June 6,7,8. First time to CP for a coaster veteran....

As promised, here is my trip report. This was my family's first trip ever to CP.

We arrived at CP at about 1:30 on Wednesday, 6/6. First stop was a visit to Guest Relations were we signed in with our KI passes and obtained a Parent Swap form. As I later learned, the Parent Swap form is NOT the precious commoditiy I thought it was, since they are available from the attendants at the entrances to the line for just about every ride. But my ignorance of this fact would pay a huge dividend, as you will soon see.

I was unable to contain my enthusiasm after first gazing at the ominous TTD structure from the causeway, so we made a beeline directly there. So me, my sister, and my two sons went into the line, which promised a 1-1/4 hour wait. My wife was to wait at the exit, waiting to swap in as soon as we finished our ride.

After waiting about 30 minutes, the dreaded announcement came: TTD was down due to mechanical reasons, and no estimate on when it would be back up. Thanks to my reading here about the finicky nature of the ride, and wanting so very badly for it to be my first ever CP ride, I put my foot down that we would wait it out. About half of the people in front of us left the line immediately, so we managed to get right to the point where the line splits to the 2 loading stations. 10 minutes later, and without warning, an empty train was launched. A cheer erupted throught the line as it cleared the top effortlessly. A few more test launches, and the loading began again. By now my heart was leaping--I was so close to achieving my dream of riding TTD. Overcome with excitement, and wanting the experience to be the best possible, I announced to my group that I was going to front-seat this badboy on my first ride. My two sons and my sis expressed the same desire, so we got in the front-seat line.

The atmosphere was electric. With each and every load that awesome music played -- "Ready to Go" by Republica. The crowd was really into it, and the ride operators got everyone hyped into a frenzy before each launch.

When my turn finally came, I was jazzed beyond belief. I ran through my personal checklist a dozen times in my head. Parent swap form in zippered pocket...check. Sunglass strap secured...check. Hat ready to tuck into shirt...check.

Then we loaded and I let out a cheer as the operator asked us if we were ready. The seconds stretched into eternity as we rolled up to the staging line and I saw the track stretching towards the skies ahead of me. Then the christmas tree lit and we exploded down the line. My excitement turned to fear as I tried to cope with the incomprehensible acceleration, then turned to jubilation as I realized I was on the way up. My 39 year-old body groaned against the positive g's, and before I knew it we were inching over the top. My mind screamed. Wait a minute, you were supposed to look around up here. You were supposed to let go of the bar. No time for that now, as I realized I was facing straight down. Holy EFF! I was lurching forward out of my seat. A new wave of fear hit. I realized I wasn't going to fall out right about time we hit the spiral. The acceleration on the way down was equally intense. Then the brakes caught, and I caught my breath.

My wife was supposed to be waiting for me at the exit. We were supposed to swap our child to my sister and I was supposed to ride it again with my wife. But, my wife had chickened out and was nowhere to be found.

I looked in vain for a few minutes, my anticipation of wanting to ride again RIGHT NOW, combined with the adrenaline surge made the anger well up within me. Finally, in disgust, I went back to retrieve the parent swap form, conceding that I was not going to get to ride again right away.

I went back up to the attendant and told dude that my wife had chickened out and couldn't ride. He explained that I could leave the parent swap form with them--it would be good all day--and if/when I could bring her back, we could ride anytime. Awesome! Just then, a kid who had just walked up the exit, who must have noticed my anguish, said, "you can ride with me if you want.". He and his mom and another child were being loaded from the exit ramp. The mom said, "come on and ride with us, he hates to ride alone." Shrugging to my kids and sis waiting at the exit, I jumped right in. I have no idea if they were using VIP passes or what, but I was not about to let this opportunity slip by.

The second ride was a towared the middle of the train, but it was only slightly less terrifying. This time I remembered to look around, and remembered to let go of the bar.

Next we caught up with my wife in kiddie land. We then rode Gemini, which was nearly a walk-on, followed by Mean Streak.

Now, I like my wood with violence. As I mentioned in my introductory post, I survived the original, pre-bastardized Rattler at SF Fiesta Texas. Many times, in fact. Just one day earlier, I had been brutalized three times by The Beast at KI. (The back car of The Beast was still less rough than any seat on the old Rattler). I was expecting similar treatment from Mean Streak. I let my kids talk me into front-seating it, which is not the best ride on woodies, of course. Two days later, I rode MS again in the very back. But no matter where we rode, MS was pretty tame compared to the other woodies I have ridden. I think it was hyped up as being too rough on posts here and elsewhwere, and it didn't live up to my expectations. But, it was still a great coaster.

We checked the line for Maverick, and the ride was down. We killed an hour or so in kiddie-land and them made our way toward the front of the park to get our jackets, as by now the temps had dipped into the high 50's. This ain't theme park weather where I come from! :) As we approached MF, the line showed a 45 minute wait, so we got into line. By the time we got to the front, I was really wishing we had gotten our jackets first.

