Desperado in Vegas

Anyone ridden it? I chickened out when we were there a couple of years ago. That was before I had my Awakening (I was struck by the Supreme Light of Raging Bull and took my first ride on the Giant Drop) and became a coaster junkie.

I'm so embarrassed that I admitted my former fear of coasters. *blush*

*preparing for the abuse of the masses* *** Edited 4/23/2005 3:46:05 PM UTC by LadyBrett***

Oh god, you're going to go nuts at CP. Have fun.

Last night the huz and I were discussing it and if our tax refund doesn't come, we might not be able to go.

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Yes, Desperado was the tallest and fastest for some time. I believe (and I could be wrong) that it was the tallest untill the MF/Steel Dragon year. That is just purely from my memory, so bear with me if I'm wrong. Also, watch out for that bare.

I decided to make a bad joke out of my spelling mistake. . .

I'm pretty sure MF took the record from Goliath @ SFMM, which only held the title for a few months...

Desperado is a great design. Board in the casino lobby, straight through the roof of the hotel, great hills and a fantastic finish. It is a tragedy Buffalo Bills did not put more effort into keeping it in its prime condition. It was one of the world's best. If it had aged better it would be a better hyper-coaster then Goliath. Now it is a very bumpy ride, tragic. Few people ride it now. Folks come to Vegas to gamble and for the shows, not to ride coasters.

Desperado is hands down the best coaster in the Vegas area (although, it's not really in Vegas at all, but you probably know that already.)

All the other Vegas coasters, I rode once and wasn't thrilled enough to go on again. I think I did a double ride on Speed.

I rode Desperado about 10 times, and I'm not one of those power-rider-marathon people.

It's a subjective point, but personally I think Canyon Blaster is the best coaster in Vegas. It's certainly the smoothest Arrow ride I've ever been on...

Regarding records, I believe Desperado had its record beat by Fujiyama and Goliath only had a North American record. (it may have had the drop record, but not height)

Desperado was great. I havn't ridden it recently. I believe I rode it in it's prime sometime back in the 90s.

I first rode Desperado in June of 1995. I had never been to the Vegas area before and was so impressed with the ride that I skipped out on my chance to go into Vegas just so I could ride Desperado at night. It was fairly smooth and I had no problem getting in a ton of rides.

I went back to the Vegas area a few years later and couldn't wait to take another ride. I don't know what Buffalo Bills did to the ride but it sure didn't feel like the ride I loved back in 1995. I gave it one more chance just a couple of years ago and it was running horrible. The last few times I have been in the area I just drove by. I would love to see the ride get some much needed TLC. It certainly needs it.

I agree with Richard about Canyon Blaster. It's the smoothest Arrow I have ridden.

-Sean

I was just out in Vegas at the end of February and Rob (robocoaster) was nice enough to drive me out to Primm for some Desperado action.

It is a good coaster, but it has it's faults also. The first drop is great and there are some amazing airtime hills in the first half of the coaster. The coaster snakes all around the casino and parking lot and is pretty long. The end consists of a great helix inside a building.

The downside is that it was built before Arrow had the know-how to create smooth transitions. It definately suffers from jarring transitions between straight track and curved. The sweeping turn after the first drop is my least favorite part of the ride, it can be seen here:

http://www.rcdb.com/ig103.htm?picture=17

Buffalo Bill's added some padding to the seats and backs since my first time on Desperado. This was definately needed and helped tremendously, but I find a little defensive riding goes a long way also. I'm usually a hands up kind of rider on hypers, but during the turns on Desperado I find that pushing yourself as far back into your seat as you can helps you survive the transitions. Definately don't pass it up the next time you have a chance.

As far as the best coaster in Vegas, my vote goes to Speed. I think Rob and I got somewhere around 13 rides in a matter of a few hours. Canyon Blaster is the smoothest Arrow coaster I've had a chance to ride, but the layout is too cookiecutter for me to give it top honors in Vegas.

I do feel that Speed is the ride that I find myself enjoying more than the others. One of the last times I was in Vegas I decided to buy a wristband to get in a few rides. There were only two people riding in the morning and soon I was the only person riding. The coaster geek side of me took over and I decided to ride every seat on the train, then take a few more rides before quitting at 30.

I have a hard time deciding between Speed:TR and Canyon Blaster. Both are great rides! The one thing that puts Canyon Blaster on top for me is the nice theming and decor surrounding the ride and the fact that the park's all day wristband is perhaps the best ride value in Vegas.

As for Desperado, that is the "Vegas" coaster that I have not done. Even though I live in California, I've flown each time I go to Vegas. Sooner or later I'll make the drive and pick up the credit though!

I agree that everyone is hitting it smack dab on the head....Desperado was a tremendous ride at one point, age is not treating the ride very well.

I rode Desperado last summer and definitely felt rattled when the ride was over. I do remember it being much smoother in the mid 90s. I am guessing the dramatic temperature change the climate has on this coaster may actually be causing some of the roughness to become 'exaggerated'.

IMO, it's still worth a trip to ride if you have never been on it before....

I rode Despy for the first time in March. I loved it. Sure, it isn't an RoS. It most definitly isn't Phantom. Heck, it isn't even Maggie or Bull.

But it is good. I enjoyed it a lot. The bottom of the first drop was a bit rough, as was a couple other spots, but it gave good air, and was a decent size coaster.

Oh, and didn't Superman: The Escape beat it out for height and speed in 1997? ;)

Speed is my favorite "Vegas" coaster, but Desperado is a close second. It wasn't the smoothest hyper I've ever ridden but it did have some great airtime moments. I found more to love about that ride than Magnum!

#1- Speed

#2- Desperado

very far removed #3- all other Vegas coasters!

Yes, Speed was my fave Vegas Coaster. I loved Speed. Despy was my second fave, with Canyon Blaster being 3.

Manhattan and High Roller both sucked, btw ;).

Can't be that surprising that time hasn't been kind to Despy. It's the biggest coaster is potentially the most hostile conditions any coaster faces...at least any US coaster...

Speed is *the deal*...good to see Premier getting more work, now that they make user-friendly trains...:)

Don't forget one of Desperado's worst attributes: It was made by Arrow.

Manhattan Express is pure garbage, IMHO. Canyon Blaster and High Roller are a little better, but it's like comparing crap to to sh**.