Coney Island Cyclone

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2Hostyl said:

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rollergator said:
"and be sure to eat some Coney Island tradition...Nathan's ORIGINAL dogs!"

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but it seems like NY-style anything is "wimpy" (see NY v Chi-town pizza).
jeremy
--not looking forward to NYC food.

Oh no...see we bout to throw down :) Being  a New York native I can vouch that we are the culinary capital of America, Yes Ive been to Chicago, LA, Houston and those other villages and the variety and quality is no where close.

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eee-yip

Didnt *really* mean to change this into a food war but I do *have* to take a couple final shots.

RGW: It's not just 'double the crust'. Come to the Chi, go to Giordano's (or Connie's or Gino's East or even Lou Malnatti's Pizza) and order a stuffed pizza with extra sauce. I mean you have to respect a pizza with THICK sauce and slices so chock full of yummy goodness that after two slices you're DONE! That's that good "stick to ya ribs" food that you need to fight off "Da Hawk" (Chi-town wind...).

And the Chi style dogs first off are more the thickness of an Italian or Polish sausage than a regular Oscar Mayer wiener (think 'Ball Park Franks'). Then you have to load it up with ketchup, mustard, onions, diced tomatoes, kraut (if you're into that) and top it off with a bun length pickle spear. Now *that's* good eatin!

...and dont get me started on the Maxwell Street or "Jew-Town" Polish Sausages...
jeremy
--hungry as hades now...

Sean,

I am SURE that the Cyclone gets a ton of so-called mileage because of it's reputation alone.  The Cyclone is known throughout the world, and is constantly regarded as "one of the best", probably by a lot of people with very little coaster experiences.  I can't tell you how many times I've heard people mention the story of the mute guy who rode the Cyclone and started talking after his ride.  Stuff like that makes the ride legendary, IMO.

Greg, I could sure go for a dirty water dog right now!

FOOOOOOD   FIGHT!!!! lmao, sorry....no visits to the Windy City just yet....but I see one on the horizon....SFGAm, IB, MA(?)...look out!
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Florida needs an Intamin and/or CCI soon...PLEASE!
Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

New York - Best pizza, hands down.  And that's coming from a long-time  resident of the Chi.  I'd take any of the "by the slice" joints in NYC over the Chi-style stuffed pizzas.  Especially if I can grab a knish while I'm at it.

Chicago - A Chicago style dog can't be beat for my money.  The neon green relish, tomato slices, and a big pickle wedge are divine.  And I usually *hate* hot dogs.   If you want a good dog in Chicago, most of the Gold Coast Dog locations are pretty cool.  I've never tried the ones at Midway, though.

There is nothing like Maxwell Street Polish at 4 a.m.
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"He's blazin' away like the stars in the universe.." "Ghostrider" A. Vega + M. Rev

*** This post was edited by chris on 2/25/2002. ***

Going to ride Cyclone was one of the scariest things I've ever done. Walking around I had my arm grabbed by a carney type fellow who woudnt let go of my arm and continualy insisted i play his game. I watched in horror the wonder wheel, wondering why anyone would ever dare to go on it. I stood mesmorised outside a carnival haunted house with a huge (and i do mean HUGE) satan head on top and several naked or partly clothed women being harrased by monsters painted on the front. I held my breath as cyclone crawled to the top of each hill......
riding it was ok, definitly a great coaster for its age. However I cant say it is one of my favorites, nor that the rest of the place is worth visiting.
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Brian-
I brake for hitchiking ghosts

*** This post was edited by Imaginear on 2/25/2002. ***

Brian,

The Wonderwheel....

 I actually loved that ride. IT was easily the most thrilling thing I did in that area (with the exception of the drive to Brooklyn). It just feels so creepy swining out like that.

 As far as the Satanic Haunted House thing (I forgot the name), it's one of the cheesier haunted houses I have done......which is a great thing IMO.  Most of the ride takes place in one big dark room. You can see the 'stunts' happen before you get to them because of the cart in front of you. I admit though, there were a couple of things that actually made me jump in that thing.

