Coaster Moments

A thread for the late-January blahs

This time of year, I get pretty reflective when thinking about Cedar Point. Next season something will change, and the park will never quite be the same as it was the last season you were there. Something I personally love about Cedar Point; it's always developing somehow (whether for the good or bad is for you to decide).

That being said, what are your TOP 3 coaster moments at the point? Im wondering what these would be; what you view as those moments on coasters you're waiting for, that make the drive to the park, the parking fee, the season pass, etc., all worth it for you.

For me?

#3: The first Gemini turn, giving high fives to the competing train. This is something I always look forward to, and a neat little tradition at CP.

#2: The moment before launch on Top Thrill Dragster, front seat. The thrill is intense, but there's something special about that small moment in time watching the lights go down knowing you're about to launch. I love looking at the people in the park from this seat...seeing their excitement only adds to the experience.

#1: Cresting MF's first hill, front seat. This, to me, is what CP is all about. Front seat on the world's best roller coaster (IMO), about to fly.
*** Edited 1/31/2006 3:40:39 PM UTC by Kevinj***

#1: Hitting the Magnum bunny-hills in 1-3. Ejector seat on the world's best coaster.

#2: Kicking the sky on Raptor. It doesn't quite feel like summer is here until I've done these two things.

#3: I'll have to agree on the hand-slapping. Although, it seems like fewer and fewer people are doing it each time we go.

#1 Dragster front seat test ride it is so nice 420 feet in the air by yourself.

#2 Magnum seat 1-3 the best seat in the world, for air time

#3 Dragster front seat rollback

#3 hand slapping on Gemini (this should be in everyones top 3)

#2 The kiss I get from my girl while in the ready of every ride

#1 Magnums last ride of 05. with re-ride.

3. Looking out at the park all lit up from MF's lift hill at night.

2. Slapping hands on Gemini (especially when we split the group up to race).

1. Singing/screaming rock and roll songs on the lift hills of every coaster. Especially when strangers join in.

Ive never had the opportunity of experiencing a rollback. Interesting to see how many people have mentioned the Gemini hand-slap. :) An "honorable mention" for me was the corkscrew over the midway, although thats more of an experience for me when im walking than actually on the ride.

1. Walking down the main midway on my first visit to the park, it always feels amazing.

2. My first ride of the season on Millennium Force, the first drop of the season feels awesome!

3. My first walk through Frontier Trail / Town, my favourite place in the park.

**NOTE** I usually get into the outside seat of any coaster I ride, so my goal this season is to remember to sit on the inside of Gemini so I can do the hand slapping.

3. Sitting in the last car on the left side of Raptor going down the first hill...and not to sound wierd, but if you look at the Bluestreak the whole time, it feels really crazy.

2. Kissing all my ladies on the way up.

1. First coaster of the season, means the wait is over and "I'm back, I'm ready to go"

Like others, it's not just coaster moments for me, although I certainly have one...

3. The first ride on MF of the season

2. The smells...french fries, Bavarian nuts, the wind coming off Lake Erie, popcorn, cotton candy...

1. Driving up the causeway. No matter how many times I've driven up the causeway (and that is a very large number!!), I always get that excited tickle inside.

OldCPer said:

2. The smells...french fries, Bavarian nuts, the wind coming off Lake Erie, popcorn, cotton candy...

I usually cringe at the smell of dead fish. ;)

3) Airtime on Wicked Twister at the crest of the rear tower, face down to the sand.

2) Back seat on Blue Streak on the crest of the small hill just after the turnaround (pre-seatbelt). Not that I'd ever recommend unbuckling to experience it. No sirree - that would be wrong.

1) Right side of MF, leaning upside-down on the first overbanked turn.

3) Driving down the causeway and seeing Cedar Point right in front of me.

2)Waiting for Dragster to launch and looking over at the bleachers and seeing all the people watching. You actually feel important.

1)Hearing and feeling the click under the train of MF in the station when the cable connects to the train and knowing I'm about to be taken 300+ feet off the ground in a matter of seconds.

1) Dragster.....period. But to be specific, Front seat and when you roll back to engage the sled and the brakes go down...cause you know you're launching in 3 seconds.:)
2) MF at night front seat.
3) Dragster at night. It adds a cool affect.

3) Seeing the park for the first time each season. Everything is always bigger than I remember.

2) Grandstand nachos (not a coaster moment, but still one of my tops)

1) Hearing the crowd applause when a train on dragster clears the hill after a few rollbacks

Let us not forget our friends the giant carp. :)

Is it just me or have they reduced the number of those things the past couple seasons? I used to have nightmares about those things!

I like how you've all added non-coaster moments as well. I have to agree with those that said seeing the skyline as they drive up. It truly is an impressive sight!

Well, most of mine are usually sounds...for some reason...

3) High Fiving on Gemini

2.5) Standing near the tower of TTD during a launch.

2) First ride on MF of the season...

1) Hearing the screeching during the launch on WT.

3) The always fun even if nobody plays along Gemini handslap.

2)My first ride of TTD on opening day 2003 after a bitter 4 hour seemingly hopeless wait.

1)Halloweekends 2004 on Millenium Force at midnight. The fog and lights from fright zone made for one unforgetable ride. Diving in and out of the fog was amazing.

3) Gemini handslap

2) Magnum's bunny hills

1) Millennium Force's hill(best ever IMO) and the part where you whoosh by the queue and reach your hand out to scare the waiting people:P

Why does everyone like slapping hands so much? Do you even know where other peeps hands have been?

When I rode it, I didn't slap hands with anyone, it just grossed me out... No, there's nothing wrong with me, I'm just 'cleaner'

3- After waiting an unsure 4.5 hours, finally strapping into Top Thrill Dragster about to take one of the most fulfilling rides of my life.

2- My first time on Millenium Force. Seriously, that first drop was the only time that a roller coaster has actually made me scream.

1- I'm probably the only person that will say this, but back seat on Wicked Twister after the second backwards launch. No matter how many times I do it, the view always catches me off guard. It is so much higher then one would think it would be.