Love it or hate it - why is Rita so polarising?

Rita has to be one of the most polarising rides at Alton Towers - a lot of enthusiasts seem to hate it, yet the general public love it. To find out why, I take a look at the history of the park, from Corkscrew in the 90's to Rita in 05, and try to imagine what it is to be someone who enjoys this mediocre launch coaster.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:22 - History
02:02 - Odd one out
03:45 - A different perspective
05:44 - Summary
Note that none of the footage used in this video was my own, but it can be found here:
Rita POV: • Rita [4K] 2023 Front S...
Corkscrew: • Corkscrew Classic Foot...
Nemesis: • Nemesis Offride 4K Alt...
Oblivion: • Oblivion - offride - A...
Rita off-ride: • Rita - 4K UHD Off-Ride...
Thunder Looper: • Thunder Looper - Alton...
Wicker Man: • Wicker Man - 4K UHD Of...
The Smiler: • The SMILER, Alton Towe...
Galactica: • Galactica Off Ride POV...
#altontowersresort #altontowers #rita #intamin #rollercoaster #themepark

[@Jesse-mx5op]

rita is actually my fave ride at towers (and yes, i am an enthusiast) and i think the reason i like it so much is the intensity in the turns which on my first ride, i really wasnt expecting, plus the open air station makes the ride itself feel more open than the others in a way, rita has a special place in my heart for being an underrated and underappreciated gem at my local park

[@coaster_shark]

Open air stations are a bit overlooked because they often lack theming, but I really like them too. I think The Swarm is my favourite with the inline twist over the church - that just looks amazing

[@tw-ij3kc]

Rita and Stealth feel like a great coaster split into two average coasters.

[@coaster_shark]

The original accelerator coaster (Xcellerator at Knotts Berry Farm) was actually a mix of the two, funnily enough - it had a top hat after the launch, and then a couple of high speed turns and hills. It's almost like they split it into two for the UK additions.

[@notsospoopybob]

i believe rita is actually the 2nd most intense ride at the park - last year it just kept blowing me away with the forces it pulled! i must say rita has grown on me year on year and even if its not anything special its still a very fun ride and id be sad to see it go - until they used its land for something way cooler... admittedly

[@coaster_shark]

Oh fair enough! I've always found it quite benign when I've been on recently - maybe it was just having a slow day for me? Ah yes, everyone's sad to see a ride go until they realise what's replacing it, I don't think many people continued complaining about The Flume being demolished after Wicker Man opened!

[@notsospoopybob]

@@coaster_shark Rita supposedly registers the highest positives (I know forces are not everything to intensity, nemesis only pulls 3.5 and that thing is a beast) and I'll believe it - I just don't think they're sustained enough to feel it - I think the airtime is also underappreciated but the restraints definitely make it hard to notice how strong it actually is - especially the final brake run hop

[@coaster_shark]

That doesn't surprise me tbf. I think the airtime is a bit hit and miss imo, I've had some rides where it's been quite strong and others where it's been almost non-existent. I wonder if it just runs at really different speeds depending on time / date / weather

[@StoicStoutland]

I'm a sucker for theming! Rita just felt like it was randomly plonked in middle Ug land/Dark Forest, with little or no effort to blend into these zones... A drag racing themed coaster originally built in what was a prehistoric themed zone, now rethemed as a creepy forest. It just doesn't work for me. I wasn't the biggest fan of Air when that originally opened for a similar reason... Dynamo, Blade, Ripsaw and Nemesis all had a coherent theme for the Forbidden Valley zone. Where as Air was a bright blue eye-sore of a coaster just tacked on to the edge of the zone. Over time I have come round to Air, especially after being re-branded Galactica, but Rita has never won me over.

[@coaster_shark]

That's a good point, they have tried with Rita but it's just not quite to the same level as other areas of the park is it. I think Air suffered a bit from budget constraints, as I believe the original plans had a lot more theming elements around the ride. It's probably a good thing that it's slightly out of the way though, because it would ruin Forbidden Valley a bit if it was closer to Nemesis and the others.

[@joshl9328]

I love Rita. It’s my favourite coaster at the park!

