My wife and I arrived on Point at 3PM Monday for our first trip to CP. As soon as we hit the causeway and got our first look at that sprawling peninsula (and all of that coaster track), we knew we were in for a great three days. MF is really big! I've yet to see a picture that shows just how big this coaster is - no photo can do it justice. We really enjoyed the first drive around the peninsula to the Breakers - I'm still cleaning the saliva off of the car seat. We checked in shortly after 3PM and were swiftly assisted by the bell personnel to our room in Breakers Tower. I opened the curtain to our room window to see that awesome profile of MF :) Now I can't stand it - it's calling me....after pacing for 30 minutes or so, we proceed to the Magnum gate to enter the park at 4PM to use our starlight tickets, then straight to the MF queue.
As we waited in the queue to ride the sky darkens. As we get closer and closer to the station, it begins to rain. The closer we get, the harder it rains, then we are in the station, after a 50 min wait. I'm thinking "Are they really going to send this train"? We are assigned seats in 5-1, get strapped in, and hear the futuristic announcement "enjoy your record breaking ride on Millennium Force", then "Clear" - and we're off! Holy bejeezus, that lift is steep! It's very wet, too, but not as wet as it will soon be! Just as I get used to the speed of the lift, it speeds up again (didn't know about this!) and go hurtling over the hill. So much for no hands! Oh the relentless speed! The rain was really felt on the second and third hills, and by the second tunnel, we were completely soaked. The on-ride pic was hilarious. What a great first ride - I'll never forget it.
After departing the station, we enjoyed a beer at Red Garter to let that first ride "soak in". We took a lap on Mine Ride, then off to Mean Streak for a quick lap in the front seat. I didn't find it to be that rough as woodies go, but it is castrated. It was OK, and we wanted to hit every coaster in the park, so MS was out of the way.
Then we rode a lap on Gemini. Very good ride in the back seat! That extra pull going down the hills makes this ride enjoyable in back. Only one side running though.
We then took two laps on Magnum, with minimal waiting. I love seats 1-2 - outstanding air on the return trip home! It's easy to see why this ride is so highly rated. Gorgeous lake views too. It seemed there was not much braking in the pretzel (as there seemed to be more the following two days).
Then we were off to the front of the park, getting a lift from the Sky Ride on our way to Raptor. The front seat queue was full, so we took row 2. As we approach the train, the front seat had two empty seats. The front row queue had groups of four waiting, so the ride ops gave us the front seat - for our first ride! What a view! We waited 30 minutes or so.
To finish the evening, we bolted down to MF to get one more ride before close. Another great ride from seats 6-2 (but is there really a bad seat on this ride?), then back to the Breakers for dinner at Friday's. 4 hours, 8 great rides. The weather turned out good after that 5 o'clock shower. We returned to the room and looked out to see that beautiful light show bathing the MF lift hill :) Ahhhhhh Heaven!
-------------
First we Rock - then we Roll!
Day Two, May 22nd. It looks like a rainy day, but we enter the park at 10AM anyway at the resort entrance. Due to the rain, we hit Disaster Transport for a rain free ride, with no waiting. The ride was enjoyable - my wife really liked it - but I was lost on what the theme of the ride actually was. I read here that you are on Dispatch Master Transport to Alaska, but wouldn't have known it otherwise. It reminded my wife of "Midnight Express" and brought back lots of memories for her, so it was worthwhile.
It was still raining, so we went to Space Spiral for a quick aerial view of the wet park. We then decided it was time for lunch, so we went to the Midway Market. Good deal here, as theme parks go.
We then made our way to the Pagoda gift shop, where we purchased the MF polo shirts (very sharp for $23). After lunch, we decided to settle our meal on the nearby Raptor. I know, this is not recommended, but we are of strong stomach, and had another great ride after a 40 minute wait, this time from row 2. Then we took a lap each on Iron Dragon (nothing exciting here) and Corkscrew. Corkscrew is enjoyable from the front seat, giving good air over the hills. As Arrow coasters go, not too rough either, but a bit uncomfortable, as I am a bit tall to fit in the seat restraints comfortably.
We then made our way to Mantis, a 30 minute wait for front seat. Very intense ride, especially on the second half of the course. I do find the bicycle seat to be uncomfortable, and somewhat difficult to set in the right position. The ride ops were helpful with us here, as my wife had difficulty setting the seat. I like the ride, but I am not a big fan of stand-up rides in general. The on-ride pic of us shows my pain of the G's as a result of the seat. Ouch! This ride needs a test seat, I think this would help first time riders, and eliminate some confusion in the station.
