Millennium Mania Day 4 (9/13)
I'll admit that I'm a critic of Cedar Point's Millennium Mania from an operational standpoint, because frankly I don't see how they're making any money. The reverse of this is that it's a dream come true for enthusiasts willing to drop $19. It's kind of like paid ERT.
Steph and I hooked up with Brandon and Pete (Guide to The Point personalities) and later ran in to last year's GTTP season pass contest winner. Even with the boat show happening in the marina, the attendance wasn't that big of a deal, and according to a ride op I know it was the busiest day yet. No matter, we arrived at 6:30 p.m. and walked on Raptor. After a stop at Coasters for grub, we had a two-train wait for Millennium Force. Then a walk on to a Power Tower Turbo Drop, a walk-on to Magnum, a series of three three-train waits for the force, a lonely ride on Mantis, and finally four more laps on Raptor without getting off. Steph and I split at 9:45 p.m.
Report by ride...
Raptor. Wow, I forgot how crazy night rides can be. I know the ride like the back of my head, but it never ceases to disorient me at night. I decided it has something to do with the architectural lighting and the shadows cast on the train; They don't match the movement of the train. As I mentioned, we got four laps seated, and that was a refreshing change of pace from the park's normal no-reride policy. With the full moon reflecting off of the lake, the view climbing the lift was breathtaking. You couldn't even hear the normally loud anti-rollbacks because you were that wrapped up in the moment. Once again Cedar Point shows off one of its greatest assets: location.
Millennium Force. After the riding blitz of media day and Discovery Channel shoots, I was away from The Force for a long time. Everything people have been saying about the ride is true. The new wheels shave several seconds off of the ride time for an insanely fast ride. Since we could pick seats and the trains were warm, I could finally find that magic airtime spot. The verdict is this: You'll get air anywhere on the train, but it goes from floater air in the back to outright ejector air in the front. I'm not kidding... it was like Superman at SFDL. Simply awesome, forcefull air with floatage down the back side of each hill.
On an operational note, I noticed the anti-rollback wheels on the last car of the yellow train. Have those always been there? I thought that perhaps the anti-rollbacks were only found on car four. Makes sense, I guess, but I never noticed them before.
I have to talk about the lighting as well. There are fairly bright lights in the first tunnel that trick your eyes in to thinking the island is darker than it is. There were no lights on the island. Also, for another moment of zen, climbing the lift I noticed two long lines of light reflecting off of the dense air pointing to the sky. That's two special moments. Three if you count the gorgeous sunset as seen earlier that night from 310 feet.
Power Tower. I usually don't get on the Turbo Drops much because the lines are always so much longer. No waiting this time, so we gave it a shot. Geeze, I forgot how long they hold you up there. Since we were facing the other drop, I had a little time to look at all of the catwalks and lighting in the crown that I had never noticed before. Great fun.
Magnum. I'm no ride mechanic, but following hundreds of laps on Magnum, I think I'm qualified enough to know what's not normal. The bad axel problem is still there, though I'm told it's limited to only a few cars now. Lucky me, it was car five on the blue train, exactly where I was sitting. I knew there was a problem as soon as we started to roll, because the car began shifting back and forth immediately. It made for a very rough ride.
Hello? Maintenance? You realize you're letting the number one coaster in the world (by some accounts, anyway) go to hell? When the ride ops and guests are complaining, perhaps you need to get your sorry butts off of that union break and go do your job!
Mantis. You haven't lived until you've been on this ride in the front seat on an otherwise empty train. That brake on the drop does wonders for providing extended float time through that vertical loop. Very very cool sensation! Other than that, it's a fun ride, but not one I go out of my way to spend a lot of time on.
Overall the park was very clean, the ride ops enjoying the extra hours, and Halloweekends are about to launch in full force. Fall is one of my favorite times at the park, and as I said it's all about the location. I'm looking forward to my stay in Breakers on closing weekend in one of the screened-in balcony suites.
This event is a good deal, but I must wonder what the crowd theshold is before you don't feel you're getting your money's worth. I had a good time, and it was a nice way to let loose mid-week.
-------------
Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
Millennium Force laps: 43
*** This post was edited by Jeff on 9/15/2000. ***
Steph and I hooked up with Brandon and Pete (Guide to The Point personalities) and later ran in to last year's GTTP season pass contest winner. Even with the boat show happening in the marina, the attendance wasn't that big of a deal, and according to a ride op I know it was the busiest day yet. No matter, we arrived at 6:30 p.m. and walked on Raptor. After a stop at Coasters for grub, we had a two-train wait for Millennium Force. Then a walk on to a Power Tower Turbo Drop, a walk-on to Magnum, a series of three three-train waits for the force, a lonely ride on Mantis, and finally four more laps on Raptor without getting off. Steph and I split at 9:45 p.m.
Report by ride...
Raptor. Wow, I forgot how crazy night rides can be. I know the ride like the back of my head, but it never ceases to disorient me at night. I decided it has something to do with the architectural lighting and the shadows cast on the train; They don't match the movement of the train. As I mentioned, we got four laps seated, and that was a refreshing change of pace from the park's normal no-reride policy. With the full moon reflecting off of the lake, the view climbing the lift was breathtaking. You couldn't even hear the normally loud anti-rollbacks because you were that wrapped up in the moment. Once again Cedar Point shows off one of its greatest assets: location.