[@harleystubbs6199]

even as a coaster enthusiasts, i think rita is so underrated, I do get that people think it’s just not good enough for alton towers, but i don’t know if i agree as they did great with the new intamin accelerator model at the time.

[@coaster_shark]

I think I agree with you actually, it was a very early iteration of the accelerator, so they wouldn't have known how to maximise the enjoyment from it yet, especially when considering the height restrictions.

[@badmoonrising7795]

An absolute brilliant analysis of rita and considering how the none enthusiast would view this is refreshing. I am an enthusiast but sometimes fellow enthusiast really piss me off with how they sound ungrateful and almost snobby to certain rides and coasters. I’m enthusiastic towards every single coaster on earth no matter if I like some more than others.

[@badmoonrising7795]

And I’ve just subscribed because I really like your non biased views

[@coaster_shark]

Thanks - I'm glad you enjoyed it! Yeah it kind of annoys me too, especially when people diss on someone else's top 10 or favourite ride, even if you don't like a ride for whatever reason, it's not fair to laugh at someone else who loves it. And thanks for subscribing! I've got a few other coasters I want to do videos like this for, so I hope you enjoy them too (when I get round to making them)!

[@user-zp4ge3yp2o]

Also it's not really important to me if the coaster at thorpe park has a more intense launch when I'm at Alton towers...

[@HugeRMCFanBoY-bx3od]

I agree with you honestly I don't get why thoosies hate every coaster just because its repetitive short etc:

[@jukesy1992]

That is an awesome way to be! Appreciate rides for rides sakes. Rank them for sure, but also enjoy them. My favourite ride right now, is Croc Drop at Chessington, due to it's audio atmosphere. I'm a blind person so audio means so much to me, and when the special ending reprise of the main theme happened I was whooping o much for joy! Sadly when we went, I wanted todo the main queue for Tomb Blaster, so we did, but the audio was switched off until the station! Does anyone know if it's fixed now? Also though, Tornado Springs at Paultons has a special place in my heart. I was very lucky to be allowed on a ride by myself, I'd done it before with my Dad, and I asked the staff hay my Dad doesn't want to go spinning is there a way I could still ride, and, they spent several minutes doing loads of checks and actually making sure this was doable, and gave me some warnings, which I heeded, and they let me on... Storm Chacer... with no one next to me! The people in the seat behind were so awesome about it as well, as we were going up the hill they were describing stuff and they let me know when we were at the top, and then left me to it to enjoy all the sensations. Honestly, that just increased the excitement and awesomeness and I came off with, honestly, one of the coolest memories ever. Because it was truly, my, experience. My parents were not on the ride with me, it really was just me and some people behind.

[@tommy_av0935]

Rita is my number one coaster in the park which I know is extremely controversial. You made a good point about how the forces and elements kind of blend into eachother on all of the other coasters in the park, making this stand out, and I definitely relate to that. Love not only the launch but the pops of airtime it brings, praying it stays in the park for as long as possible.

[@coaster_shark]

Ah yeah, we really need more airtime focussed coasters in the UK don't we?

[@Jaydenfok]

I'm not visiting the UK anytime soon unfortunately but I will get a chance to ride desert race in heide park, which has a similar layout to rita. Only when I've ridden that I can really judge for the ride experience. It looks pretty fun atleast.

[@coaster_shark]

Ah yeah, I'm pretty sure they're identical. I hope you enjoy it!

[@zakb5757]

One of my best rides ever was on Rita. Sounds crazy I know. It was raining but in small droplets so it didn’t hurt as you went round. I’m guessing it made it faster or increased the sense of speed because it felt scarily fast. Like fast enough so that it was by far the best ride of the day. And that was on a special event where wickerman was open for an hour after park closure and I got 6 night rides in the space of an hour. I would genuinely prefer to re-experience that one ride than re-experience any of my rides on furius baco, red force or stealth

[@coaster_shark]

Wow! It's insane how much the weather can affect a ride isn't it. Must have been really crazy for you to prefer it over those rides!

[@TheOfficialSmudgy]

After Nemesis, Rita is my favourite. I have been visiting themeparks since I was very young, and for me, nothing quite beats a powerful launch.

