Magnum

I'm curious as to why the Magnum is so popular and gets so much hype, even after many other hypers have been built. I personally was very disappointed with it and I don't know why anyone would like such a ride so much. Am I the only one who feels this way about it? I'm not saying anyone is right or wrong, or that the Magnum is necessary a bad coaster. I just want some reasons.

It's at Cedar Point, of course. ;)

Personally, I like Apollo's Chariot better, and I'm obviously a big CP fan. However, the ride has history. That might not mean much to you youngin's, but for me it's all about history and location.

I was 15 when the thing debuted. I was there opening weekend, and presumably among the first few thousand people to ride it. At the time, there was nothing bigger. Heck, that was when Gemini scared the crap out of me, so you can imagine what this giant thing made me think.

The other thing about it is that it has character. I've had a few hundred laps on Magnum. What I find amazing is that it gives a different ride every time. Worn wheels, wind direction, pressure on the trims, air temperature, etc., all cause the ride to behave differently. The ride time can vary as much as 15 seconds.

This should be a good year for Magnum, following the nasty neglect it suffered last year. The fiberglass bodies are being totally replaced, so that 11 year's worth of bug splatter will be history.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

It's always better if you can manage to ride a coaster before the hype builds to fever pitch. I have had a few people tell me Ghostrider is really not "all that". Well of course it's not, if your expecting the earth to move after all the positive reviews you read. It's just a really good coaster that's continues to surprise through out it's course. That said, when I venture out to ride Boulder Dash and Superman(SFNE) this summer, I will keep that in mind. There's just something about discovering a great coaster in it's first couple years that you can't replace.

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Thank you Disney, thank you... *** This post was edited by Middleman on 2/13/2001. ***

It does seem to have a charcter like Jeff said. I was all hyped up this year to get to Cedar Point to ride all of the "new" coasters (Not necessiarly new, but new to me.) and my most anticipated experience was my first ride on Millennium Force.

This year the new CP coasters I hit were Gemini, Maggy, Millennium Force, and Mantis, and my third to last ride of the night was my 2nd trip on the Force. We hit Mantis, and then Raptor once more right before the queve closed, and then left.

On the whole ride home, I kept thinking about how much I liked the Force and that I couldn't believe I got on it, and I kept thinking about why it was my #1 ride ever.

Then laying in bed that night I was thinking about my experiences at the park. I then got to thinking about Magnum. I thought "Wow, it felt pretty smooth to me and I've been on the Force." and "It had some great airtime." and other things like that. I thought about it some more and I realized that the sheer height and speed and the overbanked turns and smoothness of Millennium Force made it a world class ride, but that Magnum had somthing about it that "won me over".

I don't know if it was the ride, the scenery, the cars, or any other elements of the coaster, but it had a feeling to it that made it "more than a coaster," but an experience. That's why today it's #1 to me.

Long live the Magnum.

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"Shut up brain, or I'll stab you with a Q-tip!"

~From the brilliant mind of Homer J. Simpson.

*** This post was edited by Intamin2K on 2/13/2001. ***

What makes it so special to me was how I saw it change the world in 1989. How did they put it at 99's Coastermania before they showed the video? "It made the world stand up and take notice"

Also, it was pretty much in a class of it's own for many years. What coasters today remain the only one of their kind for 5 years or so? Even though there are similar coasters today, I think Jeff nailed it when he said it's character sets it apart. The ride is hardly ever the exact same, has one of the best views of any hypers, and has a lot of history behind it.

I consider myself lucky to have seen it and ridden it in those first few years, and as a result, it remains one of my absolute favorite rides today.

-Peabody

i've been to cedar point twice. when i went 4 years ago i had never ridden a coaster with a drop like that. i had ridden shockwave and american eagle but nothing really even close. it was such an awesome ride. i remeber the wind howling has we hit the top of the lift. it was a clear day and you could see for miles around. it was incredible. those bunny hills on the return trip just make such a great finish. this is a ride that will never die. i have now ridden 4 hypers but magnum is still tops. when i first rode raging bull i was expecting it to be better then magnum and it just didnt do it for me. magnum has so many great aspects. i love that ride. when i go to cp in the spring were riding it first just so the people in my group dont let millennium force go to there heads.

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bhilk

I don't think Magnum deserves all the hype it gets, but its location and that view is enough to knock your socks off, bud.

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Matt Lynch
Co-Webmaster, Kennywood Boulevard
http://kennywood.coasterbuzz.com

I think that everyone has their different preferences and opinions of rides. I know that I rode the magnum like the last year it was considered the tallest in the world (1992?). With the hype I was already terrified, and not another coaster has done that to me before and still hasn't. I would describe it as one of my best all-time ride ever. There's nothing like the first time.

Jeff I have to agree with the character of the ride. There is a different ride everytime. And I like seeing different ways to take my picture on the ride.. LOL


The bottom line is everyone has their own criteria for a good ride. And not everybody has to say that one coaster is the best or whatever. Don't let anyone change your opinion.
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***Why can't all parks have a Millennium Force?***

For me, Magnum just has a whole bunch of things coming together. The size, the layout, the phsyical location of the ride, the speed, the view from the top of the first hill on a clear night...
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LIfe is something that happens when you can't get to sleep.
--Fran Lebowitz

It is the combination of personality, location, appearance and the fact that it's design tries to do what it does very well, as opposed to trying to do everything. Before Magnum, I would have never thought that a steel coaster could behave so much like a wooden one. Although I love steel coasters, I have always found that they can get calculated and old, but Magnum doesn't. I suspect that it's legacy is going to be somewhat like the Coney Island Cyclone and it will still be delivering fun rides to a lot of fans long after MF has become old and dull.

