Lack of Finale?

I haven't posted any in this section about Maverick, so I don't know if this has been discussed. Plus I have not rode Maverick, just like all of us, so I don't want to judge before actually riding it. And in no way am I taring Maverick down, I personally cannot wait to ride it and it looks pretty awesome.

But, does anyone here notice that Maverick, or in my personal opinion, lacks that finishing punch before returning to the station?

If you look at the video, the first part of the ride looks awesome. Launched up the first hill, through canyons and tunnels and then through the double inversions. However, after being launched for the second time out of the tunnel, with the exception of the 360 heartline roll, the second part of the ride just seems to lack some killer element. You go left and right, don't really seem to go over any big air time hills and then just make the right into the station.

There is no final punch, the final finale right before entering the station to give the rider that feeling of "WOW!" It would seem the climax is reached far eariler in the ride during the inversions or one of the launches. I could be totally wrong.

If you look at Cedar Point's roller coaster collection now and compare some...
Raptor and Mantis:
-When Mantis was being built, I can still remember the hype all around it. Yet in the morning and at night you won't find its lines full. Why? Besides the obvious discomfort from standing and the jerky ride. Mantis lacks a finish. Think about it, you go down the first hill, 3 sweet inversions before you hit the brakes. That first part is the best part of the ride, the rest is "all down hill from there." Sure you have one more inversion and a figure 8 finish, but nothing all that great.

-Raptor's first part of the ride before the brakes is awesome, and the second part after the brakes is awesome as well. Right after the brake run, you have that huge sweeping right hand turn into a heartline roll. Some people say that is the best part of the ride. Plus after that you have another heartline roll plus the unbelievable double helix and that left turn back into the station. That my friends is an awesome finale and leaves people hearts pumping for lots more of Raptor.

Mean Steak and Gemini:
-Yes Mean Streak is taller, and was suppost to be faster, but yet people seem to like Gemini more. And yes, I know people dislike Mean Steak for many reasons, it is very rough and bumpy, the brakes kill the ride etc. However, once again, nothing right before you enter the station.

-Gemini has a smoother ride then Mean Steak, but what is the best part of the ride? (IMO)It has to be the final helix right before entering the station. I am sure many of you have ridden at night time, or during a day when the trains were not completely full and Gemini has its brakes off before the helix. It feels like you are going to fly off the track, like your head is going to fall off. That helix is great, and leaves people feeling "WOW."

Disaster Transport and Mine Ride:
-Many people would say Disaster Transport is just an overall disaster period. However, no real finale to it. Best part of the ride is right after the first hill.
-Whats the best part of Mine Ride? Thats easy, double helix before entering the station.

Magnum
-Has those killer bunny hills at the end right before entering the brakes.

Wildcat
-Helix and then scream into the station hitting the brakes hard.

Millennium Force
-This ride would probably be the once exception. However you come into the station with such speed, everything is still a blur and the rider is still in awe from the whole ride.

Its like this, what is the best part of any firework show? The grand Finale, everyone knows this. I think Maverick has the starter fireworks to get everyone very excited and ready to go, however when the grand finale starts, it only lasts about 5 seconds and then next thing you know, its over and you are walking back to your car.

Once again this is all my personal opinion and in no way am I ripping down Maverick; can't wait to ride it. I just feel there is no final punch to get the riders feeling "wow, this ride is unbelievable, I have to ride it again."

I disagree.... the first part of the ride is definetly the more exciting part but it doesn't seem like the speed is there. after the launch it looks like the speed will give those turns and the airtime hill a great boost. plus it is intended to be a little bit tamer for the kids... my 3 year old will be riding it with me this summer and if its nothing but all out the whole way through alot of the kiddies won't like it.

I really disagree, I am very much looking forward to the second half of the ride more than the first. You get the launch, the 360 roll, that final little air time hill, and especially the two stengal dives.

http://www.pointbuzz.com/Gallery.aspx?i=5791

http://www.pointbuzz.com/Gallery.aspx?i=5795

Anyone have a webcam capture of the station cam when they turned it to the right for a few hours? Thats really the pic that got me excited for the final.

