Rougarou ranking!

I was rather underwhelmed. I always hated Mantis, and after riding it two years ago vowed never to ride it again. Even with the upgrade (and yes, it is a massive upgrade) this ride is still very skippable for me. Maybe I'll try it in different seats, like very front or very back to give it a real fair shake, but otherwise I'll pass. It just felt slow and boring.

Better and smoother than Mantis, but does nothing to move it above any of my favorite rides (coasters or flat) there.

^ That sucks that you didn't like it. However, If you sit towards the front or in the front, you might change your mind.

My Pros and Cons for the ride:

Pros:

1. Made overall experience more enjoyable with the sit down/floorless approach. The stand-up concept was out-dated and very rough.

2. Re-used the original good layout of mantis, ultimately saved lots of $$

3. Spiked more popularity for the ride

Cons:

1. Effects fell flat... CP (specifically Jason McClure) branded the ride as having many new/more theming elements than what CP is used to. Unfortunately some half working mist/fog at the bottom hill is not what was initially described. There's more theming involved with Maverick and Iron Dragon in my opinion.

2. Liked the unique color scheme of Mantis. Not many yellow/blue/orange/red coasters out there... (if any). Perhaps will clash with new roller coaster paint scheme (orangish/brown and blue vs Rougarou's orange and aqua). Lime green trains are kind of strange as well.

---I guess in the long run (for me), is that a more comfortable ride experience that I can enjoy with friends and family is a little more important than the external features and appearance of the ride. I think this was a smart decision on behalf of CP to convert a pre-existing, low ridership ride into this style coaster.

I agree about the original color scheme. It really made Mantis stand out in much the same way that Banshee does now at KI. The new color scheme is pretty bland but at night it looks good when it is lit up.

I think it would have been cool if they could have constructed a shanty-looking structure on stilts around the MCBR where the Rougarou could make an appearance. Then transform the dirt-pit of a low zone into a Bayou by adding some low maintenance wetland vegetation. Maybe throw in a couple fake alligators.

Rougarou is ok, vast improvement, but sadly, with the harness its just as bad, i still end up banging my head, and getting dizzy after that. Mavericks harness would make this ride 110% better.

I was in about the 3rd row, so I'd be willing to try very front or very back

Rode it for the first time yesterday. Unfortunately, I had never ridden Mantis, so I can't compare it to that. But I thought it was a great ride.

Furthermore, I've heard complaints here before about Rougarou's theming being faulty; it seemed pretty fine to me, with smoke/mist in the lagoon and growling sound effects hidden somewhere in the trees.

It's a big improvement over Mantis, to be sure. That being said, I find the headbanging quotient is still a bit more than I'd like. For me, the conversion raises the coaster from the category of ,"Ride once a season on principle," to "Ride once a visit, if the lines are short."

Headbanging wasn't a problem for me, maybe because I'm fairly tall (almost exactly 6') and I tend to lean my head forward as the coaster goes into turns.

^ same. And when I ride front seat, I don't experience any rattling whatsoever.

Yes, being fairly tall helps a lot. I'm 6'2" and when I lean my head forward I get no headbanging whatsoever.

On the question of faulty theming, it's not that what is there is faulty, it is that many were expecting much more based on Jason McClure's comments of doing something not expected at CP.

^ Exactly. I would've liked to have seen theming closer to Banshee's level at least. Hopefully that happens for Project 2016 (Val-rename-en)..

I'm 5 foot 6 and a half and I still have no trouble with head banging. Thabto said the same thing. Very little in my opinion.

I'm 5 foot 7 and find that if I start to get any banging if I just lean my head back that pretty much takes care of it.

I'm 5'10 and only had my ears boxed once bad enough to be uncomfortable. The last two rides had zero head banging and I wasn't even trying to avoid it(head forward/back, bracing, etc...). Maybe the ride is "settling" in with the new trains? The conversion definitely changed the ride from "once every few seasons if a friend who rarely goes wants to ride for some unknown reason" to "sure."

Interested to see the when or if the other two B&M stand ups get converted and how they'll do it. Vortex at Carowinds for example only has a 6 car train. If it's converted will it have a 6 car train, maybe 7? Also I personally believe that particular ride should be moved to MiAdv if/when its converted. The way they are trying to expand Carowinds I just don't see it being a good option when something bigger that can run 3 trains for capacity could fit in that large footprint.

^ I'm not sure they would move Vortex to Michigan Adventure since Cedar Fair seems like they're trying to get rid of the Stand-ups. Therefore I can see a ride like Vortex being retired and have a new Floorless built in the former Vortex Footprint.

Now referring to Rougarou, my professor said he rode it, and he said it gave him a headache. I tried telling him with the conversion, It's not as bad as it used to be when It was Mantis. I only feel the head banging in a couple spots.

^ WolfBobs said the "ride should be moved to MiAdv if/when its converted"

^ I know. Just sharing my opinion of what might happen.

Ouimet recently stated that Cedar Fair was done relocating old coasters to other parks. So if any conversion were to happen, Vortex would likely remain at Carowinds.

Shawn Meyer said:

I only feel the head banging in a couple spots.

Same here. On the left and right sides of my head.