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Giant Dipper Review (Updated), Belmont Park Wood Coaster | Nearly 100 Years Old and it Feels It!

Giant Dipper is a classic wooden roller coaster at Belmont Park. Located just off of Mission Beach in San Diego, this wood coaster was designed by Prior & Church. It nearly met the wrecking ball a few decades ago, but the coaster was saved and now it's a National Historic Landmark. The ride is nearly 100 years old and unfortunately, it feels like it.
Video Credits
Giant Dipper Off-Ride 1 (Airtime Thrills)- • Giant Dipper at Belmon...
Giant Dipper Off-Ride 2 (Mechanical Amusements)- • Giant Dipper at Belmon...
Giant Dipper POV (Theme Park Worldwide)- • Giant Dipper Front Row...
Background Music
Upbeat Event Vlog Music by Infraction [No Copyright Music] / In My Memory- • Upbeat Event Vlog Musi...

Пікірлер: 123

  • @blakebetsworth9869
    @blakebetsworth9869 Жыл бұрын

    I like your turn-by-turn, hill-by-hill breakdowns of coaster layouts that you give. Anyhow, just looking at this thing crawl through its course makes me feel like if I do make it to SD that I would do exactly as you recommended, stop by on my way out of Sea World and appreciate it for what it is and its history.

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    Makes sense!

  • @mackenziefritz8169
    @mackenziefritz8169 Жыл бұрын

    I rode this coaster once on New Year’s Eve in 2012 when I was visiting San Diego. I don’r remember much other than the tunnel and the rest of the ride being very rough. My tolerance for rough coasters has gone up so I wouldn’t mind reriding it one day

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    Unfortunately I think the ride has gotten rougher too.

  • @thisguy_w0n
    @thisguy_w0n Жыл бұрын

    I just rode this coaster the Saturday before Memorial Day 2023. There was a ~25min line with 1 train/1 operator operations. I rode it twice, and I'm glad I did. The trains were full and were flying through the course. My first ride was in the last row, and it was rough. I had to hold on and brace myself, but it was a very fun ride with great laterals and some fun pops of airtime. I got my 2nd ride in the 3rd row. It was a lot smoother, was even more fun, and ranks very high for me. It's my #1 coaster in San Diego, and #4 Wooden coaster in California behind Ghostrider, Goldstriker, and the SCBB Giant Dipper. Thanks for all of the great vids!

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    Sounds like you got a much stronger ride than me.

  • @clairefunnell8481
    @clairefunnell8481 Жыл бұрын

    Talk about ancient. Pretty historical. I love me some woodies. I would so love to ride this. Pretty sweet.

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    I definitely appreciate the history.

  • @timothyhatcher9813
    @timothyhatcher9813 Жыл бұрын

    I've been on this coaster a few times with family and friends, although it is not fast, it is a classic none the less and a lot of fun for first time riders ! Maybe some time in the future they grease the tracks to make it faster, I love this ride!😊😊😊

  • @michaeltaylor1603

    @michaeltaylor1603

    Жыл бұрын

    Yep! you gotta erl them tracks from time to time.

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    I want a retrack more than anything.

  • @OklahomaCoasterFan
    @OklahomaCoasterFan Жыл бұрын

    I've only ridden it once, and it was a front-row, solo ride on a drizzly, dreary weekday. I'm glad I did front row for the smoother ride, since it was a bit rough, but easily tolerable. I was surprised by the lack of airtime and wondered if a more full train would've helped with that. It definitely has an interesting history.

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    Nope, it has little airtime no matter when you ride.

  • @alantrotter2077
    @alantrotter2077 Жыл бұрын

    The other Giant Dipper at Santa Cruz is much better. The one at Belmont Park is a bit rough and doesn't provide the air-time at that you get from the one at Santa Cruz. I've rode the one in Belmont Park last year and a few years before that and I pretty much got the same experience both times.

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    I can forgive the layout, but not the roughness.

