Coaster Advice Needed

Greetings One and All,

Thanks to a medical miracle, I have recently lost a very large amount of weight and size. I am able to ride at Cedar Point again, after 20 years and more! I have been working on many of the flat rides. Some I like, (Monster) and some I do not (Matterhorn).

The last coaster I rode was the Blue Streak, in 1983. I made the mistake of closing my eyes for the ride, and it ruined me for years. This year, since I can fit in the rides again, I have ridden Iron Dragon, Wildcat, and the Corkscrew, as well as Snake River Falls and White Water Landing.. I have always been afraid of heights, and of falling, so this has not been easy at all! I think I am getting used to the drops now, though. After three straight days of riding this past weekend, I think I did pretty well.

Anyway, I have decided that I need a picture of myself on a roller coaster, and the ones I have managed to ride without going insane don't offer them. That means I have to move up from the Corkscrew to something a bit more... serious.

I'm not sure I liked the loop on the Corkscrew, though it was kind of cool, but I was also worried about my glasses flying off. I need a strap. Also, I am very tall (6'7") and my head could not touch the headrest. My neck got snapped around pretty good. I have to work on keeping my head in the right position for Corkscrew to be any fun.

The way I see it, it's got to be Magnum or Raptor for me to get a picture. Magnum is a tall coaster, and I'm not too happy about lift hills as it is. Raptor, on the other hand, doesn't look as tall, but looks like it slings you around in ways I'm not sure I like, yet. My 12 year old daughter loves them both. Of course, she has ridden every ride in the park, including TTD. She has no fear.

So, I would like some intelligent advice as to my next step in coaster riding. I know in my heart that it's as safe as Cedar Point can possibly make it, and I know thousands do it every day, but I am still hearing that tiny voice screaming in my head the entire time I am in line, and all the way up the lift hill, asking what the hell I am doing there. After going over the lift hill, it's just a desperate wish to survive the unknown. The second ride is usually a lot more fun, I have found.

I have decided that when I go back on July 3rd, I need to ride one of the bigger coasters, and get the picture. I would appreciate some discussion about the relative merits of each coaster, so I can make some rational decision about this. Any other suggestions or advice are also welcome.

Thanks very much in advance!

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Tank

This Space To Let

Believe it or not, I would suggest that you go ahead and ride MF. Sounds like you don't want a rough ride, and MF is the smoothest ride in the park. As far as the lift, it takes longer to get to the top of Magnum than it does on MF. All you have to do is convince yourself to get in that seat and I can assure you that you will not regret it.

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'Welcome to Alaska!'

"Alaska?? Nobody said we were going to Alaska!!"

Let me tell you this.... I was afraid of riding Jr Gemini at one point............along with everything else.... i felt i accomplished something when i finally rode corkscrew.... then i figured i might try gemini...(hint: ride the rides like me in this order to warm you up) i rode it about 7 times until someone pressured me to ride magnum...... i figured... it only got more fun when i rode gemini... what the hey... so i got on.... i was scared as #$^@! and my pants were full of it too. the magnum lift hill belive it or not, has the longest duration for going up... about 50 seconds... that's a lot! so i rode magnum three times and got a photo out of it... i felt superior... the next year(but don't wait next season like me) i rode magnum again... but every time i got in line... people would constantly pressure me to ride millenium... i'm like heck no magnum is my millenium. but my dad really wanted to ride raptor.... i didnt want to but i reminded myself... it's not as high as magnum and it has inversions like corkscrew... i got in line... it looked scary, i did not want to ride it... but i just keep telling myself... that's not the ride i am getting on, to fool myself. When i finally strapped myself in my brain caught up with me... I was thinking.... what the heck am I doing... but I had to ride it... I was this far.... I have to say that its VERY smooth... the only thing you gotta watch out for is the last turn. And you said you've already ridden corkscrew, which is the roughest ride in the park!! you should have no problems with anything else... later that year after i left that trip i was pressured to ride power tower... after about a half an hour of convincing and my dad riding it before me, I got on the shooting one... that was FUN but i was not gonna ride the drop... i rode the drop the next day with another half hour of convincing... that was BETTER!!! I then thought.... that is about 260 feet... millenium is only a little higher... and when you ride magnum, and are going up the lifthill, look at MF, it doesn't look that high, it looks the same heighth as you. I later rode mantis, thinking it can't be too bad... its only a 137 foot drop, a few inversion, nothing i haven't done before... that ride was FUN but not worth more than a half hour wait. at the end of the day i was pressured yet again for MF. I finally got on it... and WOW what a rush. You experience almost no extra g forces... but you do get a LOT of air time... that feels sooooo GOOD. on the third hill you get air time for 6 seconds... just place your arms in the air and they will stay up there for you. I have beaten the park... i later rode mean streak which is pretty bumpy but ok. and later on I rode wicked twister.... WOW!! you should ride that before TTD. so you can get used to a launch. The launch is the best part... ride in the front for the best ride possible! I rode this before MF. So now it's this year... I need no convincing... I WANT ... i mean... I NEED TO RIDE TOP THRILL DRAGSTER!!!! Now try to work your way upwards like me.... GET PHOTOS ON EVERYTHING!!! I went from a jr gemini rider to a TTD rider in two years... which is too long... don't take as long as me... please don't. (just to say this for the record... i really have ridden all 16 coasters, including woodstock express and jr gemini)

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TTD Launches: 0 :( MF Plunges: 10 Wicked Twists: 9 Magnum Bullets: 24 Raptor Strikes: 17 Mantis Rolls: 6 Days at CP 03': 2 3/4

Ride Woodstock Express because it has an on-ride photo and you'll be good.

