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Giant Dipper Roller Coaster
Rating Details »
Categories: Amusement Parks, Local Flavor, Arcades [Edit]
3190 Mission Blvd(between Mission Bay Dr & Ventura Pl)
San Diego, CA 92109
(858) 488-1549
- Hours:
Mon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Fri-Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
36 reviews for Giant Dipper Roller Coaster
It's true--I can't ride you without throwing my head back and giggling the whole time.
And yes, that's what she said.
Still 5 Stars, I was involved in fund raising to restore this classic coaster and rode it when first re-opened. It is just as amazing as I remember it. Many wooden coasters do not age well, like Psyclone at Magic Mountain has been removed, and Ghostrider at Knotts is rough, and pretty much sucks at this point.
Originally built in 1925 this classic has stood the test of time.
One of San Diego's oldest wonders...so I assume.
I suggest if you don't have a neck of steel that you beware when making the decision to ride this beast of a coaster...not because it's scary but because you're likely to break yo' neck foo!!! It reminds me of that one ride with the white tracks at Knotts...
Definitely worth checking out and takin a ride. Great ocean views, especially around sunset.
SOOOOO PAINFULLLL!!!!
That's how you know it's a classic worth loving!!
Everytime you make a jerky turn, get a mean whiplash, and receive a nice hard slam with your back against the seating ..... PRICELESS!
You must go on this at least once!!! I always try to talk people into going. At first they resist thinking it's a silly idea but when they finally get on, it's nothing but smiles!!! The view of San Diego from the top is beautiful and is like therapy yelling on the way down and around!!! Super fun!!
It's only a matter of time before this rickety riot collapses in a cloud of dust and termites. Which only makes it more exciting, darling.
Beautiful view of the ocean from the top.
Brace your head and neck and use the hand rail for chiropractic support. Or be prepared to throw yourself the heck out of alignment.
Sit in the front for an exhilarating view.
Sit in back for extra speed and raucousness.
Use the dark tunnel at the beginning to your fullest advantage.
And don't forget to hang on.
OhbythewayitisSIXBUCKSperrideoverpricedforsure.
I really wanted to go on the Giant Dipper roller coaster today. All this time living in San Diego and I've never ridden this roller coaster before. Being the roller coaster junkie that I am, that should be considered criminal. So I buy a ticket for the coaster ($6) and ride it while Jena and her friend find parking. For a roller coaster that's 85 years old, the coaster is hardcore. Shaky, a little scary, and faster than I thought it would be. My hat flew off on the big drop that was at the beginning of the ride. Serves me right for wearing the thing so loosely, though even if it was worn tightly, it probably would have flown off anyway. It's okay. It was a white cap that I got free at a Padres game three years ago and had gotten all gnatty anyway. It's not the first cap I've lost. I actually flew off the seat for a second during the ride. It was pretty cool. The first turn is ridiculously dark going through this tunnel of some sort. At the end of the ride, I was literally gritting my teeth and I got out of the car and thought I had lost my phone. It was resting comfortably where I was sitting in the car.
I'd definitely like to go again some time.
Ride this roller coaster!!!At night!!!Drunk!!!
So much passion...
Where else in Diego are you gong to find a coaster? No where!
Sure, you can enjoy the fun of playing volleyball on the beach.
Sure, you can be mystified and hypnotized by the crashing waves.
Sure you can, sure you can, and sure you can.
But, there's only a few other things around the area that will give you the thrill and excitement of this wooden coaster.
Do you recall the feeling of your heart racing, as you hear the chains clinking? How about that climatic feeling as the cart climbs to the apex of the coaster?
If you don't remember, but you're itching for that feeling, then you might as well take yourself to the Giant Dipper. Even if you're a little hesitant of coasters, don't fret, because you can shake off some of the jitters by enjoying the view that you get once your at the peak of the coaster. Be warned, you'll only get a moment's glance at that view before you find yourself diving into the ground, and learning about Issac Newton's law of gravity.
This coaster will give you a rugged ride, and maybe a few whip lashes, but it's exciting. Definitely worth the try if you're around and new to the area. The price might be a little expensive, but it's fine because it's not as if we ride a roller coaster everyday.
