Have You Been On Both TTD & Kingda Ka?

^You don't, but if you sit near the back of the train you may get a hint of airtime right as the apex of the tower starts. It depends on the day.

Yeah it CAN go pretty fast over it's tophat.

For all the people who think KK is a copy of TTD, which it essentially is, what other way would have Six Flags gotten the record with out using the same tower design. What would have gotten them that high? They had to use the same design.

Well, finally getting around to posting in here after riding on both TTD and Kingda Ka. I went on Kingda Ka last year and TTD less than a week ago, and here are my thoughts.

The theming: TTD has GREAT theming and a great location in the center of the park. The bleachers are great and the openness of the ride is very nice. I sat with my friend and ate lunch on the bleachers before we rode Dragster and it was very enjoyable. Kingda Ka on the other hand has HORRIBLE theming. A giant white tiger from asia slapped into the middle of a parking lot in new jersey with teal and green track is not appealing with lockers in the middle of the lines as well as the dead bamboo everywhere. Ka also doesn't allow for the people waiting in line to interact with the ride really, with Dragster, everyone in line watches to make sure every train doesn't roll back; with Ka, when I said that the trains could roll back, the people around me looked like I was crazy and didn't really have any fun with the ride.

The restraints: The OSTRs on Kingda Ka are almost as bad as the restraints on a Vekoma coaster; they weigh around 70lbs each, are made of some pretty thick metal, and have very little plastic over them to somewhat comfort the rider in case they hit their head. Mind you, this ride is at a Six Flags park, so the chances of hitting your head due to poor maintainence are around 99%. Also, the ride op had to throw his weight into the OSTR to bring it down on me, which greatly hurt me and was especially painful to my kidneys. The T-Bars on TTD are AMAZING and the seats are some of the most comfortable seats on a coaster ever. I could actually put my arms UP on dragster, whereas with Ka it's physically impossible due to the restraints. Also, with Ka, I didn't feel any movement really on my body, whereas on dragster, your body is whooshing through the wind.

The overall ride: Dragster's launch is immaculate, constant speed and acceleration, smooth as can be, basically words cannot describe how awesome this launch is. Kingda Ka's launch is horrid, shaking, shaking, shaking, banging head against OSTR, shaking, shaking; and as also previously said is not constant acceleration whatsoever. I actually feel like the drop on Millennium Force is even faster than the launch on Ka, which is sad seeing that there is around a 30mph difference between the two. The bunny hill on Kingda Ka is also just a complete waste and a gimmick. Seeing as how every rider is stapled into their seats, there is no airtime experienced whatsoever and it just adds for a more painful break with a smaller drop than Ka could have had. Also, the only good thing to come out of Ka's second hill is that it's fun to watch people's cell phones fly out due to the hill and explode on the ground while waiting for 5 hours to get on a ride, in which 3 hours of waiting were downtime and all that had to be done was to turn a lever on the hydraulics pump to open it and restart the ride.

Also, the view on dragster is AMAZING, water everywhere, looking down on Millennium Force, just perfect. On Kingda Ka, there is no view at all, just the cars in the parking lot and some trees, which I could see at many other parks and is not unique whatsoever.

Well, I guess that basically sums it up. Also, those reasons above are what also make Top Thrill Dragster my favorite coaster and Kingda Ka not even come into my top 25 or so. If I ever go to Six Flags Great Adventure again, I highly doubt that I'll even wait for Kingda Ka, I'd rather get on El Toro and all the other rides I have not ridden there yet, but to me, Top Thrill Dragster is #1 and always shall be.

It's good to see that, even having been on Ka before Dragster, you feel TTD is the much better ride. I may not even go on Ka because it really doesn't seem worth it, starting with the whole setting foot on SF property thing.

For starters TTD runs a lot smoother than KK. How can Six Flags even consider running less than 3 train at a time?? Dragster is always running at least 4 everytime i have ridden it, and most of the time five.

Also the OTSR really take away the ride experience. Would you rather feel safe, or get that feeling in your stomach like you are going to die??

Finally, TTD is at Cedar Point the rollercoaster capitol of the world. When i went to SFGA i found that after i did KK, Medusa, Nitro and El Toro i was like, what do i do now?? At CP you can go all day, Magnum, Raptor, Mantis, MF, WT, MS, Gemini, and never get bored.

