Cedar Point Trip 7/1/07
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I left Grand Rapids Michigan at 7 a.m., expecting to arrive at Cedar Point before noon. Well, what should have been a four and a half hour drive, turned into 6 hours, due to Construction on highway 23 out of near Ann Arbor, and again near Toledo Ohio. Beautiful weather for the drive, just wish that the 80-90 ohio turnpike was less packed.
Driving down 250 through Sandusky, to the Cedar Point causeway took an extra 45 minutes, due to bumper to bumper traffic, and stop lights every 100 feet. And, stopping at Meijer in Sundusky to use the restroom, and buy a bag of ice for my cooler took another half hour. So, I did not arrive at Cedar Point until 1 p.m.
The parking lot at Cedar Point looking promissing, only two of the lots were full, and, there were plenty of bare spots to park closer to the entrance. So, I was hoping for a great day of riding. Used my 8 dollar off Pepsi can, and got into the park for $32.00 with no wait at the entrance booth.
Once in the park, I soon discovered that it was quite packed with people. And, I soon had a growl going on, as a bunch of rides were closed. Demon Drop, Wicked Twister, The cable cars, and Top thrill Dragster. So I was not a happy camper. Add to that, that Max air was only swinging back and forth, and not inverting with an hour and a half line. I was not impressed! More like Pissed off!
But, it gets much better! I went up to Top Thrill Dragster, and, there were about 30 people sitting on the cement by the entrance. I asked what was going on, and they said, they were getting ready to test it, but no gaurantee that it would open. I was aleady mad, so I decided to wait. Sure glad I did!
They sent through several empty trains, and, then trains with employees, and, each train cleared the top. By about the 6th train, the small group of 30 grew to several hundred people. So, the Que ops had us form a line, and I was quick to get as close to the entrance as possible. Then the announcement came.
Top thrill dragster is now open, Single file line, no running or shoving please. But, man, as soon as that gate opened people started piling in there like Marathon sprinters. I was lucky enough to be in the second train loaded. And boy was I excited. I have been to the park 3 times previous, and Top thrill was down every time...so this was great!
Rolled out onto the launch, behind the first train, and watched the impressive launch...ROLL BACK!!!...NO!!! You should have heard the collective NO!! from the people who were waiting to ride. Well, they rolled us back, and reset the ride. Then, I watched with my heart racing, as they relaunched the first train. YES!! train number one clears the top! Our turn.
This is my first ride on Top Thrill Dragster so I am pumped, the train rolls out onto the launch, and we get the green light...ZOOOOM!!!! Man! That is an incredible launch! We are going up that tower at speed I have never felt. The train crests the top, and almost comes to a dead stop...what a view! Then it slowly inches forward, and down we go! I raise my arms up just before the drop, and, what a ride down! That spiral happens so fast, maybe 1 second spin tops. But what a ride! 17 seconds of one of the most awesome rides I have been on! My face in my Freeze frame photo says it all!
I wanted to get back in line and ride again, but, the line was already approaching a 1 hour wait, so I skipped it. I by-passed corkscrew, and Magnum, which each had 30 minute waits. Took a nice ride on the Monster, and then did two back to back rides on Gemini with less than a 10 minute wait each time.
Gemini is still a fun coaster, but it was quite bumpy, and really only has a few decent drops. But, not having to wait very long in line, made it enjoyable. Gemini is one of my favorite coasters at the park, but, I was feeling that I should have did magnum instead. But, wanted to save time for Maverick.
Of course Maverick was next on my list. But, someone told me that Skyhawk had a short line, so I went over to Skyhawk, and saw the 15 minute wait, and decided to ride. 15 minutes turned into 25, with the rides slow loading process.
Anyways, Skyhawk looked like quite an awesome ride, while waiting in line, and listening to all the screams of people riding it made me think it was probably going to be intense. The I rode it. When it gets to full speed, and is at its peek height, it is quite thrilling. But, it's also a very short ride. I give it the edge over Max Air, but, it is just fun.
So on to Maverick. This is an impressive looking coaster. The trains seem to be moving quite slow for a coaster that pushes 70 miles an hour. But, it certainly looks great, and very well themed. The line was estimated at an hour and 45 minutes. But, once in line, it seemed more like it was over 2.
Employees were looking through the maze for single riders. I raised my hand at the 50 minute point, and was sent with 7 other people to a single ride line at the station. But, was not allowed to ride, until I could be paired with another single rider.
