Another reason Raptor ride ops are the best.

"That's right, the Raptor, the only ride that does it to you six time, four different ways, and in only 2 minutes and 32 seconds."

Is it just me or does comedy seem to make the wait go by faster.

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Cedar Point, it may not be heaven, but is sure is close.

Yeah, the Raptor crew kicks ass.

I was waiting for the back row once during a delay, the ride ops just kept talking about the ride and making funny comments.

"Raptor costs a cheap price of 12 million dollars, and with only 3 payments of 4 million, you can have Raptor in your own back yard!."

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-Eric

*** This post was edited by eric 7/18/2002 5:50:39 PM ***

I have to agree that the Raptor crew was very efficient with moving the trains. Dont remember any comedic lines when I was in the station.

I am still kind of irked that they didnt have airgates especially since the floor lowers and raises. But thats just me because I am used to SFGAm.

Irked? I'm happy they haven't put air gates in yet. Air gates have the tendency to slow down load/unload unless the person working the gates opens it just as the floor has risen.

I don't really see how a perfectly flat floor eight inches below the rest of the station would make Raptor without gates any more unsafe than a standard coaster where there is just track. If anything, falling down 8 inches onto that floor is less dangerous than falling into a track.

Having said that and having made my argument against gates on Coasterbuzz, don't be surprised if Raptor (or any other ride at the Point left without them) gets gates within the next year or two. I thought they'd be fairly detrimental to operations on Magnum, but I think that they've done a pretty good job with them this year. They open right away automatically and are closed by the op in the back of the station when everyone has crossed through and always before READY! Supposedly the numbers this year aren't quite stacking up with last year, but from the looks of it, they are still able to hit interval consistantly when they want to which is the biggest thing. Raptor and Magnum both had excellent numbers last year, but Raptor is looking even better so far this year.

-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew

Like I said guys, I am used to them. That is why it is just odd to me that they arent there. If the person controlling the gates opens them up at the right time it does not take away from the loading times IMO.

If I was used to not seeing them, I would probably be saying the same things that you guys are.

I do agree that the Raptor crew is great. One guy was screwing with me because I had a Magnum shirt on. I'm not sure what my favorite crew is this year. I like Raptor's, Magnum's, Gemini's and Mean Streaks' crews a lot.

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-Chris Woodard
Just because you can't justify charging $3 for a Pepsi doesn't mean you can't charge $3 for a Pepsi.

Not only are they the best crew year after year but this is the best line yet, heard in early June:

"Now prepare for your 2 minute and 32 (42?) second journey on the big green six-flippin high speed chicken"

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Steel - #1 Mantis, #2 Millie, #3 Wicked Twister
Wood - #1 Thunderbolt, #2 Villain, #3 Beast
"The key to a happy life is moderation" -- Jon Stewart

I was at CP on wednesday and getting ready to get in line for MF at around 10:50 but MF was broke. Being really nice CP left Raptor open until 11:45. I got about 7 rides in the back row, which has the best pull of any coaster I think. But I was talking to a ride op and she said she had worked 16 hours that day. She was still moving fast and looked like she just started working that day. I was amazed. It takes a lot to run a ride that many hours and the be told to work an extra 45 minutes. One thing that was weird about Raptor on wednesday night was that about every 4 rides a train was getting stuck on teh lift, at the mid course, and in the station. Anyone know what was up with that?

I got a funny ride op on ID once. He was saying things like "Iron Dragon's going to take you upside down not once, not twice, not even three times, but a grand total of zero inversions!" And then he did an evil-sounding laugh and said "That's the scariest part of the ride, I guarantee it."

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Agent Stinky

Six Flags better than Cedar Point? I'll believe it when Raging Wolf Bobs flies...

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MDOmnis said:
I don't really see how a perfectly flat floor eight inches below the rest of the station would make Raptor without gates any more unsafe than a standard coaster where there is just track. If anything, falling down 8 inches onto that floor is less dangerous than falling into a track.

I think the issue here Matt is this, when the floor is done dropping the train pulls out of the station. I dont think the falling 8" is the issue, I think the safety issue is the 8 ton train (weight when NOT loaded) that I am quite sure can do some serious damage to someone. I have seen FAR too many idiot guests go walking across the floor when we've called a "clear" and they could have easily gotten killed. Guests were CONSTANTLY (and still do) crossing over that yellow line! I'm sorry but as a former Raptor ride op I say bring on the airgates. I do prefer how Talon's floor works, as train pulling into station floor is lifting, by the time the train in the station floor all the way up. Much easier for the ride op on controls, not to mention alot faster for the guests. Oh and Talon DOES have airgates. I really don't think airgates would hurt Raptors ride capacity. Guests aren't supposed to start boarding until the other guests get off anyway. JMHO Matt! :)
(Notice I just didn't say to shut the **** up! ;))

Back to the subject matter. I loved thinking up new spiels for Raptor and constantly would beg for that position. I even thought of tons more of them if I ever decided to work there again. (NO one hold your breath!!)

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thebeast said:
One thing that was weird about Raptor on
Wednesday night was that about every 4 rides a train was getting stuck on the lift, at mid course, and in the station. Anyone know what was up with that?

I was at CP yesterday and my baby was JACKED UP all day long. Down for mechanical more than once, then stuck, then for wind. We were even stuck in the train in the station when one of the trains were stuck on the lift. One other ride op I know said Raptor not doing too well this season, down alot. I did see maintenance and park ops there more than once. HATE to see my baby being a problem! :(

Jo
2000 Raptor Crew
Gemini 100 "Survivor"
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Cowboys dig cowgirls in trucks
Cowgirls dig cowboys in Wranglers! ;)

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So Jo.. care to share with us your Raptor spiels? I know I would enjoy it.

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Cedar Point, it may not be heaven, but is sure is close.

I think my favorite spiel was "we are going to take you up really, really high, drop you really really low, and turn you upside down many times, really really fast! Enjoy your ride on the Raptor"
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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead

A funny quote from the Raptor crew earlier this year.

they were talking about being better than Mantis, and then said

"If we wanted to be more like Mantis we would only run two trains and make you wait in a longer line"

No one really got it, but I thought it was pretty funny.

I rode twice on my trip this past week, and they were funny and friendly. I don't know if the ride ops were the ones who started it, but the people in the line were doing one of clap faster and faster things.

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Andrew L. of Waterville, OH
Cedar Point, the cure for the Summertime blues!