1st time X rider this weekend.

Okay, so the last time I was at Magic Mountain, X hadn't even opened yet. I'm on Goliath, and across the park I see, for a very brief second, one of the X trains go over the 1st drop(Testing I presume). So after I got off of Goliath, I run to the complete other side of the park to check out the testing of X, and sure enough, they don't run it for the rest of the day. That was on a Sunday, I believe, and X opened that same week. Anyway, after that brief reminder, I was hoping to get a little feedback for a 1st timer.

Where to ride? Does it really matter?

Are the out side seats(Away from the support)rougher than the inside seats?

Does the ride get swamped with guests, especailly after a ridetime?

Stuff like that.

I got to say, even after reading, and hearing all of the opinions about X since it opened, it is still one of the coasters that I really looking forward to riding this year.

For a first timer, I'd go for a front inside seat. Personally, I love sitting in the back/outside but my first ride was in the back and was just a blur. Riding the second time in the front helped to make some sense of it. I would also not get hyped about it because some people love it and some people hate it, it's just one of those coasters. If you get one REALLY rough ride, I'd say ride again (if you have time) because some rows will be more rough than others even on the same train. I've had my worst and best X rides on the same train on the same day, just different seats.

Yeah, because of the half-assed way the trains were designed, each seat on each train provides a different ride. That's why you get some of the most differing opinions I have ever seen for a coaster. My last ride was so wonderful that X re-entered my top two or three steel coasters for the first time since 2003.

But I've also learned not to argue with people who hate the ride as I can attest to the fact that X is one moody heffa. Either way, it's one of those coasters who's first ride you will never forget!

Personally I'd go with the front seat for your first ride. There's nothing quite like looking face down on that first drop with no seats in front of you! :O

I agree with the front seat advice. Front, inside seat on the side facing Viper.

Okay,

How about people, like myself, who wear glasses? Can I ride the coaster with a glasses strap, or will I be forced to ride it half blind, and not knowing what the hell is happening anyway.

The one thing that totally Pssd me off about Dodonpa, on the ECC/ACE Japan trip, was the fact that I could not wear my glasses(Even with a strap). I took one ride on it, and swear that I will never ride it again.

If I can't see whats happening, then the whole experience is shot.

^ Get contacts ;)

Put them in your pocket until the ride starts and then put them on. But I would recommend the strap. X tosses you all over the place.

Pay close attention to how the train enters and exits the station. Seats are facing backwards at that point so what appears to be the front of the train is actually the back, and many people get that mixed up. Just remember the end that leaves first is the front.

Also, heads up- there's supposed to be some serious rain on this saturday. I know because I'm planning a trip and have followed the weather. I just hope they're wrong, because I really would like to go again. Just wanted to let you know. And, my first- and ONLY- time on X, I was so disoriented during the ride, and I was rubbing the back of my head for, like, 30 minutes after I got off it, that I really doubt I'll ride it again. But SFMM is still one hel*-of-a-park, imo. Whatever happens, I hope you have fun!

Personally I found the best seat to be in the back. Ok, if you are facing the coaster when entering the station (the right station) it's the first inner seat. But I found the front inner seats to be tolerable as well. The middle of the coaster seems a little more rough.

And yes, from what I have seen the park gets flooded pretty fast at opening. I went to the Rideworld event last year and had the pleasure of having 2 hours of ERT on X with no wait at all. I didn't stay on X for that long (I got a headache after the 4th consecutive ride) but once the park opened it got slammed! There is a thing near the end where the coaster knocks your head around a bit.

I would HIGHLY recommend wearing a strap for your glasses.

It's a pretty funky ride, one of the strangest coasters I have been on. It's one of those where after your first time you are like "WTF just happened to me?" "WTF was THAT? WOW!" :-)

-Tina

*** Edited 3/9/2006 2:48:26 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

I will say the inside parts are smoother than outside. Outside seats are probably more intense though yet you feel more vibration. The front seat will provide free falling sensation during first drop. You will feel that the train is going to crash on to the ground.

Quite possibly, X is the most chaotic ride you will ever be on. I still cannot tell how the track goes while I am riding. X is #2 on my list of favorites.

I really hope the rain doesn't ruin your trip, but I like the front and back seats. Inner or Outter doesn't really matter to me. I think the freefall first drop, dive out of the first raven turn, and the half-half at the end are the best elements of the ride. The outside raven turn is wicked fast and really rough in all seats especially the front. I actually really like the ride but I can't ride it too many times in one day (provided that the lines aren't super long) because it can give you a nasty headache.

X is the Premier coaster at Magic Mountain and once the gates open you'll see that it's like a racing of the bulls trying to get there and be first in line.

I too found the back seat to be "where it's at." Not many other places can you get wicked ejector airtime while facing straight down a 200' drop.

I've taken about 20 laps on it on 2 separate occasions and it is definitely in my top 5. I've had some bumpy rides but never anything that would dissuade me from riding again.

I rode with glasses and strap and had no problems at all.

Like others said, ride on the inside if at all possible. I have only been on the ride 3 times, and was lucky to get 1 ride on the inside (I was with my wife for 2 of the rides). My outside rides (especially my rear-outside ride) resulted in rather weird headbanging. It was more of a front-to-back motion than your normal Arrow side-to-side banging.

Even with all that, X is my favorite coaster.

Yeah, Onceler is right, it does bounce you back and forth but I find that an issue right before you shoot through that outside raven turn. You go throught that element so fast that it bangs your head a couple of times pretty hard. But all in all it's still great.

---

Coasterphan said:
Can I ride the coaster with a glasses strap, or will I be forced to ride it half blind, and not knowing what the hell is happening anyway.

---

Trust me. Even with your glasses you will have no idea WTF is going on! :P

But seriously, I think they'll let you ride X with glasses as long as they are strapped. It's not that intense (compared to 100mph of Dodonpa), it's just crazy!

Have fun.