There was a guy waiting in front of me, who was riding alone, and after seeing several dozen people pass our single rider line, I asked him if he wanted to ride with me, and skip the line, and he said no. So, I turned to the girl who was waiting behind me,and asked her if she wanted to go, and she said hell yes! So, we waved bye-bye to the guy in front of us, and skipped the line..the ride op had no problem, and let us go.
Like Top Thrill Dragster, Maverick is a powerhouse coaster! The speedy lift, and that first drop are pretty awesome, and all the twists and turns are insanely fun! And, unlike others who have commented on some headbanging, I did not witness anything other than a smooth exciting ride...The most intense part is the lauch out of the tunnel. If there were not breaks on the hill out of the launch, This coaster could easily hit 80! Just and awesome ride!
After Maverick, I took a couple spins on the Wave Swinger, and with my coaster craves still with me, a dared myself to take a ride on Mean Streak. Even knowing that this is probably one of the roughest coasters out there...I got in line...with no wait!
Going up the lift on Mean Streak, I could already see that this coaster is in terrible shape. And, Im thinking oh crap...no turning back now. The train crests the lift hill and drops into the slow breaks mid hill, and comes to a dead stop!! MID HILL!!! Talk about whiplash, and mild panic! The train holds there for a few seconds, slowly inches forward and drops. It barely crests the next hill, and crawls over the next, bumping and slamming all the way!
I though the Wildcat at Michigan's Adventure was bad. Mean Streak is beyond bad, every second is just pure misery. I have never felt so violated by a coaster in my life. If they remove one ride next year, this should be it! Fix it or bulldoze it. Terrible!
So, with my body fairly abused from my ride on Mean Streak, I decide to take a few photos around frontier town, and then head back to the front of the park. Stopping to rest on a bench, and watch a few rafts get drenched at the viewing platform over by Thunder Canyon. I was getting hungry, so I decided to look for a place to eat...And, low and behold, I find a Panda Express. Chineese food in the old west?
I had a Panda bowl, good sized bowl of fried rice, with a nice helping of orange chicken dumped on top, and a soda for only $10.99. Anything else would have been $15.00 or more. So, I was quite pleased with my meal, it was hot, and quite tastey. YUM!
Let my stomach settle for a while, and decided to get in line for the Millennium Force. Figuring on an hour and a half wait, I could finish my drink in line, and be settled by the time I was on the coaster. It ended up being only 50 minutes in line. And, good thing, because the restroom was calling my name!
I rode in the second to last car, in the upper seat. I have been on the Force a few times, but, this ride was the best so far! I rode with my hands up through the entire course of the ride. The Force is a great coaster, next to Raptor, Wicked Twister, and Maverick, the force is one of the best rides at Cedar Point. It is a bit short, but, it's still a great ride.
After M-force I rode Mantis. Which was a 40 minute wait, only 2 trains running. This coaster is getting quite rough. No where near as bad as Iron Wolf at Great America, just way too much head banging. A little re-design of the restraint system, might ease that. I think all the bulk in the restraints around the shoulders is just for looks, and nothing more. Fun ride, but too many rides might cause someone to black out. Still enjoy the ride though.
Next, I took a short wait spin on Iron Dragon. Back seat ride. Been on it many times. But, it was fun. Not as jerky as usual, and the trains were coming and going from the station every 2 minutes. So the wait was less than 6 minutes.
By now, I was ready for some serious riding, so I headed over to Raptor, which started out the day with a 2 hour plus line...now down to a 30 minute wait. And, I boarded the train with a front seat ride in less than 20 minutes, bolting ahead again, as a single rider! Man. I should go alone more often!
Raptor has allways been my favorite Cedar Point Coaster, and it delivered its usual thrill packed ride! And, to top things, it never slowed through the mid course, and flew through the corkcrews and the end double helix at lighting speed! It was so much fun, I got right back in line and rode again! Only waited 15 minutes the second time.
From there I went straight to Wicked Twister, which was now running, it was down most of the day. And, to my surprise, there was no wait at all. Walked up got a front seat ride. Awesome!! Got right back on with no wait, and rode back seat Awesome again!
