Millennium Force: The final shot?

Now I know that Cedar Point does not have a space problem, but I'm curious to know what people think. Is Millennium Force the last "tallest roller coaster in the world", the last "shot in the coaster wars", that will be installed at Cedar Point? Is this ride the last of an era? I mean, the bigger the coaster (a conventional coaster), the more land it will take up. Just look how spread out Millennium Force is. Even at a 45 degree angle of ascent, where could a, say, 400' coaster be put? a 450' coaster be put? If you take out Magnum, sure there's the room for a huge out and back down the beach, but you'd need a lot of space for the turn around, unless you put in an overbank, and still that's taking up a lot of space. My point is, although "Cedar Point does not have a space problem(TM)", does anyone think that there is ample space left to accomodate a 'tera-coaster' or anything like that?

Now I know bigger isn't always better, and not every coaster that CP puts in has to be a record breaker. I am just curious to what people think. What rides are expendable for an attraction such as this in 10-15 years? Magnum (It would be 25 years old then)? Mean Streak(it would only be rougher then)? Any others?
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Michael McCormack CP '01: 38
Millennium Force: 49
Raptor: 58
Magnum: 124
Lifetime CP Count: 410 (374 total laps in '01)

*** This post was edited by BirdOfPrey00 on 2/20/2002. ***

Well...Lake Erie is right there....You could start the ride somewhere on the land and build it out over the lake...that would be pretty cool actually...It's what I do on my Rollercoaster Tycoon game I have...I put a ride right about my lakes and stuff and it's sweet..I know it's a videogame and it doesn't compare to real life but I think it's a good idea...I know you will need some deep footers because of the lake depth but it can be done...that would be really awesome to have a ride over lake erie...It would create an awesome thrill if you asked me...Only problem is about what you do when the lake freezes in the winter? Hmmm..There must be a way to prevent that...

CP as an industry leader doesn't do anything if its not record breaking or "BIGGEST" of its class! Most of CP's coaster were all the biggest, baddest, and greatest of its kind at the time of debut. I see CP making no changes in that philospohy in my humble but dispensable opinion :) So to answer your question, YES they will have something bigger than MF in the near future..What that size and plateau could be as well as where it would go will be determined by those masterminds in P&D so don't phret my freind!

When you REALLY stop and look around and even take a gander from over head (like some of us have) CP has a lot of Space to expand! I know thats an old bit but its the truth!

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http://www.msu.edu/~armbrus9/cp.html
Fear the Mullet!

Raptor_Rider...You will NEVER see a CP coaster over the lake! Its too unpredictible and CP has NO control of Ms Nature (Mother that is!)

History did have CP with a Coaster in its backyard lake and I feel safe in saying they learned their lesson and it will never be tried again..

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http://www.msu.edu/~armbrus9/cp.html
Fear the Mullet!

I believe there is plenty of land to expand. There isn't a space problem. I just don't want them to start putting coasters going above all the midways and destroy the "atmosphere". How soon do you suspect Mr. Spartan, that we will have this 'bigger' monster?

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Michael McCormack CP '01: 38
Millennium Force: 49
Raptor: 58
Magnum: 124
Lifetime CP Count: 410 (374 total laps in '01)

I myself predict the height record to be back at CP in 5 years max.  May be wrong, but it only seems fitting of them
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This second hill is my favorite part of the ride. It is so Cool!
Gemini 100
"Hello, I've seemed to glue myself to myself" AP2
Raptor Flights: 504

I haven't the foggiest Bird..Just looking at what CP has done for us in the past! When ya have a winning formula why change it eh?
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http://www.msu.edu/~armbrus9/cp.html
Fear the Mullet!

*** This post was edited by Jeffrey Spartan on 2/20/2002. ***

If they want it bad enough there is a way!
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Wicked Twister Rocks

Just thinking about that is insane, and wonderful to think about to me. Right when you think they can't get any taller, they do! :)

If I had to guess, I'd think that it would be logical to build a TA2K to get the record back. With the 107 mph one over in Japan, S&S Power has shown that they can launch at some really extreme speeds. Now if only the capacity factor were to get higher....However, this is the company many people thought would build the new coaster this year, so anything could happen. I just hope that Cedar Point's and S&S's (hehe) relationship doesn't sour with the incident with
VertiGo.