[@coaster_shark]

There's definitely something about a powerful launch that hits different isn't there

[@snowman126]

I’m not an enthusiast but I’m just commenting as a casual rollercoaster rider. I find rollercoasters with huge drops really stomach turning and bigger ones makes me physically sick. I really like the acceleration from rollercoasters though so I really enjoyed Rita for having the acceleration without making me sick in the toilet after.

[@coaster_shark]

Not throwing up afterwards seems like a pretty good reason to like a ride in my opinion...

[@snowman126]

@@coaster_shark yeah but sometimes I just feel like I can’t enjoy more intense rollercoasters with my friends when I feel awful after. I guess I can only enjoy family ones until I find a way to overcome my motion sickness😭

[@coaster_shark]

Have you tried taking travel sickness pills? That worked for one of my friends

[@snowman126]

@@coaster_shark ohh I don’t think I’ve tried yet, good call! I’ll try that next time!

[@edwardholmes91]

I love rollercoasters and I love Rita... in my opinion, it offers a much more enjoyable ride experience than Stealth. I'm a huge fan of all the rollercoasters at Alton Towers, well having said that I must admit I've never ridden Octonauts! 😂

[@coaster_shark]

Hahaha I think we can let that one slide, I can't say I've been on it either!

[@joemorrisonmusic]

If it was maybe 20-30 seconds longer and had a better theme, Rita would be incredible.

[@coaster_shark]

Honestly, I think the theme was pretty great before Th13teen opened. Sure, it wasn't the most elaborate, but it was fun and vibrant

[@realdanyy20]

I’m neutral about Rita but I’ll never forget the one time I was riding it but my friend didn’t want to go on so I peeked my head slightly out not thinking straight to see if I could find them and when the launch went off and my head slammed at an awkward angle against the head rest I had a headache for the next 2 hours 😭

[@coaster_shark]

Oh yeah I did something similar - something caught my eye on the floor so i looked down and then just majorly compressed my spine on the launch. Not comfortable at all, but a real show of power!

[@Klerai]

I don't understand the Rita hate even as an enthusiast, It's usually been a great first ride whenever I go to the park because no one seems to flock to it like everything else lmao. It could definitely use a retheme but I think it's a great ride to switch up what's already there, when you cant really go up you might as well have stuff which focuses around speed.

[@coaster_shark]

It's definitely a good thing to have something that focuses on speed, Towers already have positive G's, inversions and a big drop covered by their other coasters. Rita fills a nice gap in their line-up that is really underappreciated

[@l0wh1n]

For the height limits Alton Towers had to work with, I think it is great. I personally think it is 3rd best at the park (not including Nemesis)

[@coaster_shark]

Alton Towers have done really well with all of their rides considering the height restriction tbf, and it makes the park and the rides so much more unique

[@mothawoo5628]

huge coaster thoosie for over 2 years, never ridden a coaster until today. Rita. I genuinely dont understand the hate, she delivers an insane feeling amount of Gs and ignoring all the advertising shes impressive on her own

[@coaster_shark]

It is, I think the issue is when people grew up with crazy world firsts opening at towers, although a great ride, Rita can just seem a little bit less special

[@mothawoo5628]

@@coaster_shark yeah, Alton has high expectations!

[@noahtron2674]

Great video 👍

[@coaster_shark]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@karachter]

my thing with rita is that the only other hyrdraulic launch i've ridden is stealth, and that launch is massively intense, espeically since it just got the record from do dadonpa, hydraulic launches in general are different more intense that regular LSMs or LIMs, and now that air launches are so rare they're really the best launches foor intensity, and stealth's layout is just a tophat and an airtime hill, rita's isn't very interesting in comparrison to regular coasters, but compared to stealth it's so much more interesting. If i were to choose between them i would choose rita because it isn't just a top hat and a camelback, and i've been to thorpe park so many more times than towers cause i live in sussex, so i'm very fond of stealth and i still love nemesis inferno despite going on the original nemesis, just as a reference for how much i love thorpe's lineup

[@coaster_shark]

