywood is amazing after the work done before the 2023 season

[@nito209]

I love when you use this background music🎉

[@quix9556]

Phantom is at my home park and love it to death, but I would argue it’s in that same category as RMCs that you excluded. Great video either way! Do a top 10 worse changes in the future, there’s gotta be enough of them.

[@AirtimeThrills]

Yeah i know phantom probably shouldnt have qualified but it was so unique and cutting edge for its time

[@PRMurphy171]

I'll counter-argue that it's not the same as an RMC conversion. Phantom's Revenge still retained the same track gauge and arrow-style track (albeit Morgan's track), at least 1/4 of the Steel Phantom's original track (more has been replaced since 2001), the trains' chassis were also re-used, and a lot of the mechanical pieces of the ride (station brakes, lift hill).

[@matthewp7667]

Just a slight error in the video, SNFE Mind eraser actually got the new trains 2 seasons before it turned into Riddler revenge. The Riddler change was just a overhaul to that area of the park to go along side the additions of joker and Harley. The main reason for the train upgrade was actually for the short lived VR experience on the ride as the park was worried they would get damaged by the old restraints. (here is an offride of the new trains with the old color and name. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpu4eadjmrGsfZo )

[@Spokker]

They did add the midcourse brake on Ghostrider again, but they don't use it during normal operations. You can see it on any recent POV (it can't be seen on Knott's official POV). I have heard you can watch them test it sometimes before the park opens.

[@Username-bh8bl]

Can’t wait for Top Thrill 2 to be on this list eventually

[@canoone1975]

Great list! I agree with most outside of Grizzly & Mine Blower. Never rode the earlier version of Grizzly, but I can’t imagine it would be much worse than the version I rode last year. Just rode the “new” Mind Blower a few weeks ago and I liked the original track better, though both versions pale in comparison to White Lightning.

[@coasterjim]

Stealth used to launch at 0-80mph in 2.3 seconds, and they had that acceleration on the sign years after it was changed to 1.8 seconds. It was only in 2023/24 that it got an updated sign. P.s. I could be riding that coaster in one week. Also, the old Nemesis was better.

[@hannkauff]

I HATED Maverick with the old restraints. I’m very short, barely 5 feet tall and I spent the whole ride smashing my head against the hard restraints. I vowed to never ride it again after it gave me the worst headache of my life. The new restraints are far from perfect but I’m glad I can ride (and very much enjoy) Maverick pain-free now!

[@zachyboi3489]

Rode skyrush a couple days ago with the new restraints and the ride is so much better. I’ve ridden it before and after and it’s still just as intense and even more awesome

[@Dinoboy38]

As someone who rode icebreaker both with and without the comfort collars, I can say it’s way better without the comfort collars.

[@iekue]

The total retrack of Python at Efteling comes to mind, def up there with how insanely smooth that now is.

[@BlueJeanBaby]

They used to run Mr. Freeze backward during Fright Nights until they left it backward for good.

[@RevNoch]

When I went to SFOT last summer, they were only running one forward train for Mr. Freeze. Definitely feeling FOMO on that backward ride.

[@meddoxsocool]

14:43 Skyrush could be a thief the way its emptying its riders pockets 😂😂

[@TheOnlySlacker420]

I'll give you the like just to cast my vote for Predator's titan track as the worst "upgrade" ever. At least the jackhammering gave it some kind of character.

[@AirtimeThrills]

Right?? Last year i was so bored with the smooth ride

[@Wesley-76]

I haven't ridden a coaster before/after a good change, but i have ridden some of these. My parents hated Ninja but my dad said that Blue Hawk is definitely way better. I'm still not a big fan of the ride, but it's okay. The Beast was very good when i rode it in 2022, same with Grizzly last year. Never rode them before their refusbishments, but I can tell the Gravity Group did a great job I've ridden Mine Blower a lot and it's definitely pretty rough. Haven't been back to ride it after the retrack though. I rode Ice Breaker when it had comfort collars and didn't mind them, but I'm still glad they were removed so kids can ride it I've been on I305 and Cheetah Hunt, and while Cheetah Hunt's restraints don't hurt me, I do agree that they should be replaced. My dad hates them! I305's restraints weren't great, but they didn't hurt and gave me airtime, and that's what matters I'd also like to mention Hulk, the 2016 retrack and refurbishment really made the ride great. I saw many people complaining about it being rough on old forms, but now everyone loves it, including me!

[@spentron1]

Thighcrush -> Stomachcrush. Took me 3 rides to learn how to still be able to breathe at the end. Still microratchets. Absolutely love the jet takeoff thing though!

[@HugeRMCFanBoY-bx3od]

So would I rather throw up or have my thighs crushed 🤔

[@fo-ef8qo]

They retracked even more of the grizzly at KD so its even better now! but to be picky, the last 3rd of the ride is still rough. of course it doesn't snap my shoulders off my spine anymore, so its improved overall incredibly since before the first retrack

[@singlerailindustries1763]

Would Love A " WORST Changes Made To Coasters " Version. Yes Theme Park Crazy Did It Already , But Heck I'm Sure You'll Find Other Coasters T.P.C Didn't List In His Video.

[@dextermorgan1]

Worst case scenarios next please!

[@KIorio809]

Top Thrill 2 should be #1 on this list.

[@josephyost22]

I rode mine blower in march and it was still insanely rough.

[@RoryCoasters]

I'm a bit biased because it's my home park, but the gravity group wildcat retrack at lake Compounce should be on this list. It completely changed the ride from probably the worst to an easy argument for top 2 in the park. Wildcat is faster, has airtime now, and most importantly is mostly glass smooth.

[@Paolo8772]

I'm hoping to visit Hershey park for the 1st time this year if I'm luck so Skyrush is a good 1st place. I also LOVE Ghostrider. As for WORST changes: my pick is Coaster at Playland in Vancouver; how it is nothing like it used to be; (through Halloween 2020) after which time they closed for refurbishment in 2021 only to opened in 2022 with with automatically and violently retracting seatbelts that are even worse for the ops than they are for the ride itself, which is saying a lot, especially considering they never use more than one train ops any more even during crowds, like during the fair, because they can't get parts to complete two trains anymore.

[@MaverickGlazer]

Skyrush gets a lot of attention in your videos recently

[@AirtimeThrills]

It just happens to touch a lot of categories. 2 months til i get to ride it

[@michaelpryor78]

I rode Skyrush back right wing a couple weeks ago, and tbh, it was rough.

[@markvolpe2305]

So far, I think the sections of GCI Titan Track on Predator at Six Flags Darien Lake really helped the ride and made it more rerideable and smoother.

[@matthewtyppo5727]

Video idea: which wooden coasters could use of prefab retracking by Gravity Group seeing how well it went on wildcat