It’s that time of year again, the regional parks are closing up for the winter and the flurry of ride announcement begins. 2006 looks to be a very impressive year for roller coasters. Several record breakers have been announced and more than a few unique layouts have been revealed. Coasterdom will count down the Top 5 coasters opening for the 2006 season.

5. Expedition Everest
Walt Disney World continues its trend of building more intense attractions with the addition of Expedition Everest. The new coaster will become the larges ride at Walt Disney World, costing an unheard of 100 million dollars. Expedition Everest is so huge that the park had to build an entire mountain to contain the ride and the famous Disney storyline with the ride. Rising to over 200 feet, it will also be the tallest ride at Disney World. Not much is known about the ride other then it is being built by Vekoma and is employing Vekoma’s new track system. Based on Disney’s past roller coasters, Expedition Everest should be enjoyable for the entire family.

4. Goliath
Six Flags over Georgia unveils its newest addition, a Bolliger & Mabillard hyper coaster by the name of Goliath. The ride features a 170, 175, and 129 foot drop consecutively. With just under a mile of track this out and back design should provide some quality airtime as well as some intense G-forces. The ride even dives over a highway in order to navigate its course. Perhaps the most exciting part of the entire ride is the downward helix that is sure to prove powerful. As with all of B&M’s hyper coasters, Goliath should prove to be an outstanding ride.

3. El Toro
After building the world’s tallest and fastest roller coaster, Six Flags Great Adventure sets out to build another giant. El Toro will become the parks 13th roller coaster. Built by Intamin, El Toro will feature Intamin’s plug and play track, which is famous overseas for its smoothness. The coaster will be the first in the United States to feature this track. El Toro features an out and back layout with twister elements. It will be the second tallest, fastest and longest wooden roller coaster in the country. The first drop will be an amazing 181 feet at 76 degrees followed by three more large drops. With nine airtime moments, El Toro should be the perfect bridge between wood and steel coaster lovers.

2. Tatsu
Six Flags Magic Mountain is well known for pushing the envelope and building some record breakers, this year is no different. Tatsu: “Species of Fear” will be the most robust flying coaster ever built. The ride will have a 170 foot lift hill and reach speeds of 62 mph. The first drop will be 111 feet and feature an amazing 124 foot pretzel loop. After all is said and done, Tatsu will be the tallest, fastest, and longest flying coaster in the world. If all of that wasn’t enough, the ride features a total elevation change of 263 feet. Tatsu is defiantly a reason to get to Six Flags Magic Mountain next year.

1. Voyage
Our number one coaster comes to us from everyone’s favorite amusement park, Holiday World. Holiday World which is famous for the Legend and the Raven has out done themselves with Voyage. Featuring 1.2 miles of track, eight underground tunnel moments, and 24.2 seconds of airtime, Voyage is sure to be every enthusiast dream. Standing 163 feet high with a 153 foot drop, Voyage will rise over the trees, only to dive down and hug the terrain. Voyage should prove to be a fast, elegant ride with a little of everything in it.

As you can see, the 2006 coaster season is shaping up to a great one. With a diverse group of coasters this is one of the most interesting seasons in a long time. Major parks are investing in both steel and wooden coasters for a change. Also, the coasters featured in this countdown come from very different areas, ensuring that the majority of the country has something new and exciting to look forward too.

All ride art copyright to their respective parks.