Wheeeee! This is such a fun ride, and it's the only thing that actually brings me to Belmont Park (I'm not there for the shady beach people who hang out at the bars across the street, or the cigarette-bumming homeless people and guitar players who hang out along the board walk).
I love the loud clattering as the coaster begins to climb the tracks, especially since it covers up what my friends and I call "my roller coaster noise." (It sounds like, "Unnnnngggguuuuhhhh," if you were wondering. It's the sound of my stomach passing through my esophagus as a roller coaster gets crazy.) Then there's bashing, crashing, and hysterical laughter! Hop on the Dipper and see for yourself!
I remember going to Belmont Park with my thuggish friends back in the day and I never wanted to ride the coaster but they'd always make me and I'd love it afterwards. Now as a responsible adult taking my two nephews to ride it for the first time and seeing their faces as they got off was worth the price of the unlimited ride wristbands.
The Giant Dipper is still as jerky and rickety and noisy as I remember and I still love it. Everyone needs to ride the old school wooden coaster once if not five times in their lives.
My neck and breasts will never be the same:
Got on.....
Rickety Racked and Clanked up the tracks
Laughed my ass off
Coaster soared down the tracks
Bumped around
Neck got jarred
Boobs got smashed
Was trying to breathe in between laughter
Before you know it
Over..........
.........and yes I went again!
Something about that Coaster!
While I'm not a fan of roller coasters, the Giant Dipper is damn cool. It's WOOD! There's a beautiful sound that this thing makes as cars chack-chack-chack up the ratcheted incline, and roar and rumble up and down the tracks. Steel roller coasters just don't have the same character.
It's expensive to ride (six dollars a shot!), and not terribly long. I'd say that the Giant Dipper is a good introductory roller coaster-- it's mild enough that you're only held in by a lap bar; over the shoulder bracing isn't necessary. That said, it made me nervous but not clambering to get off, and I kinda enjoyed it.
This thing used to be $4???? and that was only a few months ago! Well, since then they've jacked up the price to $6/ride. I had had a few drinks and kinda love coasters so I charged the fares for me and 3 friends on trusty plastic and fake screamed the whole ride through.
Reminds me of the Cyclone at Coney Island (but of course not as good aka the Cyclone is rickety and cranky and I feared for my life while on it.. it's great).
Probably wouldn't go for a second run since it's $$$, but it did make my night.
I do not recommend this as your first roller coaster. Especially if you have the weakest stomach in town, LIKE ME!
NEVER AGAIN will I get back onto this thing or onto any other metal/steel fast moving structure in my life.
However, I love to watch it go around and around while sitting on the beach, and contemplate getting back on it one day, but my stomach and my brain set in and stop those thoughts.
Thank you for doing that.
::Does the "Sign of the Cross" & holds on tight::
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
I have some precious childhood memories here. My dad lived down the street so I often went on the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster when I was a wee one. I was so happy when the Giant Dipper re-opened because for the longest time the roller coaster was under construction.
When I was younger, the roller coaster was exciting because we would get to go to Belmont park and watch the bums before we went on the Big Dipper. Now the Roller Coaster is exciting because the thing feels like it is going to fall a part at any minute, and yes, the bums are still at the Park, but I don't them mind so much.
The Big Dipper is pretty thrilling because before the first "big dip" you get to see a great view of Mission Beach and Sea World, before plummeting to on the age-old roller coaster.
This rollercoaster has been here for as long as I can remember!
"Ouch, my neck!!" ---that's gonna be your most over used phrase!
I remember it used to be about $4, but now they want to raise their prices! This is how you recongize Belmont! haha
Went here for a birthday party, had a blast with the bummer cars and on the roller coaster...there aren't many of these parks left. like the shops and the arcade. all around great day, little pricey but for the experience well worth it.
I worked here selling tickets the summer between high school and college. When the highlight of your workday is going to Arby's, that's not a very good job.
The roller coaster experience here is exactly what it looks like. My family used to tell me stories of a sailor who stood up in his rollercoaster car on this ride and he died. So, yes, the Giant Dipper really can kill you.
The probability of a vertebrae slipping out of alignment goes through the roof while riding this rickety-ass coaster. Fun to look at, but to ride... meh.
