Opening Day, CWRU style-- with Mr. Kinzel
Since we all have Joe Cool Club, we got into the park at 9. We waited outside the marina gate so we could be closer to TTD, but we got to the queue at 9:10 and didn't get to ride until 11:30. I was surprised that many people got in ahead of us, but the 17-second ride was worth the wait. After watching the first few launches of the day, it looked like the train wouldn't make it to the top of the tower, but just barely made it across. Later on we didn't see this problem. I timed the interval between launches and got an average of about 2:10 (with a range of 1:15 to 3:30) which works out to just over 300 pph. I'm sure that once the ride gets into midseason form, the riders will just be flying through the queue and we won't have any more 6-hour waits like yesterday. As for the actual ride itself, it all happened so fast, but it was a big rush. After the longest 1.5 G acceleration I've ever felt, we rushed up the tower, and all I could see was the sun. At the top, it was weird to look down on MF, and we felt a noticeable difference in air pressure. After getting some airtime (we sat in the back row), we went down the spiral that puts WT to shame before the final brake run. It's a great addition to the park, and I like the new theming element, but it's still not my favorite ride in the park.
That honor still belongs to the Magnum XL-200, which we rode next (in the 3rd-row ejector seat of course) and got a FreeWay stamp for 2-3. After a ride on Gemini (which was only running the red side and apparently is not recognizing its 25th anniversary), we got some fries at the Happy Friar and headed to Frontier Town for a ride on Mean Streak. CCMR was down when we got there, so we walked back the way we came, and by then it was 2:00. We got in 2 more laps on Magnum before going to the Mid Mainway (yeah, I slipped up and called it that, and I'll probably end up saying it all season) to meet up with the GTTP crowd at Raptor.
It was nice to see those of you who were there in person. I recognized Raptor Jo from the Discovery Channel "Top 10 Roller Coasters" special. We rode in the train after most of you though because we wanted to ride in the back row. After we parted ways, we went to eat at Johnny Rockets, our favorite on-point dining location. After a ride on DT, we went back to the bay side to ride Blue Streak and Raptor again, whose line only extended to the FreeWay merge point at that time.
By then it was after 6, so we were off to the Million Dollar Midway to get laps on WildCat, Iron Dragon, and Mantis. Then on the way to our last ride-- MF as always-- we spotted Dick Kinzel as we crossed the railway tracks. Sam (who talks to just about everyone he sees at the park) recognized him and we started talking about the park's improvements this year. Mr. Kinzel complemented Sam on the TTD sweatshirt he bought yesterday, and Scott tried to get his autograph, but nobody had a pen. Our meeting the CEO of Cedar Fair, followed by the first lap on the Force of the season, was the perfect ending to a perfect day.
I'm planning to be at the park next Monday with my sister, and I hope to see you all again sometime.
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XL89: You conquered the Magnum, now capture the moment!
2003 Stats
Visits: 1
Magnum: 3 MilF: 1 Dragster: 1 Gemini: 1
*** This post was edited by Mr. Magnum 5/5/2003 6:25:20 PM ***
Oh, and in the car, we were listening to the MilF! Techno, and WT's theme!
I agree with Mr. Magnum though, Magnum XL-200 is still the best, with MilF! a close second! TTD was great too! Loved the theming.
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Avalanche Run - My first Roller Coaster.
Magnum XL-200 - The BEST Roller Coaster!
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The Point of Cedars
Pointing you in the right direction!
http://www.thepointofcedars.tk
Top Thrill Dragster said:
Hey, I met Kinzel last year right when I got off WT the second time. Nice guy. :)
I actually know Mr Kinzel and yes he is indeed a very nice guy! :)Jo
2000/2002 Raptor Crew
Lifetime Raptor flights: 711 (goin for 1k in '03!)
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It's all about getting around the barrels, or over the fences, right leads, no faults, fastest time and looking pretty when done. What's so hard about that? :)
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