TTD media day: WOW

My wife, my friend Chad and I had been driving for more than 2 hours through the flat Ohio north when we first started to get nervous. Not because we were about to ride the world's tallest, fastest coaster, but because of what a radio DJ said.

We had tuned to the Sandusky station to see if they were doing live TTD reports. What we heard was that the DJ was leaving - he wouldn't get a chance to ride today, due to "motherboard" problems.

How disappointing that would have been. Apparently TTD had been struck by lightning recently and was not performing well.

We pulled into the Hotel Breakers parking lot at about 8:45 a.m. and entered the park, collecting our name tags along with free TTD straps for them, a commemorative pin and a very nice tin with a hinged lid, containing a commemorative gold medal. Very classy, but I have no idea what I'm going to do with it.

As soon as we collected our loot, we needed the bathroom badly (Tim Horton's cappucino more than 2.5 hours ago...), so we found one. Just as we approached the incredibly tall hill of TTD, it launched. Every head turned and watched, mouths gaping open. It was *fast*.

On the way to the bathroom, I saw Jeff Putz, so I introduced myself, unlike last year. Good to meet you, Jeff. He says what we just saw was the first launch of the day. D'oh.

After we, er, relieved ourselves (and outlasted a very brief rain shower), we wandered over to where the opening ceremonies were about to take place. We saw Sean Flaherty and he and his posse were heading for the now-forming line, so we follow. We listen to the innocuous words from the ACE president and CP veep from behind (meanwhile, my wife, who's decided not to ride, takes a seat in the grandstand).

At about 9:15 a.m., a man with a giant pair of scissors cuts a ribbon, and we file into the line. I would guess there was not more than 100 people in front of us.

However, it would be 11:45 a.m. before we get to ride even once. The list of hold-ups included:

-they were running only two trains (they added a train about 11:30);
-the TV media were lining up in the exit ramp and got first priority;
-about a dozen "recheck harnesses" and "crossing" warnings per train;
-and the biggest hold-up, a misfire on a train full of people. The train launched and was braked to a stop about 1 second later. That shut down the ride completely for about 30 minutes.

So, in line we talked, stared at the ride, admired the super-cool smoke/peel-out effects before each launch, and mostly, laughed at people's reactions from the returning trains. My favorite reaction was from the person who screamed, "It's better than sex!" We also had a good laugh at the warning signs in the queue, which stated that "sometimes a train will not clear the hill - you should not be concerned." Some people thought it was a joke! Personally, I was hoping for a rollback...

Anyway, we finally got our ride, in the second row. The train glides forward with some force, stops on the brakes, and the dragster noises start. You see the brakes drop down in front of you, and two seconds later, you're off.

The launch is absolutely amazing. Just when you think the G-forces can't get any higher, you speed up even more. The climb up the tower is cool. As we crested the top, I glanced up and saw Millennium Force waaaay down below me. Yikes.

I was a little disappointed not to feel any airtime at all up there. However, the spiral drop more than made up for it. This is absolutely the best drop ever. It's just so fast, the visuals are amazing, and the feeling of going straight down while spinning is something entirely new.

I think my own reaction says a lot - since I almost never react strongly to coasters. I *could not stop laughing* until I got out of the train. It was just so much fun. Sean, who happened to get the seat in front of me, exclaimed, "What the hell just happened?!?" and then, "That was the best thing that's ever happened to me." I think if I limited that to the riding of coasters, I would agree.

So, our one ride over with, we rejoined my wife and took our free meal (thanks, CP) at Johnny Rockets. Good, familiar food.

In the end, I was a little disappointed that I got to ride only once, unlike other media days where I've ridden rides dozens of times. But, then again, it was free, and it was a beautiful day (eventually 80 degrees and bright sun), and I got to spend it not at work but doing something I loved. So, I'm grateful.

Verdict: When the operating kinks are worked out, CP will have yet another winner, and probably the most intense coaster on earth.

