Excalibur Review, Funtown U.S.A. CCI Wooden Roller Coaster | Most Underrated CCI

Excalibur is a Custom Coasters International wood coaster at Funtown USA in Saco, Maine. This CCI is an underrated ride with a lot of similarities to Holiday World's Raven. The coaster has a great setting in the woods, some strong airtime in the first half, and strong laterals in the second half. And thanks to the recent trackwork, it is running better than it has in 2 decades. Find out why this is easily Maine's best coaster in this review!
Video Credits
Excalibur Off-Ride (Funtown Splashtown U.S.A.)- • Discover Funtown Splas...
Excalibur POV 1 (National Coasters)- • We Found the BEST Wood...
Excalibur POV 2 (CanobieFan)- • Excalibur - Funtown Sp...
Background Music
Adventure | Royalty Free Medieval Fantasy Music
by Royalty Free Music - Alexander Nakarada
• Adventure | Royalty Fr...

[@mmouser]

4:04 “tf why is this guy taking pictures of us” 😅 great review as always ofc

[@CanobieCoaster]

Lol thanks!

[@Adar512]

I must say I’m excited to see your reviews, they are so well written and well searched, keep up with the good work

[@CanobieCoaster]

Thanks!

[@OklahomaCoasterFan]

I knew there was a wooden coaster in Maine, but I knew nothing about it until now. I love coasters that go off into the woods, away from the park, such as Beast & Prowler. I wouldn't have known that this is another one of those. It makes it tough for us to get video of the coaster out on the course, but it really enhances the ride experience.

[@CanobieCoaster]

They sometimes do walkbacks on coaster events.

[@coasterdaddy7123]

Fantastic review of yet another great looking coaster I've always wondered about because no one discusses it.

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's pretty far north and I'm lucky to have it close to me.

[@justinthibeault1226]

This is my home park. The galaxy coaster that the wild mouse replaced was my first coaster and started it all for me. I later rode the original cyclone at sfne and hated it but rode excalibur a couple days later and I loved it. Excalibur holds a special place for me. I always look forward to my next ride on it!

[@CanobieCoaster]

I really like this ride too.

[@tradingfriends]

Was hoping someone had a review on this as my friend and I will be going to funtown this summer! Wonderful review, very informative!!!

[@CanobieCoaster]

Thanks!

[@thequackenscoasterchannel2927]

A very intriguing CCI for sure, I may make it a priority on a Northeastern trip. Also congratulations on 8k subs!!

[@CanobieCoaster]

Thank you! Most people go to Six Flags New England and Lake Compounce (understandably), but this and Roar-O-Saurus are two very underrated wood coasters more people need to experience.

[@thequackenscoasterchannel2927]

@@CanobieCoaster that's exactly what I did on my 2016 cross-country trip. I'd like to check out more in the New England region next time.

[@NewAgeServer]

I rode Excalibur in 2022 and 2023, and also yesterday, and I gotta say yesterday was the best it's ever felt to ride out of those past 3 years. I think they may have done more retracking between 2023 and 2024's seasons because the first drop feels even smoother than it did the last two years.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I've heard it is riding great.

[@MattMcIrvin]

This is the most significant coaster in New England that I have not ridden. We took a road trip up into Maine a few years ago on which I was lobbying heavily for a visit to Funtown Splashtown, but since the waterpark would have been the major point of interest for the rest of my party, the cool, drippy weather kept us away (though it was probably a fine day to ride Excalibur). We'd spent a day at Water Country in Portsmouth, NH earlier in the trip.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Water Country is better than Splashtown at least.

[@MattMcIrvin]

I did finally visit Funtown and ride Excalibur at the end of the summer. This may sound like blasphemy for at least two reasons, but I think Excalibur may be my favorite wooden coaster in New England. It's far smoother than Boulder Dash but still has some of the grandeur of a major CCI set back in the woods. And it's got some real air and famously powerful laterals in its second half.

[@jeffbizie]

Love that ride so much!! That and cannonball at canobie lake were my first 2 wooden coasters and what started my love for coasters and theme/amusement parks. Thoosie 4 life!!!

[@CanobieCoaster]

I prefer Excalibur to Yankee Cannonball, but both are fun.

[@Blathers]

This ride looks awesome. And that's a funny sign on the fence 😂

[@CanobieCoaster]

Yes it is.

[@Cje_-yj8ov]

I rode this a bunch when I was younger (family friends has a place like 30 minutes from Funtown) but haven’t been on it in at least 12 years. However, I still remember riding this in the back with my friend on a whim, and getting YONKED over that first drop. Always been a back row guy since then

[@CanobieCoaster]

Makes sense!

