Virtual Midway posts Top Thrill Dragster interview

Nice job - a pretty good interview with some detailed answers! :) I found this part interesting as well:

"Yes. We implemented our FreeWay system last season, and it proved to be very popular and successful. We initially started the 2002 season with the FreeWay system on Millennium Force and Wicked Twister and later added Raptor. In 2003, we will not only add the new Top Thrill Dragster, but also Magnum XL-200 and Mantis to the FreeWay offerings."

Interesting that they're adding it to a ride (Magnum) that hasn't had a line over 45 minutes the past two seasons - even on Saturdays. It will be interesting to see if people make use of the system on Magnum. Honestly, I wouldn't! :) But it's only because I know how fast Maggie's line ussually moves.

She also mentioned that there will be TWO onride photos for Top Thrill Dragster.

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-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew

Who gets "credit" for the countdown lights??? I really don't think Rob Decker had to think very hard about adding those to the ride.

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Go Jr.!!!

I found it very interesting that the original announcement date was going to be just days after the track sighting (Aug 28). Obviously they had something big to deliver and really didn't affect the hype of the ride by waiting until January.

I'm really glad that Mantis is finally getting a Freeway system. I love the ride, I just don't like waiting so long for it. I wonder how that, as well as Magnum's Freeway will work?

-Rob Willi

Great Interview! Way to go Virtual Midway! I'm even MORE excited (if that is possible) now then I was about the ride! TWO camera's!

Two photos for this monster. I think the dual photo is a great idea.

I'm also excited to see they will be adding Magnum and Mantis to the Freeway system. I have a feeling Magnum's lines are going to be larger this year with Dragster right on the doorstep.

So much for the PWE "revamp" rumor.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead

Knott's has been using two cameras on their Timber Mountain Log Flume for some time now. Seems the picture taken on the drop doesn't always turn out, especially since some people put their hands in the air, blocking the riders behind them. A second camera is placed before the station and an announcement tells riders to "smile!"

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Sig under construction!

Magnum's line has been short of late, but it didn't have the Big New Ride right across the midway from it, either. My guess is that with Dragster drawing crowds to that side of the lagoon, Magnum's lines will grow.

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LOL first to break 200 and 300. Moonsault Scramble 1983, Superman The Escape, 1997. They are however the first to break 400. They finally have a record breaker without an *

Moonsault was both a shuttle, and never got the entire train over 200'. Magnum has a pretty legitimate claim to that statement.

S:TE depends on whom you ask.

I like those videos, they are so much clearer than the ones CP has on there site. Is there any way we can save them? I hate how choppy the loading time is.

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You are the passengers on a most uncommon elevator, about to ascend into your very own episode of the Twilight Zone

How does this freeway system thing work? I haven't been to CP since 2001(forgive me but I live in Florida)

The way Freeway works is that there is a booth outside of the ride entrance. Let's give an example of Millennium Force.

When the booth opens (usually an hour after the park has opened) they will distribute a determined number of stamps for each hour of the day. Lets say I get a stamp that says "FORCE 4-5" That means I must return to the MF entrance between 4 and 5 PM to use my Freeway stamp.

When you present your stamped hand at the entrance they allow you to walk up the line next to the final straightaway before the final turn of the ride. This skips all three sections of the que to the ramp leading to the station. From there a line attendant lets you in the line (sort of like cutting in front of someone) and from there its a 15 minute wait.

When you use your stamp you get a big black X from a Cedar Point stamp that you can't wash off for days ;). This is a better way of only allowing the guest to recieve one Freeway stamp per day.

The best part about this system is that since there's a limited number of stamps, the people that get cut in front of, will only end up waiting 1-2 trains more per hour of waiting. So it's really not a big deal. The determined number of stamps per hour given is roughly 2 trains.

Hope that helps.

-Rob Willi

Robodud... you said "only allowing the guest to recieve one Freeway stamp per day." Does this mean that if I use Freeway for MF I cant use it for WT? Or just one per day per ride? *** This post was edited by NoLimitChic on 1/15/2003. ***

Super7 - think full-circuit coasters.

While CP was not the first to break the 200, 300, and 400 foot heights the coasters that did break those records first were all shuttles: Moonsault Scramble broke the 200' barrier and Superman The Esacpe shattered both the 300' & 400' records at the same time.

However CP can claim the first full-circuit coasters that broke the 200, 300, and 400' marks.

Records are really only good for publicity and marketing. Just because a coaster is record breaking doesn't mean its going to be good [see SOB]. YMMV.

Let the debate continue....

Moosh

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Sig under construction!

*** This post was edited by Mamoosh on 1/15/2003. ***

Note that Mrs. Witherow did not confirm or deny the presence of a Stuckey's on the premises. I am right I am right I am right....

-'Playa

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The CPlaya 100--6 days, 9 parks, 47 coasters, 2037 miles and a winner.....LoCoSuMo.

Great Interview. They could have gotton the light idea from Hypersonic.

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-Sean Newman

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Top Thrill Dragster is our closest attempt to theming a ride or attraction, and it's been interesting.

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The bobsled in a box doesn't count?

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Please visit the small parks. We don't know what's happening behind the scenes
Woodencoaster.com

Lorrie said:"Who gets "credit" for the countdown lights??? I really don't think Rob Decker had to think very hard about adding those to the ride."

I'm not exactly sure who gets credit for that but Xcelerator has those lights too. I believe they're called "christmas trees" ??? *** This post was edited by ALEEN6E6 on 1/15/2003. ***

The cool thing about Xcelerator is that as you watch the last three yellow lights blink counting down the launch you anticipate that the green "Go!" light and launch will occur at the same time interval, but the launch is just a fraction of a second before the green light goes on, catching riders slightly off guard.