Question about Kingda Ka

I agree 1000% with Moosh. Stuff that I call *external* to the ride doesn't affect my opinion of the ride itself. It DOES affect my opinion of the park. The only things that MIGHT affect both would be, say, dilapited/neglected theming of the ride. Hurts the ride experience somewhat, but really POORLY reflects on the park.

The ONLY things that affect how I rank a coaster are those things inherent to the ride experience itself, and to some extent the "stage setting" of the ride - landscaping, theming, music, and how they all tie-in to the CONCEPT behind the ride itself. Hard to believe I still haven't ridden Mystery Mine, LOL... ;)

^^Not to mention that its impossible to know if Maverick would be ranked higher if built elsewhere because it won't be.

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Rye.D.Ziner said:
^you may be right, but given time with more people able to ride it, it will likely rise because I agree it is a very good ride (best steel coaster at CP). don't forget it opened late and was 'down' for maintenance a lot

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It was down for maintenance a lot? I'd be curious how you find it to be a lot.

One thing that surprised me about Maverick was how well the blocking system worked. Knowing how Intamin screwed up on TTD, Maverick has no problem running all of it's trains efficiently.

^ I question Rye's theory myself. From everything I have heard it was down for maintenance about the average time any coaster is down for
maintenance.
Throw Maverick into the confines of SFMM and you have a ride that functions about as much as Deja Vu.

Regarding the restraints, I'm guessing that a person's size determines whether or not they are comfortable. Personally, I think they are some of the most comfortable restraints around, at least as far as OTSRs go. I'm pretty small though, at 5'9", 155lbs. I've ridden both KK and Storm Runner, and didn't have issues with either.

The thing about the restraints is that they are very good and pinning your waist rather than your shoulders and as a result, I've found them to be very comfy.

Skinny people might get tossed and turned a bit throughout the ride, but from personal experience i have to say if you just sit back and hold onto the handles on the "lapbar" part of the restraint, you'll be just fine.

Sure, some people might find them uncomfortable but its better than having thousands complain they can't fit. Maverick is one of the most accommodating coasters in the park. It's great when you work another ride and recommend that people check out the "new ride" they're always surprised they'd be able to fit.

Besides, my mom is quite fragile when it comes to coasters. She rode it with no complaints. I think the rest of us can make it. :)

You cannot please everyone. Many coaster enthusiasts (ACER'S) are enormous and can barely fit on many coasters, yet they complain about the types of restraints these same coasters. It would be nice if every coaster was accommodating to everyone but that is impossible.
With that being said, how difficult would it be for a park to update the restraint systems on major attractions. For Example, could SFGADV replace the OSTR with lap bars similar to TTD? What about Maverick? It seems as though the OSTR's were mainly there for the heart-line-roll which, as we all know, is gone.

^The whole train would have to be rebuilt to change the restraints. TTD's mechanics for it's lapbar are in front of each seat while Maverick's shoulder harnesses are in the back of the seats.

Both the restraints do the same thing. They both pin the riders thighs. The only difference is one is coming from the top and the other coming from the bottom. The shoulder harnesses are just more accommodating.

^ So you are saying that unless there are no restraints the same people will always complain? I thought so and I agree. Listen folks, safety comes before catering to extremely large, small, or skinny people. It sucks, but that is the way it goes.

I agree with Moosh in principle, but I don't think it's possible. The first time I got to ride X, the park was dead and I got 14 laps in one day - many re-rides later in the night. I thought (and think) it's the best thing since sliced bread. But if I'd have had to wait 2 hours and only got one lap I probably would have had a bery different opinion.

I have to disagree with you guys on this. While I only really know about Cedar Point, almost all of its coasters are in such unique locations that the "external" factors do affect the way the ride perceived.

Examples would be Top Thrill Dragster and the whole affect of bystanders being able to stand close and watch the trains in the staging area before being launched. The experience on the ride would be completely different if it was placed far away from a midway.

I guess you can ride a ride or you can experience a ride.

So if you move Magnum to a different park and run it exactly the same you'd rank it lower simply because you cannot see Lake Erie? Would you rank it lower if you rode it at night and couldn't see the lake? Or with your eyes closed? Blindfolded?

Mamoosh whoa

I believe if you took Beast out of the woods.. you would loose a lot. I believe that happened when they opened up Grizzly at KD, Something was lost. Now Magnum, Wild Thing and Steel Force will not gain or loose anything if moved. I just believe sometimes where a coaster is at .. meaning park. It gets a lot of Hype and since smaller parks are less traveled, they get the short end of the stick. Coaster polls are there so coaster nerds can have something to fight over until Coaster Season..

And I think Beast would be an overrated POS regardless if it was surrounded by woods or a garbage dump, lol.

As for smaller, less travelled parks getting the "short end if the stick that's not the case with Mitch's polls and the algorithm he uses.

And one I understand. I simply choose to rank without that as a factor.

And Moosh, I will get ridiculed for this, but CP gets high numbers with coasters and the park in general because of its location.

Put CP in the middle of a freakin cornfield in Iowa, and this park wouldn't get the same fame it gets.

I like CP, don't get me wrong, but it gets to much recognition.

Here is a 911. Magnum won't be there forever. Its lifespan was rated at 25 years.

^If that's the case, alot of steel coasters would have seen the chopping block already.

Whizzer at SFGAm is in its 32nd year. Demon is also in that time frame.

I can hear it now, "New for 2114, Magnum XL 300!"

Is that all you're hearing?