Cedar point 8/17-8/18/08; LOOONG; Part 2

I meant to get to the park nice and early for the Plat Pass exclusive ride time. I got there at 9:10 am and thought, "Cool...I'll ride Maverick and Millennium Force before 10". I am a fool. LOL I got to Maverick and the line was through the entire set of switchbacks and spilling out onto the walkway. Grrrrrrr....then, after about 10 minutes, I got violently ill and had to run to the comfort station bathrooms, thus losing my place in line. Luckily, I was not sick for the rest of the day. I would have likely continued to ride anyway because I drove 8.5 hours to get to my destination. I was staying the course!

Anyway, so...Maverick. This line really moved as well, and I only ended up waiting for an hour and a half, and this extra half hour was only because my single-rider buddy wanted to wait for the front car. I didn't want to do that, but I'm glad I did because it was the only front seat ride I got in my whole time at CP. Lines were just too long. Maverick was running at least four trains. I swear I saw five, but I think I may have counted the brown train as a red train. Or counted brown twice. I definitely saw at LEAST brown, silver, green, and black. In any case, I've never seen that many trains on one coaster continually running like that. Also, in line, someone brought a beach ball. Great idea! So much fun for those of us easily fascinated (I AM included in this), and everyone let out this crazy booooooo when the ball finally ended up in the water. Then, I saw something that just made me want to scream: some moron somehow managed to get down to the water and grab the beach ball. Sure, it was fun, and sure, the ride goes nowhere NEAR the water, but EVERYONE I know has heard about the Batman at SFoG, and this ball fetching was not just ALLOWED, but enthusiastically cheered by all the patrons. I actually saw this at Raptor too (later with more Raptor critique) and someone actually OPENED UP A WOODEN FENCE DOOR AND WALKED INTO RESTRICTED SPACE to fetch the stupid ball. DUMB, people. I guess some of us never learn.

I digress again. Sorry.

Maverick (9/10; 1 ride): What's not to love? Great theming, totally unique, very good force and speed...got some severe headbanging and an instance of neck bang that left my neck hurting for the rest of the day, but in this case, it was worth it. Plus, the restraints are soft enough that the headbang felt more like...a bounce. This ride is another fantastic example of what Intamin can do when they put their mind to it. Wish I could've gotten another ride on this.

Millennium Force (10/10; 3 rides): I finally bit the big one and rode MF. I was as scared to ride this as I was to ride Ka, and by the time I got to the trains, I had a heart rate of 120+ and my hands were shaking so much I could barely fix my seatbelt. I DID take a moment to appreciate these comfortable seats, even more comfortable than Dragster's. Why all Intamin's seats are not like MF's, I'll never understand. So we booked it up the hill, and I tried to look at the scenery, but I just couldn't focus on anything but that HILL. That is some intimidating machinery there....then we hit that drop and I was laughing so hard by the time we hit the bottom that I could barely sit up straight. This ride is smooth, intense, non-stop, and filled with floating, graceful airtime. I grabbed my restraint handlebars so hard my fingers hurt afterwards! I lost my voice I screamed so hard and long! I smoked three cigarettes in a row after my first ride! This is a sick, sick ride and my new number two! Easily my favorite ride in the park.

Mean Streak (5.5/10; 1 ride): Sure, this coaster shakes a lot, but I didn't experience the whip-you-around-break-your-neck pain that everyone at the park was talking about. This ride was a walk-on, and I don't quite get it. It was a gorgeous coaster, weaving in and out of itself, and it's gotta be the longest ride in the park in terms of duration. The only true complaint I had was that the drop actually seemed to have brakes on it. Can you put brakes on a drop? I don't know. Well, and it seemed to brake a lot EVERYWHERE. Turns that I thought would be much rougher seemed to slow down substantially. This streak's not that mean!

Gemini (3/10; 1 ride): Fun, fun, fun, hit the last turn, OW! Evil turn causes audible crack in my neck, I see spots and left arm goes numb. Hobbled off ride with help from fellow rider (ride ops did NOTHING). Baffled as to see how a pretty fun coaster could go so wrong so quickly. Cedar Point: Fix the turn or scrap it. Avoid the lawsuits. Neck still hurts a day and a half later.

Raptor: My second Raptor ride was much better even than the first. The cobra roll didn't bang my head as much, though the station entry did. Still felt those feet-ripping, face-sucking G's, but this time more throughout the entire ride. I bought the video of my ride, and the lady helping me was SO nice. She gave me some free lanyards, and when I asked to have a Kick the Sky card (I was thinking of KTS here and it made me smile), she gave me a whole pile of them.