Next, I decided to ride Max Air. Quite a wait for Max Air, maybe 30 minutes. I allways assumed this was an inverted ride. Not so. The giant spinning disk, just swings back and forth, but does get quite high in its swing. Fun ride, but, I find the carnival Fireball more fun, and, not being tied down tighter than fort knox makes the fireball are more enjoyable ride.
I ended the night with 3 back to back rides on Blue Streak. I usually hate this coaster. But, it certainly threw me for a loop. I loved it! What a great little coaster. Only a couple rough spots, but, it was flying Sunday night, and, has just about as much air time as the return run on Shivering Timbers. I think the blue Streak just re-made my top ten!
Sorry this took so long to read. I just had such a great time at Cedar Point, thought I would share. If you have not been on Top Thrill Dragster or Maverick, these are two must ride coasters! Just Avoid Mean Streak, and you should have a great time at the Point!
*** Edited 7/3/2007 11:50:28 PM UTC by Timber-Rider*** *** Edited 7/4/2007 12:24:20 AM UTC by *** *** Edited 7/4/2007 1:02:05 AM UTC by *** *** Edited 7/4/2007 2:11:47 AM UTC by Timber-Rider*** *** Edited 7/4/2007 2:26:21 AM UTC by Timber-Rider*** *** Edited 7/5/2007 2:37:18 AM UTC by Timber-Rider***
If it stopped you on the trims that doesn't seem too right...
You know what I always say,
TAER IT DOWN!1!11
:)
-Craig
that Max air was only swinging back and forth, and not inverting with an hour and a half line. I was not impressed!
You do realize this ride does not invert, right? It swings back and forth.
And he is correct about the trims on Mean Streak. They slow you to a crawl at mid course, which again, ruins the damn ride.
Timber-Rider said:
Employees were looking through the maze for single riders. I raised my hand at the 50 minute point, and was sent with 7 other people to a single ride line at the station. But, was not allowed to ride, until I could be paired with another single rider.There was a guy waiting in front of me, who was riding alone, and after seeing several dozen people pass our single rider line, I asked him if he wanted to ride with me, and skip the line, and he said no. So, I turned to the girl who was waiting behind me,and asked her if she wanted to go, and she said hell yes! So, we waved bye-bye to the guy in front of us, and skipped the line..the ride op had no problem, and let us go.
You do realize the point of a single rider queue is to pair you up with an odd numbered group, right? I can't believe the ride op let you pair up with another person from the single rider in that queue and basically line jump the rest of the queue. That's pathetic.
I don't think its necessarily fair, but it saved me about an hour wait on my last trip.
Josh M.
halltd said:
Timber-Rider said:
Employees were looking through the maze for single riders. I raised my hand at the 50 minute point, and was sent with 7 other people to a single ride line at the station. But, was not allowed to ride, until I could be paired with another single rider.There was a guy waiting in front of me, who was riding alone, and after seeing several dozen people pass our single rider line, I asked him if he wanted to ride with me, and skip the line, and he said no. So, I turned to the girl who was waiting behind me,and asked her if she wanted to go, and she said hell yes! So, we waved bye-bye to the guy in front of us, and skipped the line..the ride op had no problem, and let us go.
You do realize the point of a single rider queue is to pair you up with an odd numbered group, right? I can't believe the ride op let you pair up with another person from the single rider in that queue and basically line jump the rest of the queue. That's pathetic.
Hey Tim
The que time was post at 1 hour and 45 minutes. I actually waited 50 minutes, before I was placed in the single rider line, and at least another 25 minutes in the single rider line. So, my total wait was actually 1 hour and 15 minutes. Who knows how much longer I would have waited in the single rider line, before they found another single rider. So, I think it was only fair. It is not my fault that Cedar Point created the single rider line. I was just happy to get on the ride, and, I'm sure the young lady who rode with me was very happy too. So, I have no problem with it.
I am going to make a slight edit to this. I forgot to mention, that I was not the only person in the single rider line to pair up with someone, and skip the line. 4 people who were actually behind me, paired up as a group and, went before I did. I think 3 of them were actually together, and just said they were single riders to skip the line, and meet up with the other person, so they wouldn't have to wait.
That is what gave me the idea to ask the first guy if he wanted to ride with me in the first place. I guess if you know how to work the lines...you might have an advantage. these four certainly knew what they were doing.