  • @Missglam67
    @Missglam679 ай бұрын

    I might be the only one who has ever commented on the flags on top of the lift hill. I love seeing those flags! I don’t know why they’re there but to me they always were a reminder of the thrills and adventure that’s about to happen. Only wooden coasters seem to have these flags. Colossus had one red and one blue which at the time represented Thunder and Lightening but to me they just reminded me the drop was about to happen 9:48 and thus, the fun began.

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    9 ай бұрын

    I do like the flags.

  • @AlexRuckusFTW
    @AlexRuckusFTW Жыл бұрын

    Can't wait for the Iron Dipper 😂😂😂. I personally loved it reminded me of The Texas cyclone.

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    That would be a vast improvement, but it would feel wrong on a coaster this historic.

  • @flyingorcas1823
    @flyingorcas18235 ай бұрын

    This was the second woodie I had ever gone on the other being Little Dipper at SFGAM I loved this ride and still do but now that I’m more of an enthusiast I can see that my love for this ride is pretty sentimental.

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    5 ай бұрын

    I mainly wish it were smoother.

  • @Kite037
    @Kite037 Жыл бұрын

    I rode this ride about 50 times across 2010 and 2011. I think quite highly of it, my first big coaster and my first wooden coaster. I was not really into coasters before this ride and I credit it as well as New Texas Giant in making me an enthusiast. It ranks 52 of 128 for me currently, though if I rode it today I admit it may drop a bit.

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    It's unfortunately quite rough now.

  • @Kite037

    @Kite037

    5 ай бұрын

    @@CanobieCoasterHave you seen the brand new POV? They retracked it!

  • @FanThemePark
    @FanThemePark Жыл бұрын

    I rode this last in 2018 and I remember it being rough but not so rough it was uncomfortable. Although this coaster doesn't provide a lot of excitement I do love the look and feel of it being a classic pier wooden coaster.

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    It got way rougher in the 3 years since my 2020 rides.

  • @Kittyhat
    @Kittyhat Жыл бұрын

    This thing has the most unique track shaping of any ride I've seen, I have no idea what it needs though. Reprofiling might strip it of that character, but something needs to change on this ride and a regular retracing isn't going to cut it long term.

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    I agree it is odd.

  • @micoasters
    @micoasters Жыл бұрын

    Again I’m a sucker for old wooden coasters, especially a prior and church woodie

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    Love the history.

  • @fadedidentity
    @fadedidentity Жыл бұрын

    I grew up in San Diego so this was the only coaster we had until the more recent additions at Sea World. It gets way too much hate from enthusiasts who criticize the lack of airtime and vastly overstate its roughness (in my opinion). yes it’s rough but I don’t find it to be that bad, and there are much better classic woodies with great airtime (Giant Dipper @ Santa Cruz for example) but there are a couple of decent airtime moments, and the first drop is pretty good. I think it’s still a really fun coaster 🤷🏻‍♂️

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    Sorry I'm not a big fan.

  • @user-yp8xk3kb3m
    @user-yp8xk3kb3m10 ай бұрын

    RMC treatment is what screamed in my head after finishing this video

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    10 ай бұрын

    I think the ride is too historic to get that.

  • @sfotnews8633
    @sfotnews8633 Жыл бұрын

    It was awesome seeing you over the past two days

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    Nice seeing you!

  • @josecastro2332
    @josecastro2332 Жыл бұрын

    I agree with you. The Giant Dipper at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is significantly better than this. The second half is what makes it for me. Great airtime with an ejector pop.

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    I love the Santa Cruz one.

  • @BAKU2K2
    @BAKU2K2 Жыл бұрын

    I feel like this Giant Dipper should've either kept its original Prior & Church trains, or replace the Morgan trains with Miller Flyers. Judging by it's twisty track layout, it's clearly designed for articulated trains, instead of the bulky yet lightweight trains it currently runs with.

  • @michaeltaylor1603

    @michaeltaylor1603

    Жыл бұрын

    I agree! Even the newer PTC's tend to articulate better now a days,

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    Maybe that could help.