Top Thrill Dragster Owns Kingda Ka every day in everyway

How many occasions hasn't TTD run five trains? Media Day and Opening Day 2003 had only three trains with four cars. I believe opening day 2004 ran four trains for the first half of the day. There were a few times in 2003 where they tried six trains, but other than that, I never heard of it happening.

cyberdman said:

Turbo Jaw said:
I love the more intense launch and the hill at the end IS better than just going flat. I know there are brakes in the middle but you still get really good ejector airtime going up it.

Please explain to me how you get ejector airtime going up a hill.

The 2nd hill. And I do notice air when I went up the hills on TTD and KK. Last time I went on KK it was rough and not that great. TTD and WT are now better.

I have rode KK and I loved it!! But when it comes down to it I will take a Dragster ride any day. I am not a fan of the second hill I love the pullout into the brake run. I think TTD has a better launch it is on good pull. KK is rough and jerky but I still have it in my top 10!!!! Give them credit they built the Tallest and Fastest and the colors are alot better than ours. BUT OUR TRAINS LOOK BETTER!!!!

Im in total agreement with about the trains! I dont like the front and back round things on Ka's trains.....I think they look.....funny....

Though I do admit, Ka has some nice colors (minus the blue green color alterations on the launch which is an idea straight from Dragster and has no real reason to be on its launch), and the station does look very nice.

*** Edited 10/18/2006 3:45:55 AM UTC by TTD 120mph***

The alternating colors are to make the trains appear they are going faster that is why they are there......

But the idea of speed is one alike to real Dragsters. What would a nice, calm wilderness-like park need of a ride like TTD only looking straight at a parking lot and some barren land? Dragster provides the view, which is part of the thrill, something a lot is experienced of on a real Dragster.

Hmm... Makes you think, doesn't it?

The cool part about dragster is that you can walk right up to the bottom of the tophat and look up at in in all of its 420' glory...with KK you have no chance to got close to it at all. It's like the centerpiece of the park while KK is just stuffed into a corner.

Pretty much, just a poorly constructed, poorly concepted monster shoved in between the parking lot and barren land, of all places!

I know, Dragster is a spectacle from all over the park, especially right alongside the ride and on the grandstands. *** Edited 10/21/2006 1:48:40 PM UTC by topthrilldragster4lyf***

I have been on every rocket coaster in the U.S I like TTD the best, then Xcel.

DorneyParkFan said:
Well, finally getting around to posting in here after riding on both TTD and Kingda Ka. I went on Kingda Ka last year and TTD less than a week ago, and here are my thoughts.

The theming: TTD has GREAT theming and a great location in the center of the park. The bleachers are great and the openness of the ride is very nice. I sat with my friend and ate lunch on the bleachers before we rode Dragster and it was very enjoyable. Kingda Ka on the other hand has HORRIBLE theming. A giant white tiger from asia slapped into the middle of a parking lot in new jersey with teal and green track is not appealing with lockers in the middle of the lines as well as the dead bamboo everywhere. Ka also doesn't allow for the people waiting in line to interact with the ride really, with Dragster, everyone in line watches to make sure every train doesn't roll back; with Ka, when I said that the trains could roll back, the people around me looked like I was crazy and didn't really have any fun with the ride.

The restraints: The OSTRs on Kingda Ka are almost as bad as the restraints on a Vekoma coaster; they weigh around 70lbs each, are made of some pretty thick metal, and have very little plastic over them to somewhat comfort the rider in case they hit their head. Mind you, this ride is at a Six Flags park, so the chances of hitting your head due to poor maintainence are around 99%. Also, the ride op had to throw his weight into the OSTR to bring it down on me, which greatly hurt me and was especially painful to my kidneys. The T-Bars on TTD are AMAZING and the seats are some of the most comfortable seats on a coaster ever. I could actually put my arms UP on dragster, whereas with Ka it's physically impossible due to the restraints. Also, with Ka, I didn't feel any movement really on my body, whereas on dragster, your body is whooshing through the wind.

