On August 18th, 2022, I took a short visit to Staten Island to visit both Deno's Wonder Wheel and Luna Park. My plan was to ride the Wonder Wheel, all three of their roller coasters, and then to ride on the Cyclone from Luna Park. We spent about three hours on the boardwalk and had a good experience overall.
Deno's Wonder Wheel Ride Review
The main attraction at Deno's Wonder Wheel is of course their Ferris wheel. The wonder wheel has a very imposing look as it greets its visitors while they walk around the boardwalk. Once the guests get in line, they will have the option to ride either in a swinging or stationary gondola. I chose to ride in the swinging gondola because I have never experienced one on a Ferris wheel, and I found it to be a lot of fun. The swinging aspect adds way more thrill to the attraction, and you can still get a great view of the New York City skyline and beach from above.
Phoenix Review
I rode the Phoenix three times during my visit, and I got two rides in the back row, and one in the front row. This is a nice addition to this park because it appeals to families, and it has enough thrill in it to keep roller coaster enthusiasts interested in the ride. Phoenix was also very smooth, and it had many great moments of airtime and positive g-force throughout the ride, especially in the back row. The manufacturer of this coaster named Vekoma has a mixed reputation in the United States; however, this coaster shows that their newer coasters are much better and more comfortable than their older designs. Vekoma has a bright future in America, and I cannot wait to experience more of their newer coasters.
Cyclone- Luna Park Review
The only attraction I rode at Luna Park during my visit was the Cyclone. This is because I rode most of the attractions in 2019, and I remember the Cyclone being one of the best wooden roller coasters I have ever experienced. During my last visit, I managed to get three rides in the front of the train, so my goal for this visit was to get a back row ride. Since the park does not allow guests to wait specifically for the front or the back rows of the train, this was a difficult task for me to accomplish. Fortunately, after counting the number of guests that were in front of me, and carefully positioning myself in line once in the station, I got a back row ride.
It's crazy to think that after 95 years of operation that this coaster still provides an intense ride experience that is a lot of fun. I remember from my front row rides that I got some great airtime, but sitting in the back row brought the airtime to another level. I felt like I was going to fly out of my seat due to the buzz bars and the profiling of each hill which is something all roller coaster enthusiasts love. This is easily the best ride in Staten Island, and I highly recommend this coaster to all thrill seekers.
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