Guides → Coaster credits
Coaster credits: how to keep your coaster count
TL;DR: A coaster credit is a roller coaster you have ridden, counted once however many times you ride it. Your coaster count is the total. Most enthusiasts count a ride once they have completed a full circuit, count each distinct coaster rather than each lap, and argue happily about the grey areas. Pick a rule, write it down and stick to it.
Ask a roller-coaster fan how many coasters they have ridden and you will usually get a precise number. Keeping a coaster count is one of the oldest habits in the hobby: every new ride is a coaster credit, and the count is a running record of parks visited, trips taken and fears conquered. It is also a surprisingly good way to plan the next trip, because it shows exactly what you have not ridden yet.
This guide covers what usually counts as a credit, the cases enthusiasts disagree on, and a simple way to keep your own count without spreadsheets.
What counts as a coaster credit
The basic convention is simple: a credit is one roller coaster you have ridden from the station all the way back to the station. Re-riding the same coaster does not add a credit, however many laps you take on the same day. A few points most counters agree on:
- Each distinct coaster counts once. Ten rides on Taron are still one credit.
- You have to complete the ride. Waiting in the queue, or a ride that stops on the lift hill and evacuates, usually does not count.
- Size does not matter for the count. A family coaster earns a credit just like a record-breaking launch coaster, which is why many counts include plenty of small rides.
The grey areas
Every counter eventually meets a ride that is not obviously a separate credit. There is no single rulebook, so here are the common cases and the usual ways people handle them.
Same coaster, different name
When a park re-themes a ride and gives it a new name but keeps the track, most counters treat it as the same credit. A real re-track, where the layout changes, is more often counted as new.
Moved coasters
Coasters are sometimes taken down and rebuilt at another park. Many enthusiasts count the relocated ride only once, since it is the same machine; others count it again because the experience, the park and the trip are new. Either is fine as long as you are consistent.
Dual-track and racing coasters
Racing coasters run two trains side by side on separate tracks. Whether that is one credit or two depends on whether the tracks have different layouts; counters who ride both sides often count them separately.
Coaster-like rides
Alpine coasters, powered family rides and water coasters sit at the edge of the definition. Some counters include anything that runs on a coaster track; others only count rides that rely on gravity after a lift or launch. Decide once and note it next to your count.
How to keep your count
The best count is the one you will actually keep up to date. Achtbaan’s coaster count lives in your browser with no account: tap Mark ridden on any coaster in the explorer, or on the coaster’s own page straight after the ride. Your profile then shows how many coasters you have ridden, across how many parks and countries, your total inversions and the tallest, fastest and longest rides you have done.
If you already keep a count somewhere else, import it: paste one coaster per line or load a CSV with a name column, and Achtbaan matches the names against its catalogue before adding anything. A backup file keeps the log safe if you change browser, and a share link lets friends see your count without changing theirs.
Use your count to plan the next trip
A count is not just a score. Achtbaan’s park planner ranks parks by how many coasters you have not ridden there yet, so you can see which trip would add the most credits. The Want to ride list keeps your bucket list next to it, and the next milestone (5, 10, 25, 50, 100, then every coaster in the catalogue) is always shown. If a trip starts with a flight from Amsterdam, our sister site SchipholParking.info compares airport parking for your exact dates.
When you are choosing between parks, the thrill score helps you weigh the rides you have not done yet, and our guide to what makes a roller coaster thrilling explains what the numbers mean.
Keep it honest, keep it yours
A coaster count is a personal record, not a competition with fixed rules. Count a ride once you have completed it, count each coaster once, and settle the grey areas in a way that feels fair to you. Then let the count do what it does best: remind you of great days out and show you where to go next.