Hydraulic launches do hit different don't they! I suppose the Stealth vs. Rita debate comes down to whether you prefer airtime or positives, because the airtime on Rita was pretty weak when I last rode it

[@lucasthom3249]

Im happy that u didnt complain about rita i find it stupid why people say its the worst thrill ride at towers u have obivion which does one bloody thing and people r saying that a ride that launches u has quite intense corners is a bad ride compared to oblivion

[@coaster_shark]

Yeah, depending on what you like it can still offer more than a few of the coasters at Towers can't it

[@paulmapp8306]

I can take it or leave it. Launch coasters NEED a vertical hill really. Once you ride Stealth at Thorpe Park, Rita is just never the same.

[@coaster_shark]

There's nothing quite like a top hat element is there!

[@thebe_stone]

It just depends on if the person has ever been on a different intimin launch coaster. Then they would realize how much better every other one is.

[@coaster_shark]

The top hat is so iconic on the others that it's hard to look past it when a ride doesn't have one, isn't it. I guess that's another reason why the general public seems to love it so much more

[@danielward4868]

Rita is my least favourite major coaster at towers, but it does have a good launch. Us enthusiasts are a bit spoiled because we also have stealth which is taller, faster... which makes it easy to look down on it. What also holds it back is that Oblivion is faster and there isn't enough theming and story to make it stand out.

[@coaster_shark]

Good point about Stealth, if we didn't have that, then there's no doubt that Rita would be the best launch coaster in the country, and maybe it would get more love then

[@renagadereco]

I personally think it's difficult to admire Rita as much more than a decent launch after going on Stealth at Thorpe Park or Icon at Blackpool, even though the icon launch is obviously much tamer. Alton towers is my nearest park but and the launch on Rita is incredible, but I've always found the rest of the ride lacking. Stealth got my heart going from start to finish and I think overall is just a better experience!

[@coaster_shark]

I agree, although Icon doesn't have a great launch, it's got a good layout to make up for it. Then the whole of Stealth is crazy so I dont mind that it's not a long ride, whereas Rita just fades out a bit after the launch, doesn't it

[@ravethefox]

rita was my first time on a rollercoaster. i absolutley hated it. it hurt and made me feel ill beyond belief. id never wanted something to be over so bad. becuase of that it didnt feel so great queuing up for the smiler. turns out i loved every ride other than rita. i will have to try it again next time i visit

[@coaster_shark]

Hahaha that was a bold choice going from not enjoying Rita to riding The Smiler! I'm glad you enjoyed that though, would have been a bit of a bad day if you hadn't enjoyed anything!

[@chrispiasecki8389]

The launch will seem punchy to those not used to Stealth, though if you are, Rita is like a weak asthmatic Stealth. I also ride a motorbike, so the launch is just... ok, and that's 95% of the ride. Track layout is like one big afterthought, you get one pop of airtime going over the first peak, and that's that, a rumbly run back to the station. Depends who you are trying to impress, they may have been better off buying a few Pinfari rides if they aren't trying to impress the enthusiasts (Intamin accelerators are not cheap to buy and run, so doing it on a budget kinda ends up with the worst of both worlds, expensive but not really standing out). When Stealth came out it was soon after Kingda Ka opened, and Stealth was essentially Kingda Ka cut in half, so while it's good it was never meant to be 'up there' with the best, so Rita is a light version of a downgrade. Merlin parks rarely seem to go for gold, but instead do a smaller version of what already exists - but shoutout to Colossus and Smiler, for actually being rides that contend with the best globally. I mean compare Colossus opened in 2002 with what has followed in the next 20 odd years, that ride was and still is a statement. Shame this can't be said for most of the coasters built since.

