Amazon.com
The back of this DVD case boasts, “It’s almost better than being on board!” Is it? Well, no, unless roller coasters give you motion sickness, in which case you might be better off watching them on your TV set. The strength of this 82-minute DVD is not that it re-creates the heart-stopping thrill of hurtling down that first steep drop. Rather, it gives coaster enthusiasts an added appreciation for the latest innovations in roller coaster design, from the eight loops of the Dragon Khan (the most on a single coaster) to Germany’s Olympic Looping Ban (which is reassembled repeatedly as it travels from city to city) to the terrifying height of England’s Pepsi Max. Two pairs of 3-D glasses are included with the DVD, but the footage looks just fine viewed without them and is less likely to give you a headache. To avoid the pompous narration and riders’ comments, skip to chapter 16 for a first-person perspective of all 14 rides. –Larisa Lomacky Moore

America’s Greatest Rollercoaster Thrills 2 in 3D

World’s Greatest Roller Coaster Thrills in 3 D

Description
Continue the excitement of “America’s Greatest Roller Coaster Thrills” with a new trip to fourteen of the latest and greatest scream machines in the nation. From Busch Gardens in Virginia to the top of the Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas, this disc puts you right in the center of the 3-D action. You’re in for the ride of your life! Includes 2 pair of 3-D glasses.Amazon.com
If you love roller coasters, this DVD probably won’t be a substitute for riding in the front car–but it may help you plan your next vacation. This 67-minute tour climbs aboard 16 coasters in the U.S., including the oldest still in operation, the Jack Rabbit in Kennywood, Pennsylvania, built in 1921; the tallest (at the time this DVD was produced, 1996), Wild Thing in Scakopee, Minnesota, featuring a 200-foot drop; and the highest, the High Roller, which twists at an altitude of 1,000 feet at the Top of the World in Las Vegas. The DVD offers a first-person perspective ride on most of the coasters, filmed in 3-D. Two pairs of 3-D glasses are included with the DVD, but the effect is only occasionally noticeable. Fortunately, the footage is just as exciting viewed without them. –Larisa Lomacky Moore

America’s Greatest Roller Coaster Thrills 2 in 3-D

Description
Let 3-D video technology put you into the head car of fourteen of the most thrilling coasters in America. Using the supplied glasses creates incredible 3-D depth perception, but the images are perfectly normal when viewed without. So dim the lights, turn up the volume, strap on your seat belt and hang on! Includes 2 pair of 3-D glasses.Amazon.com
The back of this DVD case boasts, “It’s almost better than being on board!” Is it? Well, no, unless roller coasters give you motion sickness, in which case you might be better off watching them on your TV set. The strength of this 82-minute DVD is not that it re-creates the heart-stopping thrill of hurtling down that first steep drop. Rather, it gives coaster enthusiasts an added appreciation for the latest innovations in roller coaster design, from the eight loops of the Dragon Khan (the most on a single coaster) to Germany’s Olympic Looping Ban (which is reassembled repeatedly as it travels from city to city) to the terrifying height of England’s Pepsi Max. Two pairs of 3-D glasses are included with the DVD, but the footage looks just fine viewed without them and is less likely to give you a headache. To avoid the pompous narration and riders’ comments, skip to chapter 16 for a first-person perspective of all 14 rides. –Larisa Lomacky Moore

America’s Greatest Roller Coaster Thrills in 3-D