  • @DAOzz83

    @DAOzz83

    7 ай бұрын

    These are trailered trains. They’re not quite “just like” Prior & Church trains, since they have four seats per car, but they still only have one set of wheels per car, with a Zero car up front (you can see it moving independently of the first car at 2:54 in the video). Despite the visual resemblance to PTC four seaters, these will track MUCH better; Indeed, as the other Giant Dipper shows, they take Prior & Church track just fine, as long as it’s maintained.

  • @xtremeadventures7270
    @xtremeadventures7270 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the review, I'm planning a California Coaster trip this summer and planning to spend a day at Sea World and hit Belmont that night just as you suggested.

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    Have fun!

  • @HoribleBuissnes
    @HoribleBuissnes19 күн бұрын

    I always liked to rank it higher because if your younger, the part that makes it fun is the roughness, theres no airtime tbh but the roughness is what makes it special to me

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    18 күн бұрын

    It's not my favorite, but I respect its historical significance.

  • @brademge6638
    @brademge6638 Жыл бұрын

    I have been on Giant Dipper several times over the years. My last rides were in 2015. While it was certainly a bit bumpy, it actually wasn't too rough and rode pretty good.

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    It got worse for me from 2020 to 2023.

  • @michaeltaylor1603
    @michaeltaylor1603 Жыл бұрын

    Lovely vintage station. I think with a traditional re-track plus new serpentine trains, we'd get that a Golden Ticket status coaster. I know GCI wouldn't supply them, but there are others that "wood" pun intended.

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    I wish it got a retrack.

  • @omarcarrillo8812
    @omarcarrillo88129 ай бұрын

    The giant dipper at belmont is one of the best coasters in world Thee Best 👌

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    9 ай бұрын

    It's a classic, but I find it a bit rough and lacking airtime.

  • @mateoalvira3514
    @mateoalvira35145 ай бұрын

    I think in 1925 when the Belmont Park version opened, many houses had way different decorations and furniture, for example, in Spain, in France, etc.

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    5 ай бұрын

    That would make sense.

  • @GavHern
    @GavHern Жыл бұрын

    every time you post a video of a ride I'm just about to go out and do it ends up being closed when I'm there... hoping the chain breaks with this one!! haha

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    That's some luck.

  • @maxhagenauer24
    @maxhagenauer24 Жыл бұрын

    The other Giant Dipper definitely seems a ton better. Although even if this is rougher, sometimes that can add to the intensity and be an upside if the ride is absolutely lacking in forces. What do you think about this?

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    I prefer a smoother ride myself.

  • @oblivieon1567

    @oblivieon1567

    Жыл бұрын

    It's not even close, the Santa Cruz one is probably the best Golden Era Woddie in the country. You could put that coaster in any park and it would be popular, it's that good and well taken care of. The Belmont one just really isn't a good coaster. Not terrible but also not great.

  • @LittleToyBonnie
    @LittleToyBonnie Жыл бұрын

    I just rode this 3 times yesterday. It may be extremely rough but it is fun.

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    I'd love to see it retracked.

  • @mateoalvira3514
    @mateoalvira3514 Жыл бұрын

    Which Giant Dipper do you like more, the ride, the one at Belmont Park or the one at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, why?

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    Easily the Santa Cruz one. It has much stronger airtime and laterals.

  • @bartonpercival3216

    @bartonpercival3216

    7 ай бұрын

    And the SCBB coaster has a better dark tunnel at the beginning of the ride. Cool train whistle at the start of the ride too!!!!!!!!!! 👍

  • @matheuscastello6554
    @matheuscastello6554 Жыл бұрын

    i visited san diego a couple weeks ago and was asked by some enthusiast acquaintances if i would be visiting belmont park after i did seaworld san diego, i ended up passing on it since i was with my family and things didn't work out, but now i'm very glad i did pass, no airtime and rough doesn't seem very worthwhile to me, even considering this ride's historical aspect

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    It's mostly about the history and some lats.