[@coaster_shark]

Hahaha weak asthmatic Stealth got me! That's a good point about colossus though, especially considering that America hasn't even reached 10 inversions yet

[@iliketrains3546]

I really like Rita and I prefer it over saw the ride, but I agree with most enthusiasts saying the layout should be extended and it be converted into a Blitz because that could have potential to be the best in the country

[@coaster_shark]

Interesting comparison to Saw... I don't really get the obsession with layout extensions personally, if a park's going to go to the effort of doing that, they might as well rip up the whole thing and start again. I agree that a Blitz would be incredible though

[@iliketrains3546]

@@coaster_shark the main complaint is that it is a short ride- even my Gp sister complained about that- so I think a longer layout could make it the best ride in the park

[@coaster_shark]

Oh yeah, I don't disagree that a longer layout might have improved it, I just don't see the point of adding more in retrospectively

[@gb9727]

In my opinion, I don't think it's that bad You've got to think, even the most hated coasters have their fans

[@coaster_shark]

And even the best coasters have their haters

[@HugeRMCFanBoY-bx3od]

coaster_shark *COUGH STEEL VENGEANCE COUGH*

[@imansfield]

It’s got a great launch, but then it just peters out and becomes dull. Anyone can build a great first drop/launch. It’s what you do after it that counts.

[@coaster_shark]

Just do an Oblivion and end the ride, launch straight into the brake run. Guaranteed 10/10 coaster 👌

[@sizzlermark1286]

It's not just Rita.... Alton Towers has it's fair share of marmite coasters... Thirteen, Smiler.... Most people seem to like Wicker Man, Nemesis, Oblivion and even Spinball but AIR (it's always AIR) and the others mentioned seem to split the masses... Rita and Smiler I can take or leave... I won't be upset if I miss those two on a visit...

[@coaster_shark]

That's a good point, there aren't many rides which could please everyone, but I think Rita gets the most amount of high-profile hate out of the other rides at Towers (other than for how run down Air / Galactica has become)

[@sizzlermark1286]

@@coaster_shark Yeah, you're probably right to be honest... I don't think they need to be worrying too much about coasters for now... They've pretty much got everyone covered.. There's always too much talk about which coaster needs to go... Short answer is, none of them for a good few years yet!! 🙂

[@coaster_shark]

That's true, they could survive for a while without a new coaster now. Hopefully, those 3 new flat rides start getting added soon instead!

[@chazgames3690]

I feel like the coaster has a lazy layout with just a launch, intense turn and downwards helix and then done 😂 has so much potential as well because that first turn and launch is really quite intense

[@coaster_shark]

Hahaha, it's almost like they designed the launch and turn, and then we're like 'well it's still going pretty quick, so we should do something, but I'm not sure what...'

[@HugeRMCFanBoY-bx3od]

But no one is gonna mention how stealth is just a launch and a top hat.......

[@coaster_shark]

I think I'd rather have the ride end early than just meander round for a bit like Rita though

[@MrPatrickbuit]

@@HugeRMCFanBoY-bx3od People do in fact mention that. Why do you say they don't?

[@liamcollinson5695]

I think people dislike rita purely because stealth exists

[@coaster_shark]

It is a bit of an unfair comparison because of the height restrictions at Towers, but yeahhh Stealth is loads better isn't it

[@heraldsloth]

I've never been able to ride any coasters outside of Australia, but if the launch feels anything like Superman Escape at MovieWorld on the Gold Coast. I'd enjoy it, despite less focus on airtime and near misses, and the theming from what I've seen from vlogs and park footage looks pretty meh compared to the rest of Alton Towers, hope i get to visit one day though. Nemesis is a bucket list coaster for me.

[@coaster_shark]

Yeah, you've pretty much got it - great launch, but meh everything else. It's definitely still enjoyable though! That would be a great trip if you manage to make it - the theming on Nemesis is even more impressive now they've redone it for this year!

[@heraldsloth]

@@coaster_shark I watched a few of the opening day vlogs, looks amazing. I want to ride a B&M. Closest one is Hollywood Dream or Flying Dinosaur in Japan.

[@coaster_shark]

Hahaha neither of those are particularly close are they! I think a lot of people envy your Mack Hyper though, theyre quite rare, and DC Rivals looks pretty top-tier

[@heraldsloth]

@@coaster_shark I can see that, and I'm grateful for having being able to ride it. DC Rivals is an amazing ride, packed with airtime and that back car... Oh my, I've never held on so tight on a coaster before.

[@coaster_shark]

Hahaha I just hope Hyperia lives up to same standards for us when it opens this year!

