Question about Raptor

I went to Busch Garden's Tampa over holiday season. While I riding Montu I noticed something, going up the lifthill you wern't being deafend by the antiroll backs.. I was curious is this a maintence thing where Cedar Point doesn't want to pay out the money to have Raptor's antiroll backs get redone so they have the quiet sound? It would be nice riding back row of Raptor and being able to conversate with person next to you.

Every coaster is different but, the noise you are hearing is there for the "fear factor". It's nothing to do with a maintence issue. Most coasters have this feature. It's all about anticipation, making your heart race and instill feat into you.

I don't think they care if you have a conversation other than holly sh!t i think i'm gonna die or something of that nature. Seriously, do you go on roller coasters to have a conversation or to get a rush? If you want to have a conversation either do it in line, when you get off the ride or just don't ride and sit on a bench and talk.

The noisie I'm hearing is metal to metal contact that is very loud.. Has nothing to do with "fear factor". Do I have to be scared every time I ride a roller coaster? I ride them for the g's they produce and the feelings it gives me. If I can hold a coversation through out the ride and still enjoy myself.. I don't see a problem. I was asking a legit question why is Raptor's lift louder then Montu's lift. It could be that Montu was built later and B&M devolped new tech for it.. I don't know, that's why I was asking.. Didn't know I would have someone attack me for wanting to know the differnce inbetween the 2 lift hills.

You answered your question. Montu was later.

Cedar Point isn't a big fan of scaring people... Why do you think they dont do countdowns anymore on PT and WT? Before freak out, and then get pissed at the park. Roller coasters aren't supposed to be scary, their supposed to be fun...

Last time i checked at WT we still said clear launching in 3 2 1

I know Power Tower doesn't. Wicked Twister doesn't do 3,2, anymore. They do a full countdown instead of the fake countdown that they used to do.

I disagree, Fastball.

I think that coasters are designed to provide a fearful experience under controlled circumstances.

no i worked that ride 3 of th 4 last weekends it is launching in 3 2 1

This past season I heard both countdowns (3,2,1), "fake" countdowns, (3,2) (which is my fav), and no countdown at all, just a launch.

Since we're on that subject, i dont work at CP, nor have I ever known anyone who does, but I must say, the first and biggest difference I notice from CP to other parks is the operators. Hands down the best Ive ever seen.

I thought Ben posted that countdowns are no longer around as they could freighten guests away from attractions. Guess I was wrong. ;)

I also had a different question about Raptor, i noticed for the past two seasons Raptor doesn't really brake you at all mid way through the ride anymore. Does anyone know why you basically just fly through the brakes??

Thanks

I have often wondered that too wickeddragster. Although it gives the last corkscrews a nice snap, going into the final brakes that fast really smashes your head against the harnesses. :(

The POV on one of the CP videos shows Raptor slow down almost entirely. Wonder why not anymore?

I was told no countdowns at Power Tower. It is/was in the employee guidelines that you were to, under no circumstance, scare or otherwise freighten a guest.

how does a countdown frighten a guest?

I can imagine there's at least a small potential for injury if a rider isn't braced for a launch. There was a thread some time back where we went into it in more detail. Can't seem to find it.

For me, I put fake countdowns right up there with open-mic night ... er ... creative spiels. I feel both take away from the ride atmosphere.

bholcomb said:
I was told no countdowns at Power Tower. It is/was in the employee guidelines that you were to, under no circumstance, scare or otherwise freighten a guest.

If that's the case, I like how the park completely contradicts itself by putting countdown lights on TTD. Personally I think countdowns make it less scary.

Well, the countdown lights and the countdown on WT are different than a countdown on Power Tower, because the ride op doesn't know exactly when it's going to launch. There is usually a pretty good idea, but I didn't always know when it was going to go.

I do have to agree with Walt though. While I didn't agree with the rule at the time, I can see where it came from.
*** Edited 1/12/2006 12:40:46 AM UTC by bholcomb***

That is what I didn't like about them taking away the majority of the power from the brakes mid way through the ride because at the end brakes, they hurt. It is still an overall good ride.