[@zacdavid184]

On the one hand, I wish the ride got more recognition (as if it has feelings) because it simply deserves it. On the other, I always love finding other people who have been on this ride and especially those who enjoy it because it almost feels like a New England enthusiasts' secret. Everyone knows Boulder Dash, and of course that has a lot going for it. But *I'm* happy to have Excalibur right down the road. I have also always found this to have a lot of similarities with Raven.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I still think the most underrated wood coaster in New England is Roar-O-Saurus though. That ride packs a bigger bunch than the other small Gravity Groups.

[@zacdavid184]

@@CanobieCoaster Yeah I'd agree with that. As I mentioned on the stock footage video, I just have a real soft spot for Excalibur. Objectively I think Roar-o-Saurus is indeed the most underrated of the NE coasters, particularly given its "family" designation. I do remember reading about the construction and stuff at least; I feel like perhaps there's a lower general awareness that Excalibur even exists within the community. Not sure... No one thinks of Maine when they're thinking about coasters, but I can't really blame them lol

[@JulianDale94]

Can't wait to ride that next summer! It'll be pretty easy to grab all the Maine credits in one trip

[@CanobieCoaster]

One day to be honest.

[@randalwarden7523]

Rode it back in august 2021 it’s way smoother then it was in 2012 when I rode it. It went from a very bad painful coaster to now be my favorite coaster in New England after all the smoothness it’s gotten to it. They did a very well job at smoothing it out.

[@CanobieCoaster]

The retrack really helped.

[@osmo512]

I just rode Excalibur and Ghostrider @ Knotts this month. Despite Ghostride placing 9th on Golden Ticket's wood coasters, I preferred Excalibur. Ghostrider has constant headchoppers and good lats, but the airtime was a bit weak and the ride's low capacity makes the line such a chore. Whereas Excalibur has a bit of everything, a lovely wooded setting, and the sustained airtime off the speed hill section is literally perfect.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Wow that's a hot take!

[@nuts4canobie]

Escalibur rocks! Deserves way more love!!

[@CanobieCoaster]

Agreed!

[@coasterland325]

I rode it for the first time this year, what a great ride it was, I also had a serious concern as I am studying to be an engineer. The slamming into the brakes caused the whole brake run structure to flex forward very visibly before springing back. This over time can overstress the wood and cause much more maintenance as the wood may stress fracture if the motion is extreme enough, since I don't know the strength of the wood used and it has not been a public issue I am sure it is fine, but food for thought as some would say!

[@CanobieCoaster]

I'm pretty sure it has been stopping like that ever since it opened.

[@coasterland325]

@@CanobieCoaster good to know, I was just mentioning the potential maintenance that the park could have to do as I said since it's not an issue or so it seems I'm sure the wood is more than strong enough which is good as I'd hate for the ride to have to close temporarily for any repairs mid season as many people would miss out on a great ride

[@Paolo8772]

I LOVE your advice for not waiting for the very front or back rows since the double bench cars on the train make it possible for guests to get the same G forces of the front car in the 2nd row and the same forces of the back car in the 2nd back row, as both rows in the same car have exactly the same G forces. The same thing could be said for all non single rail RMC coasters as well as most Intamin mega/hyper coasters/giga coasters too. (The view is still good on every row unless one is on an invert coaster, in which case the back almost always STILL provides the best forces.) There are very few coasters where I don't prefer the back car; (on a scale of only 5/97) so I'm generally a back seat coaster 'thusie. Thanks for this excellent review!

[@CanobieCoaster]

Thanks! I'm split if I prefer rides in the front or back. I agree the forces are usually identical in the same car, but there are a few exceptions.

[@cycloid2326]

Exclaibur was the first coaster I ever rode,and I definitely need to get on it!

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's great.

[@jake17141]

this was the first coaster I went on and it was the coaster that got me into coasters

[@CanobieCoaster]

Nice!

[@Shoegazeandhiphop]

im riding this ride tmrw for the first time its gonna be awesome

[@CanobieCoaster]

Have fun!

[@Shoegazeandhiphop]

@@CanobieCoaster rode it pretty good tbh

[@massachusettscoasters]

4:13 the longest I’ve waited for the front row on this when it’s queue was full,took me like 60 minutes that was my experience back in 2016,and I can see what you say.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Yikes!

[@georgeoliver4704]

I rode Excalibur recently, and I found that the front seat was fun and thrilling, but as you progressed rearward, it got rougher and rougher. The back seat was unrideable more than once. I was banged up and had a headache from it. It's possible you have a higher tolerance for roughness, or else the coaster has gotten rougher in 3 years. I recommend the frontseat to everyone, and warn them against the backseat.

[@CanobieCoaster]

2nd to back has the whip of the back, but it's smoother since you're not directly above the wheels.

[@maxhagenauer24]

Maine don't got much which is why this the there best. A fun CCI with laterals and airtime. It's cool how it goes threw the woods a little too.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I agree.