Disaster Transport (5.5/10; 1 ride): I wish it could have been longer, and the theming was lame, but this was FUN. It reminded me of a luge or water ride with its tubular appearance, and you just never knew when a drop was coming. It was ultra-smooth even throughout the sudden turns. If they could do something really neat with the theming and make this ride twice as long, they'd beat Space Mountain.

Troika: Didn't like the squeaking. Got scared. LOL

Musik Express (or whatever it was called at CP): Really not a fast, forceful ME. I always really like this ride if it's a good one. This is not a good example of one.

Matterhorn: Liked it, but it didn't go backwards and it was too short. The OC MD one is better.

Octopus thinger (Monster at Dorney): I wish this would spin more. Same with the one at Dorney. Still fun, good long ride cycle.

Millenium Force in the early evening: Even better than the first ride, and for the first time EVER, I held my hands up for the whole coaster. I never ever EVER do that. :) Wanted my pic, but the jerk in front of me stuck up double middle fingers and locked out my shot. I just went around and rode Millennium Force again to get that shot. It ended up being the most interesting ride of the night: as we were all waiting in line (I made friends with my surrounding MF junkies), a huge dark cloud started moving in over the peninsula, or more accurately, JUST over Millennium Force. I thought for sure they'd shut it down, but they didn't. I got on the third seat, left side, and as we went up the hill, it got all misty so you couldn't see the top of the drop, little raindrops were sprinkling us, and it got kinda chilly! Very ominous, especially because the rest of the park was still shining with the glow of sunset. Definitely the most "mood-enhancing" ride of the day. So cool. Until the bugs. I was spitting out and wiping off bugs for the rest of the night. They felt like more rain as they pelted us and smushed. Ew! Still held my hands up and got my picture though. :)

Last ride of Cedar Point was TTD: They had shut it down for the rain, but just as I was climbing off Musik Express, they brought it back up with a wait time of under 20 minutes! As I was waiting, it shut down and they said it would be an undetermined amount of time. Some girls that had left the line when it shut down for rain said they were going to wait anyway, but they left after about 10 minutes. I know better and I held my ground. Rode TTD about 20 minutes after that. Still a great ride, but this is the one area where Ka has TTD beat: night rides. TTD is still awesome, but Ka is a completely disorienting, trippy shot in the dark. Plus, with the track being a semi-dark blue color, you REALLY can't see it when it gets dark out. TTD's too well lit.

Cedar Fair food: I thought it was about average. I mean, I paid 3.50 a soda, which I pay 3.25 at Hershey and 3.10 at Great Adventure. ICEES were a bit much. Smoothies were high-priced, or I thought so until I saw the size (little less than a pint). Hot dogs at a stand near Maverick were 4.70 plus tax, which I was supremely irritated by until I saw that they give you chips with it as well. That's not bad, and the hot dog was a jumbo dog, so it actually ended up being a better value than the 4+ dollar dog at Nathan's at HP. Plus, every server I had greeted me with such friendliness I suspected drugs! I had one lady in particular smile a brilliant smile at me and ask me how my day was going. I saw no bad things. Perhaps the actual restaurants and things are worse. I didn't honestly eat too much because of the horror stories.

Well, I think that just about wraps it up. Except the day I was leaving (today), it was cloudy and cold, but not so cloudy that it was ever going to rain. It would have been perfect park weather. I debated staying, but CP is so busy in August that I couldn't handle it for a third day. Maybe next year. Oh yes, I will be back. Cedar Point: 8.5/10!

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The only true complaint I had was that the drop actually seemed to have brakes on it. Can you put brakes on a drop? I don't know.

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Yes you can and yes it does.

Why bother making the drop that big then? Kind of a bad design then, huh?

Yes it is bad design. Cedar Point is one of several parks that has earned the tallest wooden roller coaster record and then discovered that the tallest wooden roller coaster is not necessarily a good thing. It was apparently ripping itself apart and adding the brake apparently helps with maintenance. I enjoy the ride, but it could be so much better.

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bunky666 said:

Maverick...got some severe headbanging and an instance of neck bang that left my neck hurting for the rest of the day, but in this case, it was worth it.

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Another person NOT riding Maverick correctly...sigh...yes, I am acting like a butt now!! :)

Also, no MaXair?!? Was it down or something?? Seriously though, good TR's and I'm definitely glad it sounds like you had two great days at CP!!

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bunky666 said:

Disaster Transport (5.5/10; 1 ride): I wish it could have been longer, and the theming was lame, but this was FUN. It reminded me of a luge or water ride with its tubular appearance, and you just never knew when a drop was coming. It was ultra-smooth even throughout the sudden turns. If they could do something really neat with the theming and make this ride twice as long, they'd beat Space Mountain.