But for real, I really think you would have a better time on MF. You get up there so fast there is very little time to get nervous, and i think the ride is whole lot better and you would be more satisfied. I'm not saying I don't like magnum, but it's not as great for first timers; i.e. uncomfortable lab bars that give you airtime bruises.

Good Luck! Kirk

My coaster-phobic husband actually prefers Raptor to any of the other larger coasters. He likes that the first drop isn't a straight drop, it twists at the top of the hill before it dives down. He actually considers this his favorite coaster. If you're worried about the length of the lift hill (like hubby is) try Raptor first. The hill is not nearly as big as Magnum. Raptor is very smooth in my (and hubby's opinion) and if you like Corkscrew, you'll probably really like Raptor. Magnum is really fun, but if you have real issues with lift hills, you might want to ease into it after you work up a little bit more comfort on something bigger than Corkscrew's hill.

When I break hubby in at the beginning of each season, we follow the same routine (needless to say I go up with somebody else opening day to jump into line on my preferred bigger coasters). We start on Iron Dragon, Blue Streak, Corkscrew, Gemini, Raptor, then (and not always) Mean Streak. Hubby won't even consider Wicked Twister (he absolutely freaked out), Magnum, Millenium Force, or TTD.

Good luck.

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Awww, bad day? Take a different perspective on things. Try upside down, a barrel roll, a cobra roll or a corkscrew. Life can't be all that bad when your feet are over your head!

I'm going to join the club of people suggesting MF. It's extremely smooth, you haul up the lift hill, and it's one of the more confortable rides. If you really are nervous about the lift hill, go ride TTD (if its working), because you really don't have enough time at the top to realize how high you are, and after you've ridden that you know you can handle every other coaster in the world.

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CP 2K3: 9

Agreed that MF doesn't give you as much time to be freaked about the height. The ride is extremely fast and smooth.

On the other hand, I also love Raptor. Although the shoulder restraints make you think of Corkscrew, you don't get shaken about on Raptor like that. It's also a very smooth transitioning coaster.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead
http://www.webtechnik.com/ebony/CPLady.htm

If you're 6'7" tall, Raptor might not actually be an option...

Magnum is the second most aggressive coaster at Cedar Point (after the Wildcat). If you're really, really scared, ride Woodstock Express and get the photo. Heck, sit up in the locomotive if you like. :)

If you're not so scared, go ride Millennium Force. Don't look up while you wait; don't even think about it. Sit down in the train, and once it leaves, you're at the top in about 30 seconds, which is half the time it takes Magnum to go 2/3 of the distance. You'll probably white-knuckle your way through most of the ride, then smile for the camera in the second tunnel. When you get off this 300-foot kiddie ride, you'll be ready to tackle just about anything.

On the other hand, if you go to Magnum first, you may never make it to Millennium Force. Millennium Force may well give you the courage to ride Magnum, but Magnum is more likely to scare you away.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I would say just go for it, and ride TTD if you can. IMO, TTD is the smoothest ride at Cedar Point. There are pretty tall headrests (I don't know how someone of your height would do). There is hardly any extra force exerted on your body (except for being stapled in by the ride ops) and the seats are very 'comfortable'. I can almost promise that you will feel safe on this ride. There is no lift hill to worry about, and it is over in 17 seconds, before you know it. You won't even remember it once you get off. The worst part of TTD is before you get on it and being scared of it. The on-ride photos are pretty good on this ride, especially if you are in the front seat. Plus, you will know that you have just ridden the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world, and you can go on anything else now. However, I strongly suggest you try out the test seat, because it would be terrible to wait 2 or 3 hours in line and not be able to ride. Hope this helps :)
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TTD: 2
*** This post was edited by Evan 6/23/2003 12:08:49 PM ***

Go ride TTD and enjoy the rest of the coasters afterwards. the wait is terrible, but the ride is fun and fast, you don't feel the drop like you do on the other coasters, and the launch is just nuts, to pre-pare yourself for TTD get some weights(around 30 or 40 LBS should due) spaceballs the movie on DVD, or Beta if you only have VHS lol and a huge fan, a comfy seat and a friend.

ok set up seat close to your tv, and makesure the big fan is on the highest speed setting. now have your friend place DVD or Beta(yes i know it is actually a VHS tape) into player, now have your friend step on your bladder with his/her foot, proceed to play Spaceballs the movie where Spaceball1 goes Plaid, at such point your friend should now be pushing on your chest with the weights, now after a few seconds have your friend tip you over on to your back with the weights firmly planted on your chest. then after a few more seconds have friend take the weights of your chest, lift you back in to the upright postition, and then actually pick you up out of hte chair, and then throw you to the ground, Note on the ground should be soft things like pillows mattress' puppies, kittens and such. after that you should be ready for the real thing!

on a more serious note, you should ride TTD first it is awesome and the ride itself is not scarry just intense and very fun!

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Ed Markey is my anti-drug.
Rollercoasters have proven to cause brain damage in stupid politicians. DAR-HOOT

trips to CP:6 Dragster:2 MFer:6 Magnum: 13 Running with the bulls for a 15 minutes dragster wait, Must be June!

Raptor First. Case closed.

MrScott

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"If we go any faster, she'll blow apart for sure!"

I would go with Magnum sit in the front row of a car but not in the third car, it will cut the top of your head off. I am 6'4" and the fourth car row one gave the best picture. Plus since you're in the front of a car you will have more leg room, very important when your tall.