  • @timothycole5266
    @timothycole52662 ай бұрын

    I wouldn't say no airtime is a negative, that's a only preference for some. Some rides aren't meant to have it, let's be thankful some rides are. It's because this ride had no airtime that it had absolutely no lap restraints for it's initial 51 years of operation, only a bar to hold on to with your hands and another near the floor to lock your feet under if you wanted to hold up your hands. It still doesn't NEED them, they're there because of insurance (I've ridden without). I will agree that it is rough because when it was restored the structure was tightened so all the stress is on the (duplicate design of Prior and Church) track instead of the load being shared with the scaffolds. Santa Cruz doesn't have quite the twisty-turny layout so the track isn't as easy to replace.

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    2 ай бұрын

    I agree not every ride needs to have airtime. The rough ride is the bigger issue here.

  • @quintinrice2733
    @quintinrice2733 Жыл бұрын

    I remember going to Sea World for work in the 90's. We had a free day and everyone said, You should go down to Mission Beach and ride the roller coaster. I had ridden The Giant Dipper in Santa Cruz and was expecting the same experience. I didn't hate it but, the Santa Cruz version was far superior.

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    Glad you didn't hate it.

  • @robertmatthews2009
    @robertmatthews200911 ай бұрын

    I rode this coaster in 1963 and again a month ago with my granddaughter. It will beat you up.

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    11 ай бұрын

    Yeah it is rough.

  • @mateoalvira3514
    @mateoalvira35145 ай бұрын

    But how would you compare this ride to: Pegasus at Mt. Olympus Thunderhawk at Dorney Park Vampire at La Ronde Dragon Fyre at Canada's Wonderland Flight Deck at Canada's Wonderland to ride again? And in terms of smoothness, pacing, power, and intensity?

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    5 ай бұрын

    Flight Deck is way rougher. Pegasus is similarly as rough. The others are not as bad. But I rode Giant Dipper before the recent retracking.

  • @barneyevans6940
    @barneyevans69406 ай бұрын

    First rode this in 1972, and have ridden it many times, though not recently. I have always enjoyed it, but I guess there is a little bias involved.

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    6 ай бұрын

    That's fair.

  • @mateoalvira3514
    @mateoalvira35145 ай бұрын

    Did you ever see a video of Giant Dipper at Belmont Park with new track?

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    5 ай бұрын

    Yes, glad it got some love.

  • @mateoalvira3514
    @mateoalvira3514 Жыл бұрын

    What would you rate Giant Dipper at Belmont Park and Giant Dipper at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk? and what do you think about: Giant Dipper at Belmont Park Skyliner at Lakemont Park Thunderhawk at Dorney Park Thunderbolt at Kennywood Blue Streak at Cedar Point Yankee Cannonball at Canobie Lake Park Cornball Express at Indiana Beach Magnum XL 200 at Cedar Point Apollo's Chariot at Busch Gardens Williamsburg Wild Thing at Valleyfair Lightning Run at Kentucky Kingdom Patriot at California's Great America

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    A lot of good rides in there.

  • @basictransportenthusiast4386
    @basictransportenthusiast4386 Жыл бұрын

    I don’t think they’ve retracked this since 1990, which is why it beats the crap out of you.

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    That would make sense then.

  • @teddym2808
    @teddym2808 Жыл бұрын

    Would it be a good ride if it was smooth like Santa Cruz, or is the layout just too weak?

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    It would be better, but still just ok at best.

  • @rutheliz75
    @rutheliz75 Жыл бұрын

    I wonder what the ride experience would be like with the original train ?

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    I hope it had more airtime.

  • @WCfanboy
    @WCfanboy Жыл бұрын

    It’s funny how parks in that time decided it was ok just to massively exaggerate speeds, like it was claimed a 125 foot coaster hit 70 and the Coney Island cyclone hits 60, it’s more like 45

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    I find it funny.

  • @ronsblahblah
    @ronsblahblah Жыл бұрын

    Flew to Cali to do a rollercoaster coaster tour in February and it was closed for retracking 😭😭😭j

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    Dang! Didn't miss a good ride. Just history.