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MF count: 23

There comes a point where building the "-est" rides is passe, and I think we're there. Look at Kings Island... not only did they build an "totally submersive darkride experience," but they also decided to sell King Cobra (it's still there, for now). Unique and exciting attrations need not be the "-est" in the world.

Case in point, check out this new Goliath at Six Flags Holland. I don't know about you, but under 200 feet looks all good to me when the layout is as great as it is.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

I also think that it has to do with the economy. The coaster wars would have never happened (or they wouldn't have been as wide-spread) if we weren't having the best economic boom ever. Just look at the stock market in '98-'99 compared to now. Just like anything else, the amusement industry has the ups and downs (pun) in terms of building rides.

This past decade was an incredible time that I doubt will be matched for years to come. I think there were some 60 new coasters built in 1999 alone. Unemployment was down the lowest its been in decades, and people were spending there money everywhere, not just amusement parks. Now that we are in a recession, people are getting "let go" because of "restructuring" of businesses. This doesn't fare well when parks are trying to bring in more guests.

Frankly, I'm glad I'm still in school because if I was out in the work force, I doubt I'd find a job.

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MF count: 23

I believe that the coasters will only get bigger and faster until there comes a time when they figure out that the speeds and forces that our bodies are takeing from these "-est", rides are actually hurting us.  There are some stories already circulating around about this problem.  I just hope that technology keeps it safe and fun for us.  It would be a shame to see that the Millenium is one of the last of a breed of coasters as we know it (getting bigger and faster).
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...I will be more than happy to give you a cigarette...

You never know what the future might bring...

We might see a ride that truly simulates a space shuttle launch. Or maybe actually act as a character in a movie, actually playing their part and saying their lines. There might be a coaster with 50+ inversions. You just never know.

Cedar Point truly does not have a space problem.  Even if you don't look at all the undeveloped land there, there is all the office space that Cedar Point could move to any building or a building they build just of the causeway.  Also, I feel as though the parking lot is a gold mine waiting to happen.  As much as I don't want to see the parking lot relocated, just try to imagine the number of attractions and areas that could be built right there. I would expect to see one or two more coaster fit into the park that exists today, and maybe 5 or 6 more on the entirty involving the parking lot straight to the end of lighthouse point.  However I think Magnum will still be the only coaster that plows through the resorts....  More than just the Magnum would present a little noise polution, and I think CP want's to satisfy guest not displease them.   :) I think we will see a close to a 400 foot coaster withing a few years.

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- Chris -
Computer Science - Ashland University
Witches' Wheel/Monster - 2002
3rd Shift Trash Removal - 2001

I'd like to see CP break their every 11 years streak.  Gemini borke 100 feet in 1978, 11 years later was Magnum in 1989, and then MF in 2000.  That trend would put a 400 footer in 2011, but I hope we don't have to wait that long!
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-Chris Woodard
"Mean Streak would be better if they replaced the square wheels with round ones."

Browntggrr, I have to disagree. The only limit to roller coasters is what people are willing to ride. (Someone said that before, who was it?)

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Tommy Penner - http://www.phuzzy-logic.net/~vx3k
"Yes. The Force is strong in that one." -- Stifler, AP2

I think Ron Tumor(sp) said that MiLLeNNiuMRiDeR
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- Chris -
Computer Science - Ashland University
Witches' Wheel/Monster - 2002
3rd Shift Trash Removal - 2001

Last year at Coastermainia, it was said that you could build a 750' coaster, with ease, but it would have to travel through the state of Ohio (metaphorically, i assume), for it to be a smooth coaster with the sweeping turns and overbanks like Millennium Force.  Personally, with the ammount of track that it would take to build a coaster like that, I would think a ride could actually get boring as you kept going and going and going.  I think a ride could be too long.  Mean Streak is a slow boring coaster after the mid course brakes that it seems like it just won't end sometimes.
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Take a look at the Power Tower cam someday, theres a huge amount of space around the lagoon area behind Iron Dragon and Mantis.

You know they just may build something there someday.

 

"I'm Doing It I'm Going To Get Airborn,100% Pure Adrenaline."