Help...with the Raptor.

Ok, I am extremely afraid of going upside down, but i have watched the Raptor's POV a few times, and it actually looks like it is alot of fun. Now be honest, I know that alot of ppl do think that it is fun, but for a first time rider, who is afraid of going upside down, would you suggest me to ride it?  I was pretty sure that I would be fine,  until my Dare Devil friend rode it, and got completely freaked out. So what do you guys think? Would it do this to me? I mean I know that you guys arn't in my head or anything, but I figured that this would be the best place to ask since all of us are CP fans. So..any suggestions?
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Cedar Point is the best. I will never stop loving it. You gotta, You wanna, You have to hold on...Cedar point hold on!!

*** This post was edited by IVAN on 2/21/2002. ***

I used to be deathly afraid of coasters, especially the ones that went upside-down. Since then, I have grown to love the Raptor. I first rode it in 1996. It was good then and is still good now. Go ahead and conquer your fears! You'll love it!

You'll never know if you like it unless you try it. IMO you should go for it, if you don't like it don't ride it anymore, but it sounds like you do want to ride it, and if you feel like that you'll probably like it.
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DT80: 30 and proud of it!
Member of the O.C.
Magnum '01 - 108 laps

*** This post was edited by Kally on 2/21/2002. ***

See...this is why CP hasn't demolished the Corkscrew--and why it still draws a million-plus riders a year.

You can start out with simpler coasters and build up your confidence...but then again, my brother-in-law (who doesn't ride much of anything) visited IOA and took to the big B&M coasters like a fish to water.  You just never know. Either way, you've got options.

-'Playa

I used to be the same way and now I love Raptor and i think you may too you owe it to yourself to ride it.My only advice wait for the very front it is worth it.

Well I remember my first upside down.  I was about 10 and I went to Kings Island.  Anyway I rode the Vortex, which flips you upside down 6 times!  I was influenced by a friend to ride it.  I was shaking when I sat in the seat!  But right after the first loop, I loved it!  So I am 14 now and I love everything!  But you will have more fun on Raptor as your first coaster because it is the best!  Conquer your fears!  You will wish that you began to ride coasters earlier!
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If there's bugs on your shirt, you had a good ride.

If you don't ride it you'll regret it and have to wait for a whole year again. Then you will hate yourself because, you let fear win you over. Trust me, I've been there. (but im not there anymore:))

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-Matthew Couts
my second obsession

The first time I went on an upside down ride I thought to myself, I am not going to die so why not try it and if I don't like it don't do it again. Well I did like it have have been on the ride many times! Just think that and do lots of stuff to keep you busy in line, try not to look at the ride(its hard but try!) Hope you can do it good luck!

My sister doesn't like big coasters!(Due to the drop!) But Raptor is the one coaster she will go that is over 150'!So trust me You will like it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~                                               "Plugged my Life into Jesus, this gets my life restored!"parody of Last Resort by PAPA Roach Apologetix!

Funny thing is, my first big coaster was a looper (a Schwarzkopf looper to be exact). After that, loopers and mine rides were the only coasters I'd get on. It took a LONG time before I would ride a big woodie (okay, *THAT* sounded nasty....). In fact, I think Blue Streak was my first adult woodie....(I'd ridden Beastie, but that doesnt count).
lata,
jeremy
--who didnt realize until just now that he'd had a "first" at CP other than Magnum...

newt-raptors 137 feet, not 150'... but i do know what you mean, my sis is like that too. 
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-Matthew Couts
my second obsession

Raptor is excellent!  It would be a GREAT ride to be your first time upside down!  Just do it.  Oh, and have fun  :)
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"If we go any faster, she'll blow apart for sure!"

Hell, I wasn't just scared of going upside down, I was scared of coasters. Period.  And you know what got me away from that fear to the number that I have below? RAPTOR!!  Raptor was my first coaster ever, or at least that I can recall on August 1, 2000.  It took me another month before I got the courage to conquer Magnum and Millennium, but I still remember the fear on Raptor, and then the screaming of terror turning into screaming of pure enjoyment
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Michael McCormack CP '01: 38
Millennium Force: 49
Raptor: 58
Magnum: 124
Lifetime CP Count: 410 (374 total laps in '01)

*** This post was edited by BirdOfPrey00 on 2/21/2002. ***

If you're going to go upside down on a ride, at least do it in style...Raptor is a very smooth ride that gives you everything from a full 360 degree loop to plenty of awesome barrel rolls...You can't beat the first hill either...It's fantastic...I agree with Raptor Twister, the front seat is way worth the wait because when you go down that first hill, the only thing keeping you in from falling flat on your face to the ground is that harness...what a rush...It's one of the best rides Cedar Point has and the corkscrew is a short ride that is good for beginners, but the raptor is a much smoother ride than the corkscrew and your feet don't even get to dangle out in the air...Raptor is well worth the wait and you'll love it when it's over...I ride raptor at least 2-3 times each trip to the point...I absolutly love it and I'm sure you will too Ivan considering how much it sounds like you love Cedar Point...No trip to the point is complete without at least 1 ride on Raptor...

I was nervous on my first upside down coaster too, which was Corkscrew at CP.  But once I rode it, I loved it.  You go through the inversions quickly, and although Raptor's inversions can be a bit disorienting at first, you don't really FEEL like you are upside down.  You really should give it a shot.  You'd be suprised how much you may like it.
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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead

Raptor? Which ride is that?

First ride for me: 1996
(remember waiting in line thinking "holy crap")
Reaction: TERRIFIED but loved it
Personal record rides in one day: 40
Best seat: 8-1 or 8-4
Total lifetime rides (so far): 545
Best Raptor riding partner: HOOPER!
Most memorable rides: AM test rides, just me and Raptor, seat 1-1 or 1-4
"Say, is that Raptor tattoo real?"

Not only can I ride this bird of prey
but can run it too!!

Jo
(aka "Raptor Jo")
2000 Raptor Crew
Gemini 100 "Survivor"
http://hometown.aol.com/luvcedarpoint/myhomepage/index.html
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Cowboys dig cowgirls in trucks
Cowgirls dig cowboys in Wranglers!

*** This post was edited by LuvRaptor on 2/22/2002. ***

Ah, your too kind Jo, really you are.  Do I really make the ride that much better??
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This second hill is my favorite part of the ride. It is so Cool!
Gemini 100
"Hello, I've seemed to glue myself to myself" AP2
Raptor Flights: 504

the raptor is awesome..that was the 2nd inverter coaster i rode..and i rode it FIRST when i arrived at the park on july 4th.. might i say it was awesome..but the corkscrew is horrible..most people look at it and say.. OH LETS RIDE THAT.. lets get used to going upside down and all.. well ..NO .. not a good idea.. i swear..freakin headaches.. whoo

Corkscrew's not so bad if you know how to ride it though. Do NOT put your head on the head rest...instead stiffen your neck into the loop holding your head away from the head rest. Same goes for the corkscrews too. Personally, its the airtime hill on Corkscrew that give me the worst problems.

Ya but raptor is nothing like the corkscrew, Its not jerky at all. Ya I know what you mean about corkscrew. The first time I went on the ride my neck hurt to much. But nohting like that on raptor so just do it and have fun!