After being closed for the whole 2020 season because of New York’s Covid-19 guidelines, Deno’s Wonder Wheel is back better than ever! In early July, the park opened a new roller coaster, called Phoenix. The ride is a family-friendly suspended coaster. Now what’s so unique about Phoenix? Why is it different from any other family coaster? In this feature I have highlighted some of the best aspects of the attraction so you can understand why the attraction is so great!
Phoenix features some of the most comfortable trains on any coaster! The trains utilize a lap bar restraint and an unobtrusive seatbelt. Many roller coasters feature large, bulky restraints, but this is not the case with Phoenix. The lap bars and open seat design enhance the ride’s speed and stunning visuals! The restraint and seat design is one of the strongest aspects of the attraction!
The ride begins with a 180° turn, leading into a 68 foot tire-propelled lift hill. Unlike most coasters that utilize chains to lift trains to the top of their lift hills, Phoenix uses drive tires to push the train. You won’t hear that classic “clickity-clack” of a normal chain lift, but the silence and smoothness of the ascent is sure to build the anticipation!
Phoenix begins with two consecutive dips twisting in opposite directions, as opposed to the more-common steep initial drops found on most roller coasters. Both dips provide a feeling of weightlessness along with a great sense of speed (thanks to the trains and restraints). Then, the ride begins to twist around itself with helices, an almost-inverting banked turn, and more sudden dips! The ride consists of both upwards and downwards turns, each feeling unique from the next!
Now, what really makes the Phoenix so great? It’s not the tallest, longest, or fastest roller coaster, yet it’s still such a blast! There are a few aspects I’d like to highlight. The first being the restraints and train design. As previously mentioned, the coaster features extremely comfortable, open-feeling trains that increase the opportunity for views and allow for increased sense of speed. The next aspect is the layout. Many family coasters are clones of each other, meaning there are other coasters that feature identical layouts. While cloned layouts aren’t necessarily a bad thing, Phoenix features a 100% custom layout – you can’t find any other ride with the same elements. The layout is exciting and has some nice speed and force, especially considering the target demographic of the ride. Finally, the accessbility of the ride is a massive pro. Little kids, thrill-seekers, and even someone who absolutely despises roller coasters, can all have a great time. It won’t be too intense or scary for some, but it’s also thrilling enough to keep thrill-seekers engaged and hopping back in line!
For more info on Deno’s Wonder Wheel park including ticket prices, hours, and more, click here.