  • @ScottyMania313
    @ScottyMania313 Жыл бұрын

    Photogenic Coaster with a rough ride, reminds me of my ex

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    Ouch!

  • @mateoalvira3514
    @mateoalvira351410 ай бұрын

    What would you rate Giant Dipper at Belmont Park?

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    9 ай бұрын

    This answers that.

  • @dindog22
    @dindog22 Жыл бұрын

    sounds like they need to contact GCI, smooth out the bad parts and get a millennium flyer train. I'm assuming it only has one train

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    I have only seen one in use.

  • @mateoalvira3514
    @mateoalvira3514 Жыл бұрын

    Giant Dipper at Belmont Park was not in your video of top 25 worst roller coasters in the world (2020), why?

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    It isn't super painful like the rides on that list.

  • @mateoalvira3514
    @mateoalvira3514 Жыл бұрын

    Of all roller coasters in the world, do you like rough, bumpy, smooth, shaky, jackhammer, shimmy, shuffle, rattle, vibration? Canobie Coaster, what would you think? Like all Prefer rough Prefer bumpy Prefer shaky Prefer shuffle Prefer rattle Prefer shimmy Prefer smooth Prefer jackhammer Prefer vibration

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    I prefer smooth rides.

  • @christopherfinch-mccollum1753
    @christopherfinch-mccollum17534 ай бұрын

    This was just re-tracked!

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    4 ай бұрын

    I heard. Hopefully it runs better.

  • @officialchase02
    @officialchase02 Жыл бұрын

    I wonder how this coaster would look if it had the RMC treatment

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    Better for sure, but it would be weird.

  • @officialchase02

    @officialchase02

    Жыл бұрын

    @@CanobieCoaster ye it would definitely be better airtime

  • @StamfordBridge
    @StamfordBridge Жыл бұрын

    It’s an ACE landmark and ACE helped save the coaster, but they give no discount for ACE membership. 😕

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    Dang!

  • @mitchel4361
    @mitchel4361 Жыл бұрын

    Eehhhh I live in ohio...I'll just go to the Carolinas and ride the swamp fox instead...question how good is it anyway

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    Swamp Fox is far better.

  • @primevaltimes
    @primevaltimes14 күн бұрын

    I rode it around a decade ago and it was nowhere near as rough as the people complaining make it sound. There are newer wooden roller coasters that are way rougher than this one.

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    14 күн бұрын

    It was smoother when I rode it in 2014. It's tolerable, but it is bumpy.

  • @daniscool8
    @daniscool8 Жыл бұрын

    Could you do a top 10 or a review of parc asterix?

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    I'm waiting until I get back for Toutatis.

  • @daniscool8

    @daniscool8

    Жыл бұрын

    Can’t wait it looks so much like pantheon which is my fav coaster

  • @mateoalvira3514
    @mateoalvira35145 ай бұрын

    Do you know the year this Giant Dipper opened? 1945?

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    5 ай бұрын

    Earlier than that.

  • @splinky45
    @splinky45 Жыл бұрын

    Belmont Park's coaster is very rough. Just like the Matterhorn at Disneyland. A hard pass for both

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    I like Matterhorn a lot.

  • @christopherfinch-mccollum1753
    @christopherfinch-mccollum1753 Жыл бұрын

    I agree with your rating. Even non-enthusiasts might not like it. It’s historical and that’s about it.

  • @zacharyyamashita8554

    @zacharyyamashita8554

    Жыл бұрын

    At least it’s not as bad as WildCat at Lake Compounce.

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    The history is great.

  • @skyguyismyguyr12turn
    @skyguyismyguyr12turn Жыл бұрын

    First comment! Have you watched all 26 Pixar movies? If so, rank them from worst to best(Why not explain yourself by the time you tell us a hot take)? :)

  • @CanobieCoaster

    @CanobieCoaster

    Жыл бұрын

    I think I responded to this in a different comment already.

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