The overall ride: Dragster's launch is immaculate, constant speed and acceleration, smooth as can be, basically words cannot describe how awesome this launch is. Kingda Ka's launch is horrid, shaking, shaking, shaking, banging head against OSTR, shaking, shaking; and as also previously said is not constant acceleration whatsoever. I actually feel like the drop on Millennium Force is even faster than the launch on Ka, which is sad seeing that there is around a 30mph difference between the two. The bunny hill on Kingda Ka is also just a complete waste and a gimmick. Seeing as how every rider is stapled into their seats, there is no airtime experienced whatsoever and it just adds for a more painful break with a smaller drop than Ka could have had. Also, the only good thing to come out of Ka's second hill is that it's fun to watch people's cell phones fly out due to the hill and explode on the ground while waiting for 5 hours to get on a ride, in which 3 hours of waiting were downtime and all that had to be done was to turn a lever on the hydraulics pump to open it and restart the ride.

Also, the view on dragster is AMAZING, water everywhere, looking down on Millennium Force, just perfect. On Kingda Ka, there is no view at all, just the cars in the parking lot and some trees, which I could see at many other parks and is not unique whatsoever.

Well, I guess that basically sums it up. Also, those reasons above are what also make Top Thrill Dragster my favorite coaster and Kingda Ka not even come into my top 25 or so. If I ever go to Six Flags Great Adventure again, I highly doubt that I'll even wait for Kingda Ka, I'd rather get on El Toro and all the other rides I have not ridden there yet, but to me, Top Thrill Dragster is #1 and always shall be.

You are WAY too biased. You exaggerated too much. Let me clear things up for people.

First of all the theming is pretty darn good for a SF park. There is jungle like stuff all over the place and in the queues. Also the line is pretty close to the track. Also, the reason with when you said it could roll back and people said you were crazy doesn't have anything to do with the ride. It just shows how ignorant people can be.

You are the most wrong on the restraints. First of all I experienced no headbanging at all. Even in the back with the death rattle on the launch I experienced none. Also, I really couldn't feel the pulse launch that well. It isn't much of a problem. Also I have ABSOLUTELY no problem having my hands up on KK. I did it all 3 times I was on and it was very easy. Also, all Intamin hydraulic restraints feel heavy. It is just the locking system. And the ops stapling thing is a complete lie. They just push lightly and pull. Also, just because your stapled in your seat doesn't mean you aren't experiencing airtime. I stapled my self in MF my first time but I still felt like I was gonna fly out of it on the drop. Also, the second hill is better than going flat. You get pretty good air going up it. Also, you can't say anything about KK downtime when TTD was just as bad the first two years. Also, the view is pretty good on KK. Just endless forests. Gives a good sense of height.

I just think you are being a fanboy. I love TTD and I think it is better than KK. However, you exaggerated some of your points and you were very biased.

He was giving his opinion. He liked TTD a lot better, and I can see that.

I didn't like KK's launch, restraints, theme, or second hill either. I didn't think they were AS bad as he did, but I thought TTD's were all way better.

I think headbanging on the restraints is a personal thing. I just rode Rita: Queen of Speed at Alton Towers and I didn't have any headbanging. But, TONS of people on AT websites say they hurt like a mofo - even cause bleeding.

But, I'm sure we'll get more stories on the restraints as soon as we get our own with Maverick!! :)

Turbo Jaw= I have rode KK and I had head banging and my shoulders were bruised after riding. My Girlfriend felt none of that. Did you know that some ops do stapple and not even know it. The person could of had one of those ops having a bad day. I noticed when I am in loads 1 or 2 on Dragster I seem to get complaints about the lapbars being to tight on people. It is caused by me using my left hand I dont do it on purpose it just happens. When I am in loads 3 and 4 I dont get the complaints, using my right hand. As for there launch it does go in pulses that is how theres is programed. If I rememeber correctly when TTD first opened ours did it.

So would pulses be good for the system? IMO, if I was SFGADV, I'd run Ka to where it would launch along it's whole launch track (like how Dragster does) instead of reaching 128mph so soon and leaving a good 200+ ft of launch track left of just cruising. This would help in relieving some pressure off the hydraulic system and maybe help reduce the possibility of wearing it out.

Just my opinion........

The train gets up to speed quick and if it looses say speed the system will kick in and make sure that it is at 128 when it leaves the catch car. KK has less Rollbacks for a reason!!! It is not as good for the cable but you can replace a cable in about a day. As much as we all love rollbacks they are def. not good for the ride