2019 Teasing Begins...

I'm thinking that my viewpoint on what is fun is very out of sync with some others on here. Coming out of the helix and right into hard braking is a lot of fun in my opinion. It is a great ending to the ride!

If an outsider came to this forum and looked at the documented perception of the rides at Cedar Point, I imagine they'd think that all of the roller coasters are quite awful, and there's only a few that are actually fun. A lot of that comes from the biggest fans also being the biggest critics, but it is pretty funny seeing all of the "something MUST be done about ____!"

How about we leave these iconic Cedar Point rides alone! Raptor is awesome just the way it is! Magnum is awesome just the way it is! Gemini is awesome just the way it is. (I'm not going to say Corkscrew is awesome, cuz I really don't like it that much, but it doesn't need to be changed! Over course a ride that is 40+ years old is not going to be the same as a newer version, and it doesn't need to be!)

If you want a smoother ride with more comfortable seats buy a luxury sedan and drive around on the turnpike, and skip the trip to Cedar Point!

Roller coasters aren't to be painful, but they can be too smooth ( Gatekeeper comes to mind). Sometimes not bracing so hard helps on Corkscrew, Magnum, and yes Raptor. Part of the fun is the jerk on some of them. Corkscrew still thrills me as much as say Valraven. I still want a higher drop tower, water coaster, Aquatrax, or dark ride combo as to keep on topic.

djDaemon said:
What company is in the business of modifying existing, 60's-era (or any era) Arrow coasters?

That question is only mostly rhetorical. If the pro-layout modification crowd knows something I don't, I'm all ears.

I’ve said for a while now that RMC’s next target should be remodeling some of these old Arrow coasters, maybe with T-Rex or Raptor track.

The average rider definitely isn't going to see "sudden stop" as a thrilling element. There are many reasons the industry has pretty much unanimously moved toward graceful braking: safety, wear on the ride, guest comfort, etc. In Raptor's case it has progressed almost to the point of Wildcat.

I've overheard lots of people getting off the ride commenting on how the stop hurt and was too rough but they liked the rest. You can only turn away so many guests before the ride becomes worthless, like Corkscrew. I've only seen a line for Raptor at the very beginning of the day lately.

Maybe some of it is antiquated design but I don't remember it being anywhere near as bad 5 or 10 years ago. I have to suspect there's some poor adjustment / calibration in there somewhere but even in the worst case scenario I can't imagine having B&M retrofit a present day braking system would be that expensive for the improvement it would mean for the ride.

Pete said:
I'm thinking that my viewpoint on what is fun is very out of sync with some others on here. Coming out of the helix and right into hard braking is a lot of fun in my opinion. It is a great ending to the ride!

Personally, I love a good helix right before the break run. Gemini, mine ride, and raptor are great examples.

RyanRSheets said:
The average rider definitely isn't going to see "sudden stop" as a thrilling element.

Why not? The helix right into a sudden stop is very thrilling to me. Of course you are going to have some people complain, but then maybe the coaster isn't for them. Most people I see getting off Raptor have a smile on there face.

The sudden stop wouldn’t be so bad if the train wasn’t sideways coming out of the helix before being stopped on a dime. Roller coasters are meant for thrill. Not discomfort. But like it’s been stated before, everybody has different features they look for in a ride they consider “good”. Some people prefer inversions over air time and vice versa, some people prefer a smoothe ride while others prefer a ride with nostalgia that is more on the rough side, etc.

Are you referring to that “stop on a dime and give $0.03 change” experience that ends Gemini? Because that’s something that needs fixed.
GEMINI IS NOT SUPPOSED TO STOP ON THE BRAKE RUN PAST THE HELIX!!!
That is the station approach brake and the train is supposed to slow down there and be brought expertly to a smooth stop in the station. The train should ONLY stop on that brake if there is still a train in the station...and running only four trains there is no reason why the station shouldn’t be clear by the time a train comes out of the helix.
Generating 60 cases of whiplash is NOT the proper way to make the disco ball move.
—Dave Althoff, Jr.

Dave - I always found Mantis to be worse when stacking! At least on Gemini, your whole upper-body moves forward as well. But when there is a should restraint holding you back, your head is the only thing whipped forward.

There is way too much stacking at Cedar Point.

Cedar Creek Mine Ride stacks with only 2 trains running. Seriously, the ride has (2) lift hills, back in its heyday that was a 5 train operation.

Valstack

Gatestack

Gemstack

Steelstack

on and on.......

Trains Stacking = Longer Wait Times

People notice it, no one wants to wait in lines, hence the popularity of "Fast Lane Plus".

Could this be an issue that drives the "GP" away from returning to the park leading to lower attendance numbers.

Has Just Coasting ever said anything positive about Cedar Point? Has he/she ever said anything positive about anything or anyone?

^Great conspiracy theory. But just who or what is this GP? Gross pigs, Grand Prix, Gregory Peck, George Plimpton, Gomer Pyle? Golly!

I vote George Plimpton

Good point Bluestreaker. Maybe he needs to see a General Practitioner (GP).

Getting back on topic here, has there been a date announced when they announce more details of what's new for 2019? I know we have forbidden trail coming next summer, but has anything been announced as far as what's going on there?

This is probably all we are getting until they start winding up the advertising campaign for the 2019 season.

According to the facebook page ' "Dr. Scott's" Pinball Store' - https://www.facebook.com/DrScottsPinballStore

"Just found out that Cedar Point had a sealed bid auction selling off all their pingames and classic arcades. The end of another era. So, sad..."

They better not touch the ballroom they never use.