[@rycor9117]

Old Orchid has the Viper and I think the Excalibur blows it away. Grew up in Maine that coaster will rock you if you don't lean because of the roughness. Always have great staff as well.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Excalibur is definitely the state's best coaster.

[@rycor9117]

@@CanobieCoaster 100%

[@chargedonpc9989]

new england has some great ccis with this and boulderdash

[@CanobieCoaster]

I agree!

[@coasthuder]

Might go here soon, I saw that one side of the train has only one bar on the ptc lap bar and the other has the normal double bar. Dose this affect your airtime?

[@CanobieCoaster]

They ride similarly for me.

[@cathedraldarkness]

I would like to see Excalibur get the RMC treatment. With that being said, I was very surprised at how well it ran this year.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I'd rather see the park buy a new ride to compliment Excalibur rather than modifying their best ride.

[@cathedraldarkness]

I’d love to see Funtown get something fresh. Back in the day the big rumor was a steel coaster, but that never happened.

[@AuraOfANobody]

Bit late here, but since I ended up getting some coaster vids recommended to me today and, living in Maine all my life, Excalibur is one of the few I've been able to ride myself, I actually poked around a bit - According to an interview with Cory Cormier in September, there's talks in the family that owns Funtown about adding some stuff to the park in the future (possibly for the 60th season?), potentially including a third coaster! If it does happen, with my health getting worse over time, I might not get a chance to ride it myself (though I hope that won't be the case!), but either way, it'd be awesome to see a new coaster added to my local park :0 Haven't had that since I was a kid, when they replaced the old Galaxi with the Wild Mouse they've currently got. Looking forward to what comes of it if we do end up getting a new one!

[@reymen1313]

@@cathedraldarkness the wild mouse was the steel coaster but its a glorified family coaster

[@NorCalCoasterMedia]

new mexico rattler is a very underrated CCI

[@CanobieCoaster]

I still need to ride that one.

[@StamfordBridge]

Agreed! It’s a wild ride!

[@mateoalvira3514]

Canobie Coaster said: And Excalibur was no different. The ride was quite smooth when I first rode it in 2002, but it gradually got rougher over the next decade. Excalibur was never a ride that was rough start-to-finish. Rather, there were specific sections of the ride that would really shake you up. In 2019, that section was the third hill that runs underneath the lift hill. That element was b _ _ _ _ _ . There is one word missing in the quote. It starts with a B. What do you think?

[@CanobieCoaster]

See the review.

[@Enosity-the-Arab]

One person from that video has sat in the same seat the I sat in when I went on the coaster

[@CanobieCoaster]

Nice!

[@Joypyf]

Would you compare the laterals on this more to Raven or Legend?

[@CanobieCoaster]

The finale has laterals like Legend's double helix, but you don't have the same sense of speed through it.

[@thedashcamkid6175]

Maybe it was just me, but I rode this in the front and only got one airtime pop, perhaps it was running weak in 2023?

[@CanobieCoaster]

I didn't ride it in 2023, but that's much less airtime than I've gotten.

[@mateoalvira3514]

Do you like this ride's layout? Did you ever hear Excalibur develop a reputation as...?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Some parts ran rough in the past.

[@jtwoolley]

cool

[@CanobieCoaster]

Yes

[@gotchathrills8916]

Literally most underrated thing ever🚫🤥

[@CanobieCoaster]

I love it.

[@mateoalvira3514]

Canobie Coaster said: And Excalibur was no different. The ride was quite smooth when I first rode it in 2002, but it gradually got rougher over the next decade. Excalibur was never a ride that was rough start-to-finish. Rather, there were specific sections of the ride that...

[@CanobieCoaster]

Got shaky.

[@NorthEasternMotionProductions]

Also Palace Playland’s Sea Viper has far stronger laterals.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I disagree, but that is a solid coaster.

[@StamfordBridge]

WHAT is on that person’s head? 2:41

[@CanobieCoaster]

Some sort of bun.

[@StamfordBridge]

@@CanobieCoaster LOL! Is it? I thought it was some kind of animal! 😂

[@mattyorshin]

heres a credit i need lol

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's great.

[@NorthEasternMotionProductions]

I only rode this before the retrace and I can confirm that that one hill tracked awfully. Only part of the ride that truely sucked.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Thankfully it was fixed

[@NorthEasternMotionProductions]

@@CanobieCoaster yea when I heard about it, my first thought was THANK GOD

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

What do you think about the laterals of: Excalibur at Funtown U.S.A Olandese Volante at Magicland Orient Express at Palace Playland Nightmare (Crack Axle Canyon) at Great Escape

[@CanobieCoaster]

Excalibur has the best laterals of those by far.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

Of the CCI wooden coasters in the world with a straight first drop, excluding the junior ones, does Excalibur at Funtown have your least favorite first drop? Which one?

[@CanobieCoaster]

No it doesn't. It's probably Stampida due to the trim.