-Sean

Sean - that would be the Spook-o-rama.  It is an original Pretzel dark ride, one of the last left in the US, and most of the effects in that room are original to the ride.  The cars resemble Tilt-o-Whirl cars and you move sideways through the ride.  I was lucky enough to get a guided "tour" from Jim McDonnell on my first visit a few years back and he pointed out all the original props.

To anyone going to the Coney Island area this year, the area is not one large park.  Moving from north to south you have the Cyclone, then Astroland, then Dino's Wonder Wheel Park, and then a bunch of individually-owned consession rides like the Schwarzkopf Jet Star and the infamous, oddly-painted, *single-rider-allowed* Zipper.  Spook-o-rama is located across from the Wonder Wheel [another must ride] in Dino's.

Other rides not to miss:  the INSANE Breakdance in Astroland [manually run, 5+ min ride cycle], the El Dorado Bumpercars [aka the Disco Bumpercars, where you can "Bump, Bump, Bump your*****off!"] the log flume, and the brass ring Carousel across the street.  And of course no visit would be complete without a Nathan's dog [Ketchup is a faux pax], fries, and a beer.

Matthew - who hopes to get back to Coney this summer.

the cyclone is still my number one coaster. every drop is very steep and the heavy trains seem to suck you down into the drops, granted, the ride slows down at the top of the first two hills, but this was before computer designed coasters. ride it at night and you will not be dissapointed. nostolgia has a lot to do with it being number one. being on a street corner with a ticket booth and the re-ride policy. also when it gets crowded they put another train right on and load it up with no testing. it's like a trip back in time. the rest of the park is a dump with a lot of charm. it reminds me of revere beach. all faded because of the sea spray. the wonder wheel is frightening, especially because of the rust.

I've got to go against the grain here (and I am a NY'er too!). The Cyclone was good, but in the last seat, I got no airtime (probably because I'm a rather large person and the padding stuck me in the seat). The steep drops didn't do much for me (and I think it's because of hte twists before the drops. Feels slower that way, and I'm an airtime nut).

That said, it certainly isn't *BAD* at all, just disappointingly average. Powersurge and Breakdance are worth getting the POP for at Astroland. Not too many things to consider (unless you go to the Aquarium), but worth a few hours for the nostalgia and some fairly good rides.

Thrillfan - can we clarify something that is a pet-peeve of mine:  the distinction people fail to make between "airtime" and "negative Gs."

You may not have gotten actual airtime [rising off the seat] as you were stapled by the lap bar, but you most certainly experienced negative Gs [as everyone on the train does] which give the sensation of falling.  I have ridden in the last seat of Cyclone and my thighs are large, too.  Large enough to cause the lap bar to staple me to the seat.  But you can bet I certainly felt that wonderful negative G falling sensation we all crave.

Yes, none of us like being stapled but it happens.  The trick is to not let that ruin the experience [something I feel lucky enough to have mastered].

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Mamoosh said:

"ump, Bump, Bump your*****off

That advertisement was one of the funniest things I ever heard at an amusement park!  It definitely symbolizes Coney's "we don't give a crap what you think about us" attitude!

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'moosh, there's a single-rider Zipper there?  How the heck did I miss THAT?

That settles it -- USAirways gets some more money from me sometime this year. ;)

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--Greg
"The collective women in your life have more baggage than a Samsonite factory..."
My page

*** This post was edited by GregLeg on 2/27/2002. ***

GregLeg - yes, in the area just south of Dinos, where all the rides are individual consessions, there is an oddly painted Zipper.  It looks like the owner painted the cars with flatcoat house paint, and the cars are in primary colors [red, blue, green, yellow] and it just looks wrong.  And yes, they allow single riders. 