MF sealed its spot as my favorite steely, thanks to the amazing airtime and insane speed. I front-seated my first ride, and I grinned the entire ride, never once putting my hands down.

We grabbed our jackets and killed an hour in the arcade, where I played some of the old 70's pinball machines and the vintage arcade games. I was disappointed that the flippers on 2 of the 3 pinball machines I tried sucked badly. I was hoping they would be better maintained. Still it was awesome to set the high score (for that day, at least) on the vintage Donkey Kong machine. That really took me back to my childhood.

By now it was getting really cold (to us Texans). We took a spin on MaxxAir and rode Disaster Transport before calling it a night. I have very little tolerance for spinners, so I expected MaxxAir to make me nauseated. I'm glad to say it only made me slightly queasy. Disaster Transport was unexpectedly fun. I wish I had ridden it more than once.

Thursday the 7th, we got to the park about 11 a.m. and knocked out some of the lesser coasters: Blue Streak (what was that garbage smell? Yuk!), Wildcat, and Iron Dragon. Then we headed over to Maverick. The wait was about 90 minutes, but it seemed like less. In keeping with tradition, we decided to front-seat it.

Maverick is a terrific coaster...nearly ruined by the terrible restraint system. Now, I'm no pansy. I like being roughed up on the woodies. I'm also used to ignoring the warnings to keep your head back on the head-bangers. Most times you can get away with leaning forward if you don't mind getting your ears crunched a few times. I'm a slightly below average 66" tall.

On Maverick, I somehow took a Judo Chop to the neck from the restraint on the first turn. Ok, Ok, I get the point. Keep my effing head back. But what fun is that? I spent the rest of the ride trying to keep my head back, to try to avoid another painful chop to the neck. It was a good ride nevertheless, but I was not anxious to ride it again.

We spent the rest of the day checking off the coasters as we strolled through the park, parent-swapping all the rides, with each family member taking turns getting that second ride with my wife. Around this time I started noticing the miserable look on a lot of faces. It was 90 degrees that day, and I guess to Ohioans, that is pretty darn hot. To us Texans, that is perfect theme park weather. Combined with the 15 mph winds, it was downright pleasant for us. I don't think I ever broke a sweat.

We rode Magnum late in the day Thusday, and the bugs were out in force. I loved the ride, but having to keep my mouth shut and feeling the bugs smacking me in the face and arms somewhat diminished the joy. The airtime was awesome. I should have ridden it again.

I rode TTD 2 more times on Thursday. Each time it got better and better.

On Friday, I checked off all the rest of the coasters in the park. Because I have a fearless 4 year-old, I was able to ride all 16 coasters, including Woodstock express and Jr. Gemini. I say 16 because from the moment we arrived on Wednesday, Wicked Twister lay silent. I had resolved myself that we wouldn't be able to lay claim to riding all the coasters at CP.

On Friday afternoon, by wife, daughter and sister left early, leaving my and my two boys to go nuts on a last minute coaster frenzy. A sudden downpour brought the park to a standstill. It was a heavy rain, what we call a Gullywasher, but it passed quickly. We got in the pre-line line for MF, and waited over an hour for them to open the line. While there, we witnessed a rollback as testing of Dragster began. It was cool just seeing that. We got our ride on MF, and then a walk-on onto Mean Streak.

Now the end was upon us. We got in line for Dragster for a 5th and final ride on that beauty. Fearing a delay, I decided not to front-seat my final ride. Once on board, everything stopped. Techies rushed into the control room, phone calls were made. After a few minutes, the train ahead of me launched without the staging lights or any warning to the riders. I think that would have been an awesome feeling to launch without warning.

Since it's true that there are some launches that barely make it over the top, then the converse must also be true--that there are launches with TOO MUCH JUICE. On my final ride, I believe I experienced just that. I swear we rocketed over that arch with tremendous speed. I felt the joy of negative g's unlike any other. Wow!

After my ride, while waiting by the exit for my kids to finish their ride, I glance over to WT. It was running! As soon as my kids exited, I said "C'mon, and we ran all the way to WT. The wait was only 5 minutes and then our mission was complete. All 17 coasters over 3 days.

Our time at CP was fantastic. Thanks to all the ride operators for making the wait for the rides amusing and interesting. I would gladly go back again. Hopefully, very soon!

*** Edited 6/16/2007 5:11:58 AM UTC by Carlucci***

Great TR! I am glad that you got the experience all 17 coasters at CP. It is truly an amazing place :)

Great TR. You traveled all the way from Texas? Wow. Glad to hear you got all 17 coasters!

I was there the 6th and 7th as well (plus the 5th). The 6th especially was a great riding day. I got attacked by the same bugs on Magnum on the 7th. I was in the front seat. Ew.