[@redwolfcorprevamped8266]

Its because of what it is, versus what it could be/could have been.

[@coaster_shark]

Exactly!

[@TheBroz]

Because many UK theme park goers have extremely low standards.

[@jazeroth322]

It's a good ride. But, it's in the wrong park! Put it in Paultons park, and it would be great.

[@coaster_shark]

That's an interesting idea, it's definitely on the right end of the thrill scale to just about fit in at a more family oriented park, it just depends if the 1.4m height requirement is too restrictive

[@booodelooplamphead8746]

Rita = Pain. Launch good, then pain bad. very rough..

[@coaster_shark]

Yeah... it's not the smoothest is it

[@booodelooplamphead8746]

@@coaster_shark I would love them to replace it with a new Intamin mulltilaunch like Taron maybe.

[@coaster_shark]

That would be incredible tbf

[@mattball7362]

It is fun, but I will always choose 13 over Rita

[@coaster_shark]

Oh yeah, I'll always go on 13 first, but I'll still make time for Rita if the queue isn't too long

[@Fixat3d2]

5:26 as someone who likes wicker man im offended. jk jk i wouldn't call it a family coaster though but nice video

[@Snexzyy]

it is infact a family coaster though

[@Fixat3d2]

@@Snexzyy i'd say more family thrill

[@Snexzyy]

@@Fixat3d2 yeah FAMILY thrill

[@coaster_shark]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed! Yeah, it is more family thrill, but that didn't quite get my point across as well so I took some artistic liberties ;)

[@mattayres5238]

Im 50 n don't do big rides anymore.🙄

[@billyjesus5442]

Problem with Rita is outside the launch its quite boring.

[@coaster_shark]

Maybe, but I reckon the launch makes up for it

[@flaw3dgenius222]

Compare Rita to say Tarron...night n day.

[@Shaddowedlegends]

not as punchy as stealth.

[@coaster_shark]

I guess there's nothing in the world as punchy as Stealth now is there...

[@wickedphant0m]

Rita isn't BAD, per se, it's just simple, short, and thematically lacking. And it was majorly overhyped.

[@coaster_shark]

Exactly, but the other coasters in Towers can make an average coaster very easy to hate on

[@ScaredyCatRidesRides]

I like Rita as a whole but I just don’t love a hydraulic launch. I personally find that sat near the front the launch just feels too punchy. From the back where you also feel pulled along it isn't too bad. That said, i was absolutely enthralled by the advert as a teen. If she was reliable and well themed into the area, i don’t think she would attract half as much criticism

[@coaster_shark]

You don't hear that opinion too often, its an interesting take! That's true though, I swear every time I visit Towers, it breaks down at least once during the day

[@ScaredyCatRidesRides]

@coaster_shark I've literally left the queue line because of a break down more times than I've left the queue time to board the ride 😂 Yeah, I'm not either love or hate with Rita. I don't rush to her but I never get off like "well that was rubbish". But if I'm feeling the need for a gentler day I might pass her up

[@coaster_shark]

Honestly so true 😅😅 yeah that's a good way to sum it up, I think I'm pretty similar

[@jen8639]

The whole area is just garbage I would nuke Dark Forest and start again. I’m sick and tired of Alton’s apocalyptic distressed or dark theming. Why does everything have to be scruffy and distressed looking. There’s lots of fine examples in Europe of great theming that don’t have to be centred about morose and dark aesthetics. When the corkscrew was there along with magic carpet and the swings it had a much more festival type vibe.

[@coaster_shark]

Bit extreme, but I do agree that it would be nice to have some lighter themed areas considering even their family coasters are about a haunted crypt and being burnt alive as a sacrifice lol

[@user-zp4ge3yp2o]

Maybe it's cos I only ever visit at scarefest but I love the sinister themes.

[@deeve76]

Rita is another dissapoiting Intamin.

[@coaster_shark]

Interesting comment, I'd say that the Intamins I've been on have usually been pretty good

[@HugeRMCFanBoY-bx3od]

Both stealth and rita are overrated case closed

[@coaster_shark]

Ah, I can't say I agree with you on that one, unfortunately. Stealth is one of my favourites