Saturday, Anne & I went to Cedar Point with Dave & Betsy. It was the first time I’ve been in 8 years, so pretty much all of the “old” coasters were still new to me. Surprisingly, it wasn’t too busy of a day there so we got to ride almost all of the coasters with waiting lines averaging about 30-45 minutes. It could have had something to do with the fact that it was like 92 degrees all day, keeping some people from venturing out to an amusement park.
Anyway, here’s my thoughts on the coasters we hit:
Blue Streak - This is an older wooden coaster. Sort of lame compared to everything else. The hills were fun, but it seems like most wooden coasters don’t have much of a grade-adustment when it comes to corners, so it’s pretty jerky whipping you around. This ride isn’t very tall, so it might be a good one to start on or else it will feel dissapointing to ride after some of the newer ones. At least the line was only 6-7 minutes long.
Gemini - A wood-framed double-coaster that runs on steel rails. Much smoother than the other wooden coasters. It’s a step up from the Blue Streak, and the added “racing” element is fun. Still, it does feel a little dated.
Magnum XL-200 - Awesome. The Magnum and Millenium are probably my two favorites at Cedar Point. Probably my two favorite coasters anywhere for that matter (not that I’ve ridden a ton though). Huge drop (around 200 feet) and it travels over 70 miles an hour. Definiately a thrill.
Mantis - Ugh. Fun concept but terrible execution. The Mantis is a standing coaster on steel tracks that gives you a different experience, but after the first few loops upside-down, you start jerking around corners so fast that your head bangs back and forth into the side “cushions” surrounding your head. And I use the word “cushion” loosely, because it’s really just hard plastic. About halfway through the ride you start wishing it was over. Anne decided not to wear earring to the park because last time she was there the Mantis made her head bleed because her earrings were bashing into her skin so hard. DO NOT RIDE THE MANTIS. IT HURTS.
Mean Streak - The biggest wooden coaster in the park. This thing is fast, whips around corners, plunges down drops, and the wooden track will nearly vibrate you to death in the process. It’s a little painful, but nothing compared to the Mantis. Well worth the typically shorter waiting line.
Millennium Force - This is pretty much the mother of all coasters. Over 300 feet tall at the highest point and over 90 mph at the fastest. Your stomach will hate you for this one, but you’ll hate yourself if you don’t try it.
Raptor - The Raptor was a lot of fun despite that it wasn’t as tall or fast as some of the newer coasters. It seats you underneath the track, and if you wear flip-flops (we did) to the park, you have to take them off so they won’t go flying. Very weird feeling to ride through the air with no shoes on, but loads of fun. Plenty of loops and corkscrews in this one.
Top Thrill Dragster - The newest coaster built to break records. 420 feet tall and it uses electromagnetic force to shove you from zero to 120mph in 4 seconds. The ride only lasts about 30 seconds, but it’s definately worth about an hour in line. You know that feeling you get when you drive over a hump in a road and your stomach sort of flutters. Multiply that by 100 and that’s the Top Thrill Dragster taking off.
Wicked Twister - This one was actually a lot more fun than it looks. It propels you up double-spirals and back down in a rocking motion. Make sure you sit in the front or the back for the best seats on this one. The shorter line was an added bonus as it only took us about 30 minutes to hop on.
That’s all. Cedar Point has about 15 coasters total, but some are either too old or too lame for us to pencil them in. The only one I would have liked to gone on was the indoor one, but everyone else in my party had already ridden it and didn’t want to wait an hour in line for it. I guess it’ll give me a reason to go back sometime.