*** This post was edited by Mamoosh on 2/27/2002. ***

Mamoosh has said most everything I was going to, so I will just add a point or two. Food: While Nathans is good, I find Gregory & Paul's to be just as enjoyable (in fact I stop by both during a visit!). It is located on West 10th and Surf Avenue (across W10 from the Cyclone) and serves up a variety of food, from traditional (i.e. pre hot dog) Coney fare to newer enthic food stylings. The Zipper: I believe it is independently owned and I think the guy owns the Eyerly spider that sits next door, too. Cyclone: I encourage everyone to get one ride in the extreme front and extreme back of the Cyclone to feel its two different styles of wrath before passing judgement. Even though there is not much room between the lap bar and my legs that has never stopped me from feeling like I was going to be thrown out on that first hill. For an unusual combination of the laterals and air try seat 1.4. The area: There are some seedy characters at Coney, but if you use your head you never come into contact with them. I have never felt more "in danger" at Coney than I have while visiting any other big city. Just don't talk to the guy in a trench coat with a glint in his eye and you will be fine. As many have said, there is a lot more here than the Cyclone and if you look around you will find (aside from the things already mentioned): 1)-some of the longest park flat ride cycles in the US on the pirate, Enterprise and Break Dance 2)-a kiddie coaster with a transfer track 3)- large collection of Mangels kiddie rides @ Deno's 3)- the best Sideshow in North America, Coney Island USA 4)-a Herschell Saturn 6 (I think this is the make/model)...and lots of other things that make Coney one of my favorite ways to spend a day anywhere.

Adam

Shameless plug: For more Coney info. check out my site at: http://history.amusement-parks.com

Ooooh...the Hershel Saturn 6!  I've been meaning to ride that puppy!  Looks insane ;-)

Imaginear-The name of the haunted house with the satan head I do believe is called "Dantes Inferno" or something bazaar like that
I have to agree that we do have the best pizza anywhere Ive been to anyway. In any other "pizza famous" states why do they need to put so much stuff on it? Here in the Big Apple gimme a slice-PERIOD-nothing else and it is awesome. The sign of a good slice of pizza? How much olive oil slides down your arm-yum!
(I know other NYers are nodding their heads with me)
If you can get used to an UNMUSHY hot dog Nathans is the place their hot dogs "snap".....of course if you're looking for a gourmet meal you wouldnt exactly be at Coney island. Someone mentioned dirty water franks-they rule-with onions and mustard-meals on wheels-NYs got tons!
Cylcone is a fun ride, certainly no mega coaster but it is fun-beware too because people of larger size may not beable to fit!!!
Ok now that Im hungry Im gonna go chow
Mike

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I didnt ask you to dance I said you looked fat in those pants

We did the "Satanic Haunted House", aka Dante's Inferno Room ("room" added for Beetlejuice fans).  On the one short strech of track that's out in the open, we both threw our hands up (at ~6mph), got RAVE reviews...

and for those of you who are unaware, brooklynrulz KNOWS how pizza is supposed to be....except he forgot the garlic that kills vampires at 50feeet.

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Mamoosh said:
"Thrillfan - can we clarify something that is a pet-peeve of mine:  the distinction people fail to make between "airtime" and "negative Gs."

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I can certainly understand your reasons, but I didn't receive very strong negative Gs either. It could have just been a bad day, but I was expecting the design to give airtime (even stapled, I think I would have noticed), and it did not do anything for me. The turns before the drops seemed to slow the train down quite a bit, and did not give the out of control feeling others have expressed. When being pulled down the hill, the negative G's didn't really come up for me either (perhaps due to that same slowdown I felt). So I still have the same result with either type of air.

I'm still planning on going back in hopes that it was just a bad day.

Thrillfan - I understand...sometimes we just hit good coasters on bad days.  Glad to hear you'll give it another try.  I suggest the third seat in the last car or the second seat in the first car.  For some odd reason the lap bars in the very front and very back have a lower locking point.  When I ride Cyclone I tend to gravitate to those seats and I find I get much more airtime *and* neg Gs.