Who needs another ride that ends in a helix?
*** Edited 4/12/2007 3:17:36 PM UTC by realmadrid311***

I too felt by looking at the animation, that there is no real ending (at first).

But seeing the angles the train will be at, while twisting and turning, and dropping at the end looks like some "stomach dropping" will happen, then to relax for a slow trip back to the station will allow you to think of what you just went through.

I am not worried that this will be an awesome experience all the way through.

what about if there is the slight chance like in the videos that you go under the drop hill and another train passes over you. that would be fantastic.

I disagree. To be honest, I'm looking forward to the second half of the ride alot more than I am the first. That last hill looks like it should give a bit of ejector (then again, so does the bigger hill) and the stengel dive is the element I most look forward to...

I also disagree. I can see how some people really like the big finale, I just think it all depends on what you want to get out of the rides. What makes a good ending depends on the person. Personally, I'm not a big fan of helixes, I like the more open, free feeling which is why I like the large, overbanked sweeping turns on Millenium, the front of Raptor and Skyhawk. It's all a matter of opinion, but I have no doubt that Maverick will please everybody.

ejh1701 said:

Its like this, what is the best part of any firework show? The grand Finale, everyone knows this.

Not at CP anymore. :)

-Tambo

Hey man, don't ride it. It'll make the lines one person shorter for me. :)

There looks to be a head chopper in the second half, and some nice elements, but yes I agree that it may be a little anticlimactic. The biggest thing is no significant hills - it hugs the ground. It could simply be that less is more in this section, like in motion simulators; a little twist or drop combined a visual surprise.

The second half of the ride looks awesome! There is hardly a time when you are not being thrown up, down, left, or right. You are constantly shifting directions and that stengel dive will be better than all three inversions. As for airtime, i think that little bunny hop after the dive will give some killer airtime! What is that guy talking about? lol

TTD has one hell of a finale that also doubles as the beginning. :)

I think Maverick's layout is interesting from beginning to end, nothing really strikes me as boring.

Lets not downgrade something that we havent even rode on yet.

^I agree. The ride looks amazing.

Like I said in another thread; that finale looks insane!! Launch, hill, heartline roll, Stengel dive, hairpin turn, Stengel dive, airtime hill, banked turn to brakes. I'm more than satisfied with the layout.

^^^^ LOL!

I too have nothing bad to say about Maverick. I just want all the promised theming.

brieeee said:
Lets not downgrade something that we havent even rode on yet.

Thats why I specifically said I haven't rode it yet, just like everyone else, and wasn't trying to tare it down. So you must not have read my orginal post. I also said I am definately looking forward to ridding it, just merely trying to stimulate discussion.

Bottom line, in 10 years from now, we'll see whether its another Mantis or a hit like some of cp's others.

I don't think you fully appreciate how fast the ride will be for the entire duration after the tunnel launch.

I agree that there is no one defining element to the finale of the ride other than the heartline roll. On the other hand, I think the speed will be most intense during this part of the ride. The direction changes in the beginning are relatively level to the ground, unlike the twists in the second half that hop over the tunnel and first rock structure while also changing in direction.

It's hard to say how dramatically the brakes after the launch will reduce the speed, but anything near 70 MPH is fast for a ride with such a twisted, ground-hugging layout. I think the only way to really appreciate how great the ending will be is to ride it. The forces in real life will probably be stronger than any visuals we're seeing in the animation. The first half may in reality just look stronger to the eye, but the second half has the potential to give your body the feeling that you just got into a train wreck. I do not think the recovery time between elements will seem half as long when you're physically on the thing, so it should be quite intense.

I got what your getting at ejh. I think it is very individualized though. My fav part of Gemini & DT is not so much the ride, but the experience (the racing trains, in the dark). Same for Magnum; I just love flying around next to the lake. So everyone seems to take something different away from their experience. I totally agree with your description of Millennium though. It was all a blur & I was left in awe of the experience.

As for Maverick, I'm looking forward to the theming as well.