I have got one word for y'all. AIRTIME!!!!!!

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What is life without it's ups and downs

I have to agree with just about everything everyone else has said. I remember the hype when Magnum was first built (and I was in first grade, for God's sake!)and it was a BIG DEAL, arguably a bigger deal than Millennium Force 11 years later.

All this year, the question of "Which is better, Magnum or MF??" had been bothering me. Well, after my first MF nighttime ride, I thought MF had finally won me over to become my favorite. Well, I decided to run to the back of the park and hit Magnum before the park closed, only to receive the fastest ride I've ever gotten on Magnum. Jeff said ride time can vary 15 seconds...well it was in top form that night I just remember a completely insane ride. I remember spiraling through the pretzel thinking I was going to die, and on the return bunny hops, I practically had standing air. I got off the ride unsure, once again, whether or not I liked this better or MF.

The point of all this?? Magnum is a performer. It has a repuation of a classic ride, and whether the thrill of MF gets old or not, Magnum will still always have its status.

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Coasters...the best natural buzz available.

There is something about Maggie that is unexplainable. It's not cause its the first, has sweet airtime, or because its just plain cool. Magnum is in its own little section of the park. It's entrance is hidden away behind some trees and benches. The line is completly blocked off from everything else. When you finally aproach the station, that wierd Cedar Point/80's/space/sci fi effect comes into play. The station is the oddest shape that you'll ever be in. In the daytime, the light comes in from the front, partially blocked by the collums on the other side. Once in the Cedar Point/80's/space/sci fi trains the adventure begins. The little hill and turn leading to the lift swings out low over the "midway" as onlookers wave at your train. The lift begins and slowly takes you up. Soak City and the go-karts slowly fade away. The ride itself is out of control. The pretzel loop gives you time to realize how far you have traveled. On the way home, the lap bar should be pressed against your body and your body slams into them. Once the breaks hit you come back around over the midway and around the trees.

The ride to me isn't about height, speed, or being first. It's just Magnum, plain and simple.

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2484.2 miles from Akron to Bremerton, WA- home of MxPx

Punk said it best. I say location, location, location. I'm sorry, but nothing is like cresting over Lake Erie at 205 ft. You get your few moments to marvel at the view and you plummet with amazing force at the ground. Then you race along the beach with great airtime. My favorite part of the ride is the last bunny hills, but not the airtime. The sound is just so funny. The train goes up in silence, then everybody screams when the train hops over the hill. Silence, scream, silence, scream. Great. The tunnels are another thing that just add to everyting about this ride that is so amazing.

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Coasters- a little slice of heaven

I agree that it is a different ride everytime, but isn't every coaster a little different each time? Of course, riding them in different seat positions can do just that, but how much different is the question... Magnum is THAT much different, every ride. I'll sit in 1-3 (ejector) 3 straight times and get crushed only once, but it's what keeps me coming back for more. I love waking up the next morning and finding black bruises on my thighs...smile, and say, "Hi Maggie!" Those who don't know me will find that I take a beating on trips to parks and want more at 11:00pm. Pain is a good thing, trust me...and the Magnum is perfect for that, just ask my long legs!

NOW, I am NOT saying that it is a painful ride and you should stop riding the Magnum...I'm just saying it's the most painful for me...I'm 6'2" and I just don't fit into the cars very well. But, I still will ride it all day. I'm looking for a word here...I think it's "masacistic"??? Is that right, or spelled right?

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There's nothing like a woodie...

I agree stand-up fan, I also thought it was highly overrated when I rode it back in August for my first time. Very rough, much rougher than I anticipated. It was also hard to notice much airtime with those 10 lbs. lapbars. Overall, I thought it was a good ride, but not THAT great. I also found that it was an even better ride at night though. Another thing, is I am also tall woody, about 6'3, and I agree that the trains are very uncomfortable. The same goes for Gemini. But the one thing that kept me going back to the ride was the view. I was more and more amazed everytime I rode.

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AIM SN-Coasterman17 *** This post was edited by Coaster Dude on 2/13/2001. ***

Magnum was not properly cared for last year. I suspect it had something to do with the fact that they knew they were rebuilding the trains this winter. They let a few axles go completely to hell, making the cars wobble over the whole course. Not fun if you were sitting over one of those wheels.

I've been told the new bodies are there, and I can't wait to see them!

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

Just like everyone else said the Magnum has a history, obviously it was the first Hyper, and despite what everyone else thinks, I still believe it is the best one out the, the only problem I have with it is that on the final stretch all the little hill are beginning to kill my thighs as they bang into the lap bar, anybody else have this problem?

To me that part of the fun, getting banged around a little.

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Thank you Disney, thank you...

I can remember seeing the first drop of Magnum on the front of Time Magazine and man it scared me. Well, I finally got my first ride on Magnum last summer and I agree that it's a better ride at night for some reason. I remember yelling very loudly when we were heading for the pretzel. I've now ridden four hypers (S:ROS @ SFA, AC @ BGW, and SF @ Dorney) and I thought Magnum was right up there in quality of ride, although it's rougher than the other three. I dare say it's a better coaster than MF in some areas.