We then went back to Breakers for a rest, then off to Magnum. Sorry I missed the GTTPers 4PM meeting! We arrived shortly before 5PM. I saw a dark curly haired man with a GTTP shirt leaving the Magnum area, but couldn't catch him, and never saw him again. We took 4 laps here from seats 1-2 (awesome), as it was walk on and great for repeat laps. We then did the same on Gemini, walk ons here as well, with both sides running this time (much more fun that way). Back seat rides each time, while trying each side, both red and blue.
Then we made our way back to the MF area, taking a lap on Wildcat (not made for full size adults!) Again, we wanted to hit all of the coasters over the three days, so this was out of the way. We then finished our riding with 2 laps on MF, one in 5-2, second ride in 7-2. Still not even close to the front, but there's always tomorrow! Two great rides once again, by now, hands are up the whole way through the course.
We went to dinner at Bay Harbor for steak and shrimp - a very enjoyable meal with a nice harbor view, and of course, a view of MF. A great way to end the day!
-------------
First we Rock - then we Roll!
Day Three, May 23rd. This was the most crowded day of the three, with many more groups in attendance, while offering the most chilly weather of the three days, temps around 60 or so. We started our day on Cedar Downs to absorb a bit of the park history. We were impressed by the array of old carousels in the park, and took time to enjoy this one. We went off to Blue Streak after this, and was a surprisingly good ride. These old coasters can deliver good rides, I'm surprised at the short lines for a ride this good so close to the front of the park. Very enjoyable, although the divided seats need to go - it would be more comfortable without them.
We then took in a nice lake view from the Giant Wheel. It was funny to see some losing their hats off the ride, and we had fun collecting them all after we got off. We then had lunch at Macaroni's, then off to Tower Power. We sure know how to settle a meal, don't we?
The drop side and up side queues were the same length(about 25 minutes) so we took the drop side first. This is the only ride that actually scared me, the sudden stop at the top of the tower and that feeling of anticipation waiting to be sucked down was quite unnerving. It was great, though, and we quickly re-entered the queue to try the up side. I love how the operator says "clear" and the riders instantly blast into oblivion. It reminds me of Monty Python. "What's your favorite color?" "Blue". Off you go!
Now, back to Raptor. This was a long wait, 80 minutes or so, although the queue didn't look that long. There were numerous handicapped riders that afternoon, which slowed the trains somewhat. I'm not complaining here, I thought it was neat that so many of these people were willing to ride. I also noticed the ride ops were especially helpful to these people, kudos to the crew for being so helpful to those who needed it. Well worth the wait, though - most had decided to skip the front seat wait from waiting this long. The front seat line had plenty of room, so we got another front seat ride.
We hopped back on the Sky Ride back towards MF and took another lap here. We nearly got front seat, but the operator miscounted. We met a rider in line who was taking his first ride on MF, and was alone. When we got to the station, another single rider got front seat (would have been us but for the miscount), and the aforementioned single first timer was assigned the other front seat. We sat in 1-2, which offered a great view anyway. Great air in the front! I figured this would be as close as we would get, but was not disappointed in second row at all. The elevated seats in row two gave a great perspective.
As the day was winding down, we decided to get a few more laps on Gemini. There was a short rain on the way there, resulting in the temporary closing of Gemini, so we got three more laps on Magnum. We tried the middle of the train (seats 4-2), but found the other trips in seats 1-2 to be better, so we did this twice more. There was a 15 minute or so wait the first time, but only a few minute wait for the next two rides. We then were off to Gemini, but only one side was running. We took 2 laps here, getting off the last ride at 6:30. Only 1 1/2 hours left - might as well finish the day with as many MF laps as possible.
We got to the MF queue at 6:45 and see the single first time male rider in line again - he had never left the ride since the last time we saw him. We got in three more laps before close, purchasing an on ride pic for the first lap. We were on the second to last train of the day. As we got off the last ride, we saw the last train coming in. (Was that Jeffery Spartan in the front row that last ride?) Eight laps total on MF over three days, we felt pretty happy about that.
We then retired to the Breakers for end of day cocktails, remembering a great three days in the best park I have ever laid eyes on. The next morning, we contemplated staying another day, but the weather was looking bleak. Reluctantly, we went home, plotting what we will do next time we come to CP, and where we might stay. A simply wonderful experience.
The ride totals over the three days:
MF - 8
Magnum - 9
Raptor - 3
Gemini - 8
Mine Ride - 1
Corkscrew - 1
Wildcat - 1
Iron Dragon - 1
Mean Streak - 1
Disaster Transport - 1
Mantis - 1
Blue Streak - 1
Power Tower - 2 (one up, one down)
One final thought:
THIS PARK ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!
-------------
First we Rock - then we Roll!
Pretty impressive totals for three days Dave -
You really picked the right days to visit - I think it started raining on Thursday and didn't stop till Monday morning.
Great report - thanks for the read.