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I wish you could have seen this ride the first 3 years after it was converted from Avalanche Run to Disaster Transport. The theming, IMHO, was tremendous. They had video screens coordinated with robots, moving robots, lots of vocal and visual stimulation. It was actually almost more fun to wait in line than it was to ride! The ride itself had theming as well, a laser blast blowing something up and even a "Help, we're gonna crash" vocal just before the end. IF YOU CLICK HERE you will be taken to a CP blog entry that has a picture of Dave. Dave was a robot that was coordinated with a video screen in one of the rooms and it looks like he may be resurrected for Halloweekends.

Just for kicks HERE is an ad from CP for DT. HERE is a link with a little more info on the original theming. HERE is a shot of the service bay prior to the neon invasion. I just wish I could find pictures or video of DT's queue from back then, I know somebody had to take pictures, but that was before the internet really started cooking so they're out there, but I googled and can't find them. :(

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Musik Express (or whatever it was called at CP): Really not a fast, forceful ME. I always really like this ride if it's a good one. This is not a good example of one.

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It was the Super Himalaya, and it's almost a waste now. It has the capability to go both forwards AND backwards but it just runs forwards now. I don't think they've run it backwards since the early eighties.

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Octopus thinger (Monster at Dorney): I wish this would spin more. Same with the one at Dorney. Still fun, good long ride cycle.

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It's called the Monster here as well and I believe the colors on it are the standard Eyerly Aircraft colors for the Monster. I'm not sure about that pastel colored one at Dorney but it's the same ride. ;)

I'm glad you had fun, thanks for the TR,

Tom

Excellent TR Bunky! Glad you finally made it. One day I'll make it up there too!

I'm quite surprised that El Toro wasn't unseated, but then again I haven't riden it or anything at CP...yet. :-)

Since you love Toro so much, I'd love to see what you'd make of the Voyage and other coasters at HW. Shame you can't make it to Fall Affair.

Glad you had a great time at CP! I'm actually really surprised you gave Gemini a 3. I just love that ride and I actually really love the ending helix. Ah and I know this was on your other trip report page, but I will just say it here. Magnum rocks! Maybe you just had a bad ride? Sure, it is rough but it is truly a great coaster! Did you ride it only once?

Oh and also no Wildcat? It's a small coaster but it's fun! *** Edited 8/20/2008 4:28:24 PM UTC by Parker17***

Aw, so glad to see everyone chiming in! Usually I write a TR and a few people say something and then that's it. LOL

Tig, you're not being a butt! You're being an a$$. J/K! :) How does one ride Maverick "properly"? I tried holding on at the proper spots, putting my head again the headrest firmly, and I even tried pushing AGAINST the restraint like someone recommended for Storm Runner (which actually works on SR). And actually, MaXair was running all day and night both days I was there. I just was told it wasn't that much different than the other rides like it and decided to ride more coasters. I regret it now, but hey! What can you do? LOL

Emiroo, I wish I COULD make the HW Fall Affair. I thought about it, but I just can't get the time off of work so soon after this vacation. Toro was NEARLY unseated by MF, but Toro is just more fun for me. The airtime is very frequent and hardcore on Toro, where Millennium Force was mild and only present on two or three hills. Plus, Toro's drop may be shorter, but it is certainly more intense. I haven't figured out how that is possible when MF's drop is steeper and nearly double the size, but it's true.

Parker17, I loved Gemini too until that last helix. I think if I would have been prepared for it, I wouldn't have hurt myself so bad, but I actually had my hands up and was not protecting myself by riding defensively. It hurt so bad I had to give it a low score. I DID only ride Magnum once, and apparently I rode it at a very bad time to ride it. I think I should have ridden it again. Next year (if I go back next year...was thinking of heading south to Busch Gardens, SFA, and KD).

Millie is one of the few coasters that will get me nervous before boarding. It happens EVERY time I have gone on it. That's why I love it so much. You aren't the only one that gets the shakes before going on ;)

I actually love Gemini. Yeah, I hate that stupid ending helix. They really need to just remove it. I like slapping hands with the other train as you go around the turnarounds.

I really need to get out there sometime and ride Maverick. It just sounds like so much fun.

Glad to see you got out to CP finally. I know it was a dream of yours to go.