*** Edited 7/5/2007 2:46:04 AM UTC by Timber-Rider***
As for Max Air. There are other rides similar to Max Air, that do invert, and, when I first saw photos of the ride the year it first opened, I could have sworn that I saw it inverted. But, like a lot of parks, I could have been looking at another ride, that was similar to Max air at different park....An old Six Flags trick.
But it really doesn't matter, because I did not think Max air was that thrilling anyways. I like Skyhawk a lot better. Might have to see what a frizbee is like one of these days....maybe at Great America?
Timber-Rider said:
The Force is a great coaster, next to Raptor, Wicked Twister, and Maverick, the force is one of the best rides at Cedar Point. It is a bit short, but, it's still a great ride.
A bit short? It's the third longest coaster in the country and by far the longest at The Point. Glad you liked Maverick though. They pretty much nailed what they were going for.
For example, they could have added at least 4 more major hills after the second banked tunnel, by wrapping the track around the station and lift hill, and still connected with the rest of the ride. At the speed the trains Are going, I don't think it would have a problem making it back to the station.
Just a thought, But, I know if I were to re-design it, that is what I would do. It would not only make the ride more exciting. But, it would also make it the largest, and longest rollercoaster in the world.
I like to dream Big!
My author website: mgrantroberts.com
You don't think adding a few more hills to Millennium Force would make a great ride 100 times better? You might be surprised to know that I did not have a good opinion of the force when I rode it the first year it opened. I actually thought the ride could have been a lot more fun with more hills, and less turns.
Back then, I also found that the speedy lift hill was the most exciting part of the ride. That and the first drop. If you go back a while, and read reviews of the force. You will see that I am not the only one who thinks the Force should be longer.
I also liked Raging bull and, Magnum better. If Magnum was a smooth as the force, I would probably still like it more...but roughness is not my thing. I will still give Raging bull the edge of the force, it's just more fun.
And, I will give the Raptor the edge over the force any day. It is still my favorite coaster at Cedar Point.
1. Raptor
2. Maverick
3. Top Thrill dragster
4. Millennium Force
5. Wicked Twister
6. Magnum XL 200
7. Blue Streak
8. Mantis
9. Gemini
10. Corkscrew
The rest of the Cedar Point coasters are fairly average. With Mean Streak at the bottom of the pile.
I remember when Magnum opened I thought it was the smoothest coaster in the world. It just hasn't aged as well. It was as smooth as MF when it first opened though.
Coasters are like people. They change with age. :)
Also when I mentioned redesign of the force, Only a slight reduction of the second tunnel would have to be changed to do what I was talking about, none of the rest of the ride would have to be changed at all.
After the second tunnel, I would add another large hill, followed buy a curve over the brake run, and follow up with two medium sized air time hills along the lakside side of the lift hill, followed by another high curve, and speed bump, which would reconnect with the track leading to the curve into the brakes.
I think that would make the Force a number one coaster rather than just a top ten. If I were a coaster designer, that is what I would do. Just wish I could do it...let everyone who doubted my re-design. ride it, and, then tell me it's not better.
I know I would certainly like it better!
Timber-Rider said:
I think that would make the Force a number one coaster rather than just a top ten.
MF has been rated number one as many times as any other coaster on amusement today since it opened. It's also been rated number one on this site numerous times whether you like it or not. I don't know where that just a top ten is coming from.
-Eric: Major Parks: SFNE(homepark), SFA,SFGADV,CP,BGE,BGA,Kennywood,and Sea World: Track record 65 different coasters ridden #1 is Millennium Force #2 is El Toro and than there are all the others
Now Top Thrill Dragster on the other hand, was another story. I pretty much thought of it as a one trick, broken pony, until I actually rode it on Sunday. Not only does the ride do everything it was meant to do, it does it flawlessly. I usually don't rate a coaster until I have been on it several times, but my one ride on Top Thrill Dragster blew all rides on Millennium Force away. It was just an awesome ride.
Would I change Top Thrill dragster? I might be inclined to make changes, maybe make it longer with a few more hills. But Top Thrill dragster is perfect just the way it is. Nor would I change Maverick or Raptor, they are both perfect the way they are.
Now if you want to talk major changes. Turn Mean streak to rubble, and haul it away to make room for something...anything other than Mean streak. And, replace the Wolverine Wildcat at Michigan's Adventure with an exact copy of the Pheonix.
No more comments.
Remember that even the ride ops don't have access to the controls for the trims on the drop. They are maintenance adjusted only.
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