Millennium Force. After the riding blitz of media day and Discovery Channel shoots, I was away from The Force for a long time. Everything people have been saying about the ride is true. The new wheels shave several seconds off of the ride time for an insanely fast ride. Since we could pick seats and the trains were warm, I could finally find that magic airtime spot. The verdict is this: You'll get air anywhere on the train, but it goes from floater air in the back to outright ejector air in the front. I'm not kidding... it was like Superman at SFDL. Simply awesome, forcefull air with floatage down the back side of each hill.
On an operational note, I noticed the anti-rollback wheels on the last car of the yellow train. Have those always been there? I thought that perhaps the anti-rollbacks were only found on car four. Makes sense, I guess, but I never noticed them before.
I have to talk about the lighting as well. There are fairly bright lights in the first tunnel that trick your eyes in to thinking the island is darker than it is. There were no lights on the island. Also, for another moment of zen, climbing the lift I noticed two long lines of light reflecting off of the dense air pointing to the sky. That's two special moments. Three if you count the gorgeous sunset as seen earlier that night from 310 feet.
Power Tower. I usually don't get on the Turbo Drops much because the lines are always so much longer. No waiting this time, so we gave it a shot. Geeze, I forgot how long they hold you up there. Since we were facing the other drop, I had a little time to look at all of the catwalks and lighting in the crown that I had never noticed before. Great fun.
Magnum. I'm no ride mechanic, but following hundreds of laps on Magnum, I think I'm qualified enough to know what's not normal. The bad axel problem is still there, though I'm told it's limited to only a few cars now. Lucky me, it was car five on the blue train, exactly where I was sitting. I knew there was a problem as soon as we started to roll, because the car began shifting back and forth immediately. It made for a very rough ride.
Hello? Maintenance? You realize you're letting the number one coaster in the world (by some accounts, anyway) go to hell? When the ride ops and guests are complaining, perhaps you need to get your sorry butts off of that union break and go do your job!
Mantis. You haven't lived until you've been on this ride in the front seat on an otherwise empty train. That brake on the drop does wonders for providing extended float time through that vertical loop. Very very cool sensation! Other than that, it's a fun ride, but not one I go out of my way to spend a lot of time on.
Overall the park was very clean, the ride ops enjoying the extra hours, and Halloweekends are about to launch in full force. Fall is one of my favorite times at the park, and as I said it's all about the location. I'm looking forward to my stay in Breakers on closing weekend in one of the screened-in balcony suites.
This event is a good deal, but I must wonder what the crowd theshold is before you don't feel you're getting your money's worth. I had a good time, and it was a nice way to let loose mid-week.
-------------
Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
Millennium Force laps: 43
*** This post was edited by Jeff on 9/15/2000. ***
Jeff Putz "Magnum. I'm no ride mechanic, but following hundreds of laps on Magnum, I think I'm qualified enough to know what's not normal. The bad axel problem is still there, though I'm told it's limited to only a few cars now. Lucky me, it was car five on the blue train, exactly where I was sitting. I knew there was a problem as soon as we started to roll, because the car began shifting back and forth immediately. It made for a very rough ride."
Being one of Magnum's biggest fans it also gives me the right to be one of its biggest critics. There is no excuse why they trains on Magnum are in such poor shape as they are now. Cedar Point loves to brag about their awards (then again who doesn't) but the fact of the matter is the park has one of the greatest roller coasters ever built and to see the condition of the trains is just sad.
The problems with the axles came to my attention in the spring when the ride was testing. I was told that they were having problems with certain cars. I noticed the problem when I first rode with Jeff & Steph during the Longerberger Day.
Anyone who was at Coastermania for the Magnum ERT knew that they only ran two trains. Why? They were having a problem with the one train.
Anyone who was at the first Millennnium Mania saw that on Magnum they were only running two trains. The third train that was on transfer track only had five cars on it. During MM they took the 6th car off!
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daniel j. haverlock
Magnum Count: 1229
MF Count: 80
spiritofthepoint.com
Being one of Magnum's biggest fans it also gives me the right to be one of its biggest critics. There is no excuse why they trains on Magnum are in such poor shape as they are now. Cedar Point loves to brag about their awards (then again who doesn't) but the fact of the matter is the park has one of the greatest roller coasters ever built and to see the condition of the trains is just sad.
The problems with the axles came to my attention in the spring when the ride was testing. I was told that they were having problems with certain cars. I noticed the problem when I first rode with Jeff & Steph during the Longerberger Day.
Anyone who was at Coastermania for the Magnum ERT knew that they only ran two trains. Why? They were having a problem with the one train.
Anyone who was at the first Millennnium Mania saw that on Magnum they were only running two trains. The third train that was on transfer track only had five cars on it. During MM they took the 6th car off!
-------------
daniel j. haverlock
Magnum Count: 1229
MF Count: 80
spiritofthepoint.com
This last evening (Friday at MM) Brandon and I rode in the black train car 4 row 3 and it was a smooth ride. There was not the normal rough ride I am used to. It reminded me of the beginning of the year. However we did notice that the cars ahead of us had a nice wobble to them. Now at least I know what train and car to ride.
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Raptor Flights: 211
Force Rides: 90
CP pics:
www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4293894749
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Raptor Flights: 211
Force Rides: 90
CP pics:
www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4293894749
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