In short
The lift hill only lasts 20 seconds. The new lift design works well, and is nearly silent. There isn’t really a sense of falling per say, as the ride pushes over the top. The acceleration, and near constant speed from the top of the hill, to a matter of feet from the station, overrides any feeling in your gut. This ride does not let up. Period. It has a similar smooth consistent feel of Raptor, and gives ten times the head rush and reward.
The ride is very simply everything a roller coaster should be. It inspires the right mix of awe, excitement, fear, and deliveries a totally satisfying experience.
At length:
The que line wraps around the area the big wheel and BBQ used to be. There is room, and likely need for much more line space. No, there isn’t any shade to speak of, and if you get there when there is a crowd, go get lunch, a couple of drinks, and get ready to wait. I got to the park an hour and a half before the park gates opened. And that alone saved me the 3 ½ hour lines that formed immediately afterwards. They started running the coaster, having sent only four or five test cars, and were running the red and blue trains as quick as they could by 10:30. The yellow car was indeed on the side track with the water dummies still tied in. They were working on the wheels last I rode the CP and LE RR.
The cars have Intamin plaques on each car. They read in part “Intamin Giga Rollercoaster.” They deffiently want people to know who made that ride, and with good reason.
The final stair case and the last 30 feet of the que are only a matter of 10 feet from the approach to last hill. The trains come roaring at very high speed right past the stairs and line. The breeze, roar, and sight is enough to get you pumped up. I predict they will have something sheltering people in line from the train by the end of next year. If you want to know what it feels like standing there, imagine standing 5 feet away from a frieght train moving a full speed past you. MF has a final overbanked hill which wraps around the que lines after that. The train approaches the station at fairly high speed. The electromagnetic brakes bring the train to a full and very smooth stop with no whip-lash-Mantis-like problems.
There is a true unloading station, with exits to both the left and right. Though only two trains were running, it stands to reason the arrangement will help a lot. More on that later.
The seats feature a new style buckle which is a bit tricky to lock. The restraint pulls down between you legs, and pulls snug against you abs. Don’t drink a lot before riding this thing! The restraint is very solid and firm, and features you own hand rail. An additional hand rail is also available in front of you. As smooth as the ride is, and firm as the fit of the seats, belts and restraint, you feel secure.
The lift pulls the train up a few feet slowly, then kicks in and moves you up and over the hill in under 20 seconds. The pause in the lift makes the unloading station a big plus.
The first hill has you rocketing to full speed and just as quick into the first over banked hill. Despite the amazing speed, which you feel every MPH of, the train is stable and smooth enough to allow you to enjoy it. The train then archs back towards the first tunnel, which you enter at almost a 90% bank, or at least it seemed like it. Then its over to the island, around about, and then back. The train rockets back through the tunnel again, and then roars, still at high speed past the station. It then head through what seems like a victory hill, moving as amazing speed into one last overbanked hill, and then into the station run. The amazing thing about it is that the ride simply DOES NOT slow down, even into the station run. The brakes are so effective there just isn’t any need to slow down sooner.
People roared all during the ride. Like Raptor, the ride doesn’t have a “down” moment. It’s intense from the moment the train pulls over the hill, until you get off the train. People clapped like at the end of a Broadway show as the trains came into the station.
Like I said, this ride is very simply everything a rollercoaster should be. It inspires the right mix of awe, excitement, fear, and deliveries a totally satisfying experience.
Other notes:
The ride dominates the landscape in that end of the park. Everyplace you go, “its out there.” You come out of a shop, and “its out there.” You go on another ride, everyplace you look, part of it is out there.
They had a film crew at the park, obviously you can count on lots of film in the next week.
Nathan W.L. Boyle
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www.NathanWLBoyle.com/cedar.htm
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great Report!
I have a question though, where is the onride photo section?
What is wrong with the yellow train (my favorite)?
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Kyle
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201.3 Miles to the Point from Owosso MI
The Ride Photos were not running when I was on it, and I didn't see the cameras strobe lights. I couldn't tell you.
I suspect the Yellow car just isn't ready yet, but they'd best have it prepared to go by next week.
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www.NathanWLBoyle.com/cedar.htm
The on ride photo is in the second tunnel on the way back. It wasn't open when I rode it though.
I hear the yellow car has no trouble once it gets going but I was told that when the sled that carries it to the top hooks on and unhooks it makes a very loud metal on metal clanking noise. I don't know the exact problem but thats what I was told.
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"Who needs drugs when you have Cedar Point."
Sounds weird kakarot!
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Kyle
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201.3 Miles to the Point from Owosso MI
I was reading rec.roller-coaster and someone who parked their boat in the Marina said the yellow train did in fact make a loud noise no found on the other trains, doesn't sound too serious though.
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Visit my RCT CP site.
http://cedarpoint.8k.com
So which was better Magnum or Millennium Force? And no "they are good in their own way", which would you perfer to ride
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Millennium Force Ride Count:0
Going up that lift was a ride in itself. It really shoots you out of the station. I only wish it slowed down a little at the top, but oh well.
Did anyone else feel like the guy in that video where he is experiences all those G-forces, and his cheeks are spread out when you are going down the hill?
Did anyone else have trouble walking in a straight line right when they got off? :)
*** This post was edited by RPerz on 5/7/2000. ***
Geez, you guys make the ride seem so awesome that I don't know itf I can wait to ride!!!!
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MF and that's my Final Answer ;)
The King is dead, long live the King.
MF is the new champion heavy weight roller coaster at CP and beyond. It’s a worthy successor to Magnum though. It is very simply a solid design well executed. I think it will become a classic, whose excellence will allow it, like Magnum before it, to remain a favorite of coaster fans. Even if somebody breaks one or two of its records, as was the case after Magnum, people will have a hard time topping the quality of the experience.
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www.NathanWLBoyle.com/cedar.htm
Went on MF today. Got in line at approx. 10:45 and got on the ride........3 hours 15 minutes later. SPEED!!!!!!!! That's the only word i can use to describe it. The rushing wind is enuff to totally take your breath away.
Way underprepared today. First for a while I swear there was only one car running. Plus I don't think they anticipated the line for this ride because about 12:00? they began bringing out more queue lines and built an entire new section just outside the entrance. When we got in line we started almost all the way back to Thunder Canyon which is a great deal away from the ride.
I, too rode Millennium Force today. Those who have described it in detail are 100% right on. Incredible and unbelievable seem to be understatements in regards to describing the ride. We walked in to the park at 10:00 (we were there at 9:15) and by 10:45 we were already off of the ride. I talked to Monty just for a few seconds as we were in line for the ride told him "thanks" for the pictures on the web site of Millennium Force and the continued updates of which made the winter seem shorter. Winter was officially over the second I started going up the lift hill. IMHO, the $22 ticket was worth it after getting off of Millennium Force. Sweet it is!
After Millennium Force, everything else seemed like a kiddy ride. Don't get me wrong, all the other coasters are as equally good as they were last year, but nothing even came close to Millennium Force.
In regards to the yellow car making that metal on metal noise, I believe that the red car was doing that off and on today as well. While walking past Millennium Force back into the Frontier area and also while standing in line for Mantis, I am almost positive that I heard the metal on metal sound with the red car. I never heard it with the blue car - which was the one that I rode on. Could someone verify this for me?
I made a point of taking a picture of the "gigacoaster" plaque on the side of the cars... when I get this film developed I'll have to send it on in to this site or something. :-)