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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
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
Жыл бұрын
Makes sense!
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
Жыл бұрын
Unfortunately I think the ride has gotten rougher too.
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
Жыл бұрын
Sounds like you got a much stronger ride than me.
Talk about ancient. Pretty historical. I love me some woodies. I would so love to ride this. Pretty sweet.
@CanobieCoaster
Жыл бұрын
I definitely appreciate the history.
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
Жыл бұрын
Yep! you gotta erl them tracks from time to time.
@CanobieCoaster
Жыл бұрын
I want a retrack more than anything.
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
Жыл бұрын
Nope, it has little airtime no matter when you ride.
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
Жыл бұрын
I can forgive the layout, but not the roughness.
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
9 ай бұрын
I do like the flags.
Can't wait for the Iron Dipper 😂😂😂. I personally loved it reminded me of The Texas cyclone.
@CanobieCoaster
Жыл бұрын
That would be a vast improvement, but it would feel wrong on a coaster this historic.
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
5 ай бұрын
I mainly wish it were smoother.
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
Жыл бұрын
It's unfortunately quite rough now.
@Kite037
5 ай бұрын
@@CanobieCoasterHave you seen the brand new POV? They retracked it!
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
Жыл бұрын
It got way rougher in the 3 years since my 2020 rides.
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
Жыл бұрын
I agree it is odd.
Again I’m a sucker for old wooden coasters, especially a prior and church woodie
@CanobieCoaster
Жыл бұрын
Love the history.
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
Жыл бұрын
Sorry I'm not a big fan.
RMC treatment is what screamed in my head after finishing this video
@CanobieCoaster
10 ай бұрын
I think the ride is too historic to get that.
It was awesome seeing you over the past two days
@CanobieCoaster
Жыл бұрын
Nice seeing you!
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
Жыл бұрын
I love the Santa Cruz one.
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
Жыл бұрын
I agree! Even the newer PTC's tend to articulate better now a days,
@CanobieCoaster
Жыл бұрын
Maybe that could help.
@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.
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
Жыл бұрын
Have fun!
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
18 күн бұрын
It's not my favorite, but I respect its historical significance.
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
Жыл бұрын
It got worse for me from 2020 to 2023.
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
Жыл бұрын
I wish it got a retrack.
The giant dipper at belmont is one of the best coasters in world Thee Best 👌
@CanobieCoaster
9 ай бұрын
It's a classic, but I find it a bit rough and lacking airtime.
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
5 ай бұрын
That would make sense.
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
Жыл бұрын
That's some luck.
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
Жыл бұрын
I prefer a smoother ride myself.
@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.
I just rode this 3 times yesterday. It may be extremely rough but it is fun.
@CanobieCoaster
Жыл бұрын
I'd love to see it retracked.
Which Giant Dipper do you like more, the ride, the one at Belmont Park or the one at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, why?
@CanobieCoaster
Жыл бұрын
Easily the Santa Cruz one. It has much stronger airtime and laterals.
@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!!!!!!!!!! 👍
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
Жыл бұрын
It's mostly about the history and some lats.
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
2 ай бұрын
I agree not every ride needs to have airtime. The rough ride is the bigger issue here.
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
Жыл бұрын
Glad you didn't hate it.
I rode this coaster in 1963 and again a month ago with my granddaughter. It will beat you up.
@CanobieCoaster
11 ай бұрын
Yeah it is rough.
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
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.
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
6 ай бұрын
That's fair.
Did you ever see a video of Giant Dipper at Belmont Park with new track?
@CanobieCoaster
5 ай бұрын
Yes, glad it got some love.
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
Жыл бұрын
A lot of good rides in there.
I don’t think they’ve retracked this since 1990, which is why it beats the crap out of you.
@CanobieCoaster
Жыл бұрын
That would make sense then.
Would it be a good ride if it was smooth like Santa Cruz, or is the layout just too weak?
@CanobieCoaster
Жыл бұрын
It would be better, but still just ok at best.
I wonder what the ride experience would be like with the original train ?
@CanobieCoaster
Жыл бұрын
I hope it had more airtime.
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
Жыл бұрын
I find it funny.
Flew to Cali to do a rollercoaster coaster tour in February and it was closed for retracking 😭😭😭j
@CanobieCoaster
Жыл бұрын
Dang! Didn't miss a good ride. Just history.
Photogenic Coaster with a rough ride, reminds me of my ex
@CanobieCoaster
Жыл бұрын
Ouch!
What would you rate Giant Dipper at Belmont Park?
@CanobieCoaster
9 ай бұрын
This answers that.
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
Жыл бұрын
I have only seen one in use.
Giant Dipper at Belmont Park was not in your video of top 25 worst roller coasters in the world (2020), why?
@CanobieCoaster
Жыл бұрын
It isn't super painful like the rides on that list.
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
Жыл бұрын
I prefer smooth rides.
This was just re-tracked!
@CanobieCoaster
4 ай бұрын
I heard. Hopefully it runs better.
I wonder how this coaster would look if it had the RMC treatment
@CanobieCoaster
Жыл бұрын
Better for sure, but it would be weird.
@officialchase02
Жыл бұрын
@@CanobieCoaster ye it would definitely be better airtime
It’s an ACE landmark and ACE helped save the coaster, but they give no discount for ACE membership. 😕
@CanobieCoaster
Жыл бұрын
Dang!
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
Жыл бұрын
Swamp Fox is far better.
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
14 күн бұрын
It was smoother when I rode it in 2014. It's tolerable, but it is bumpy.
Could you do a top 10 or a review of parc asterix?
@CanobieCoaster
Жыл бұрын
I'm waiting until I get back for Toutatis.
@daniscool8
Жыл бұрын
Can’t wait it looks so much like pantheon which is my fav coaster
Do you know the year this Giant Dipper opened? 1945?
@CanobieCoaster
5 ай бұрын
Earlier than that.
Belmont Park's coaster is very rough. Just like the Matterhorn at Disneyland. A hard pass for both
@CanobieCoaster
Жыл бұрын
I like Matterhorn a lot.
I agree with your rating. Even non-enthusiasts might not like it. It’s historical and that’s about it.
@zacharyyamashita8554
Жыл бұрын
At least it’s not as bad as WildCat at Lake Compounce.
@CanobieCoaster
Жыл бұрын
The history is great.
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
Жыл бұрын
I think I responded to this in a different comment already.