Kick the Sky (I get that handle now, by the way), you're totally right about MF. By the time I reached the station on my second and third rides, I was scared all over again. Plus, at the top of the hill, I always did my "backpedaling" thing. My friend Ivory laughs at me because I actually kind of circle my legs and push on the restraints and stuff like I'm trying to flee. I've tried to stop it, but on certain rides, I still do it. I didn't realize I even do it until she pointed it out. Ehehehehe...I can't imagine this being a coaster that I WON'T be somewhat afraid of for the rest of my life. However, I used to say that about Steel Force and that ride only makes me nervous now because of the chain lift always breaking down and sticking riders 100+ feet in the air. And you DO need to ride Maverick. It's a really great little shocker. It seriously doesn't look like anything too impressive, but this was one of the best coasters I've ridden.

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bunky666 said:

How does one ride Maverick "properly"?

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Hmmmm....if only I had a good on-ride photo I made to demonstrate how I ride and experience very little banging around of any kind...oh, wait a minute!! ;)

Btw, totally off topic, but bunky do you know who that girl is in the SR ride position pic?? When Laura saw that, she was totally busting up laughing at how weird doing that is and how creepy the girl sort of looked as well!

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bunky666 said:

And actually, MaXair was running all day and night both days I was there. I just was told it wasn't that much different than the other rides like it and decided to ride more coasters. I regret it now, but hey! What can you do? LOL

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I personally am dying to ride MaXair. Due to childrens heights, however, it hasn't happened. Fortunately at Dorney I finally rode something similar, if not just a tad smaller in Revolution. I wasn't that impressed at first (nevermind the extra 20 minute wait due to the vomit factor from a previous rider) when the ride started, but when we finally rotated to where WE were on top at the apex of the swing, WOW! Floated right off of my butt, it was a beautiful thing! (the floating, not my butt)

I haven't hit a Screamin' Swing yet either but hopefully Skyhawk will be doable on our next CP trip but I'm looking forward to Fandango at Knoebels on the 31st.

Tom

Glad to hear you had fun. I think the best way to ride Maverick since your still looking for an answer is to actually position your body into the turns and transitions, seriously.

The other thing is cedar point also has another coaster that trims its first drop. The Mantis, which does it rather loudly as well. Mean Streak seems like it catches that break or a series of them on the first drop, because it is very jerky on the way down, i wont comment on the rest of the ride, but it could be worse.

Yeah, MagnunBarrel, I think if I had had enough time to realize what was going on in Maverick, I could have positioned better. That ride is speed, speed, speed. :)

Is Skyhawk an extra cost? At Dorney, Screamin' Swing is another 5 bucks. Not that I couldn't do an extra five bucks, but the fact that the Skyhawk was in with the rest of the rides made me think that maybe they don't charge extra for Skyhawk at CP. I guess I should have probably gone on it AND MaXair, but I just didn't feel like I had enough time. And in all honesty, I was scared to do Skyhawk. I've heard good things, but I kept chickening out. Maybe I should go to Dorney stat and hop on one to get over my fear. I've ridden nearly everything ELSE that used to scare the crap out of me.

Tig, no I don't know who that girl is on SR (I assume you mean Storm Runner?). Do YOU know? What's she doing that looks so "creepy"? I've gotta see this now.

Well, I think that was everything....gotta go and watch my Raptor video! :) (Coaster porn)

skyhawk is free.

Great TR, I'm glad you had fun. I'm really happy to hear this totally positive MF review. Its' just that lately I have heard that ride get so critisized that I was wondering if maybe it was aging or something since the last time I went on it 5 years ago.

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LdScotsman said:
The ride itself had theming as well, a laser blast blowing something up and even a "Help, we're gonna crash" vocal just before the end.

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Wasn't it 'Help, I'm losing control'??????????

Glad you finally made it Bunky!!! A little upset about your Magnum rating, but to each their own.

d port: I MYSELF am upset about my Magnum review and rating. I was so sorely disappointed (or sore and disappointed).

GIGAFORCE, I noticed nothing wrong on Millie. I know a lot of people have said that Millie is broken down a lot or that it's not that great, but I was super impressed. With the exception of Mantis, I am ALWAYS impressed to some degree by B&M coasters. With Intamin, I feel they are very hit and miss. This Intamin coaster is world-class, it really is. Plus, I think if I had ridden in the back, Toro MAY have been unseated as my favorite for airtime. I have a feeling the airtime in the back of Millie is near terrifyingly good.

I was talking to someone in line for Millennium and she said she felt Maverick was just like riding your horse in that you have to position yourself for the turn. So obviously, the ride designers did their job! (Wait, Maverick is some sort of horse-creature right?)

Going to Cedar Point used to be my dream too! So I'm glad you got there.

Great Trip Report!