Thanks for reading.

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A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.

Yeeeeaahh, I reeeeeaally can't wait. Why did I have to move from Sandusky to Chicago? :(

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Well, I used to be able to see TTD from my house, then I moved.
Life's not fair.

Cuz Chicago has more stuff to do than Sandusky. :)

Damn, wasnt Sean just at the media day for SFGAm's S:UF? This guy is a media day hopper. :)

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Arena football has arrived in the Windy City. Go "Chicago Rush"

God I can't wait...

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Corey
-----
Intamin, the cadillac of roller coasters.
MF-19

I HEART OHIO

I just wanna ride Maggie again LOL

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Ah what the hell.....Magnum What?

S:ROS blew me away

I don't know about the second row, but I was in the second to last row (they were not seating the last row for some reason) and had abundant air all the way over! You are right about the drop (downward spiral) it is unlike anything I've ever felt on a coaster. Bravo to CP!

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tambo

Just seeing it on Channel 11. Holy crap that goes over the top hat fast.

Can't wait for Sunday.

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Ah what the hell.....Magnum What?

S:ROS blew me away

I can't wait for the 11 and 12. I just hope it will be pretty empty like last year.

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All who think Mean Streak needs a match taken to it say I.

Ok, I know this was a topic earlier, but how many cars were actually on the trains?

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The future is in the hands of Cedar Point!

Just wondering, how did you get into Media Day? That's sounds awesome. I can't wait until next Friday!

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-Sean Newman

The trains had 4 of their 5 cars.

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James Draeger
-in search of a new signature

Makes me wish I could drive. :(

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SFNE Central v5- Online Six Flags New England Resource

Were the staging lights on the top hat working?

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Be polite and ignore the idiots. - rollergator
"It's not a Toomer" - Arnold Schwartzenkoph

I'm riding this in Aug. when I visit my family back in MI. CP is about the only thing I miss since I moved down here. (FL) Hopefully they get all the kinks out of this beast by the time I get there.

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WARNING:
You are no longer who you were and tomorrow is now yesterday. In the event of an emergency, do not become alarmed. Move Quickly to the nearest exit.

I have been watching the Cleveland news stations all day online. Icould barely get any work done today!

WOW! I can't wait till Sunday!!!

-Tina

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Feel The Adrenaline....
www.intenserides.com

Only 2 more months!

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While we are all agast at TTD right now, dont worry Im sure CP will have us talking about how *tame* the ride in 2006 when they are opening their 500ft tall Giant called "Really Rediculoulsy Fast Coaster" (RRFT)

Sounds amazing. If its anything like Xcel, I reccommend the front row. Either that or as far back as you can get. I can only imagine the insanity of riding in the very front of TTD!

So yeah, 15 more days. I cannot wait to ride!

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The Trip: CP, SFWoA, PKI, KW, HW, IB, SFGAm, MiA and LeSourdsville too.
8 Days- 10 parks. May 2003

How exactly do you get to attend media day? I was watching some news broadcasts on the internet here in Pennsylvania and alot of people that I saw looked like the common public. Was there some sort of ticket that you could have purchased to get in? I would like to know this for future reference. I REALLY wanted to ride Dragster today, but it looks like I will be waiting until June.
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Democrats talk about getting things done. Republicans get things done.

Nice report. Once comment:

"...and the feeling of going straight down while spinning is something entirely new."

cough::cough::WickedTwister::cough::cough

Moosh - will ride TTD in 2005.

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Don't believe everything you think. - bumper sticker seen on 4/19/03

There was ejector air over the entire top, starting right where it begins to crest til when you are all the way to the bottom. I rode front 2 times, 2nd row 1 time, and last available back row 1 time...got this in each row. Most unbelieveable thing I have done in a long time!...and if you ask me you dont rate this coaster among others, it stands by itself! I cant wait to ride again!

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SFGAm Viper