2008: Tear down the Blue Streak

^ - agreed on TTD. While it is a heck of a thrill ride it is a mediocre coaster. Now, if we were ranking thrill rides (of which I consider coasters a sub-set) and which I use different criteria, it would be #3, behind Turbo Drop and Magnum.

Go look at Blue Streak during Halloweekends, when the lines are full out to the midway. It's a classic and will be at Cedar Point for a long time to come. If I can see any ride being tore down in the distant future I'd say Mine Ride....but even that ride gets full lines during busy days in the summer and Halloweekends.

The Blue Streak may not be what it used to be, but changes to the seatbelt, station, queue and seat dividers are minor. The important thing is the profile on this great ride is virtually untouched for 44 years. The great air time, pacing, and atmosphere is still there to thrill and amuse us. I still count it as one of my all time CP favorites, and I'll bet my last dollar that it's never going away.

Each coaster at Cedar Point has something different to offer. I would hardly call Millenium Force boring, but it's made of different elements than the other rides. It has the greatest lift and first drop in the country, after that it's smooth speed. It's hard to exit that ride without a feeling of exhilaration. But if we want slamming air time we need to visit Magnum. For loops and rolls we try Raptor or Corkscrew. For quirkiness we have Wicked Twister or Maverick. Families enjoy big thrills on Mine Ride and Disaster Transport. And so on, you get my point.

There's no reason to call for the removal of a ride just because it's been eclipsed in terms of speed, and height, or because it's been altered over the years for safety and efficiency. Cedar Point has done a great job of providing us with seventeen rides (seventeen, mind you) that each offer different thrills and experiences- something for everybody. We all have our favorites and preferences in rides, and Blue Streak, as CP's oldest operating coaster continues to deliver the thrills as they were originally intended.

We couldn't be luckier, here, folks. Quitcher gripin'.

RideMan said:
Counter point: I find Millennium Force boring, and find the queue music to be annoying.

Okay, so perhaps 'boring' is too strong of a word. But there are at least four coasters at the park that I like better.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I agree with you on the queue music. Before I rode MF everyone on this site would talk about the music for MF and how great it was. Once I finally got the chance to ride it and got in line I thought "really? techno?" because honestly I can't stand the stuff. But that's just my opinion.

But I do NOT agree with you about MF being boring. Although Magnum IS still my favorite, MF is definately my second favorite. It is the smoothest coaster that I have ever been on. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it.

I guess I see how you could say that it's boring, because for the fact that it IS so smooth. But I definately would not want to ride 4 other coasters or even rides for that matter before it.

What do I think about Blue Streak? I personally don't care for it too much, but I see how other people would. And it is a good smaller coaster for little kids and older people. I definately think that they would tear down DT or the Demon Drop way before they tore down Blue Streak.

I went on the Blue Sreak on opening day! i still love the ride, but I was surprised how many seats were ropedoff! I hope they consider maybe either fixing the trains or getting new ones becauseI feel the Blue Streak is a nice coaster that is fun to ride when you are in the mood for a classic coaster! Plus I agree it is a great family coaster. I know I love the bigger coasters, but not every one wants to ride the bigger coaster like the mean streak.

^ - the seat closures were due to problems with the retractable belt mechanisms.

As of Friday all the seats were open.

Yay! Sounds like problem solved -- or at least much improved for now.

The seat belts are a complete pain in the rear for everyone right now, the crew and maintenance (one of my roommates is the TL). I certainly think that generally speaking, they are better than the old airline belts from the 70s or 80s, but they're still tweaking them (the retractable belts). One of the biggest problems thus far has been the buckles "disappearing" back down into the container, on both Blue Streak and Corkscrew. I believe they finally got the stops on both coasters to prevent that now, though.

There is nothing wrong with the Blue Streak structure. Now the trains, the automated brakes, the backwards platform.....that's another story!

Yeah, those automate brakes just make it the worst ride ever. So does the station. And those trains, ugh. I hate trains.

The trains don't personally bother me. I just wish they'd get rid of the seat dividers.

That'll never happen. Without them, you can easily get out.

Just like the headrests keep my head from detaching during the high speed 45 degree drop...

Are you suggesting most people can get out with the seat divider? I'd like to see you try.

Is there a time limit and am I allowed to use lard?

Blech. Must . . . delete . . . picture in my head . . . There, done.

Next time, warn us John. ;)