Tickets are on the expensive side but if you love wooden rollercoasters, like I do, it is money well-spent. It runs after dark so go for a ride before hitting the bars in Mission Beach.
click click click click. an old school wooden ascent and an ocean view at the top!!
beat that six flags.
Who does not like roller coasters?
Old school wood form the 20's...
Fun lil area around it too but a lil small. Keep expecation low outside of the coaster.
I love this roller coaster! It's an old fashioned wood one with lots of jerks and drops. It's good fun!! Get down to Belmont Park, cough up 6 bucks, and get those endorphins going!!! :) Right now!!!
Even at 6 bucks a pop I would ride this a couple times. This old-school coaster is a ton of fun and surprises.
On a recent trip to Belmont Shores - decided to stop and actually ride the "good ole woody". I'm a sucker for a good wooden coaster and this one is pretty fun - rode it a few times.
My coworker described it as follows "You will feel like your brains are slipping out of your skull. But have fun riding and tell me how it is after." I would say that's pretty accurate. Despite that it is quite fun, and the view when you get the peak of the ocean is cool. If you plan to ride any of those other rides, don't eat before hand. Anything that swings and spins at the same time is worse than just getting drunk and throwing up.
Part of the thrill of rollercoasters is the perceived danger that you will die. The Dipper is so damn old and rickety, that danger is probably all too real. Live on the edge and pony up a fin for a minor thrill. It's really tame compared to the zooming behemoths at Six Flags, but it's right there at the beach, and it's still fun, if a little rough on the neck.
My prom date, in his infinite wisdom, took me here after dinner, but before we took pictures at the dance. Sigh. It was a cute idea, in theory, in reality, I had spent a lot of time my hair and wanted to flick him in the middle of his forehead and ask what he was thinking. So, if you want to take a girl to the Dipper to be cute and nostalgic, make sure she hasn't spent an hour getting gussied up beforehand.
Just wear elbow pads when you get on this thing, because it will knock you all over the place and then some! The bar didn't really fit me well enough, but hey, I drank lots of vodka beforehand, so it just added to the fun.
Well, they say size matters, and I wont quibble.... but this old school wood coaster is a genuine rib-rattler. Fine fun for all ages... as long as you measure tall enough to gain entrance... ;-)
A must try at least once. Especially if you like coasters! This is a classic wooden coaster, from back in the day. Growing up this landmark was close for so long. But one day they fixed it back up and opened up. It's not "Six Flags" but the cling and clang of an old wooden coaster still will make you think twice of the adventure you'll take riding this wooden monster!
3 1/2 stars. I am partial to the Dipper in Santa Cruz, but the one here is cool. I think I've ridden it once or twice, but it's kinda hard on the chest (girls, do you feel me on this one?) It's a bumpy ride, but a must-do at Mission Beach. I'm a fan of old wooden coasters, adds to the "holy crap is this going to break while we're having fun" factor.
This is the Giant Dipper roller coaster at Belmont Park at Mission Beach in San Diego. It is one of the original wooden roller coasters and I try to make sure I ride it whenever I am in San Diego.
I've ridden this coaster a bunch of times (some times more sober than others) but always fun. Best time to ride is at sunset during the summer!
A quick ride on the Belmont Park Roller Coaster is my usual brainfart afterthought upon consuming a few tasty beverages at the neighboring Sandbar/ Canes circuit, or on the way down to the Pennant/Comber quinella. You quickly learn to ridicule the inevitable naysayer in your group, i.e- the guy who's worried his hands might get dirty from touching the restraining bar, who brought him? You line up to the ticket booth and pay your $3-$4 fee and away you go. Inevitably you ration that for $4 you could have had another beer from where you just left, but hey, this is spontaneous living! Upon initial descent from the 1st climb, the "oh shit" factor is quickly aroused by the combination of O' faced g-forces and dessicated wood beneath your bony butt as you woefully ponder the thought of the Channel 10 news team reporting your untimely death on the eleven o'clock news that very night. But alas, "that shit only happens to other people, right"-you mind murmur to yourself in reassuring tones. The ride is over nearly before it begins as your cart bumper boats itself out of the last turn like a Cali driver I saw hydroplaning out of control in last week's sprinkle storm. Ah yes, amen, another successful ride on the coaster! Til we meet again mi amore. Adieu.
